JP3608606B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

【００４０】
表１に示すように、本具体例の主制御基板３０と特別図柄表示装置３２とのコマンドは、１．電源投入時、２．客待ちデモ、３．図柄変動中、４．大当り開始時、５．大当り中、６．大当り終了時、７．動作異常時、の７種類に大別できる。
【００４１】
１．電源投入時
電源投入時のコマンドは、遊技機１０に電源が投入されたとき主制御基板３０から図柄制御基板３２ｂに送信されるコマンドであり、１０Ｈ及び０１Ｈの２バイト命令で構成されている。図柄制御基板３２ｂがこのコマンドを受信するとＲＯＭに書込まれた制御プログラムに従ってＬＣＤ３２ａの画面上に電源投入時のデモ画面を表示する。
例えば、図８に示すように、画面上の特別図柄表示領域５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃに各々「７」、「７」、「７」と３桁同一の大当り図柄を表示し、４つの特別図柄保留記憶５１ａ〜５１ｄを所定時間（約５秒）点灯させた後に消灯し、背景画面５２上に道場を表示しキャラクタとしてヒーロ（ｈｅｒｏ）及び悪人（ｂａｄ）を表示し、ヒーロが悪人と所定時間（約１分）格闘したのち悪人を倒し「ファイヤ」という文字を表示するデモ画面を表示すると共に音制御基板３５により「ファイヤ」という効果音を出力する処理を実行する。
【００４２】
２．客待ちデモ
客待ちデモのコマンドは、前記電源投入のデモ画面が終了した後、又は遊技者が所定時間（通常約３分間）発射ハンドル２４に触れていないと判断されたときに送信されるコマンドであり、２０Ｈ及び０１Ｈの２バイト命令で構成されている。図柄制御基板３２ｂがこのコマンドを受信するとＲＯＭに書込まれた制御プログラムに従ってＬＣＤ３２ａの画面上に客待ちのデモ画面を表示する。例えば、特別図柄表示領域５０ａ〜５０ｃ上に変動表示される特別図柄の変動パターンを全て順番に表示する。この変動パターンについては次の「３．図柄変動中」で詳細に説明する。このとき、背景画面５２上には各々の変動パターンに対応した背景画像及びキャラクタが表示される。この客待ちデモ画面は遊技客が発射ハンドル２４を操作するまで全ての変動パターンを順番に表示して一巡した後繰り返し表示する。尚、遊技者が発射ハンドル２４に触れているか否かはタッチスイッチ２４ａの入力により検知することができる。本実施例では、タッチスイッチ２４ａの入力を主制御基板３０に入力する構成としたので、主制御基板３０と発射制御基板３３との通信を主制御基板３０からの一方向通信としながらも前記検知が可能なのである。もちろん、主制御基板３０からタッチスイッチ２４ａのオンオフ情報は発射制御基板３３に送信される。このタッチスイッチ２４ａの入力を発射制御基板３３に入力する構成とし、いずれかの又は全ての入賞口に所定時間入賞がないこと、又は遊技盤２２面のアウト口４１にスイッチを設けてこのスイッチが所定時間オンしないことにより遊技者が遊技を実行していないことを判断する構成としても良い。
【００４３】
３．図柄変動中
図柄変動中コマンドは、特別図柄変動時に送信されるコマンドであり、表に示すように（１）スタートコード、（２）左停止図柄指定コード、（３）中停止図柄指定コード、（４）右停止図柄指定コード、（５）左図柄確定コード、（６）中図柄確定コード、（７）右図柄確定コード、の７種類のコマンドに分類される。
【００４４】
（１）スタートコード
スタートコードは、遊技盤２２上に発射された遊技球が始動口としての普通電動役物３６に入賞したとき送信されるコマンドであり、動作番号として３０Ｈの１バイト命令と識別番号として０１Ｈから１ＥＨの３０種類の１バイト命令とから３０種類の２バイト命令として構成されている。この３０種類の２バイト命令は特別図柄の変動パターンを示すものである。本具体例の３０種類の変動パターンは、特別図柄の変動時間、変動態様及び大当たりとなる確率の高低とから１０種類の通常変動、８種類の短縮変動、４種類の通常リーチ、４種類のセミロングリーチ、２種類のロングリーチ、２種類の全回転からなる。
【００４５】
１０種類の通常変動は、特別図柄が変動開始してから左、中及び右の全特別図柄が静止（停止）するまでの時間（以下、単に「変動時間」ということもある。）が５秒〜１０秒の間の１０種類の時間が設定された変動パターンである。
８種類の短縮変動は、特別図柄の保留記憶が１個ある場合、２個ある場合、３個ある場合、４個ある場合、の４種類のパターンと２種類の確率の高低の差とから８種類の変動時間が設定された変動パターンである。
４種類の通常リーチは、変動時間が８秒〜１５秒の間の４種類の時間が設定された変動パターンである。ここで、リーチとは、必ずしも大当りとなるとは限らないが大当たりの前提として特別図柄の変動が開始してから左特別図柄と中特別図柄とが一致し右特別図柄が変動中であってその図柄が確定していない状態をいう。
４種類のセミロングリーチとは、変動時間が１５秒〜２５秒の間の４種類の時間が設定された変動パターンである。
２種類のロングリーチとは、変動時間が３０秒又は３５秒に設定された変動パターンである。尚、リーチの時間が長ければ長いほど右図柄が左及び中図柄と一致する、即ち大当りとなる確率が高くなるよう構成されている。
２種類の全回転とは、全図柄が一斉に変動を開始し一斉に停止する変動パターンをいい、本具体例では変動時間は低確率時で２５秒、高確率時で２０秒に設定されている。
【００４６】
これらの３０種類の変動パターンは、遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞したときのカウンタの値により選択される。このパターンを選択するカウンタは、０〜２９までの整数を当否決定乱数と同様な手法で作成しているのは言うまでもないことである。
【００４７】
（２）左停止図柄指定コード
左停止図柄指定コードは、３１Ｈの動作番号と０１Ｈ〜０ＦＨの１５種類の識別番号とからなる命令コードであり、識別番号が０１Ｈのときは左停止図柄として「０」、０２Ｈのときは「１」、０３Ｈのときは「２」、０４Ｈのときは「３」、０５Ｈのときは「４」、０６Ｈのときは「５」、０７Ｈのときは「６」、０８Ｈのときは「７」、０９Ｈのときは「８」、０ＡＨのときは「９」、０ＢＨのときは「Ａ」、０ＣＨのときは「Ｂ」、０ＤＨのときは「Ｃ」、０ＥＨのときは「Ｄ」、０ＦＨのときは「Ｅ」の文字を特別図柄として特別図柄表示領域５０ａに表示させるためのものである。
【００４８】
（３）中停止図柄指定コード
中停止図柄指定コードは、３２Ｈの動作番号と０１Ｈ〜０ＦＨの１５種類の識別番号とからなる命令コードであり、識別番号は前記左停止図柄指定コードの識別番号と同じ意味をもち、各々で指定される文字を特別図柄として特別図柄表示領域５０ｂに表示させるためのものである。
【００４９】
（４）右停止図柄指定コード
右停止図柄指定コードは、３３Ｈの動作番号と０１Ｈ〜０ＦＨの１５種類の識別番号とからなる命令コードであり、識別番号は前記左停止図柄指定コードの識別番号と同じ意味をもち、各々で指定される文字を特別図柄として特別図柄表示領域５０ｃに表示させるためのものである。
尚、左、中及び右停止図柄指定コードの識別番号は、遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞したときのタイミングで０〜１４の整数値を繰り返し作成する各々の図柄カウンタより選択される。
【００５０】
（５）左図柄確定コード
左図柄確定コードは、変動中の左特別図柄を停止（静止）するために送信する命令コードであり、３４Ｈの動作番号及び０１Ｈの識別番号により構成されている。
【００５１】
（６）中図柄確定コード
中図柄確定コードは、変動中の中特別図柄を停止するために送信する命令コードであり、３５Ｈの動作番号及び０１Ｈの識別番号により構成されている。
【００５２】
（７）右図柄確定コード
中図柄確定コードは、変動中の中特別図柄を停止するために送信する命令コードであり、３６Ｈの動作番号及び０１Ｈの識別番号により構成されている。
【００５３】
４．大当り開始
大当り開始コマンドは、特別図柄表示領域５０ａ〜５０ｃに表示される左、中及び右特別図柄が同一図柄を表示した後から大当り動作が開始されるまでの間に大当りが発生したということを遊技者にアピールする画像を表示するときに使用されるコマンドであり、４０Ｈの動作番号と０１Ｈの識別番号により構成されている。この命令コードを図柄制御基板が受信するとＬＣＤ３２ａの画面上に「大当り等の文字を表示しキャラクタが喜ぶ画像を表示すると共に、音制御基板３５により効果音を出力する処理がなされる。
【００５４】
５．大当り中
大当り中コマンドは、開放前コード、開放中コード、１０カウント入賞コード、Ｖ通過コードの４個のコマンドに分類される。
（１）開放前コードは、５０Ｈの動作番号及び０１Ｈの識別番号より構成され、図柄制御基板３２ｂがこの命令コードを入力すると、大入賞口４０を開放することを遊技者に知らせる画像を背景５２に表示する処理を実行する。
（２）開放中コードは、５０Ｈの動作番号及び０２Ｈの識別番号より構成され、図柄制御基板３２ｂがこの命令コードを入力すると、大入賞口４０が開放中であることを遊技者に知らせる画像を表示する処理を実行する。
（３）１０カウント入賞コードは、５０Ｈの動作番号及び０３Ｈの識別番号より構成され、主制御基板３０は大入賞口４０に遊技球が入球したことをカウントスイッチ４０ｂ又はＶスイッチ４０ａにより検知する毎にこの命令コードを 送信する。図柄制御基板３２ｂがこの命令コードを入力すると、入力する毎 にその値をインクリメントしその値を背景５２上に表示する処理を行う。 これにより、画面上には、大入賞口４０に遊技球が入賞する毎に零から１ ０個までの個数表示がなされる。
（４）Ｖ通過コードは、５０Ｈの動作番号及び０４Ｈの識別番号より構成され、主基板３０は大入賞口４０内の特別領域を遊技球が通過したことをＶスイッチ４０ａにより検知するとこの命令コードを送信する。図柄制御基板３２ｂが この命令コードを入力すると画面に「Ｖ」の文字を大きく表示し大入賞口 ４０が閉鎖した後再び開放することを遊技者に知らせる。
【００５５】
６．大当り終了
大当り終了コマンドは、大当り動作が終了したとき、即ち大入賞口４０が１６回の開放動作を終了したとき、または１６回まで継続しなくとも開放中に遊技球が特別領域を通過しなかったときに送信される命令コードであり、６０Ｈの動作番号及び０１Ｈの識別番号より構成される。図柄制御基板３２ｂがこの命令コードを入力すると大当りが終了したことを遊技者に知らせるメッセージを表示すると共に、高確率状態が継続する場合には「ラッキー！」の文字を、高確率が継続しない場合には「残念！」の文字を表示する処理を実行する。ここで、高確率が継続するとは、特別図柄が「７７７」又は「３３３」等の特定図柄で大当りが発生したとき、大当たり動作終了後に大当たりが発生する確率を、例えば１／２５０から１／５０にすることを言う。さらに詳しく説明すれば当否決定乱数に使用されるカウンタの取り得る範囲を０〜０４９の範囲から０〜４９に変更することを言う。
【００５６】
７．動作異常時
動作異常時コマンドは、パチンコ機１０に異常が発生したときに送信される命令コマンドであり、本具体例では、７０Ｈ０１ＨのＥ１エラーコード、７０Ｈ０２ＨのＥ２エラーコード、７０Ｈ０３ＨのＥ３エラーコードより構成されている。本具体例ではＥ１エラーコードは、テンカウント異常エラーであり大入賞口４０が開放したときに遊技球が１個も検知されない場合に出力され、Ｅ２エラーコードは下皿１６が満杯で満タンスイッチ４３がオンしたとき出力され、Ｅ３エラーコードは補給スイッチ４４がオンしたとき出力される。尚、これらの異常時コマンドを送信することにより表示されるエラーメッセージは、異常が解除されたとき送信されるエラー解除信号により消去される。
【００５７】
ここで、次に示す表２及び図９を用いて変動パターンの１例を具体的に説明することにする。表２及び図９に示すタイミングチャーは通信タイミングの１例を示すものである。
遊技球が始動口としての普通電動役物３６に入賞すると、この入賞のタイミングで表１に示したスタートコードの３０種類のうちの１つの変動パターンが選択され、この選択された命令コードが主制御基板から図柄制御基板３２ｂに送信される（表２ 番号▲１▼）。図柄制御基板３２ｂは送信された命令コードを受信すると、特別図柄作動領域５０ａ〜５０ｃ上で左特別図柄、中特別図柄及び右特別図柄を一斉に変動開始する（図９タイミングチャート ポイント▲１▼）。
【００５８】
主制御基板３０は、入賞時に選択された左停止図柄指定コードをスタートコードを送信した直後に送信する（表２ 番号▲２▼）。この命令コードを図柄制御基板３２ｂが受信すると命令コードに応じた左特別図柄で停止表示すべく変動パターンに応じて変動スピードを調節制御する（図９タイミングチャート ポイント▲２▼）。そして、主制御基板３０から左図柄確定コードを受信したタイミングで指定された左特別図柄を停止表示する（表２ 番号▲３▼）（図９タイミングチャート ポイント▲３▼）。主制御基板３０が左図柄確定コードを送信するタイミングは、選択された変動パターンに従って決定される。この構成により変動図柄を停止表示するタイミングは、主制御基板３０が完全に掌握することになる。
【００５９】
【表２】

【００６０】
同様な手順により主制御基板３０は中停止図柄指定コード、中図柄確定コード、右停止図柄指定コード及び右図柄確定コードを次々と送信し（表２ ▲４▼▲５▼▲６▼▲７▼）、図柄制御基板３２ｂは受信した命令コードに従って画像を制御する（図８タイミングチャート ポイント▲４▼▲５▼▲６▼▲７▼）。
前述した処理により、本具体例では特別図柄表示領域５０ａには「４」、特別図柄表示領域５０ｂには「５」、柄表示領域５０ｃには「５」が各々表示される。
【００６１】
以上詳細に説明した本実施例によると、主制御基板３０から図柄制御基板３２ｂに対して特別図柄の一連の変動態様を予め送信する構成としたことにより図柄制御基板３２ｂはこの変動パターンに従って画像を制御すれば良く、主制御基板３０の負担が極めて軽減することができると共に図柄制御基板３２ｂの制御の自由度が一層高まったという極めて優れた効果を有する。
この結果、主制御基板３０が他の制御基板、即ち賞球制御基板３１、発射制御基板３３、ランプ制御基板３４，音制御基板等の各基板との処理を好適に実行することができるという効果を奏する。一方、図柄制御基板３２ｂにおいては主制御基板３０に拘束される度合いが激減したことにより、特別図柄表示領域以外の画面上においてストーリ的な画像を表示制御することが一層容易になるという優れた効果も奏する。このとき、表示制御される画像は、主制御基板３０からのスタートコードが送信される毎にストーリ展開する構成とすること等が考えられる。
