JP4032150B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a mechanism for displaying a symbol on a display device.

  A display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device is generally provided on the board surface of a recent bullet ball game machine, and displays various symbols and character information according to the game state and the like. The player can recognize the current gaming state based on the symbols displayed on the display device. For example, as in a slot machine, first, numbers and symbols appear on the outer periphery of a slot composed of a plurality of drums. In this case, when the game ball passes through a predetermined area, each slot is rotated for a predetermined period. Then, if the numbers and the like displayed in the slots displayed after stopping for a predetermined period of time are aligned, the characters of “big hit” are displayed and a special benefit is given to the player. This special benefit is to provide a state in which game balls are easy to win, such as opening a tulip or a big prize opening for a certain period of time.

  Such a ball game machine is disclosed in JP-A-6-39111 and JP-A-6-15045. According to this technology, the game can be further enjoyed with the expectation of winning the game ball and the symbols displayed on the display device. In particular, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-15045, not only a display for a “lottery” or the like performed in the middle of a game is displayed on a display device, but another image or the like is superimposed by superimposition. Is displayed. According to this technique, the player can obtain information such as news and traffic information at the same time.

  However, simply displaying a symbol or the like on the display device only displays the symbol or the like repeatedly, so that the player gets bored. In addition, the display by the superimpose becomes an obstacle in the scene such as “Lottery” performed during the game. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can be displayed freely by overlapping or moving a combination of symbols and the like to make the player interested. And

  The present invention can be configured as a gaming machine provided with a display device for effect display according to the gaming state. This gaming machine has a symbol storage means, and stores a plurality of symbol data for displaying symbols on the display device in a state that can be designated by unique identification information. The identification information includes various types of information that can designate each symbol, such as a symbol number uniquely assigned to the symbol. In addition, pattern storage means for storing a plurality of combination patterns is provided. The combination pattern is data for displaying a combination of symbols in one display screen by designating a plurality of identification information. The gaming machine of the present invention further includes image composition means. The image synthesizing unit selects one of the combination patterns according to the gaming state, synthesizes a plurality of symbols read from the symbol storage unit based on the identification information included in the selected combination pattern, and generates an image signal. The composite image is displayed by converting and outputting to the display device.

  According to the present invention, by setting a combination pattern of symbols corresponding to the gaming state, in addition to the pleasure of winning the game ball, the pleasure of watching the display device 40 is given. This makes the player interested. Since the combination pattern is for indirectly specifying the symbol data to be displayed in combination using the symbol number, it is possible to relatively easily specify a variety of displays. In addition, if such a combination pattern is used, it is possible to store the symbol data in a storage location unrelated to the display mode of whether or not the symbol data is used in combination, and combine the same symbol data with different symbol data. In addition, since it can be shared by a plurality of display screens, variations in symbol display can be easily and flexibly expanded.

  The combination pattern may be stored with its priority in association with the identification information. The priority is information that defines the relative overlapping relationship between symbols. By doing so, the image composition means can synthesize the symbols so that the symbols with high priority are displayed on the foreground surface.

  In the present invention, the display screen may be configured by overlapping a plurality of layers. At this time, it is possible to designate the priority order relatively easily by designating the layer on which the symbol is to be displayed.

  When the priority order is specified using layers as described above, the image composition unit may continue the previous display for layers other than those specified by the priority order in the combination pattern. When a new combination pattern is read, the display content is updated only for the layer specified there. In this way, if there is a layer that continuously displays the same design, it is sufficient to prepare a combination pattern only for the layer whose display content should be updated, except for that layer, so the content of the combination pattern is simplified. Can be

  In the combination pattern, a vector value representing a direction in which the symbol is moved on the screen and a moving speed as a vector may be stored in association with the symbol identification information. By doing so, the image compositing means can be displayed by moving on the screen for each symbol according to the vector value, and can be moved relatively between symbols, so that the player feels lively. Give a taste. Further, by using the above vector values, the moving direction and moving speed can be easily defined. In the case of moving the symbol, there is also an advantage that the movement at the specified speed can be easily realized by simply adding the vector value to the coordinate of the symbol sequentially.

  In the combination pattern, a parameter that defines the display mode of the symbol may be stored in association with the symbol identification information. By doing so, the image composition means can control the display mode on the screen for each symbol according to the parameter. As such parameters, for example, the color, size, coordinates, etc. of the design can be used. By controlling the display mode of symbols by these parameters, it is possible to give the player a screen having an impact according to the gaming state.

