JP4350454B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

In the present invention, after a plurality of symbol arrays are moved and displayed, the movement display of each symbol array is sequentially stopped, and the winning or losing is determined depending on whether or not a combination of winning symbols is aligned on a predetermined winning line crossing each symbol array. about the slot machine you like.

  A typical slot machine incorporates three reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the peripheral surface, a control board on which a computer is mounted, and the like. In addition, a symbol display window for displaying symbols on the three reels is provided on the front of the machine body, and a start switch, a stop switch for each reel, and the like are provided below the symbol display window.

  The combination of symbols for winning a prize in a slot machine is generally called a “comb”, and in addition to a small role that involves paying out a predetermined number of medals, a special bonus that shifts to a big bonus (BB) or regular bonus (RB) The symbol combination is set. The computer on the control board functions as a control unit of the slot machine together with peripheral circuits, and when a player's starting operation is performed, a lottery for various roles is executed and aligned in the symbol display window. Each reel is started after the combination of symbols is determined. This lottery process is generally called “internal lottery”, and a winning flag indicating a winning state in the internal lottery is set for each combination. If any winning flag is turned on after starting each reel, the control unit designates the symbol corresponding to the winning flag set on (hereinafter referred to as “winning symbol”) for the reel that has been operated to stop. .) Is pulled into an active winning line and stopped (pull-in control) is executed.

  In the regular bonus (RB), a game in which special symbols called “JAC symbols” are generally arranged (hereinafter, this game is called “RB game”). In the big bonus (BB), a special game with a high probability of winning a small role or regular bonus is played (hereinafter, this special game is referred to as a “general game in a big bonus” or simply a “general game”). .) A general big bonus ends when the third regular bonus ends, or when the number of executions of the general game in the big bonus reaches 30 times. As for the regular bonus at the time of the big bonus, a replay symbol that is a symbol for drawing usually functions as a winning symbol. That is, the replay symbol pull-in control is performed in response to the winning combination of the replay symbols in the internal lottery in the general game during the big bonus, and the RB game is shifted to when the replay symbol combinations are complete. In short, it can be considered that the internal winning for the combination of replay symbols is the winning for the regular bonus combination.

  Further, in recent slot machines, when a bonus combination is won, a lot of bonus winning flags (hereinafter referred to as “bonus flags”) are accumulated by performing control that does not pull in winning symbols. ing. When a predetermined condition is established, one stored bonus flag is used, control for drawing a symbol (bonus symbol) corresponding to the flag is executed, and a winning is established. In this manner, consuming the accumulated winning flag and drawing the symbol corresponding to the winning flag is called “flag release” in the industry.

  Patent Document 1 below describes that when bonus flags are accumulated, the accumulated bonus flags are released on condition that the number of games determined by lottery has been executed.

JP 2002-219214 A (see paragraphs [0097] [0117], FIG. 4)

  As described above, the big bonus is ended when three regular bonuses or thirty general games are executed. The player who knows this rule operates the stop switch on purpose so that he can win more medals during the big bonus, and wins the regular bonus combination (below) , "RB winning") tends to postpone the third establishment. The stop operation for avoiding this RB winning is generally called “replay removal”.

  However, if the number of remaining games decreases as a result of continuing to remove the replay, the big bonus may end before the RB winning is established three times. If the RB winning of 3 times is not established, the number of small medals will be increased by several times, so that the number of medals obtained by the player is greatly reduced. For this reason, most players have a tendency to stop replaying after reaching about 20 general games and aim for the establishment of an RB prize.

  This invention pays attention to the above points, and in the special game period such as the big bonus, when the winning avoidance operation is performed with the possibility of not being able to arrange the quasi-special role for the number of winning times, The purpose is to raise the interest of the game by causing the player to have an adventurous spirit by setting an opportunity to obtain a privilege higher than that obtained by the quasi-special role.

  The slot machine according to the present invention executes a game in which after a plurality of symbol arrays are moved and displayed, a symbol (winning symbol) that constitutes a winning combination of each symbol array is drawn and stopped. For example, the symbol array is arranged on the surface of the belt-like body, and the symbol array is moved and displayed by a rotating body that rotates the belt-like body with both ends connected. A typical example of such a rotating body is a reel having a configuration in which a belt-like body is mounted on the peripheral surface of the frame body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be connected and rotated. Further, the configuration for displaying the symbols is not limited to the above rotating body, and various symbols may be scroll-displayed on a display screen such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel.

Further, it is desirable that the slot machine according to the present invention receives a predetermined number of game media, executes a game, and pays out the game media as a reward when a winning is established. The game medium may be a medal or a small ball such as a pachinko ball. In addition, a storage medium (such as a magnetic card or an IC card) in which a valuable value is stored is accepted, the valuable value stored in the storage medium is regarded as a gaming medium, and a predetermined amount of valuable value is consumed for each game. May be.
Note that the payout of game media at the time of winning a prize can be performed by a method of adding the number of payouts to the number of stored game media, in addition to a method of releasing the actual game media out of the machine body. Further, when the storage medium is used, the payout can be performed by a method of adding the valuable value of the storage medium.