また、本実施例では、図柄の変動パターンを指示するスタートコードを３０種類のパターンの中から遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞するタイミングで選択する構成としたことにより、表示される画像のランダム性を有するという優れた効果を有している。
更に、本実施例では、図柄の変動を開始するスタートコードばかりでなく、各特別図柄の静止時期を主制御基板３０から指示する構成としたことにより、遊技機の型式試験認定の試験機関等においても、主制御基板３０から図柄制御基板３２ｂへの送信タイミングを測定する場合、スタートコードを送信するタイミング及び各特別図柄確定コードを送信するタイミングを測定すれば画面上の特別図柄の変動開始及び停止時期をリアルタイムに、かつ正確に測定することができるという優れた効果も奏する。
［第２実施例］
【００６２】
次に第２の具体例について説明する。
第２の具体例では、第１の具体例で用いた表１に示すコマンドの替わりに次に示す表３の各コマンドを、また表４に示す変動パターン対応テーブルを使用する構成としたものであり、これ以外は第１の具体例と略同様の構成である。
第２の具体例では、表３に示すように第１の具体例で使用した左、中及び右図柄確定コードの使用をなくした構成としたものであり、主制御基板３０は遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞するとスタートコード及び左、中、及び右停止図柄指定コードを送信する。即ち、図柄制御基板３２ｂに対して各図柄の指定を指示しない。これに対し図柄制御基板３２ｂは受信した変動パターンに対応した各特別図柄の変動時間（停止時間）を表４のテーブルから読み取り、読みとった変動時間に従って各特別図柄を変動し停止する。
【００６３】
第２の具体例では、主制御基板は遊技球が始動口としての普通電動役物３６に入賞したタイミングで選択されたスタートコード及び各停止図柄指定コードを図柄制御基板３６ｂに送信するだけなので主制御基板３６の負担を一層軽減することができるという優れた効果を有する。同様に、図柄制御基板３６ｂにおいても、主制御基板３０から図柄停止の指示を受けることがないので、画像制御の自由度を一層高めることができ画面上で自由に画像を演出することができるという極めて優れた効果を奏する。
画面上での自由な画像を演出する構成としては、背景画面５２上でスタートコードが送信される毎に物語りを展開する構成とし、遊技者が続く物語の展開および結末を知りたい思わせ、遊技を途中で終わらせたくないと思わせる心理的効果を得ることができるような構成とすることが考えられる。このとき、大当りが発生すれば、強制的に物語の結末を表示する構成としても良いし、大当たりか否かに関係なく物語を展開していく構成としても良い。これらの物語を展開を構成するに際して、画像制御装置は特別図柄の変動パターンの時間が予めわかっているので、この時間内には主制御基板から指示がないものと判断し、この期間自由な演出ができるのである。
また、画面上での自由な画像を演出する構成として、特別図柄が変動開始して静止するまでは背景画面５２上の物語の展開を無くし、特別図柄が変動しない状態で遊技者が発射ハンドル２４を操作している場合に物語を展開する構成としても良い。
【００６４】
【表３】

【００６５】
【表４】

［第３実施例］
【００６６】
次に第３の具体例を次に示す表５及び図１０に示すタイミングチャートに従って説明する。
前述した第１実施例の「６．大当り終了」の命令コード送信時において、特別図柄が「７７７」又は「３３３」等の特定図柄の場合に高確率に移行することを説明したが、第３実施例は、特別図柄の特定図柄ではなく確率変動判定図柄を用るものである。ここで、表５に示す命令コードは、第１の具体例に示した表１における「６．大当り終了」の命令コードのみを変更したものであり、その他の命令コードは同一内容である。
【００６７】
【表５】

【００６８】
第３の具体例では、大当り動作が終了時に主制御基板３０から図柄制御基板３２ｂに対してまず判定スタートコードが送信され、この直後に停止図柄指定コード、変動終了時に判定図柄確定コードが送信される。本具体例では、スタートコードの識別番号は、０１Ｈから０５Ｈの５種類の変動パターンで構成されている。この識別番号に対応して変動する図柄（画像）の態様は、勝負事の画像を変動させるものである。勝負事は、スポーツ、格闘技、将棋や囲碁のゲーム等の勝ち負けが決定すれものであれば何でも良く、これらの勝負事がストーリ（物語）展開する変動パターンが遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞するときに選択されるのである。
停止図柄指定コードは、本具体例では、高確率に移行する場合の「ラッキー！」という文字を表示させるためのものと、高確率に移行しない場合の「残念！」という文字を表示させるための２種類のコードよりなる。高確率に移行するか否かは、遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞したときに選択されるカウンタ（当否決定乱数）の値により決定され、大当りのうち１／２の確率で高確率に移行する場合はカウンタは０〜１の範囲の整数値を、１／３の確率で高確率に移行する場合はカウンタは０〜２の範囲の整数値を前述した当否決定乱数と同様の手法により作成している。主制御基板３０は、このカウンタの値を遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞したときに記憶し、大当り動作終了時に記憶したカウンタの値を読み出し、読み出した値が特定の値であれば高確率に移行すると判定する。尚、遊技球が入賞したときに高確率に移行するか否か判定しこの判定した結果を記憶しても良い。
【００６９】
高確率に移行する場合は勝負に勝った物語を展開した後に「ラッキー！」の文字を表示し、高確率に移行しない場合は勝負に負ける物語を展開した後に「残念！」の文字を表示するのである。この変動のタイミングの１例を示したのが図１０に示すタイミングチャートである。確率変動判定図柄は、図に示すように、大入賞口４０が１６回目の開放動作を終了した後から変動開始され、変動動作が終了した後に特別図柄が変動開始する。図中において、条件装置は確率変動判定図柄の変動が終了するまでを作動状態として扱っているが、１６回目の作動が終了した時点で作動終了（図中に点線で示す。）と扱っても良い。このとき、条件装置の作動が終了した時点で判定スタートコードを主制御基板が送信する構成としても良い。
尚、大入賞口が１６回開放前であっても、開放中に遊技球が特別領域を通過しなければその開放の回で大当り動作が終了するのは言うまでもないことである。また、本具体例では、勝負事の画像を変動表示した後、高確率に移行するか否かを示す図柄を表示するよう構成したが、特別図柄と同様に確率変動判定図柄を変動表示して静止時の図柄で高確率に移行するか否かを示す構成としても何等差し支えない。
【００７０】
第３の具体例によると、高確率に移行するか否かは大当り動作が終了してから示されることになる。これにより、従来のように大当り発生時に移行するか否かが既に示されているものとは異なり、大当り動作が終了するまで遊技者に楽しみを維持させることができるという優れた効果を有する。また、高確率に移行するか否かを表示する一連の変動パターンは、大当り動作終了時に予め送信されるので、図柄制御基板３２ｂは判定図柄確定コードが送信されるまで物語を自由に展開させることができる。この効果は、判定スタートコードに図柄の静止タイミングを指示する構成とすれば一層顕著なものとなる。
【００７１】
［第４実施例］
次に図１１〜図１８を用いて第４の具体例について説明する。
第４の具体例では、第１の具体例で用いた表３に示した図柄変動中のコマンドコードとして図１１〜図１３に示すコマンドコードを使用する構成であり、その他の構成については第１の具体例を援用することにする。
第４の具体例では、図１１に示すように、スタートコードとしての変動パターンは特別図柄の変動時間を指示するものであり、本実施例では７２パターン容易されている。この７２通りの変動パターンは、遊技球が始動口としての普通電動役物３６に入賞したタイミングで抽出される前述した当否決定乱数による当否の結果、同じく遊技球が始動口としての普通電動役物３６に入賞したタイミングで抽出される前述した左、中及び右停止図柄指定コードの識別番号の元となる各図柄カウンタの値、及び当否決定乱数が高確率状態であるか否か等の各要素に基づき決定される。この図１１の選択テーブルにより選択される変動パターンは、各特別図柄が順番に停止するのか、一斉に停止するのかといった変動態様の情報も含み、順番に停止する場合には、左特別図柄の変動時間、中特別図柄の変動時間等の情報も含まれる。
図１２に示す特別図柄選択テーブルは、特別図柄の変動停止後に特別図柄作動領域５０ａ〜５０ｃ上に停止表示される左特別図柄、中特別図柄及び右特別図柄を指示するものである。このコマンドも抽出された前記各図柄カウンタの値に基づき決定される。また、図１３に示す図柄停止コマンドは、左、中及び右特別図柄を停止させるときに用いるコマンドである。
次にこれらのコマンドを用いて主制御基板３０のマイコンが図柄制御基板３２ｂにコマンドを送信する制御を、図１４〜図１５に示すタイミングチャートに従って説明することにする。
【００７２】
遊技球が普通電動役物３６に入賞したことが検出されると、このときのタイミングで当否決定乱数、各図柄カウンタ等の値が抽出される。この抽出された当否決定乱数の値に基づき大当りか否かが判定され、各図柄カウンタの値に基づき大当り図柄又は外れ図柄が決定される。大当りの場合には、大当り図柄から大当り動作終了後に高確率に移行するか否かも判断される。そして、大当たり判定の結果と決定された各図柄の種類と高確率中であるか否かの状態とにより７２種類の変動パターンの１つが選択される。変動パターンが選択されると、主制御基板３０のマイコンは図柄制御基板３２ｂにスタートコードとして選択された変動パターンを出力する（図１４ ポイントＰ１）。変動パターンが出力された後、４ｍｓ毎に図１２の選択テーブルから決定された左特別図柄を指示するコマンド、中特別図柄を指示するコマンド、及び右特別図柄を指示するコマンドが送信される（図１４ ポイントＰ２、Ｐ３、Ｐ４）。そして、各特別図柄の変動停止時間になると、図１３に示した図柄停止コマンドが送信される（図１４ ポイントＰ５、Ｐ６，Ｐ７）。
【００７３】
一方、変動パターンを受信した図柄制御基板３２ｂのマイコンは、図１４及び図１５に示すように、変動パターンを受信したときから各特別図柄を特別図柄作動領域５０ａ〜５０ｃ上で一斉に低速で変動開始し、途中で中速から高速に変速し、停止時間に近くなると減速して低速に変速し指示された各特別図柄で揺れ動作を実行し、図柄停止コマンドを受信すると指示された特別図柄で停止させる制御を実行する。
このとき、画面上の背景画面５２上に、受信した変動パターンの有する情報に従って、図１６及び図１７の選択テーブルに基づきキャラクタが出現し、背景画面が変更される制御を図柄制御基板３２ｂが実行する。
前述したように、主制御基板３０から図柄制御基板３２ｂに選択された変動パターン、停止表示される各特別図柄及び図柄停止コマンドが出力されるが、これらの各コマンドが図柄制御基板３２ｂに何等かの原因、例えば電気的ノイズ等により受信されなかったときに図柄制御基板３２ｂが実行するエラー処理を説明する。
【００７４】
図１８に示すコマンド異常対応テーブルは、各コマンドが入力されなかったときの図柄制御基板３２ｂが実行する処理を示したものである。
ここでは、便宜のためにエラー処理を８パターンに分けて説明することにする。尚、図中の「○」はコマンドが正常に受信された場合を示し、「×」は受信できなかった場合を示す。
１．エラー処理ＥＲ１
エラー処理ＥＲ１は、変動パターンと図柄停止コマンドが正常に受信され、各指定特別図柄が１つ以上受信できなかった場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ１では、変動パターン（変動開始コマンド）入力後、１秒後に画面上に「通信エラー」の文字を表示し、受信できなかった指定特別図柄として「×」を表示する処理が実行される。
この正常に受信できなかった特別図柄が大当りを示す特別図柄の場合には、次に主制御基板３０から大当り開始コマンドが送信されてくるので、大入賞口４０が突然開放し遊技者が驚くといった不具合は無い。
また、外れ図柄の場合には、次の入賞に対応したコマンドが送信されてくるので不具合は無い。次の入賞が暫く無い場合、又は所謂「保留記憶」が無い場合には、主制御基板３０は所定時間経過後に客待ちデモコマンドを送信するので「通信エラー」が表示され続けることはない。
【００７５】
２．エラー処理ＥＲ２
エラー処理ＥＲ２は、変動パターンと各指定特別図柄が正常に受信され、図柄停止コマンドが受信できなかった場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ２では、各特別図柄の変動時間経過後に停止図柄で揺れ変動を実行する。このエラー処理による揺れ変動は、各特別図柄の変動時間経過後に各特別図柄毎に揺れ変動を実行しても良いし、右特別図柄の変動時間経過後、即ち全ての特別図柄の変動時間経過後に一斉に揺れ変動を実行しても良い。
エラー処理ＥＲ２においても、揺れ変動後のその後の処理はエラー処理ＥＲ１と同様の処理が実行される。
【００７６】
３．エラー処理ＥＲ３
エラー処理ＥＲ３は、変動パターンが正常に受信され、各指定特別図柄のいづれかと図柄停止コマンドが受信できなかった場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ３では、各特別図柄の変動時間経過後に停止図柄で揺れ変動を実行する。受信できなかった指定特別図柄は、前回受信した指定特別図柄で揺れ変動を実行する。揺れ変動の開始時期はエラー処理ＥＲ２と同様である。
【００７７】
４．エラー処理ＥＲ４
エラー処理ＥＲ４は、変動パターンのみが正常に受信されない場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ４では、特別図柄は変動せず、最初の指定特別図柄を受信時に「通信エラー」を表示する。
【００７８】
５．エラー処理ＥＲ５