  The variety of display may be changed in consideration of conditions other than the gaming state. For example, in the case of including a probability switching means for switching a probability value at which a symbol for setting a special profit state for the player is displayed on the display device, the image composition means follows the probability value switched by the probability switching means. The display mode may be switched for each symbol. By doing so, the player determines the current gaming state by the color of the symbol displayed on the display device 40.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the external appearance of the bullet ball gaming machine 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the external appearance of a bullet ball game machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a front view and FIG. 3 shows a back view. The same numbers are assigned to the same elements.

  In FIG. 2, on the game board surface 102, a game area and a rail 114 that partitions the periphery of the game area are provided in a clockwise direction. The rail 114 is provided with a lower left portion of the game board surface 102 as a starting end and an upper left portion that is slightly inwardly rotated as an end. Accordingly, a path for the game ball B passes from the lower left portion to the upper left portion of the game board surface 102. Further, a return rubber 140 is provided at a substantially middle point of the rail 114 (that is, the upper right portion of the game board surface 102), and a return ball prevention holder 110 is provided at the end of the rail 114. When the player operates a launching device (not shown) by hand, the game ball B is launched in the direction of arrow A along the rail 114. The return rubber 140 is provided to return the game ball B in the reverse direction when the game ball B is strongly hit. The return ball prevention holder 110 is provided to prevent the game ball B returned by the return rubber 140 from entering back into the passage.

  In the game area (that is, inside the rail 114 provided in a spiral shape), the special winning opening 116, the special symbol device 120, the ordinary electric accessory 126, the gate 130, and the out opening 136 are appropriately disposed. Yes. Similarly, nails and windmills (not shown) that scatter the game ball B, or indicator lights 112 and 142 that entertain the eyes of the player are provided on the game board surface 102 in an appropriate manner.

  The special symbol device 120 includes a special symbol display device 122 and a number of times display device 124. The special symbol display device 122 is one of the display devices 40, and is a device that displays special symbols. The special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 122 varies at a predetermined time. After the change, a case where the special symbol displayed in a stopped state matches a predetermined symbol is defined as “big hit”. The number display device 124 is a device that displays the number of times the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 122 is changed. As the special symbol display device 122, for example, a color or monochrome liquid crystal display device is used. Similarly, the number display device 124 is provided with, for example, four LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) horizontally.

  The ordinary electric accessory 126 includes an ordinary symbol display device 128 and an electric pair of movable wing pieces (so-called tulips). The normal symbol display device 128 is a device that displays a normal symbol, and changes the normal symbol at a predetermined time. After the change, a case where the normal symbol displayed in a stopped state matches a predetermined symbol is defined as “winning”. For example, a number corresponds to the normal symbol. For the normal symbol display device 128, for example, a 7-segment LED is used.

  The big winning opening 116 is a horizontally long winning opening provided at the lower center of the game board surface 102 and includes a lid that is opened in the case of a “hit”. In this horizontally long winning opening, three winning openings are provided horizontally, and the central winning opening 132 is set as a “special area”. In addition, winning openings 118 and 134 are provided on the left and right sides of the big winning opening 116. The gate 130 detects the passage of the game ball B. The out port 136 is a lower part of the game board surface 102 and is provided with the rail 114 interposed therebetween.

  In FIG. 3, on the back surface 104 of the game board, there are a guiding path 150, detection switches 152, 154, 156, 158, 162, 164, 168, an ordinary electric accessory solenoid 160, a prize winning solenoid 166, mounting holes 112a, 120a, 126a, 142a and an out-hole 136a are provided. Here, the attachment holes 112a and 142a are holes for attaching the indicator lights 112 and 142, respectively. Similarly, the attachment holes 120a and 126a are holes for attaching the special symbol device 120 and the ordinary electric accessory 126, respectively. Further, the out port hole 136a is a hole for the out port 136. The guide path 150 wins the ordinary electric accessory 126 and guides the game ball B that has passed through the detection switch 162 as indicated by an arrow C.

  The detection switches 152, 154, 156, 158, 162, 164, and 168 are all switches that detect the passage of the game ball B, and a proximity switch that determines the passage based on a change in magnetism is generally used. The detection switch 152 detects the game ball B passing through the gate 130. The detection switches 154 and 164 detect the game balls B that have won the winning holes 134 and 118, respectively. The detection switch 162 detects the game ball B that has won the normal electric accessory 126 as described above. The detection switches 156, 158, and 168 detect the game ball B that has won the big winning opening 116. The detection signals detected by these detection switches 152, 154, 156, 158, 162, 164, and 168 are all sent to the control unit 220 shown in FIG. 5 to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls. It is also used as a detection device for controlling the operation of the special symbol device 120, the ordinary electric accessory 126, and the like.