In the slot machine according to the present invention, after moving and displaying a plurality of symbol arrays, a moving display control means for controlling the stop timing of the movement display of each symbol array so as to win the winning combination by lottery, A flag accumulating means for accumulating a winning flag indicating the winning of the game, a flag releasing means for releasing the accumulated winning flag according to establishment of a predetermined condition and establishing a prize for the special combination , and the special combination winning shifts to the special game period prize executes a special game can be to a predetermined size quasi special role that privilege is set in response to the quasi predetermined number winning count for a special role N (N> 0), or special game execution means for continuing the special game period until the number of executions of the special game reaches a predetermined number M (M> 0). Furthermore, the slot machine according to the present invention includes a notifying means for notifying the winning of the semi-special role during the special game period, and a notification by the notifying means when the semi-special role is won during the special game period. When a prize avoidance operation for avoiding the establishment of a prize for the quasi-special role is performed, a lottery is executed to decide whether or not to increase a privilege to be given to the player, and when this lottery is won The game control switching for switching the condition for releasing the winning flag by the flag releasing means after the special game period is ended to a more advantageous condition than when the lottery is not executed and when the lottery is not won. Means.

In the above, for example, a special combination can be a symbol combination that shifts to a big bonus, and a semi-special combination can be a symbol combination that shifts to a regular bonus. When the winning combination is released , the special combination can be established by stopping the movement display of each symbol arrangement at the timing when the symbols constituting the combination are drawn into the winning line.
The prize for the semi-special role can be established not only during the special game period but also in a normal game.

  The player's winning avoidance operation can be represented by a stop operation sequence for each symbol arrangement. For example, in the case of a general slot machine having three reels, performing a stop operation in the order of left, center, and right is called “forward press”, and the stop operation is performed in the opposite order of right, center, and left. This is called “reverse pressing”, and one of these (preferably reverse pressing) can be a winning avoidance operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be considered that the winning avoidance operation is performed when the first stop operation is performed on the central symbol arrangement. In addition, it may be considered that a winning avoidance operation has been performed when an invalid switch (a start lever, a bet switch, etc.) that has already been operated is operated again after the symbol array movement display.

  In addition, the winning flag indicating the winning state for the quasi-special combination can be carried over to the next game if no winning is achieved. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the winning flag may be reset when no winning is achieved by the player's will by the winning avoidance operation.

According to the slot machine of the above configuration, the notification by the notification means won quasi special role during the special game period occurred, if a winning avoidance operation for avoiding the winning game of the quasi special role has been made Executes a lottery (in this specification, this lottery is called “extra lottery”) that determines whether or not to increase the privilege to be given to the player, and when the extra lottery is won, the special game period ends. Since the conditions for the later release of the winning flag are switched to conditions that are more advantageous than when the extra lottery is not executed or when the extra lottery is not won, the player is given a privilege higher than the privilege of the semi-special role It becomes possible to do . The extra lottery may be executed immediately after the end of the game in which the winning avoidance operation is performed, but is not limited thereto, and may be performed when the special game period ends.

In the slot machine according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the flag releasing means releases the winning flag on condition that the number of game executions after the special game is over has reached a predetermined number. In addition, the game control switching means, in response to winning the extra lottery, the number of game executions executed before the winning flag is released when the lottery is not executed and when the lottery is not executed Set the control state to be less than the case.

In the above aspect, the flag release means can set the release condition by executing , for example, a lottery that determines the number of game executions. In this case, the game control switching means switches the lottery table for determining the number of game executions according to the winning of the extra lottery, and the game is less than the case where the extra lottery is not executed and when the extra lottery is not won. The number of executions can be selected.

In the slot machine according to another preferred aspect, the flag releasing means executes a lottery for determining whether or not to release a winning flag, and releases the winning flag on the condition that the lottery is won. Further, the game control switching means, in response to winning the extra lottery, the winning probability of the lottery executed by the flag releasing means is more than when the lottery is not executed and when the lottery is lost. Set a higher control state.

According to the above aspect, a special combination is established by releasing the winning flag, and during the special game period associated therewith, the semi-special combination is won and notification is given by the notification means to avoid winning the semi-special combination When the operation is performed, there is a possibility that the winning flag is released again within the predetermined number of games after the special game period ends. Therefore , even if the winning of the semi-special role cannot be established up to the maximum number N times by the winning avoidance operation, there is a possibility that the special role that is a privilege larger than the semi-special role will be won early.

Further, the flag releasing means selects any one of a plurality of control states with different conditions for releasing the winning flag, and the winning combination stored in response to the establishment of the condition set in the selected control state is established. A flag may be released . In this case , the game control switching means is a control in which a condition more advantageous than the control state selected when the lottery is not executed and when the lottery is not won is set according to the winning of the extra lottery. Select a state.