エラー処理ＥＲ５は、変動パターンと各指定特別図柄のいづれかが正常に受信されない場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ５では、特別図柄は変動せず、最初に受信した指定特別図の受信時に「通信エラー」を表示する。また、指定特別図柄を受信できなかった特別図柄は「×」を表示する。この「×」を表示するタイミングは、各特別図柄の停止コマンド受信時に表示しても良いし、全ての特別図柄の変動時間経過後に一斉に表示しても良い。
【００７９】
６．エラー処理ＥＲ６
エラー処理ＥＲ６は、図柄停止コマンドのみが正常に受信された場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ６では、特別図柄は変動せず、図柄停止コマンドを受信時に「通信エラー」を表示し、各特別図柄として「×」を表示する。通信エラー及び「×」を表示するタイミングは、エラー処理ＥＲ５と同様である。
【００８０】
７．エラー処理ＥＲ７
エラー処理ＥＲ７は、指定特別図柄のいづれかのみが受信された場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ６では、特別図柄は変動せず、最初の指定特別図柄を受信時に「通信エラー」を表示する。
【００８１】
８．エラー処理ＥＲ８
エラー処理ＥＲ８は、全てのコマンドが受信できない場合である。
このエラー処理ＥＲ８では、特別図柄は変動せず、「通信エラー」も表示しない。この場合でもエラー処理ＥＲ１と同様のその後の処理が実行されるので、遊技者に不利益を与えるようなことはない。
【００８２】
以上、詳細に説明した第４の具体例では、変動パターンの指示コマンド、３つの特別図柄の指定コマンド、図柄停止コマンドの各コマンドの受信異常の組み合わせに対応して異なったエラー処理を実行し、全てのコマンドが受信できない場合以外には揺れ変動を実行し、またエラー表示を実行している。これにより、遊技者には、通信エラーが発生しているということが認識でき、例えば、大当りの発生が表示されない場合が生じたとしても、遊技者の注意を喚起しているので遊技者の不利益を最小限に抑えることができるという効果を奏する。また、全ての特別図柄が同一である大当り表示と大当り発生の表示とが共に表示されない場合は皆無と考えられ、また、係る場合でも音声により大当り発生の音声出力が為されるので遊技者に不測の不利益を与えることはない。更に、本具体例では、通信の異常により外れ図柄が正確に表示されないときでも、前回の指定図柄を用いて外れ表示を極力表示するよう実行しているので遊技者が遊技の状態を認識することができるという効果を発揮している。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明を採用した実施例の遊技機を示す外観斜視図である。
【図２】実施例の遊技機を裏面からみた裏面図である。
【図３】実施例の遊技機の遊技盤面の構成を示す正面図である。
【図４】実施例の遊技機の電気的構成を示すブロック図である。
【図５】実施例の主制御基板３０と特別図柄表示装置３２の図柄表示装置制御基板３２ｂとのインターフェイス回路を示すブロック図である。
【図６】図柄表示装置制御基板３２ｂの受信回路を示す回路図である。
【図７】割込み要求信号（ＭＩＮＴ）と命令コード（ＭＤ０〜ＭＤ７）との関係を例示するタイミングチャートである。
【図８】ＬＣＤパネルユニット３２ａの画面上の画像を例示する正面図である。
【図９】ＬＣＤパネルユニット３２ａの画面上の画像の変動パターンを例示するタイミングチャートである。
【図１０】確率変動判定図柄の変動タイミングの１例を示すタイミングチャートである。
【図１１】変動パターン選択テーブルを示す一覧表図である。
【図１２】各特別図柄の選択テーブルを示す一覧表図である。
【図１３】図柄停止コマンドを示す一覧表図である。
【図１４】各特別図柄が順次停止する場合のコマンドの送信タイミングを例示するタイミングチャートある。
【図１５】各特別図柄が一斉に停止する場合のコマンドの送信タイミングを例示するタイミングチャートある。
【図１６】キャラクタ選択テーブルを示す一覧表図である。
【図１７】背景選択テーブルを示す一覧表図である。
【図１８】コマンド異常対応を示す一覧表図である。
【符号の説明】
１０・・・・・パチンコ機
２２・・・・・遊技盤
２４・・・・・発射ハンドル
２４ａ・・・・・タッチスイッチ
３０・・・・・主制御基板
３１・・・・・賞球制御基板
３２・・・・・特別図柄表示装置
３２ａ・・・・・ＬＣＤパネルユニット（ＬＣＤ）
３２ｂ・・・・・図柄表示装置制御基板（図柄制御基板）
３３・・・・・発射制御基板
３４・・・・・ランプ制御基板
３５・・・・・音制御基板
３６・・・・・普通電動役物（始動口）
３６ａ・・・・・第１種始動スイッチ
３７・・・・・普通図柄表示装置
４０・・・・・大入賞口
４０ａ・・・・・役物連続作動スイッチ（ＶＳＷ）
４０ｂ・・・・・テンカウントスイッチ（カウントＳＷ）
５０ａ、５０ｂ、５０ｃ
・・・・・特別図柄表示領域
５２・・・・・背景画面
ｈｅｒｏ、ｂａｄ
・・・・・キャラクタ[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a communication configuration between a main control board that controls the progress and contents of a game and an image control board that controls display of an image corresponding to the progress or contents of the game.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a gaming machine, for example, a pachinko gaming machine, when a launched game ball wins a winning opening or passes through a passing opening, the symbols are displayed on the screen for a predetermined time and then displayed statically (stop display). If is a combination of predetermined symbols, the game content is advantageous to the player.
Whether or not to display a predetermined symbol combination that is advantageous to the player is determined by the value of the random value selected based on the timing at which the game ball wins the winning opening or passes the passing opening If the selected random number value matches the predetermined value, a predetermined combination of symbols such as “777” or “333” is displayed on the screen, and the game content is advantageous to the player. And a so-called “big hit” is opened for a predetermined time, and a large number of game balls are paid out to the player as prize balls. The selected random value is generally configured as a counter that repeatedly creates an integer value in a predetermined range by incrementing +1 (incrementing) every minute time such as a hard interrupt, and the timing at which a game ball wins a start opening is determined. It functions as a random number because it cannot be predicted.
In the pachinko gaming machine, the progress and contents of the game such as selection of the random number value, determination of the random number value, or opening of the prize winning opening are referred to as a “main control board” (hereinafter simply referred to as “main control board”). ), And image control processing such as displaying a predetermined combination of symbols on the screen is executed by an image control board (also referred to as “design control board”). Conventionally, communication between the main control board and the image control board has been executed by a so-called “offset method”.
[0003]
In this offset method, data corresponding to the symbol type and symbol display position is transmitted from the main control board to the image control board for a predetermined time, for example, at each hardware interrupt, and a predetermined number of frames are transmitted per second. It was controlled to display.
However, sending data every hard interrupt or every time corresponding to a hard interrupt makes the timing for incrementing the random number value known outside the main control board. There was no possibility that this would be illegally used to forcibly generate a big hit.
In recent years, various on-screen display controls have been performed for the purpose of developing image control technology and providing players with a more entertaining feeling. For example, in order to have a big hit expectation, a character suddenly appears while the design is changing, a background screen is changed, or a so-called reach operation or trick operation is included in the change display mode of the design. Has been made. These controls are also executed according to instructions from the main control board. However, if these instructions are frequently performed on the main control board, there is a problem that the processing load on the main control board is heavy. There has been a problem that the degree of freedom of control is lost due to frequent instructions from.
Therefore, in order to eliminate the possibility of fraud and to increase the degree of freedom of the image control board, an invention called “intelligentization” described below has been made.
[0004]
In a gaming machine adopting an invention called intelligentization, data is transmitted from the main control board to the image control board when the image changes. That is, at the start of fluctuation of the symbol that is displayed in a variable manner, when the fluctuation speed changes, when the fluctuation is stationary, and the background screen displayed on the screen corresponding to the displayed symbol and the background screen of a different character type Data is transmitted from the main control board to the image control board at a time such as when a different character is displayed or when a different type of character is displayed, and the change is instructed.