  The ordinary electric accessory solenoid 160 is a solenoid for opening and closing the pair of movable blades configured in the ordinary electric accessory 126 to the left and right when “hit”. Further, the special winning opening solenoid 166 is a solenoid for opening and closing the lid provided in the special winning opening 116 at the time of “big hit”.

  Next, an electrical connection for operating the ball game machine 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 is a wiring system diagram of the ball game machine 100, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control unit 220. The same elements as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 4, the ball game machine 100 is roughly composed of a board surface portion 200 and a frame portion 300. The panel surface part 200 includes a terminal part 210, a control part 220 and a relay part 240. The frame unit 300 includes a crime prevention unit 306, a launch control unit 330, a relay unit 302, a terminal unit 340, and a relay unit 324.

  First, the board surface part 200 will be described. The control unit 220 includes a CPU (processor) 230 shown in the following figure, and has a function of controlling the whole of the ball game machine 100. The relay unit 240 is connected to the detection switches 152, 158, 162, the detection switch 156, etc. (that is, the detection switches 154, 156, 164, 168), and relays detection signals sent to the control unit 220. The terminal unit 210 includes four connector terminals, and sends a signal sent from the control unit 220 to a terminal unit 340 described later using one of these terminals 212. Here, the control unit 220 and the relay unit 240 and the control unit 220 and the terminal unit 210 are all connected by a cable having a connector. The antistatic device 312 provided in the frame unit 300 is connected to the ground through the control unit 220 and prevents malfunction of the ball game machine 100 due to static electricity.

  Next, the frame part 300 will be described. The crime prevention unit 306 is for preventing fraud during a game, and is connected to a speaker 320 and a prize ball payout prohibiting switch 322. Here, the speaker 320 sounds a sound effect and a warning sound. The prize ball payout prohibiting switch 322 is a switch for prohibiting the payout of prize balls.

  The launch controller 330 includes a motor drive circuit 334 for launching the game ball B, and a touch terminal 314, a handle switch 316, a launcher stop switch 318, and a motor 332 are connected to the launch controller 330. Here, the touch terminal 314, the handle switch 316, and the launching device stop switch 318 are all terminals or switches for the player to manually operate the launching device in order to launch the game ball B. The touch terminal 314 is a terminal that detects that the player's hand is touching the launching device. The handle switch 316 is a switch for driving the motor 332 to fire the game ball B. The launcher stop switch 318 is a switch for temporarily stopping the launch of the game ball B.

  The relay unit 302 is provided between the control unit 220 and the crime prevention unit 306 and relays signals transmitted and received between them. The relay unit 302 is connected to a prize ball payout motor 308, a prize ball payout solenoid 304, and a prize ball detection switch 310. Here, the prize ball payout solenoid 304 is a solenoid for opening and closing a prize ball payout lid. The prize ball payout motor 308 is a motor for paying out prize balls. The prize ball detection switch 310 is a triple switch that detects the payout of a prize ball.

  The terminal part 340 is connected to the right side of the crime prevention part 306 in the drawing. A cut detection switch 336 is provided. The relay unit 324 is provided between the security unit 306 and the launch control unit 330 and includes a frame detection switch 326. The indicator lights 346, 348, and 350 are indicator lights 112 and 142 that are appropriately disposed on the game board surface 102 shown in FIG. 2, and the prize-ball-out detection switch 336 is a switch that detects the expiration of the prize ball. It is.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 220 and shows the minimum configuration necessary for carrying out the present invention. For this reason, for example, when the game ball B wins the prize opening 118, 134, etc., description of the configuration and operation for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls is omitted. In the figure, the control unit 220 includes a CPU 230, a ROM 224, a RAM 226, an input processing circuit 228, a music processing circuit 222, a frame memory 232, a display control circuit 234, a special symbol display device 122, and an output processing circuit 236.

  The CPU 230 controls the entire ball game machine 100 according to a control program stored in the ROM 224. As the ROM 224, an EPROM or an EEPROM is used. The ROM 224 embodies the symbol storage means 10 and the pattern storage means 20, and in addition to the control program, the symbol data corresponding to each symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 122 and the special symbol display device 122. A combination pattern indicating a combination of symbols to be displayed is stored. The RAM 226 uses an SRAM or a flash RAM, and stores various data or input / output signals.

  The input processing circuit 228 receives the respective detection signals sent from the detection switches 152, 158, 162, the detection switch 156, and the like, converts them into data formats that can be processed in the control unit 220, and the CPU 230 via the bus 238. Alternatively, the data is transferred to the RAM 226. The music processing circuit 222 converts it into an analog signal according to the ringing data sent from the CPU 230 via the bus 238 and sends it to the speaker 320.