When a lottery that determines the number of games until the winning flag is released or when it is determined whether or not to release the winning flag by lottery, a plurality of lottery tables to be used for these lotteries are set. A plurality of control states with different conditions for releasing ”can be set. The game control switching means changes the selected lottery table to a table set with more advantageous conditions (that is, a table set so that the flag is released earlier) according to the winning of the extra lottery. can do.
Further, when the control for releasing the winning flag within a predetermined number of games is repeated a predetermined number of times, a plurality of control states having different execution times can be prepared with the winning flag releasing condition as the execution number of the control. In this case, the game control switching means can change the selected control state to a control state in which a larger number of executions is set in accordance with the winning of the extra lottery. In addition, it is desirable that the winning flag release interval when this control is performed is a sufficiently short period so as to give an impression that the release occurs frequently.

According to the invention, special combination is established by the release of winning flag, Oite special game period associated therewith, the notification by the notification means won quasi special combination is performed, the winning to the associated special won When the avoiding operation is performed, there is a possibility that the condition for releasing the winning flag after the end of the special game period is changed to a more advantageous condition for the player. Therefore, even if the winning of the semi-special combination cannot be established up to the maximum number N times for the winning avoidance operation, the special combination that is a privilege larger than the semi-special combination can be established early.

Therefore, according to the slot machine according to the present invention, the player who performed the winning avoidance operation knowing that he / she has won the quasi-special role has an opportunity to release the winning flag for the special role early. Can be given.

Furthermore, in another preferable aspect of the slot machine according to the present invention, the game control switching means is configured to control the plurality of the game control switches under the control in which the semi-special role is won during the special game period and the notification is performed by the notification means. The extra lottery is executed with the stop operation for the symbol arrangement in the predetermined order as the winning avoidance operation.

According to the above aspect, an extra lottery can be executed by setting a stop operation for a plurality of symbol arrays in a predetermined order as a winning avoidance operation. Even if it is not possible to avoid winning the quasi-special role by this operation , the lottery will not be executed in accordance with the winning avoidance operation during the special game period, in addition to the conditions for releasing the winning flag after the end of the period. It may be possible to switch to a condition that is more advantageous than the case where the winning lottery is not won .

In a slot machine according to a further preferred aspect, when the stop operation in the predetermined order is performed on the plurality of symbol arrangements in a state where the semi-special role is won during the special period, The movement display of each symbol arrangement is stopped at the timing when the special combination is not established .

In the above aspect, when the first stop operation is performed on a specific symbol arrangement in a state where the quasi-special role is won, the winning symbol is not drawn into the winning line for at least one symbol arrangement. Stop moving display. As a result, it is possible to prevent winning of the semi-special role. In this case, it is desirable to perform control so that the winning symbol is not drawn into the symbol array that is last stopped. However, if the stop operation order that is regarded as a winning avoidance operation is not limited to a specific one, it is determined whether it is a winning avoidance operation in the middle of a series of stop operations. You may perform the control which does not draw in the winning symbol at any time .

In the slot machine according to the present invention, the symbol combination that shifts to the big bonus can be a special role, and the symbol combination that shifts to the regular bonus can be a quasi-special role. In this case, the big bonus described above corresponds to the special game period, and the general game corresponds to the special game. In this case, during the special game period, in addition to the general game, the second special game (RB game) is executed every time a semi-special role is won.

  According to the present invention, in a special game period associated with a special role, when a player performs an operation to avoid winning a quasi-special role, a privilege higher than that of the quasi-special role is set after the special game period ends. Therefore, even if the special game period comes to an end, the player has an adventurous spirit of trying to avoid winning a prize while preparing for the risk. Therefore, the interest during the special game period can be enhanced. Further, even after the end of the special game period, the player comes to the game with a sense of expectation that a high privilege will be given, and the player's interest in the game can be maintained.

  1 and 2 show the external appearance and internal structure of a slot machine to which the present invention is applied. The machine body 1 of the slot machine of this embodiment includes a housing 2 having a front opening, and a door 3 assembled to the housing 2 so as to cover the opening 2A. Inside the housing 2, a medal dispenser 6 having a hopper 6 a at the bottom, a power supply unit 10, and the like are disposed above the reel block 4. Further, on the rear plate of the housing 2, a low-frequency output speaker 14, a board 5 on which a control unit 30 (shown in FIG. 4) for game control is mounted.

  The door 3 has three panels 11, 12, 13 and the like assembled in a metal frame. These panels 11, 12, and 13 are formed by performing silk screen printing on the surface of a transparent synthetic resin plate or tempered glass.

The upper upper panel 12 is printed with information such as a combination of symbols and the number of medals to be paid out as information indicating the contents of various winnings, and the lower lower panel 13 is printed with information such as a model name. .
Speakers 15 and 16 for outputting sound effects are provided on both sides of the upper panel 12. Below the lower panel 13, a medal payout port 17, a medal tray 18, and the like are provided.

  The center front panel 11 is used as an area for displaying the progress of the game. An uncolored and transparent symbol display window 20 is formed at the center of the front panel 11, and a storage number indicator 21, a payout number indicator 22, a bonus game indicator 23, and the like are further provided below the symbol display window 20. The

  Between the front panel 11 and the lower panel 13, a medal slot 24 for receiving medals for gaming, a start lever 25 for rotating the reels 8a, 8b, 8c all at once, and the reels 8a, 8b, 8c. Stop switches 26a, 26b, and 26c for individually stopping, a bet switch 27 for setting a bet medal to a game from a credit medal stored in an electronic data format, and a settlement switch 28 for settlement of the credit medal Etc. are deployed.