The gaming machine adopting this intelligent system has an extremely excellent effect of preventing the occurrence of fraud since the timing of transmission from the main control board to the image control board is different from the timing of incrementing the random number value. ing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even in the gaming machine adopting the above-described intelligentization, the main control board needs to transmit data instructing the image control board to change the design, background, character, or the like at every image change time point. The burden on the main control board that executes various controls is still large.
On the other hand, in the image control board, the configuration instructed from the main control board every time the image changes is not changed, and the degree of freedom that the image control board makes an independent determination and executes various image processes is still low. Is real.
The present invention suitably solves these problems and enables the main control board to perform various controls other than image control more precisely. In the image control board, the degree of freedom from the main control board is increased to further increase the degree of freedom. It is an object to provide an amusement machine full of amusement feeling that can express an interesting image.
[0006]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the gaming machine according to claim 1,
A main control board for determining whether or not the game ball launched on the game board surface wins a specific winning opening or a game content advantageous to the player due to the timing of passing the specific passing opening;
An image control board that variably displays a special symbol indicating whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player each time it is determined whether or not the main control board is a game content advantageous to the player;
In gaming machines including
A circuit configuration capable of transmitting only from the main control board to the image control board,
The main control board is
As for the special symbol from the start of change to the stationary state, a change pattern instruction command for instructing a change time of the special symbol selected due to the timing, the special symbolCorresponding to each of multiple symbolsIndicate the pattern type when stationaryA set ofDesignation command,A single to stop the special symbolSymbol stop commandAnd an interrupt request signal for making a maskable hardware interrupt request to the CPU of the image control board,
The type of stop symbol is determined by the symbol designating command, and the symbol stop timing is determined by the symbol stop command,
The CPU of the main control board is connected to the maskable interrupt terminal of the image control board via the output port, and is connected to the CPU of the image control board via the output port. Selecting one variation pattern instruction command and symbol designating command, transmitting the interrupt request signal to a maskable interrupt terminal of the image control board, and outputting the selected variation pattern instruction command and symbol designating command to the output port ThroughSend
The timing for transmitting the symbol stop command is determined according to the variation pattern, and according to the timing, the symbol stop command is transmitted,
The image control boardCPUIs
Each time the interrupt request signal is received from the main control board, a maskable hardware interrupt of the CPU is generated.Fluctuation pattern commandAnd a set of symbol designating commandsIs received, the special symbol starts to fluctuate, and the special symbol fluctuates and displays for the fluctuation time indicated by the fluctuation pattern instruction command.And an image configuration that develops a story on a screen other than the special symbol every time the variation pattern instruction command is received,When the symbol designating command indicates that the symbol changes in a stationary special state, and when the symbol stop command is received, the shaking and changing special symbols are simultaneously performed.StopAnd
When the variation pattern instruction command is normally received and the symbol designation command and the symbol stop command of any of the special symbols cannot be received, the fluctuation variation is executed even after the variation time has elapsed. The special symbol that could not be executed executes the fluctuation of the special symbol indicated by the symbol designation command received last time.Shi,
The main control board includes a customer waiting demonstration command to be transmitted to the image control board when it is determined that the player has not touched the launch handle for a predetermined time, and when the image control board receives the command, the image A demo screen waiting for a customer is displayed on the screen according to a control program written in the ROM of the control board, and the variation pattern of the special symbol displayed in a variable on the special symbol display area is displayed on the demo screen waiting for the customer. Display all in order,
It is characterized by having comprised as follows.
[0009]
In the gaming machine according to claim 1, the main control board is advantageous to the player due to the timing at which the game ball launched on the game board surface wins a specific winning opening or passes a specific passing opening. To decide whether or not to make a gameeveryIn addition,For the special symbol change from start to stop, only the change pattern designation command and stop symbol designation command selected due to this timing are transmitted to the image control board. On the other hand, on the image control board, after the special symbol is variably displayed for the variation time indicated by the received variation pattern instruction command, the fluctuation symbol is individually started and stopped at the stationary special symbol indicated by the symbol designation command. ShowStill displayIs configured as.