  The display control circuit 234 is one of the image composition means 30 and is a circuit that performs display control of the special symbol display device 122 shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with display control data sent from the CPU 230 via the bus 238. Specifically, display control of the special symbol display device 122 is performed according to the control data and symbol data sent from the CPU 230. That is, the display control circuit 234 stores the symbol data in the frame memory 232 according to the control data, synthesizes the symbol data stored in the frame memory 232, converts it into an image signal, and sends it to the special symbol display device 122. It has a function of displaying symbols and the like.

  The display control circuit 234 controls not only the special symbol display device 122 but also the number-of-times display device 124, the normal symbol display device 128, the indicator lights 112 and 142, etc. shown in FIG. In this case, display control of the number display device 124 is performed according to the value of the jackpot counter. The control data includes selection data for selecting a combination pattern stored in the ROM 224. Furthermore, in order to display a plurality of symbols in combination, the frame memory 232 is composed of a plurality of frames.

  The output processing circuit 236 converts the driving data sent from the CPU 230 via the bus 238 into driving signals for driving the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 160 and the special prize opening solenoid 166, and sends them. Note that each of the above components is coupled to the bus 238.

  Next, a processing procedure for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 6 and 8 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure for carrying out the present invention, which is a specific processing procedure for realizing the image composition means 30. FIG. These processing procedures are all executed by the CPU 230 shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, the CPU 230 transmits control data corresponding to each processing procedure, and a display control circuit 234 that receives the control data is provided in the circuit. This is a processing procedure realized by executing the microprogram. In these figures, the number following S indicates a step number. 9 to 11 are diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed on the special symbol display device 122. FIG.

  In the image composition process shown in FIG. 6, first, the combination pattern stored in the ROM 224 shown in FIG. 5 is read in accordance with the selection data included in the control data (step S10). Here, the combination pattern will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of five combination patterns. In FIG. 7, a combination pattern 500 shown in FIG. 7A is composed of a plurality of symbol numbers 504, 506,..., 50n, and data indicating the number of symbol numbers (that is, the number of elements) as the number of frames 502. It is a structure. That is, the number of symbols “n” to be synthesized and displayed is stored in the frame number 502. The symbol number is a unique number assigned to each symbol. Note that all the combination patterns shown in FIG. 7 are configured with “n” as the number of elements, but may be configured with any number of elements for each combination pattern. That is, each data structure is configured corresponding to the number of symbols that can be combined and displayed on the special symbol display device 122, and the number of symbols is stored in the number of frames.

  Also, the combination pattern 510 shown in FIG. 7B is a data structure including a plurality of elements 514, 516,..., 51n, and indicating the number of these elements as the number of frames 512. The element 514 includes a symbol number 514a and a color number 514b. The element 516 includes a symbol number 516a and a color number 516b. Similarly, the element 51n includes a symbol number 51na and a color number 51nb. The “color number” is a unique number assigned to each color according to the number of colors that can be developed by the special symbol display device 122. For example, it is a number (numerical value) such as “0” for black, “1” for blue, “2” for red, and “3” for purple.

  Further, the combination pattern 520 shown in FIG. 7C is a data structure including a plurality of elements 524, 526,..., 52n, and indicating the number of these elements as the number of frames 522. The element 524 includes a symbol number 524a and a vector value 524b. The element 526 includes a symbol number 526a and a vector value 526b. Similarly, the element 52n includes a symbol number 52na and a vector value 52nb. Here, in the “vector value”, a direction for moving the symbol and a moving speed (for example, the number of dots) are designated by vector components, for example, x-direction and y-direction components. For example, when the symbol is moved in the upper right (45 degrees) direction of the special symbol display device 122, a vector value [x = n, y = n (n is a natural number)] may be specified according to the moving speed. . Similarly, when the symbol is not moved (displayed at a fixed position), a vector value [x = 0, y = 0] may be designated.

  7D is a data structure including a plurality of elements 534, 536,..., 53n, and indicating the number of these elements as the number of frames 532. The element 534 is composed of a symbol number 534a and a priority order 534b, the element 536 is composed of a symbol number 536a and a priority order 536b, and the element 53n is similarly composed of a symbol number 53na and a priority order 53nb. Here, the above-mentioned “priority order” is information that defines the relative overlapping relationship between symbols when symbols are combined and displayed. For example, the frame position from the front side can be specified. That is, the symbol corresponding to the symbol number is transferred to the frame corresponding to the priority order on a one-to-one basis, synthesized, and displayed. For example, when the numerical value “0” has the highest priority and the priority becomes lower as the position increases, the symbol designated with the numerical value “0” as the priority is displayed on the foreground surface, and the numerical value increases. As it appears on the background. In other words, one display screen is composed of a predetermined number of layers, and the priority order can be said to be information that specifies on which layer from the top the symbol should be displayed. Here, the term “frame” is used in association with the provision of a plurality of frame memories 232 (see FIG. 5), but it is almost synonymous with “layer”.