  If there are up to three medals inserted from the medal slot 24, a winning line corresponding to the number of medals is activated and a state in which the game can be executed is set. When further medals are inserted from this state, these medals are stored as credit medals. In addition, when a winning is achieved in a game played by consuming credit medals by the bet switch 27, a medal payout process is performed by adding medals for the number of payouts to the credit medals.

  The reel block 4 in the housing 2 has a structure in which three reels 8 a, 8 b, and 8 c are assembled to a resin frame 7, and is disposed at a position corresponding to the symbol display window 20. Each of the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c is formed by attaching a strip-shaped tape having a plurality of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the reel frame. The reel blocks 4 are connected to the reel block 4 together with stepping motors 9a, 9b, and 9c serving as driving sources. It is attached.

  FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the front panel 11 including the symbol display window 20. The symbol display window 20 displays the symbols 19 for three frames so that the three reels 8a, 8b, and 8c in the horizontal direction can be seen from the outside, and the length in the vertical direction is when the reels are stopped. Thus, it is formed in a rectangular shape that is long horizontally. In the symbol display window 20, a total of five pay lines L1 to L5 are set so as to connect the stop display position of each symbol, three in the horizontal direction and two in the diagonal direction.

  The stored number display 21 displays the number of stored credit medals, and the payout number display 22 displays the number of medals to be paid out as a reward when a winning is achieved by the game. The bonus game display 23 is used to display the number of winnings that can be expected and the number of times the game has been executed in the case of a big bonus (BB) or a regular bonus (RB). In addition, all the displays 21, 22, and 23 are comprised using LED of 7 segments.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of the slot machine.
Reference numeral 30 in the figure denotes a control unit on the control board 5. The control unit 30 includes a ROM 31, a working memory 33, a random number generator 34, etc., in addition to a CPU 31 that is a control subject.

  In addition to the program, the ROM 32 stores a symbol arrangement table showing a symbol arrangement of each reel 8a, 8b, 8c, a lottery table for various lotteries including an internal lottery, and the like. The work memory 33 is a non-volatile memory such as an EPROM, and is used for reading and writing work data necessary for advancing the game, such as a winning flag when winning in the internal lottery. The random number generator 34 is for generating a random number to be sampled when the CPU 31 performs a lottery process.

  Various input / output units are connected to the control unit 30 via a bus 35. As the input unit, the start lever 25, the stop switches 26a, 26b, 26c, the bet switch 27, the settlement switch 28, and a medal detection sensor 37 for detecting a medal inserted into the medal slot 24 are connected. The The output unit includes reel driving units 36a, 36b, 36c for driving the stepping motors 9a, 9b, 9c of the reel unit 4, a medal payer 6, a stored number display 21, a payout number display 22, a bonus. A game display 23 or the like is connected.

  In the slot machine having the above-described configuration, in addition to a plurality of types of small roles, a special role that shifts to a big bonus, a semi-special role that shifts to a regular bonus, and a symbol combination (replay) of a draw are set. The control unit 30 sets a state in which the game can be started according to the insertion of medals or the operation of the bet switch 27. When an operation signal from the start lever 25 is received, an internal lottery is executed for various combinations including replay, and the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c are rotated. Further, each time the stop switch 26a, 26b, 26c is operated, a control for drawing the symbol for the winning combination by the internal lottery is executed to the corresponding reel 8a, 8b, 8c to stop the reel. The number of pieces that can be slid on the reel for this pull-in is set to 4 pieces, and if the winning symbol is not included in this number of pieces, the game result is “out of place”.

  In the following, for the sake of convenience, winning a winning combination for a transition to a big bonus or a regular bonus is referred to as “winning a big bonus” or “winning a regular bonus”. In addition, the winning for the big bonus combination is called “BB winning”, and the winning for the regular bonus winning is called “RB winning”.

  Next, in the slot machine of this embodiment, normally, even if the big bonus is won, the winning symbol for the big bonus (hereinafter referred to as “BB flag”) is accumulated without performing the drawing-in control of the winning symbol. I am doing so. Further, for each game, a lottery (hereinafter referred to as “release lottery”) for determining whether or not to release the accumulated BB flag is executed, and when this release lottery is won, one accumulated BB flag is released. Thus, the pull-in control for the winning symbol for the big bonus is executed.

  FIG. 5 shows the contents of the symbol arrangement table related to each reel 8a, 8b, 8c of the slot machine. In this table, the first reel means the left reel 8a, the second reel means the center reel 8b, and the third reel means the right reel 8c. This table shows the symbol arrangement on the strip tape wound around the outer periphery of each reel 8a, 8b, 8c, and assigns numerical values (frame numbers) 1 to 21 in order from the top symbol. It is. When the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c are rotated, the symbols are displayed in a variable manner along the direction from the top to the bottom in the table.

In this table, each symbol is indicated by a name corresponding to the content or function of the symbol. “7” and “shinobi” in the table are winning symbols for the big bonus. When three “7” or “shinobi” are arranged on the winning line, a BB winning is established.
“Suzu”, “Ninja”, and “Autumn leaves” are symbols for small roles. However, a small combination can be set by a combination of different symbols including a symbol symbol for bonus, such as “bell-bell-7” in FIG.