[0010]
This eliminates the need for the main control board to transmit the instruction code to the image control board at a timing corresponding to the change point of the image. On the other hand, in the image control board,It is only necessary to receive the data of the variation time and the stationary symbol type once for the variation display of the special symbol, and then the data of the variation time and the stationary symbol type are received.ReceivingBelieveUntil it is released from the main control board, a free image can be displayed on the screen. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the processing load on the main control board can be remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional gaming machine, and the degree of freedom of the image control board is increased and the screen is more interesting. There is an extremely excellent effect that an image can be expressed.Furthermore, when notifying of a communication failure, it has an effect that the player can recognize the state of the game by adopting a configuration in which the previously received stationary pattern is displayed and notified to the player. At this time, in the image control board, when the variation pattern instruction command is normally received and one of the symbol designating commands of each special symbol and the symbol stop command cannot be received, each special symbol indicated by the variation pattern instruction command Even after the fluctuation time has elapsed, special fluctuations that could not be received can be dealt with in the event of abnormalities by executing fluctuation fluctuations of special symbols indicated by the symbol designation command received last time..
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[First embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes a rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader 13 is provided on the left side of the outer frame 11. The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by hinges 14 at the upper and lower left ends.
An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12, and a lending button 16, a settlement button 17 and a balance display unit 18 are provided on the upper plate 15. When a prepaid card is inserted into the card slot 19 of the card reader 13, the stored balance is displayed on the balance display unit 18, and when the lending button 16 is pressed, the game ball is lent out and the game ball is loaded from the payout slot of the upper plate 15. Discharged.
A window-shaped metal frame 20 is removably attached to the front frame 12 with respect to the front frame 12. A plate glass 21 is double fitted in the metal frame 20. A game board 22 is stored behind the plate glass 21.
A lower plate 23 is provided at the lower part of the front frame 12 of the upper plate 15, and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A rotation ring (not shown) is held on the outer periphery of the launch handle 24, and the game ball can be launched onto the game board 22 by rotating clockwise.
The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected to each other, and are configured to guide the game ball to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 is full of game balls.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 viewed from the back side. As shown in the drawing, a mechanism board 26 to which the above-described game board 22 is detachably attached is housed in the above-described outer frame 13. The mechanism panel 26 is provided with a ball tank 27, a guide rod 28, and a payout device 29 from above. With this configuration, if there is a winning game ball at the winning opening on the game board 22, a predetermined number of gaming balls can be discharged from the ball tank 27 to the above-described upper plate 15 through the guide rod 28 by the payout device 29. .
As will be described in detail later, a main control board 30 and a prize ball control board 31 are detachable from the mechanism board 26, a special symbol display device 32 is provided at the game board 22, and a launch control board is provided at the lower left part of the front frame. 33 are attached to each. Since the structure related to paying out the game balls with the mechanism panel 26 as the center is the same as the conventional structure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0024]
Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 22 has an LCD panel unit (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 32a constituting a special symbol display device 32 at the center, and a normal electric accessory serving as a first type starting port at the lower part thereof. 36, the normal symbol display device 37 on the upper part of the LCD 35, the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 35 used for starting the fluctuation of the symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 37, and the big prize opening 40 on the lower part of the ordinary electric accessory 36. Further, an out port 41 at the bottom of the board surface, other various winning ports, a windmill, a game nail (not shown), and the like are provided.
With this configuration, when the above-described launch handle 24 is rotated, the launch motor 33a driven by the launch control board 33 is driven, and the game ball on the upper plate 15 is launched onto the game board 22 via the guide rail. . If the launched game ball wins each winning hole, the game ball is taken into the back of the board as a safe ball, and if not won, it is taken into the back of the board through the out port 41 as well.
[0025]
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 described above will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
As shown in the figure, the electric circuit of the pachinko machine 10 includes the main control board 30, the prize ball control board 31, the special symbol display device 32, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board 35, and the above-mentioned prepaid. The card unit 13 and the CR adjustment display board 42 are included. In this circuit diagram, so-called relay boards, power supply circuits, and the like are not shown in order to exchange signals.
[0026]
The main control board 30 is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer incorporating a ROM that stores a game control program and a RAM that serves as a work area for operations and the like. An external input / output circuit for inputting / outputting with various actuators is also provided.
On the input side of the main control board 30, there are a first type start port switch 36a, normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, an accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter simply referred to as "V switch") 40a, a count switch 40b, a prize ball A payout switch 29a, a full switch 43, a supply switch 44, a touch switch 24a and the like are connected. On the output side, a big prize opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40b, a normal accessory solenoid 36b, and the like are connected.
[0027]
The first type start switch 36a is in the normal electric accessory 36 on the game board 22 described above, the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a are in the normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39, respectively, and the V switch 40a is in the special winning opening 40. Similarly, the count switch 40b is in the big winning opening 40, the prize ball payout switch 29a is below the ball cutting motor 29b in the payout device 29, the full switch 43 is in the lower plate 16, and the supply switch 44 is in the ball tank 27. , Respectively. Here, the V switch 40a wins the prize winning opening 40 when the game ball that has won the prize winning opening 40 has passed the special device operating area (hereinafter referred to as "special area"). All the game balls, the prize ball payout switch 29a is a game ball discharged to the upper plate 15 by the ball cutting motor 29b, and the full tank switch 43 indicates that the game ball is full in the lower plate 16. The replenishment switch 44 detects the presence of a game ball in the ball tank 27, and the touch switch 24a is provided in the launch handle 24 to detect that the player is touching the launch handle 24.
The large winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is used for the large winning opening 40, the V solenoid is used for a special area in the large winning opening 40, and the ordinary accessory solenoid 36b is used for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 36, respectively. It is.
[0028]
The special symbol display device 32 includes the above-described LCD 32a, a symbol display device control board (hereinafter simply referred to as “design control board”) 32b for driving and controlling the LCD 32a, and an accessory unit 32c such as a backlight and an inverter board. ing. Similar to the main control board 30 described above, the symbol control board 32b is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer.
[0029]
The prize ball control board 31 pays out a game ball as a prize ball to the player when a winning is obtained by driving and controlling the ball cutting motor 29b in accordance with a command command from the main control board 30. It may be configured as a logical operation circuit used or may be configured as a discrete circuit. The award ball control board 31 only pays out a game ball in accordance with a command from the main control board 30, and the main control board 30 detects whether or not a game ball corresponding to the winning is being paid out.
[0030]
The launch control board 33 drives and controls the launch motor 33a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the launch handle 24 operated by the player. When the player presses the launch stop switch 24b, the launch control board 33 stops firing or launches. When the touch switch 24a built in the handle 24 is in an on state, the touch lamp 45 is turned on.
[0031]
The lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of driving elements such as transistors. Upon receiving a command from the main control board 30, the lamp control board 34 receives a normal symbol display device 37, lamps such as jackpot lamps and error lamps, and various lamps such as LEDs. It is intended to light up the display.
[0032]
The sound control board 35 includes a sound source IC, an amplifier, and the like, and is used to drive and control the speaker 46 in response to a command from the main control board 30.
[0033]
A circuit for one-way communication so that the transmission to the special symbol display device 32, the prize ball control board 31, the launch control board 33, the lamp control board 34, and the sound control board 35 can be transmitted only from the main control board 30. It is configured as. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are circuit diagrams specifically showing the one-way communication circuit.
[0034]
The circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5 shows the interface circuit between the main control board 30 and the symbol control board 32b of the special symbol display device 32, and the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 6 shows the receiving circuit of the symbol control board 32b in more detail. Respectively. As shown in the figure, the CPU of the main control board 30 and the CPU of the symbol control board 32b are connected via an I / O port, and the CPU of the symbol control board 32b receives a signal from the main control board 30. This is configured so that transmission to the main control board 30 is not possible. In this specific example, communication data from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b (hereinafter also simply referred to as “command code”) is composed of one command consisting of 2 bytes and eight parallel signals (MD0 to MD0). MD7) and an interrupt request signal (MINT). FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the interrupt request signal (MINT) and the parallel signal. When an interrupt request (MINT) is transmitted from the main control board, an interrupt (INT) is generated to the CPU of the symbol control board 32b. By this interrupt processing, the CPU of the symbol control board 32b sends an instruction code to the command reception buffer. It is configured to store.
[0035]
In addition, the prepaid card unit 13 and the CR payment display board 42 described above are connected to the main control board 30. The CR adjustment display board 42 includes the lending button 16, the adjustment button 17, and the balance display unit 18 of the upper plate 15 described above.
The game content provided by the pachinko machine 10 having the circuit configuration described above is the same as that of the conventional game, so only a brief description will be given.
[0036]
A game ball is launched onto the game board 22 by the launch motor 33a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the launch handle 24 operated by the player, and the launched game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the first type starting port. In this case, it is detected by the first type start port switch 36a, and the special symbol is variably displayed on the screen of the LCD 32a of the special symbol display device 32 so as to be statically displayed. When the special symbol displayed statically displays a predetermined specific symbol, for example, the same three-digit symbol such as “777”, the game content advantageous to the player is provided as a “big hit” state. Whether or not the big hit state is reached is determined by whether or not the value of the random number for determining whether or not the game ball is detected by the first type start port switch 36a is a predetermined value. This success / failure determination random number is a counter that is incremented every minute time every 2 ms, for example, and repeatedly creates 250 types of integers from 0 to 249, for example, and the timing at which the launched game ball wins a prize in the ordinary electric accessory 36 Since it is a random timing that cannot be predicted, it functions as a random number. When the big hit state is reached, the grand prize opening 40 is opened for about 30 seconds or until 10 seconds when the game is won by the count switch 40b, whichever comes first. When the V switch 40a detects that the game ball has passed through the special area, the special winning opening 40 is once closed and then opened again, and this opening operation is repeated up to 16 times. Normally, 15 game balls are paid out as a prize ball for one game ball winning, so when one big hit state occurs, about 2400 (= 15 × 10 × 16) A game ball can be obtained as a prize ball. This prize ball discharge operation is executed by the prize ball control board. The V solenoid 40d for opening and closing the special area of the special winning opening 40 is for closing the special area when one game ball passes through the special area.
[0037]
Further, when the launched game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 38 or 39, it is detected by the normal symbol operation switch 38a or 39a, and the normal symbol display device 37 displays the change after a predetermined time change, for example, “7” or the like. When the specific symbol is displayed, for example, the ordinary electric accessory 36 is released until a predetermined time such as about 6 seconds or until a predetermined number of game balls, such as six, is won, whichever comes first. As a result, the chance that the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 increases, the player can acquire a predetermined number of game balls, and the number of times the special symbol on the special symbol display device 32 is variably displayed increases. The probability of generating a jackpot state increases. Since the configuration until the ordinary electric accessory 36 is opened is substantially the same as the configuration for generating the “big hit” state described above, the description thereof is omitted.