  Here, if the symbol has already been transferred to the frame (or layer) corresponding to the priority order, the already transferred symbol is continuously displayed as it is unless the above-mentioned priority is designated by the combination pattern. . For example, if a symbol (number “7”) is transferred to the previous priority order x (frame number x), and if x is not specified for the priority order of the combination pattern to be specified thereafter, the symbol (number) transferred last time “7”) continues to be displayed. That is, once a symbol is displayed on a certain layer, the original symbol is continuously displayed unless there is an instruction to display another symbol on that layer. By doing so, it is not necessary to repeatedly designate symbols to be continuously displayed in the combination pattern, and the combination pattern can be simplified.

  7E is a data structure including a plurality of elements 544, 546,..., 54n, and indicating the number of these elements as the number of frames 542. The element 544 includes a symbol number 544a and a coordinate value 544b. The element 546 includes a symbol number 546a and a coordinate value 546b. Similarly, the element 54n includes a symbol number 54na and a coordinate value 54nb. Here, the transfer start position in the frame to which the symbol is transferred is designated as the coordinate value. The reason why the coordinate values are provided in this way is that the size of the symbol to be displayed may not match the size of the frame. That is, if a pattern having a size that does not match the size of the frame is transferred to the frame as it is, it is displayed at an unintended position on the screen. Therefore, by designating the position on the screen with the coordinate value, symbols of various sizes can be displayed at the desired position.

  As described above, by setting a combination pattern of symbols according to the gaming state, various symbols can be combined and moved on the screen of the special symbol display device 122 to be freely displayed. . By such display, in addition to the pleasure of winning the game ball, the player can enjoy watching the special symbol display device 122. Therefore, it is possible to keep the player interested without getting bored.

  In the above combination pattern, the color number, vector value, priority, and coordinate value data are configured in separate data structures, but the data is configured in a data structure composed of elements obtained by arbitrarily combining these data. May be. For example, [Combination number, color number, vector value] is a single element, and in a combination pattern consisting of a data structure having a plurality of such elements, it is possible to specify the color of the symbol and the direction of movement of the symbol. it can. Similarly, [Combination number, priority, coordinate value] is one element, and in the combination pattern consisting of a data structure having a plurality of these elements, the display position of the symbol from the foreground is specified, and the symbol within the frame is designated. The display position of can also be specified.

  According to the combination method of each of the above elements, depending on the progress of the game in the ball game machine and the level of profit of the generated ball game machine, the type of the symbol by each symbol number, the color type by the color number, Depending on whether the foreground or background is displayed according to priority, the position in the frame to be displayed based on the coordinate value, the direction in which the specified pattern based on the vector value is moved in the frame, and the amount of movement (movement speed) are various. It is possible to switch to and display the symbols in a three-dimensional / composite manner and display them while changing over time. For this reason, the player is not bored. Here, as the level of profit of the above ball game machine, for example, in a pachinko machine, the symbol displayed on the symbol display device coincides with the predetermined symbol when winning the starting point for starting the symbol display device When the “big hit” occurs, when the pachinko ball passes through the special area (winning hole 132 shown in FIG. 2), the normal electric accessory solenoid 160, the big winning hole solenoid 166, the prize ball breakage detection switch 336, the prize ball payout prohibition switch 322, there is a level of profit in each state such as when the crime prevention unit 306 receives an abnormal signal output from the frame detection switch 326 or the like.

  In this way, various designations can be made with one data structure by combining the target data as one element. That is, data combinations (one element) other than the above combinations are shown below. (1) [symbol number, color number, priority order], (2) [symbol number, color number, coordinate value], (3) [symbol number, vector value, priority order], (4) [symbol number, vector Value, coordinate value], (5) [symbol number, color number, vector value, priority order], (6) [symbol number, color number, vector value, coordinate value], (7) [symbol number, color number, Priority, coordinate value], (8) [symbol number, vector value, priority, coordinate value], (9) [symbol number, color number, vector value, priority, coordinate value]

  Returning to FIG. 6, after step S <b> 10, various data are set for displaying a plurality of symbols in combination according to the data specified in the read combination pattern. That is, first, the color of the symbol is set (step S12), the movement vector for moving the symbol is set (step S14), the frame for transferring the symbol is set (step S16), and the frame within the frame set in step S16 is set. Coordinates (transfer positions) are set (step S18). Here, step S12 is one of the processes embodying the coloring means, and the color is set by palette control according to the color number. The pallet control will be briefly described below.