  “Replay” is a replay symbol for drawing, but functions as a winning symbol for regular bonus during the big bonus. The replay symbols are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on the center and right reels 8b and 8c. On the other hand, on the left reel 8a, the replay symbols are arranged at intervals of 5 frames except for one place.

  The arrangement of the replay symbol is made in consideration of the case where the replay is removed during the big bonus. Now, assume that three stop display positions in the symbol display window 20 are set as symbol drawing target positions for one reel. As described above, the number of frames that can be slid for the pull-in control is within 4 frames. Therefore, if the interval between the replay symbols is within 5 frames, the replay symbol can be drawn into any target position. it can. For example, in the reel 8a, when the stop operation is performed in a state where the symbol of the frame number 6 is located at the lowest stop position, the frame of the frame number 1 is obtained by sliding the reel 8a four frames. The replay symbol can be stopped at the top stop position.

  On the other hand, when the target position is limited to any one of the upper, middle and lower stop display positions, the reels 8b and 8c can be used to reliably draw the replay symbol at the target position. It is necessary to arrange replay symbols at intervals of 4 frames or less.

  According to the symbol arrangement of FIG. 5 above, when a stop operation (so-called “forward press”) in the order of left, center, and right is performed on each reel 8a, 8b, 8c, the reel to be stopped first. For 8a, the upper, middle, and lower stop display positions can be set as the target positions. Therefore, in this case, the RB winning can be established by drawing the replay symbol into the predetermined winning line for each of the reels 8a, 8b, and 8c. On the other hand, when a stop operation (so-called “reverse pressing”) is performed in the order of right, center, and left, the target is limited to the winning line where the replay symbols are aligned by stopping the reels 8b and 8c. For 8a, there is a possibility that the replay symbol cannot be drawn into the target position. Therefore, when the regular bonus is won during the big bonus, the player can avoid the establishment of the RB winning by reverse pressing.

  Next, in the slot machine of this embodiment, the BB flag common to the BB winning with the symbols “7” and “shinobi” is set, and the release lottery is executed for each game. In addition, when the release lottery is won, a lottery for selecting either one of the symbols is subsequently executed (hereinafter, this lottery is referred to as a “distribution lottery”), and a pull-in control for the symbols won in the distribution lottery is executed. By doing so, a BB winning with the selected symbol is established.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of control states (hereinafter referred to as “stage”) as shown in FIG. 6 are set for the release lottery and the distribution lottery. The stage numbers in the figure are identification numbers for specifying the stages to be executed, and 11 stages with numbers 0 to 10 are set. In the following, each stage is indicated by a corresponding stage number, such as stage 0, stage 1,.

  In the setting of FIG. 6, the maximum number of games (ceiling) until the BB flag is released is set together with the winning probability for the release lottery. In addition, for the distribution lottery, winning probabilities for the symbols “7” and “shinobi” are set. At any stage, even if the release lottery is not won, the BB flag is released when the game is executed for the number of times indicated by the ceiling. In stage 0 and stage 1, the winning probability in the release lottery is a numerical value less than 1%, and the ceiling value is set to “1500”, which is higher than the other stages. On the other hand, in stages 2 to 10, the winning probability in the release lottery is 1/12 (about 8%), and the ceiling is set to “28”.

  According to the above setting, it can be considered that stage 0 and stage 1 are in a control state that requires a long time from the previous release of the BB flag to the next release. On the other hand, stages 2 to 10 can be considered as control states in which the next BB flag is released in a short period after the previous BB flag is released. In the following, the control state by stages 0 and 1 is referred to as “hamari state”, and the control state by stages 2 to 10 is referred to as “continuous discharge state”.

  Next, with regard to the lottery for distribution, in stage 0 and stage 1, the winning probability of “7” is set higher. On the other hand, in stage 2, the winning probabilities for “7” and “shinobi” are the same rate, and in stages 3-10, “shinobi” is always won.

  In this embodiment, when “7” is won in the sorting lottery and a BB winning with a symbol of “7” is established, after the big bonus (hereinafter referred to as “7BB”) associated with the winning, the stage. 0 or stage 1 is selected. Therefore, when the BB winning with the symbol of 7 is established, the player predicts that the subsequent control is likely to be in a stalemate state.

  On the other hand, if “Shinobu” is won in the sorting lottery and a BB winning with the symbol of “Shinobu” is established, stage 2 after the big bonus accompanying the winning (hereinafter referred to as “shinobu BB”). Subsequent stages are selected. As a specific rule, in this embodiment, after executing Shinobi BB in stages 0 to 2, stage 2 is selected. In addition, after executing Shinobi BB in stages 3 to 10, a stage having a smaller stage number (stage 3 for stage 4 and stage 2 for stage 3) is selected.

  Accordingly, the player predicts that when the BB winning by “shinobi” is established, the continuous release state of the BB flag is surely generated at least once, and the player's expectation is increased. Note that the continuous release state is ended when “7” is won in the sorting lottery in stage 2 and a BB winning is established by “7”.