The control executed by the lamp control board 34 and the sound control board 35 during the game has the same configuration as the conventional one, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0038]
Next, the configuration of communication executed between the main control board 30 and the special symbol display device 32 will be described in detail using Table 1 shown on the next page. Table 1 shows the types of instruction codes (hereinafter also referred to as “commands”) and the contents and operation contents of 2-byte instructions corresponding to the commands.
[0039]
[Table 1]

[0040]
As shown in Table 1, the commands of the main control board 30 and the special symbol display device 32 of this specific example are: 1. When power is turned on 2. Demonstration waiting for customers. 3. During design fluctuation. 4. At the start of jackpot During the big hit, 6. 6. At the end of jackpot It can be roughly divided into 7 types when operation is abnormal.
[0041]
1. When power is turned on
The power-on command is a command that is transmitted from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b when the gaming machine 10 is turned on, and is composed of two-byte instructions of 10H and 01H. When the symbol control board 32b receives this command, a demonstration screen at power-on is displayed on the screen of the LCD 32a according to the control program written in the ROM.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the special symbol display areas 50a, 50b, and 50c on the screen display the jackpot symbols that are three digits identical to “7”, “7”, and “7”, respectively, and hold four special symbols on hold. The memories 51a to 51d are turned on after being turned on for a predetermined time (about 5 seconds), the dojo is displayed on the background screen 52, and hero and bad are displayed as characters. About 1 minute) After fighting, a demo screen for displaying the characters “Fire” is displayed by defeating the villain and the sound control board 35 outputs a sound effect “Fire”.
[0042]
2. Customer waiting demo
The customer waiting demo command is a command transmitted after the power-on demonstration screen is finished or when it is determined that the player has not touched the firing handle 24 for a predetermined time (usually about 3 minutes), It consists of 2 byte instructions of 20H and 01H. When the symbol control board 32b receives this command, a demonstration screen waiting for the customer is displayed on the screen of the LCD 32a according to the control program written in the ROM. For example, all the special symbol variation patterns that are variably displayed on the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c are displayed in order. This variation pattern will be described in detail in “3. At this time, a background image and a character corresponding to each variation pattern are displayed on the background screen 52. This waiting-for-customer demonstration screen displays all the variation patterns in order until the player operates the firing handle 24, and then repeatedly displays them. Note that whether or not the player is touching the firing handle 24 can be detected by an input of the touch switch 24a. In this embodiment, since the input of the touch switch 24a is input to the main control board 30, the detection is performed while the communication between the main control board 30 and the launch control board 33 is one-way communication from the main control board 30. Is possible. Of course, on / off information of the touch switch 24 a is transmitted from the main control board 30 to the launch control board 33. The input of the touch switch 24a is configured to be input to the launch control board 33, and there is no winning for a predetermined time in any or all of the winning openings, or a switch is provided in the out opening 41 of the game board 22 surface. A configuration may be adopted in which it is determined that the player is not playing a game by not turning it on for a predetermined time.
[0043]
3. Changing design
The symbol changing command is a command transmitted when the special symbol changes. As shown in the table, (1) start code, (2) left stop symbol designation code, (3) middle stop symbol designation code, (4) right There are seven types of commands: stop symbol designation code, (5) left symbol determination code, (6) middle symbol determination code, and (7) right symbol determination code.
[0044]
(1) Start code
The start code is a command transmitted when a game ball fired on the game board 22 wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port, and a 1-byte command of 30H as an operation number and 01H to 1EH as an identification number 30 types of 1-byte instructions and 30 types of 2-byte instructions. These 30 types of 2-byte instructions indicate special symbol fluctuation patterns. The 30 types of variation patterns in this example are 10 types of normal variation, 8 types of shortened variation, 4 types of normal reach, 4 types of semi-long from the variation time of the special symbol, the variation mode and the probability of being a big hit. Reach consists of 2 types of long reach and 2 types of full rotation.
[0045]
The 10 types of normal fluctuations take 5 seconds from when the special symbol starts to fluctuate until all the left, middle and right special symbols stop (stop) (hereinafter also referred to simply as “fluctuation time”). It is a fluctuation pattern in which 10 types of time between 10 seconds are set.
The eight types of shortening fluctuations are 8 based on the difference between the four types of patterns and the two types of probabilities in the case where there is one special symbol reserved memory, two cases, three cases, and four cases. This is a variation pattern in which a variation time of a type is set.
The four types of normal reach are variation patterns in which four types of time between a variation time of 8 seconds and 15 seconds are set. Here, the reach is not necessarily a big hit, but as a premise of the big hit, the left special symbol matches the middle special symbol after the start of the change of the special symbol, the right special symbol is changing, and the symbol The state where is not fixed.
The four types of semi-long reach are variation patterns in which four types of time between 15 to 25 seconds are set.
The two types of long reach are fluctuation patterns in which the fluctuation time is set to 30 seconds or 35 seconds. The longer the reach time, the higher the probability that the right symbol matches the left and middle symbols, that is, the big hit.
The two types of full rotations refer to a fluctuation pattern in which all symbols start to change all at once and stop all at once. In this example, the change time is set to 25 seconds for low probability and 20 seconds for high probability. Yes.
[0046]
These 30 types of variation patterns are selected according to the value of the counter when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36. It goes without saying that the counter for selecting this pattern creates integers from 0 to 29 in the same manner as the decision random numbers.
[0047]
(2) Left stop symbol designation code
The left stop symbol designation code is an instruction code composed of an operation number of 31H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. When the identification number is 01H, the left stop symbol is “0”, and when it is 02H, “1”. ”,“ 2 ”for 03H,“ 3 ”for 04H,“ 4 ”for 05H,“ 5 ”for 06H,“ 6 ”for 07H,“ 7 ”for 08H, "9" for 09H, "9" for 0AH, "A" for 0BH, "B" for 0CH, "C" for 0DH, "D" for 0EH, 0FH In this case, the character “E” is displayed as a special symbol in the special symbol display area 50a.
[0048]
(3) Middle stop symbol designation code
The middle stop symbol designation code is an instruction code composed of an operation number of 32H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. The identification number has the same meaning as the identification number of the left stop symbol designation code and is designated by each. The character to be displayed is displayed as a special symbol in the special symbol display area 50b.
[0049]
(4) Right stop symbol designation code
The right stop design designation code is an instruction code consisting of an operation number of 33H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. The identification numbers have the same meaning as the identification numbers of the left stop design designation code and are designated by each. The character to be displayed is displayed as a special symbol in the special symbol display area 50c.
The identification number of the left, middle and right stop symbol designation codes is selected from each symbol counter that repeatedly creates an integer value of 0 to 14 at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36.
[0050]
(5) Left symbol confirmation code
The left symbol determination code is an instruction code that is transmitted to stop (still) the left special symbol that is fluctuating, and includes an operation number of 34H and an identification number of 01H.
[0051]
(6) Medium symbol confirmation code
The middle symbol determination code is an instruction code transmitted to stop the middle special symbol during the change, and is composed of an operation number of 35H and an identification number of 01H.
[0052]
(7) Right symbol confirmation code
The middle symbol determination code is an instruction code to be transmitted to stop the middle special symbol being fluctuated, and is composed of an operation number of 36H and an identification number of 01H.
[0053]
4). Jackpot start
The big hit start command indicates that the big hit has occurred after the left, middle and right special symbols displayed in the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c display the same symbol until the big hit operation is started. This command is used when displaying an image that appeals to the user, and is composed of an operation number of 40H and an identification number of 01H. When the symbol control board receives this command code, a process of outputting a sound effect by the sound control board 35 is performed on the screen of the LCD 32a while displaying a character such as a big hit and displaying an image that the character is pleased with.
[0054]
5). Big hit
The jackpot command is classified into four commands: a pre-opening code, a releasing code, a 10-count winning code, and a V passing code.
(1) The pre-opening code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 01H, and when the symbol control board 32b inputs this command code, an image that informs the player that the special winning opening 40 is to be opened is background 52. Execute the process displayed on the screen.
(2) The opening code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 02H, and when the symbol control board 32b inputs this command code, an image that informs the player that the special winning opening 40 is being opened is displayed. Execute the process to be displayed.
(3) The 10-count winning code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 03H, and the main control board 30 detects that a game ball has entered the big winning opening 40 by the count switch 40b or the V switch 40a. Send this instruction code every time. When the symbol control board 32b inputs this command code, the value is incremented every time it is input, and the value is displayed on the background 52. As a result, each time a game ball wins the big winning opening 40, the number from zero to 10 is displayed on the screen.
(4) The V passing code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 04H. When the main board 30 detects that the game ball has passed through a special area in the big prize opening 40, this instruction code Send. When the command control board 32b inputs this command code, the character “V” is displayed large on the screen to inform the player that the special winning opening 40 is closed and then opened again.
[0055]
6). End of jackpot
The big hit end command is when the big hit operation is finished, that is, when the big winning opening 40 finishes the opening operation 16 times, or when the game ball does not pass through the special area during the opening even if it does not continue until 16 times. This is an instruction code transmitted to, and consists of an operation number of 60H and an identification number of 01H. When the symbol control board 32b inputs this command code, a message notifying the player that the big hit has ended is displayed, and when the high probability state continues, the character “Lucky!” Is displayed and the high probability does not continue Executes the process of displaying the characters "Sorry!" Here, the high probability continues that the probability that a jackpot will be generated after the jackpot operation ends when a jackpot occurs in a special symbol such as “777” or “333”, for example, from 1/250 to 1/50. Say to be. More specifically, it means that the range that can be taken by the counter used for the decision random number is changed from 0 to 049 to 0 to 49.
[0056]
7). When operation is abnormal
The abnormal operation command is an instruction command transmitted when an abnormality occurs in the pachinko machine 10, and in this specific example, is composed of an E1 error code of 70H01H, an E2 error code of 70H02H, and an E3 error code of 70H03H. Yes. In this specific example, the E1 error code is output when a ten-count abnormal error is detected and no game balls are detected when the special winning opening 40 is opened, and the E2 error code is full when the lower plate 16 is full. 43 is output when the switch is turned on, and the E3 error code is output when the supply switch 44 is turned on. Note that the error message displayed by sending these abnormal-time commands is erased by the error release signal sent when the abnormality is released.