  The colors that can be displayed by the special symbol display device 122 are determined by the luminance levels of the primary colors of the three primary colors (red, blue, and green). For example, if 8-bit data is assigned to the luminance levels for the three primary colors, 83 = 512 colors can be displayed. However, in this case, since a huge amount of data is required even if only one screen is displayed, 1-bit data is assigned to each of the three primary colors, and 23 = 8 colors can be specified. Then, when the power is turned on or when the game state changes, the color to be displayed with respect to the color of the designated number is selected in advance from 512 colors in the above case, and consecutive numbers are assigned in ascending order. deep. Thereafter, the eight colors selected according to the color number are displayed. Such control for displaying a series of colors is called palette control. By this palette control, it is possible to select and use arbitrarily from among many colors even if the number of colors to be developed at the same time is small. Note that the number of bits of data assigned to the three primary colors and the luminance level is not limited to the above number of bits. That is, an appropriate number of bits may be set in accordance with the content of the symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 122.

  In addition, you may perform the process shown to said step S12 thru | or step S18, changing the order to set to arbitrary orders. In this case, whether to execute each step is determined according to the element specified by the combination pattern. That is, since each element of the combination pattern 520 shown in FIG. 7C has only a vector value in addition to the symbol number, only step S14 is executed. Similarly, since each element of the combination pattern 540 shown in FIG. 7E has only a coordinate value in addition to the symbol number, only step S16 is executed. Moreover, you may abbreviate | omit as needed irrespective of the element designated with a combination pattern. That is, if step S12 is omitted, monochrome display is obtained, and if step S14 is omitted, the symbol is fixed without moving on the screen. If step S16 is omitted, the frame with the highest priority is selected at first, and the frames with the lower priority are selected thereafter. Furthermore, if step S18 is omitted, the first coordinates corresponding to the entire surface of the frame are designated.

  After setting the data necessary for transferring the above symbols, the corresponding symbol data is read from the ROM 224 and transferred to the frame memory 232 according to the symbol number designated by the element in the combination pattern (step S20). And it is discriminate | determined whether it is the end of a block (step S22). Specifically, in order to check whether or not there are other symbols to be transferred, it is determined whether or not the element of the transferred combination pattern is the last element. If there is still another symbol to be transferred (NO), the above steps S12 to S20 are repeated. If there is no other symbol to be transferred (YES), an image display process described in detail below is performed (step S24).

  Next, in the image display process shown in FIG. 8, first, a shift process for moving an image according to the vector value of each frame set in step S14 shown in FIG. 6 is performed (step S30). Then, all the frames to be displayed are scanned along the raster direction, and in the portion where the symbols overlap, the symbols having higher priority than the symbols having lower priority are preferentially converted into image signals and sent to the special symbol display device 122. Scan processing is performed (step S32). This shift process and scan process are repeated until new control data is sent from the CPU 230 (step S34). Here, step S30 is one of the processes that embody the symbol moving means.

  Through the image display process described above, the symbols with high priority are preferentially synthesized so as to be displayed in the foreground at the portion where the symbols overlap, and are displayed on the special symbol display device 122. That is, a symbol with a low priority is displayed in a state hidden behind a symbol with a high priority. In addition, you may comprise so that a symbol with a low priority may be superimposed on a symbol with a high priority. With this configuration, a more complicated screen display can be performed. For example, FIG. 9 shows a display example when the frame size matches the symbol size. In this case, the symbol 600 shown in FIG. 9 (A), the symbol 602 shown in FIG. 9 (B), and the symbol 604 shown in FIG. 9 (C) are designated by the combination pattern, and the priority order is low in this order. In such a case, the special symbol display device 122 displays it as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows a display example when the frame size and the symbol size do not match. In this case, the symbol 700 shown in FIG. 10A and the symbol 604 shown in FIG. 9C are designated by the combination pattern, and the priority is lowered in this order, and the symbol 700 is displayed. By setting the coordinate value to be set to the position P1, the special symbol display device 122 displays it as shown in FIG. Similarly, the symbol 702 shown in FIG. 10B and the symbol 604 shown in FIG. 9C are designated by the combination pattern, and the symbol 702 is displayed when the priority is lowered in this order. By setting the coordinate value to the position P2, it is displayed on the special symbol display device 122 as shown in FIG. Note that the symbol 700 and symbol 702 shown in FIG. 10A and the symbol 604 shown in FIG. 9C are designated by a combination pattern, and the priority is lowered in this order, and the symbol 700 and symbol 702 are displayed. Can be displayed on the special symbol display device 122 as shown in FIG. 9D.