  The bonus and the contents of the general game at the time of the big bonus are set in the same manner for both 7BB and Shinobi BB except for the winning probability of the extra lottery described later. FIG. 7 is an internal lottery table common to each big bonus. The state where the replay symbols are aligned is handled as an RB prize as described above. Further, the combination of the symbols “bell”, “ninja”, and “autumn leaves” and the combination of “bell-bell-7” function as small roles. In FIG. 7, the winning probability for each combination is indicated by a numerator when 65536 is used as the denominator.

  In this embodiment, when a regular bonus is won in a general game in a big bonus, the winning is notified in a predetermined manner (sound, light, etc.). In addition, when the player performs “reverse push” that means replay removal under this notification, a lottery based on a predetermined probability (hereinafter referred to as “addition lottery”) is executed. Then, when this extra lottery is won, the above-described rule is not applied to the switching of the stage after the end of the big bonus, and the stage is shifted to a more advantageous stage for the player.

  Specifically, when the winning lottery is won, after the big bonus is over, the stage shifts to a stage having a stage number larger than that of the normally selected stage. More specifically, if the winning lottery is won during 7BB, the stage 2 is entered regardless of the stage number at the time of winning. In addition, when the winning lottery is won during the Shinobi BB in the stage of stage number 3 or higher, the stage currently being executed is maintained even after the BB ends. Further, in both 7BB and Shinobu BB, when the winning lottery is won a plurality of times, the stage number after the end of the BB is increased according to the number of wins (details will be described later). .

  Also in this embodiment, the big bonus itself is terminated when 3 RB winnings are established or 30 BB games are executed, as in the past, so if you continue to remove replay at the end of the big bonus, There is a possibility that the third RB winning will not be established and the number of medals won will be greatly reduced.

  However, according to the above-described extra lottery, if the replay is removed during 7BB, there is a possibility of shifting from the hammari state to the continuous release state after the end of the big bonus. In addition, even when the replay is removed during the Shinobi BB, the number of releases guaranteed by the current stage may be changed to a larger number.

  That is, in this embodiment, there is a possibility that a privilege (BB winning by releasing the BB flag) larger than the privilege obtained by one RB winning can be obtained by removing the replay during the big bonus. Therefore, even in the final stage of the big bonus, the player feels that he / she will remove the replay after being aware of the above risks, and can enhance the interest of the game.

Next, specific control in the slot machine will be described.
The CPU 31 normally executes a game of “non-release mode” that does not release the BB flag, but if the release lottery is won in this non-release mode, or if the BB flag is not accumulated at all, Transition to “release mode” where the flag can be released. In the slot machine of this embodiment, the number of accumulated BB flags (hereinafter, the value of the accumulated number is referred to as s) is written in the nonvolatile work memory 33, and the accumulated number s is maintained even after the power is turned off. Therefore, the game in the non-release mode can be executed immediately after the machine is turned on.

  FIG. 8 shows a flow of game control in the non-release mode, and FIG. 9 shows a flow of game control in the release mode (hereinafter, the control in FIG. 8 is “non-release game control”, and the control in FIG. It is called “game control on release”). Each of these procedures is related to the execution of the game for one time. Each step in FIG. 8 is indicated by a number in the 400s, and each step in FIG. 9 is indicated by a number in the 500s. In the following description and drawings, each step is indicated as ST (the same applies to FIGS. 10 and 11).

  First, in the non-release game control of FIG. 8, ST401 becomes “YES” by the game start operation of the player, and the process proceeds to the following steps. The game start operation includes a medal betting operation (an operation of the bet switch 27 or a medal insertion from the medal insertion slot 24) and an operation of the start lever 25. The same applies to ST501 in FIG. 9 and ST901 in FIG.

  In the next ST402, an internal lottery is executed in response to the game start operation. In this internal lottery, a lottery for the various types of winning combinations described above is executed, and a winning flag corresponding to the winning combination is set on. Further, in this lottery, when the big bonus (BB) is won, the next ST403 becomes “YES”, and in ST404, the accumulated number s is updated to one larger value.

  In ST405, a release lottery is executed. In this release lottery, the lottery is executed by applying the winning probability corresponding to the stage being selected based on the setting shown in FIG. If it is outside this release lottery, the process proceeds from ST406 to ST407, and it is checked whether or not a number of games corresponding to “ceiling” in the selected stage have been executed. If the number of game executions has not reached the “ceiling”, the process proceeds to ST408, and each reel 8a, 8b, 8c is started. If there is a first stop operation, ST409 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST410. Thereafter, three stop operations including the first stop operation are sequentially accepted, and the reel corresponding to the operation is stopped. Let In this reel stop control, if the winning flag other than the big bonus is on, the pull-in control for the winning symbol corresponding to the flag is executed. Also, a control (called “kicking control”) is performed so as not to draw these symbols so that the big bonus combination by “7” or “shinobi” is not arranged.

  The above is a series of flows in the non-release game control. However, in this flow, when the release lottery is won (ST406 is “YES”), or when the number of game executions reaches “ceiling” (ST407 is “YES”), the process proceeds to ST411, and the non-release mode To release mode. Thereafter, the processing after ST507 in FIG. 9 is executed to release the BB flag.