[0057]
Here, an example of the variation pattern will be specifically described with reference to Table 2 and FIG. The timing chart shown in Table 2 and FIG. 9 shows an example of communication timing.
When the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a start opening, one variation pattern of 30 types of start codes shown in Table 1 is selected at the timing of the winning, and the selected instruction code is the main code. It is transmitted from the control board to the symbol control board 32b (Table 2, number (1)). When the symbol control board 32b receives the transmitted instruction code, the left special symbol, the middle special symbol, and the right special symbol on the special symbol operation areas 50a to 50c start to be changed all at once (timing chart point (1) in FIG. 9). .
[0058]
The main control board 30 transmits the left stop symbol designation code selected at the time of winning a prize immediately after transmitting the start code (number 2 in Table 2). When the command code is received by the symbol control board 32b, the variation speed is adjusted and controlled according to the variation pattern so as to stop and display with the left special symbol corresponding to the command code (point of timing chart (2) in FIG. 9). Then, the left special symbol designated at the timing when the left symbol determination code is received from the main control board 30 is stopped and displayed (Table 2, number (3)) (FIG. 9, timing chart point (3)). The timing at which the main control board 30 transmits the left symbol determination code is determined according to the selected variation pattern. With this configuration, the main control board 30 is completely in control of the timing at which the change symbol is stopped and displayed.
[0059]
[Table 2]

[0060]
By the same procedure, the main control board 30 transmits the middle stop symbol designation code, the middle symbol determination code, the right stop symbol designation code and the right symbol determination code one after another (Table 2 (4) (5) (6) (7)). ), The symbol control board 32b controls the image according to the received instruction code (points of timing chart (4) (5) (6) (7) in FIG. 8).
By the above-described processing, in this specific example, “4” is displayed in the special symbol display area 50a, “5” is displayed in the special symbol display area 50b, and “5” is displayed in the pattern display area 50c.
[0061]
According to the present embodiment described in detail above, the symbol control board 32b is configured to transmit in advance a series of variations of special symbols from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b. Control can be performed, and the burden on the main control board 30 can be remarkably reduced, and the degree of freedom of control of the symbol control board 32b is further enhanced.
As a result, the main control board 30 can suitably execute processing with other control boards, that is, the prize ball control board 31, the firing control board 33, the lamp control board 34, the sound control board, and the like. Play. On the other hand, in the symbol control board 32b, since the degree of restraint by the main control board 30 is drastically reduced, it is possible to easily control the display of a story image on a screen other than the special symbol display area. Also play. At this time, it is conceivable that the display-controlled image has a story development every time a start code from the main control board 30 is transmitted.
In this embodiment, the start code for designating the pattern variation pattern is selected from the 30 patterns at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36, so that the displayed image is displayed. It has an excellent effect of having randomness.
Further, in this embodiment, not only the start code for starting the variation of symbols, but also a configuration in which the stationary time of each special symbol is instructed from the main control board 30, so that it can be used in a testing institution that certifies type testing of gaming machines. However, when measuring the transmission timing from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b, if the timing for transmitting the start code and the timing for transmitting each special symbol confirmation code are measured, the fluctuation start and stop of the special symbol on the screen is measured. There is also an excellent effect that the time can be accurately measured in real time.
[Second Embodiment]
[0062]
Next, a second specific example will be described.
In the second specific example, instead of the command shown in Table 1 used in the first specific example, each command shown in Table 3 below is used, and the variation pattern correspondence table shown in Table 4 is used. Except this, the configuration is substantially the same as the first specific example.
In the second specific example, as shown in Table 3, the left, middle and right symbol determination codes used in the first specific example are not used, and the main control board 30 is usually a game ball. When winning the electric accessory 36, a start code and left, middle, and right stop design designation codes are transmitted. That is, designation of each symbol is not instructed to the symbol control board 32b. On the other hand, the symbol control board 32b reads the variation time (stop time) of each special symbol corresponding to the received variation pattern from the table of Table 4, and varies each special symbol according to the read variation time and stops.
[0063]
In the second specific example, the main control board simply sends the selected start code and each stop symbol designation code to the symbol control board 36b at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as the start port. This has an excellent effect that the burden on the control board 36 can be further reduced. Similarly, since the symbol control board 36b does not receive a symbol stop instruction from the main control board 30, the degree of freedom of image control can be further increased, and an image can be freely produced on the screen. Very effective.
As a configuration to produce a free image on the screen, a story is developed every time a start code is transmitted on the background screen 52, and the player wants to know the development and ending of the story that follows. It may be possible to obtain a psychological effect that makes it seem that the user does not want to end the process on the way. At this time, if a big hit occurs, the configuration may be such that the ending of the story is forcibly displayed, or the story may be developed regardless of whether it is a big hit. When constructing the development of these stories, the image control device knows in advance the time of the variation pattern of the special symbol, so it is judged that there is no instruction from the main control board within this time, and the production is free during this period. Can do it.
Further, as a configuration for producing a free image on the screen, the story is not developed on the background screen 52 until the special symbol starts to fluctuate and stops, so that the player does not fluctuate the special symbol. It is good also as a structure which expand | deploys a story when operating.
[0064]
[Table 3]

[0065]
[Table 4]

[Third embodiment]
[0066]
Next, a third specific example will be described with reference to the following Table 5 and the timing chart shown in FIG.
Although it has been described that when the command code of “6. End of jackpot” in the first embodiment is transmitted, when the special symbol is a specific symbol such as “777” or “333”, the high probability shifts. The embodiment uses a probability variation determination symbol instead of a special symbol of a special symbol. Here, the instruction code shown in Table 5 is obtained by changing only the instruction code “6. End of jackpot” in Table 1 shown in the first specific example, and the other instruction codes have the same contents.
[0067]
[Table 5]

[0068]
In the third specific example, a determination start code is first transmitted from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b at the end of the big hit operation, and immediately thereafter, a stop symbol designation code and a determination symbol determination code at the end of the variation are transmitted. The In this specific example, the start code identification number is composed of five types of variation patterns from 01H to 05H. The aspect of the pattern (image) that changes corresponding to this identification number is to change the image of the game. The game may be anything as long as it is determined to win or lose sports, martial arts, shogi or go games, etc., and when the game ball wins the ordinary electric game 36 with a variation pattern that develops a story (story). Is selected.
In this specific example, the stop symbol designation code is used to display the characters “Lucky!” When shifting to a high probability and to display the characters “Sorry!” When not shifting to a high probability. It consists of two types of codes. Whether or not to shift to a high probability is determined by the value of a counter (randomness determination random number) selected when a game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36, and has a probability of 1/2 of the big hit with a high probability. In the case of transition, the counter uses an integer value in the range of 0 to 1, and in the case of transition to a high probability with a probability of 1/3, the counter uses an integer value in the range of 0 to 2 in the same manner as the above-mentioned decision random number. Creating. The main control board 30 stores the value of the counter when the game ball wins the ordinary electric player 36, reads the value of the counter stored at the end of the big hit operation, and if the read value is a specific value, It is determined that the probability shifts. It should be noted that it may be determined whether or not the game ball shifts to a high probability when winning, and a result of the determination may be stored.
[0069]
When moving to a high probability, the word “Lucky!” Is displayed after the story that won the game is expanded. When not moving to the high probability, the word “Sorry!” Is displayed after expanding the story that loses the game. It is. An example of the timing of this variation is shown in the timing chart shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the probability variation determination symbol starts to vary after the special winning opening 40 ends the 16th opening operation, and the special symbol starts to vary after the variation operation ends. In the figure, the condition device treats the state until the fluctuation of the probability variation determination symbol is finished as an operation state, but it may be regarded as the operation end (indicated by a dotted line in the drawing) when the 16th operation is finished. good. At this time, the main control board may transmit the determination start code when the operation of the condition device is completed.
Needless to say, even if the big prize opening is 16 times before being opened, if the game ball does not pass through the special area during the opening, the big hit operation will be completed at the time of the opening. In addition, in this specific example, after the game image is displayed in a variably displayed manner, the design indicating whether or not to shift to a high probability is displayed. Even if it is a structure which shows whether it transfers to a high probability with the symbol of time, it does not interfere.
[0070]
According to the third specific example, whether or not to shift to a high probability is indicated after the jackpot operation ends. Thus, unlike the conventional case where it is already shown whether or not to shift when a big hit occurs, it has an excellent effect that the player can keep enjoying until the big hit operation is finished. In addition, since a series of variation patterns indicating whether or not to shift to a high probability is transmitted in advance at the end of the jackpot operation, the symbol control board 32b can freely develop the story until the determination symbol determination code is transmitted. Can do. This effect becomes even more prominent if the design start code is instructed to stop the symbol.
[0071]
[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth specific example will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the fourth specific example, the command code shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 is used as the command code during the symbol variation shown in Table 3 used in the first specific example. The specific example of will be used.
In the fourth specific example, as shown in FIG. 11, the variation pattern as the start code indicates the variation time of the special symbol. In this embodiment, 72 patterns are facilitated. The 72 variation patterns are obtained as a result of the success / failure random number extracted at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 serving as the start opening, and as a result, the game ball is also used as the start electric door. Each element such as the value of each symbol counter that is the source of the identification number of the above-mentioned left, middle and right stop symbol designation codes extracted at the timing of winning the prize 36, and whether or not the decision random number is in a high probability state To be determined. The variation pattern selected by the selection table of FIG. 11 includes information on a variation mode such as whether each special symbol is stopped in sequence or all at once. Information such as the time and the change time of medium special symbols is also included.
The special symbol selection table shown in FIG. 12 indicates a left special symbol, a middle special symbol, and a right special symbol that are stopped and displayed on the special symbol operation areas 50a to 50c after the variation of the special symbol is stopped. This command is also determined based on the extracted symbol counter values. Also, the symbol stop command shown in FIG. 13 is a command used to stop the left, middle and right special symbols.
Next, the control in which the microcomputer of the main control board 30 transmits commands to the symbol control board 32b using these commands will be described with reference to the timing charts shown in FIGS.