  Therefore, by executing the image synthesizing unit 30, the symbols are read out according to the combination pattern stored in the ROM 224, and the read symbols are synthesized and converted into image signals and displayed on the special symbol display device 122. Therefore, by setting a combination pattern of symbols according to the gaming state, in addition to the pleasure of winning the game ball, the pleasure of watching the special symbol display device 122 is given. In this way, the player can be interested.

  For example, if a symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 122 matches a predetermined symbol and becomes a “hit” after a pachinko ball wins a start opening during a game, the background of the special symbol display device 122 A predetermined symbol is displayed on one side, and a symbol that changes every time the pachinko ball passes through the special region (winning hole 132 shown in FIG. 2) is displayed on the foreground of the special symbol display device 122. Such a display state is performed only during a period in which “big hit” is established. Such display control can provide the player with a screen full of changes and provide satisfaction with the “big hit”, so that the player can be kept interested without getting bored.

  In addition, as an element (data) of the combination pattern, an enlargement / reduction ratio for enlarging / reducing the size of the symbol may be further provided. Specifically, when the enlargement / reduction ratio is 1, a symbol having the same size as the original symbol is displayed. For example, if the design corresponding to the combination pattern with the enlargement / reduction ratio of 1 is used as the background and the design corresponding to the combination pattern that sequentially changes the enlargement / reduction ratio is used as the foreground, the foreground design approaches the player side. , Go away. In other words, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is sequentially increased, the foreground symbols can be brought closer to the player side, and if the enlargement / reduction ratio is successively reduced, the foreground symbols can be displayed away from the player side. Therefore, since the symbols can be moved more realistically, the player can enjoy watching the special symbol display device 122.

  Moreover, since the symbol moves in an arbitrary direction for each frame on the screen of the special symbol display device 122 by the shift process of step S30 shown in FIG. 8, the symbols can be relatively moved. For this reason, it is possible to give the player a sense of dynamism.

  Furthermore, since the color of the symbol changes on the screen of the special symbol display device 122 by the color setting (coloring process) in step S12 shown in FIG. 6, a screen having an impact according to the gaming state is given to the player. Can do. As another method for changing the color of the design, there is the following method. That is, a symbol that is displayed on the screen of the special symbol display device 122 and sets a state that gives a special benefit to the player is determined in advance. The probability that this symbol is displayed changes when the CPU 230 executes a probability switching processing program (one of probability switching means) stored in the ROM 224. Then, the probability value obtained as a result of executing the probability switching processing program is received, and the color of the symbol is changed on the screen of the special symbol display device 122 in the color setting (coloring processing) in step S12 described above. Constitute. According to this configuration, the player can easily determine the state of the switched probability (that is, the current gaming state) only by looking at the type of color colored in the symbol.

  Further, the color of the symbol displayed on the background (or foreground) according to the priority set in the combination pattern (data structure) corresponds to the probability value obtained as a result of executing the probability switching processing program. It is good also as a structure to set. For example, when the probability of “big hit” is set high, the color of the symbol displayed on the background is changed to red. According to this configuration, there is no need to change the determination symbol or other decoration symbol for determining “big hit” on the screen of the display device 40 according to the probability value, so that the internal processing is simplified and the probability state is changed. Can be displayed quickly.

  Although one embodiment of the ball game machine has been described above, the structure, shape, size, material, number, arrangement, operating conditions, etc. of other parts in this ball game machine are also limited to this embodiment. It is not something. For example, in the above embodiment, the symbol is moved on the screen of the display device 40 (specifically, the special symbol display device 122) by the symbol moving means, but the size of the symbol is the same as the size of the frame. 11A alternately includes a plurality of symbols from the symbol at the start of movement shown in FIG. 11A to the symbol at the middle of movement shown in FIG. 11B and the symbol at the end of movement shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure which displays and moves a symbol on a screen. In this configuration, since the shift process in step S30 shown in FIG. 8 is not necessary, the screen display processing speed can be improved.

  The symbols are read from the ROM 224, but all symbols may be transferred from the ROM 224 to a predetermined area in the RAM 226 and read from the RAM 226 when the power is turned on or reset. With this configuration, since the access time is shortened, the time required for transferring the symbols to the display control circuit 234 can be shortened.

  Further, in the symbol data transfer process (step S20 shown in FIG. 6), the symbol data stored in the RAM 226 is transferred as it is to the display control circuit 234. However, the symbol data is compressed in a predetermined format in advance. It is stored in the ROM 224, and when the compressed symbol data is read and displayed on the special symbol display device 122, the compressed symbol data is expanded (restored) and transferred to the display control circuit 234. May be. In this configuration, by compressing the symbol data and storing it in the ROM 224, the capacity required to store the symbol data can be greatly reduced. For this reason, the required capacity of the ROM 224 can be reduced, and as a result, the cost of the ball game machine 100 can be kept low.