  9 is the same as the non-release game control in that the internal lottery is executed in response to the player's game start operation in the game control at release in FIG. 9 (ST501, 502). Also, when the big bonus is won in the internal lottery, the accumulated number s is updated to one larger value as in the non-release game control (ST503, 504).

  When the process related to the internal lottery is completed, in ST505, it is checked whether or not a big win for the big bonus has occurred. Here, the first winning is to win the big bonus under the condition of s = 0. When ST505 is “NO”, that is, when the first winning has not occurred or when the big bonus has not been won, the process proceeds to ST506, and it is checked whether the distribution lottery has been executed. If the distribution lottery has not been executed, the process proceeds to the next ST507 to execute the distribution lottery. In the distribution lottery, as in the release lottery, either “7” or “shinobi” is selected based on the winning probability corresponding to the current stage in the lottery table of FIG.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to ST508, and each reel 8a, 8b, 8c is started. When the first stop operation is performed, the process proceeds from ST509 to ST510, and three stop operations including the first stop operation are sequentially accepted to stop the reel to be operated. In this reel stop control, control for drawing “7” or “shinobi” into the winning line is executed based on the result of the sorting lottery. However, if the winning flag for the small role is set to ON by the internal lottery in ST502, the control for preferentially drawing the winning symbol for the small role is executed.

  The above is the normal flow of the game control at the time of release, but when the big bonus is won for the first time, ST505 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST511. In ST511, the control mode is switched from the release mode to the non-release mode, and after switching, the process proceeds to ST408 in FIG. That is, when the big bonus is won for the first time, the non-release mode is entered immediately after the first winning and the accumulation of the BB flag is started.

  Further, in ST411 of FIG. 8, when the non-release mode is switched to the release mode, the process shifts to the game control at the time of release, and the processing after the sorting lottery of ST507 is executed. If the BB winning cannot be achieved by winning the small role, ST506 in the next game is “YES”, the distribution lottery is skipped, and the process proceeds to ST508.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows a flow of a series of processes in the slot machine. This procedure includes the game bonus control shown in FIG. 11 in addition to the game controls shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the process starts when the power is turned on.

  In ST1, as initialization processing, various variables excluding the accumulated number s are reset to zero. In ST1, the control mode is set to either the release mode or the non-release mode based on the value of the number s stored in the work memory 33 (if s> 0, the non-release mode is set, and s = 0 If so, it will be in release mode.) Further, for the eleven stages shown in FIG. 6, stage 0 is initialized. In addition, the number of game executions for comparison with “ceiling” is initially set to zero.

  In the next ST2, it is checked whether or not a BB prize has been established in the previous game. Since this determination at the time of initial startup is “NO”, the process proceeds to ST3 and the current control mode is checked. If the non-release mode is set, the process proceeds from ST3 to ST4, and the non-release game control shown in FIG. 8 is executed. On the other hand, if the release mode is set, the process proceeds from ST3 to ST5, and the game control at the time of release shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

  When the game by any game control is finished, in ST6, the presence / absence of a prize is checked. Here, if a winning is established, ST6 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST7, and a number of medals are paid out according to the winning. When an RB winning is established, the routine proceeds to a regular bonus control procedure (not shown), and a predetermined number of RB games are executed.

  As described above, since the working memory 33 holds the number of accumulations s of the previous day, there is a high possibility that the non-release mode is set immediately after the power is turned on. In this case, the non-release game control at ST4 continues until the above-described release lottery is won or the game execution count reaches the “ceiling”. The number of game executions is counted up every time the process returns to ST2.

  When the non-release mode is switched to the release mode at a predetermined time and a BB winning is established, the determination of ST2 after the game ends is “YES”, and the process proceeds to ST8. In ST8, the accumulated number s is updated to one smaller value, and then the big bonus processing in ST9 is executed. As a result, one accumulated BB flag is released. Details of the big bonus process will be described later.

  After the end of the big bonus, the accumulated number s after release is checked in ST10. When the accumulated number s is larger than 0, the process proceeds to ST11, and the number p of winning in the extra lottery in the big bonus (hereinafter referred to as the number of winning p) is checked. If the extra lottery was not performed during the big bonus of ST9, or if the extra lottery was not won, the determination of ST11 is “NO”, and hereinafter, the stage according to the type of big bonus executed in ST9 Select.

  Specifically, when 7BB is executed as a big bonus, the process proceeds from ST12 to ST13, and either stage 0 or 1 is selected. This selection is also made by lottery. For example, stage 0 is selected with a probability of 80%.

  When Shinobi BB is executed as a big bonus, the process proceeds from ST12 to ST14, and the current stage is confirmed. If any of the stages 3 to 10 is selected, the process proceeds to ST15, and the stage corresponding to the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the current stage number is selected. On the other hand, if stages 0 to 2 are selected, the process proceeds from ST14 to ST16, and stage 2 is selected.

  If ST11 is “YES”, that is, if a lottery is won during the big bonus, the process proceeds to ST17. In ST17, based on the current stage number, the stage corresponding to the number obtained by adding p to the number of the stage selected when p = 0 (however, when 7BB is executed, when p = 0) The stage 1 is handled as being selected) is selected as the next stage.