[0072]
When it is detected that the game ball has won the ordinary electric accessory 36, the winning / determining random number, values of each symbol counter, etc. are extracted at this timing. Whether or not a big hit is determined based on the extracted value of the winning / decision determining random number is determined, and a big hit symbol or a missed symbol is determined based on the value of each symbol counter. In the case of jackpot, it is also determined whether or not the jackpot symbol is shifted to a high probability after the jackpot operation is completed. Then, one of 72 types of variation patterns is selected according to the result of the jackpot determination, the type of each determined symbol, and the state of whether or not the probability is high. When the variation pattern is selected, the microcomputer of the main control board 30 outputs the selected variation pattern as a start code to the symbol control board 32b (point P1 in FIG. 14). After the fluctuation pattern is output, a command indicating the left special symbol, a command indicating the middle special symbol, and a command indicating the right special symbol determined from the selection table of FIG. 12 are transmitted every 4 ms. 14 points P2, P3, P4). Then, when the fluctuation stop time of each special symbol comes, the symbol stop command shown in FIG. 13 is transmitted (FIG. 14, points P5, P6, P7).
[0073]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the microcomputer of the symbol control board 32b that has received the variation pattern simultaneously changes the special symbols on the special symbol operation areas 50a to 50c at a low speed from when the variation pattern is received. Start, shift from medium speed to high speed on the way, decelerate and shift to low speed when the stop time is near, execute the swing motion with each designated special symbol, and receive the symbol stop command with the designated special symbol Execute the control to stop.
At this time, on the background screen 52 on the screen, the symbol appears on the basis of the selection table of FIGS. 16 and 17 according to the information of the received variation pattern, and the symbol control board 32b executes control to change the background screen. To do.
As described above, the variation pattern selected from the main control board 30 to the symbol control board 32b, the special symbols to be stopped and the symbol stop command are output, but these commands are given to the symbol control board 32b. An error process executed by the symbol control board 32b when the signal is not received due to, for example, electrical noise will be described.
[0074]
The command abnormality correspondence table shown in FIG. 18 shows processing executed by the symbol control board 32b when each command is not input.
Here, for convenience, error processing will be described in eight patterns. In the figure, “◯” indicates a case where the command is normally received, and “X” indicates a case where the command is not received.
1. Error handling ER1
Error processing ER1 is a case where the fluctuation pattern and the symbol stop command are normally received, and one or more designated special symbols cannot be received.
In this error process ER1, a process of displaying a character “communication error” on the screen one second after inputting a fluctuation pattern (fluctuation start command) and displaying “x” as a designated special symbol that could not be received is executed. The
If the special symbol that could not be received normally is a special symbol indicating a big hit, then a big hit start command is transmitted from the main control board 30 and the big winning opening 40 is suddenly opened, and the player is surprised. There is no defect.
In the case of an off symbol, there is no problem because a command corresponding to the next winning is transmitted. When there is no next winning for a while, or when there is no so-called “holding storage”, the main control board 30 transmits a customer waiting demo command after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that “communication error” is not continuously displayed.
[0075]
2. Error handling ER2
Error processing ER2 is when the variation pattern and each designated special symbol are normally received and the symbol stop command cannot be received.
In this error process ER2, the fluctuation variation is executed with the stop symbol after the variation time of each special symbol has elapsed. The fluctuation due to this error processing may be executed for each special symbol after the variation time of each special symbol elapses, or after the variation time of the right special symbol, that is, after all the special symbols have elapsed. You may perform shaking fluctuation all at once.
Also in the error process ER2, the subsequent process after fluctuation fluctuation is executed in the same way as the error process ER1.
[0076]
3. Error handling ER3
Error processing ER3 is a case where the fluctuation pattern is normally received and any of the designated special symbols and the symbol stop command cannot be received.
In this error process ER3, the fluctuation fluctuation is executed with the stop symbol after the fluctuation time of each special symbol has elapsed. For the designated special symbol that could not be received, the fluctuation fluctuation is executed with the designated special symbol received last time. The start time of the fluctuation fluctuation is the same as that of the error processing ER2.
[0077]
4). Error handling ER4
Error processing ER4 is a case where only the variation pattern is not normally received.
In this error processing ER4, the special symbol does not change, and “communication error” is displayed when the first designated special symbol is received.
[0078]
5). Error handling ER5
Error processing ER5 is a case where either the variation pattern or each designated special symbol is not normally received.
In this error processing ER5, the special symbol does not change, and a “communication error” is displayed when the first received special special symbol is received. In addition, “×” is displayed for a special symbol for which the designated special symbol cannot be received. The timing for displaying “x” may be displayed when a stop command for each special symbol is received, or may be displayed at the same time after the fluctuation time of all the special symbols has elapsed.
[0079]
6). Error handling ER6
Error processing ER6 is when only the symbol stop command is received normally.
In this error processing ER6, the special symbol does not change, “communication error” is displayed when the symbol stop command is received, and “x” is displayed as each special symbol. The timing for displaying the communication error and “x” is the same as in the error processing ER5.
[0080]
7). Error handling ER7
Error processing ER7 is when only one of the designated special symbols is received.
In this error processing ER6, the special symbol does not change, and “communication error” is displayed when the first designated special symbol is received.
[0081]
8). Error handling ER8
Error processing ER8 is when all commands cannot be received.
In this error processing ER8, the special symbol does not change and “communication error” is not displayed. Even in this case, since the subsequent process similar to the error process ER1 is executed, there is no disadvantage to the player.
[0082]
As described above, in the fourth specific example described in detail, different error processing is executed corresponding to a combination of reception abnormality of each command of the change pattern instruction command, the three special symbol designation commands, and the symbol stop command, Except when all commands cannot be received, fluctuation fluctuation is executed and error display is executed. As a result, the player can recognize that a communication error has occurred. For example, even if the occurrence of a jackpot is not displayed, the player is alerted because the player is alerted. There is an effect that the profit can be minimized. In addition, it is considered that none of the jackpot display with the same special symbol and the display of occurrence of jackpot are displayed at all, and even in such a case, since the sound output of jackpot occurrence is made by voice, it is unexpected to the player. There will be no disadvantage. Furthermore, in this specific example, even when the out symbol is not correctly displayed due to a communication error, the player recognizes the state of the game because the out symbol display is executed as much as possible using the previous designated symbol. It has the effect of being able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment employing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a back view of the gaming machine of the embodiment as seen from the back side.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board surface of the gaming machine according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment.
5 is a block diagram showing an interface circuit between the main control board 30 of the embodiment and the symbol display device control board 32b of the special symbol display device 32. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a receiving circuit of the symbol display device control board 32b.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating the relationship between an interrupt request signal (MINT) and instruction codes (MD0 to MD7).
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating an image on the screen of the LCD panel unit 32a.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating an image variation pattern on the screen of the LCD panel unit 32a.
FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of a variation timing of a probability variation determination symbol.
FIG. 11 is a list showing a variation pattern selection table.
FIG. 12 is a list showing a selection table for each special symbol.
FIG. 13 is a list showing symbol stop commands.
FIG. 14 is a timing chart illustrating command transmission timing when each special symbol is sequentially stopped;
FIG. 15 is a timing chart illustrating command transmission timing when each special symbol is stopped all at once;
FIG. 16 is a list showing a character selection table.
FIG. 17 is a list showing a background selection table.
FIG. 18 is a table showing command abnormality handling.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Pachinko machine
22 ... Game board
24 ... Launch handle
24a ... Touch switch
30 ... Main control board
31 ... Prize ball control board
32 ... Special symbol display device
32a: LCD panel unit (LCD)
32b ... Symbol display device control board (design control board)
33 ... Launch control board
34 ... Lamp control board
35 ... Sound control board
36 ... Normally electric accessory (starting port)
36a ... Type 1 start switch
37 ... Normal symbol display device
40 ... Big prize opening
40a: An accessory continuous operation switch (VSW)
40b ... Ten count switch (Count SW)
50a, 50b, 50c
... Special symbol display area
52 ... Background screen
hero, bad
·····charactor

Claims (1)

A main control board for determining whether or not the game ball launched on the game board surface wins a specific winning opening or a game content advantageous to the player due to the timing of passing the specific passing opening;
An image control board that variably displays a special symbol indicating whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player each time it is determined whether or not the game content is advantageous to the player by the main control board;
In game machines including
A circuit configuration capable of transmitting only from the main control board to the image control board,
The main control board is:
As for the special symbol from the start of fluctuation to rest, the variation pattern instruction command for instructing the variation time of the special symbol selected due to the timing, and the stationary corresponding to each of the plurality of symbols constituting the special symbol A set of symbol designating commands for designating the type of symbol at the time, a single symbol stop command for stopping the special symbol , and an interrupt request signal for making a maskable hardware interrupt request to the CPU of the image control board Have
The type of stop symbol is determined by the symbol designating command, and the symbol stop timing is determined by the symbol stop command,
The CPU of the main control board is connected to the maskable interrupt terminal of the image control board via the output port, and is connected to the CPU of the image control board via the output port. Selecting one variation pattern instruction command and symbol designating command, transmitting the interrupt request signal to a maskable interrupt terminal of the image control board, and outputting the selected variation pattern instruction command and symbol designating command to the output port Send through
The timing for transmitting the symbol stop command is determined according to the variation pattern, and according to the timing, the symbol stop command is transmitted,
The CPU of the image control board
Each time the interrupt request signal is received from the main control board, a maskable hardware interrupt of the CPU is generated, and when the one variation pattern instruction command and one set of symbol designating commands are received in the generated interrupt, the special request is made. An image configuration in which the variation of the special symbol is started for the variation time indicated by the variation pattern instruction command and the story is developed on a screen other than the special symbol every time the variation pattern instruction command is received. And the symbol designating command swings with a special symbol at rest, and when the symbol stop command is received, the shaking special symbol is stopped at once,
When the variation pattern instruction command is normally received and the symbol designation command and the symbol stop command of any of the special symbols cannot be received, the fluctuation variation is executed even after the variation time has elapsed. special symbol that could not perform the shake variation of the special symbol indicated by the symbol designating command previously received,
The main control board includes a customer waiting demonstration command to be transmitted to the image control board when it is determined that the player has not touched the launch handle for a predetermined time, and when the image control board receives the command, the image A demo screen waiting for a customer is displayed on the screen according to a control program written in the ROM of the control board, and the variation pattern of the special symbol displayed in a variable on the special symbol display area is displayed on the demo screen waiting for the customer. Display all in order,
A gaming machine that is configured as described above.

Images