  Here, as a method for compressing the symbol data, an MR (Modified READ) method and an MMR (Modified Modified READ) method are desirable. In these methods, the first row is encoded by the MH method (modified Huffman: a method in which the continuous length of black or white generated one-dimensionally in the row direction is encoded shorter as the frequency of occurrence increases). Subsequently, the second and subsequent lines are encoded by the difference, the number of differential encoding lines (k) is limited, and encoding is performed by the MH method for each k-th line. For this reason, efficient compression (about 1/10 to 1/15 when k = 2, 4) can be expected. Therefore, the storage capacity of the memory can be greatly reduced. Similarly, encoding methods such as a run-length encoding method, an LZ (Lempel-Ziv) encoding method, an arithmetic encoding method, an LZSS encoding method, and an LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) encoding method. The symbol data may be compressed by According to these encoding methods, a compression rate comparable to that of the MR method or the MMR method can be obtained. In addition, the symbol data may be compressed by another compression (encoding) method suitable for compressing symbol data (image data). For example, there are a Huffman method (a method for giving a short bit string to a pattern having a high appearance frequency), a continuous code compression method (a method for converting a continuous code to a short length), and the like.

  Furthermore, although the combination pattern shown in FIG. 7 is configured to be selected according to the gaming state, it may be configured to be selected according to the probability of performing the “lottery”. With this configuration, a symbol that changes in accordance with the result of “Lottery” is displayed on the display device 40, so that the player can easily recognize the current gaming state by looking at the displayed symbol. The symbol data is stored in the ROM 224. However, the symbol data may be transferred (or expanded) from the ROM 224 to the RAM 226 in advance when the power is turned on or reset. Generally, since the access time of the ROM 224 is faster than the access time of the RAM 226, the time required for transferring the symbol data to the display control circuit 234 can be shortened.

  Then, the combination pattern shown in the embodiment is configured to be set for one symbol, but may be configured to be set for a plurality of symbols. For example, the symbols to be displayed on the foreground and the symbols to be displayed on the background are set as one combination pattern, synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 30, and displayed on the display device 40. According to this configuration, a plurality of types of symbols can be displayed on the display device 40 in a composite manner by combining the symbols displayed on the foreground and the symbols displayed on the background. At the same time, since the symbols displayed in the foreground and the background can be displayed in three dimensions, the display device provided on the planar game board surface can have a depth.

  Further, designation and switching (hereinafter simply referred to as “designation”) of different fluctuation speeds (moving speeds) and symbol patterns (symbol numbers) are controlled for the symbols displayed in the foreground and the symbols displayed in the background. In addition, by designating a vector value or the like, a symbol with a relatively different operation is displayed on the screen displayed on the display device 40, so that the player can be provided with a three-dimensional dynamic variation mode. be able to.

  According to the ball ball game machine of the embodiment described above, the image synthesizing unit reads the symbols in accordance with the combination pattern, the symbols synthesized by the image synthesizing unit are synthesized, and the synthesized symbols are displayed on the display device. Therefore, by setting a combination pattern of symbols according to the gaming state, it is possible to give the player the pleasure of watching the display device in addition to the pleasure of winning the game ball.

  Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the embodiment, an example of a ball game machine has been shown, but the present invention can also be applied to display control in a revolving game machine.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the ball ball game machine of this invention. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of a bullet ball game machine. It is a back view which shows the external appearance of a bullet ball game machine. It is a wiring system diagram of a ball game machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control part. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the process sequence for implementing this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a combination pattern. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the process sequence for implementing this invention. It is a 1st figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on a display apparatus. It is a 2nd figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on a display apparatus. It is a 3rd figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on a display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Symbol memory | storage means 20 Pattern memory | storage means 30 Image composition means 40 Display apparatus

Claims (1)

A gaming machine provided with a display device for effect display according to the gaming state,
A plurality of symbol data for displaying symbols on the display device, each storing symbol data in a state that can be specified by unique identification information;
Pattern storage means for storing a plurality of combination patterns for displaying a combination of the symbols in one display screen by designating a plurality of the identification information;
Depending on the gaming state, one of the combination patterns is selected, and the plurality of symbols read from the symbol storage means are synthesized based on the identification information included in the selected combination pattern and converted into an image signal. Image synthesizing means for outputting and displaying on the display device;
I have a,
The combination pattern stores a vector value representing a direction in which the symbol is moved on the screen and a moving speed as a vector in association with the identification information of the symbol,
The image synthesizing means is a gaming machine that performs display by moving on the screen for each symbol according to the vector value.