  When the next stage is selected by any one of ST13, 15, 16, and 17, the process proceeds to ST18. In ST18, the control mode is switched from the discharge mode to the non-release mode, and then the process returns to ST2. Thus, from the next game, the game control is returned to the non-release game control again until the release lottery based on the newly selected stage is won or until the number of games corresponding to “ceiling” is executed. The game that does not release will continue. The number of game executions is reset to zero after the end of the big bonus process in ST9. When the accumulated number s after the big bonus is 0, the steps after ST11 are skipped, and thereafter, the game control at the time of release is executed until BB is won again.

Next, the detailed procedure of the big bonus process in ST9 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the first ST901, a counter k indicating the number of general games in the big bonus, a counter n indicating the number of RB winnings, and the winning number p are reset to zero. Thereafter, the game process according to the following procedure is repeated until k = 30 is determined in ST922 or n = 3 is determined in ST914.

  First, if there is a player's game start operation, the process proceeds from ST902 to ST903, and the general game number k is updated to a larger value. Next, in ST904, based on the lottery table of FIG. 7, an internal lottery for five types of winning combinations is executed.

  After the internal lottery, each reel 8a, 8b, 8c is started in ST905. Thereafter, different procedures are executed depending on whether or not the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery.

  First, when the regular bonus is not won, the process proceeds from ST906 to ST918, and waits for the player's stop operation. Here, if there is a first stop operation, the process proceeds to ST919, and three stop operations including the first stop operation are sequentially accepted to stop the reel to be operated. In the reel stop control, if the winning combination winning flag is on, the winning symbol corresponding to the flag is drawn into the winning line.

  After the reels stop, it is checked in ST920 whether or not a small role winning is established, and if the winning is achieved, the process proceeds to ST921 and a medal is paid out. Thereafter, if the number of general games k is less than 30, the process returns from ST922 to ST902.

  Next, when the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery in ST904, the process proceeds from ST906 to ST907 after the reel is started, and the winning is notified in a predetermined manner. Thereafter, when the player's first stop operation is performed, the process proceeds from ST908 to ST909, in which three stop operations including the first stop operation are sequentially received, and control is performed to stop the reel to be operated. To do. In this reel stop control, the pull-in control for the replay symbol is executed. However, when the player performs reverse pressing, there is a case where the replay symbol cannot be aligned on the winning line.

  In ST910, it is checked whether or not the stop operation is a reverse push. In this embodiment, the case where the right stop switch 26c is operated first is “reversely pressed”, and if the determination in ST910 is “YES”, the process proceeds to ST915 and the lottery is executed. Further, if the winning lottery is won, the process proceeds from ST916 to ST917, and the winning count p is incremented.

  On the other hand, if the reverse push has not been performed, the process proceeds to ST911 and it is checked whether or not an RB winning has been established. Here, if the RB winning is established, the process proceeds to ST912 to increment the winning number n, and the regular bonus processing is executed in ST913. Thereafter, in ST914, the value of the winning number n is checked. If n <3, the process proceeds to ST922. Similarly, when the RB winning is not established (when ST911 is “NO”), the process proceeds to ST922 in the same manner.

  Even when reverse pressing is performed, in accordance with the “NO” determination in ST916 or after executing ST917, the process proceeds to ST911 to check whether or not an RB winning is established. This is because, in ST909, since replay symbol pull-in control is performed, if the timing of the stop operation on the reel 8a is incorrect, replay removal may fail and an RB winning may be established. If replay removal is successful, the RB winning state is reset.

  According to the game control shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, at first, the game in the non-release mode is executed under the state of stage 0. However, if the release lottery is won at a predetermined time, the game is switched to the release mode, and BB Big bonus processing is executed by releasing the flag. In this big bonus process, when the player performs a reverse pressing operation in response to the notification of the RB winning, an additional lottery is executed regardless of whether or not the replay is successfully removed. Then, when 7BB is added and the lottery is won, the stage 2 is reached after the end of the BB, so the BB flag is released at least once due to the escape from the humming state and the continuous release state.

In addition, if the lottery is won during the Shinobi BB, the number of consecutive flag releases will be 1 after the end of the BB because the stage will be shifted to a stage that is one stage higher than the stage that should normally shift. Will increase.
In addition, if the winning lottery is won multiple times, 7BB moves to the stage corresponding to (p + 1), and Shinobi BB shifts to the stage corresponding to the value of the stage number that should normally shift to p. . Therefore, in any stage, it is possible to add a continuous release of flags corresponding to the number of winning times p.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the big bonus being executed is Shinobi BB, the winning lottery is won with a higher probability than 7BB (for example, the winning probability is 10 times that of the extra lottery in 7BB). Is set.) Therefore, once the BB winning by “shinobi” is established, the stages 2, 3, 4, 5,... May be updated in order. Therefore, an opportunity to accumulate the number of releases of the BB flag is created, and the interest of the game can be further enhanced. However, if the stage 10 has been updated, the stage 10 is maintained even if the extra lottery is won.

In the big bonus process of FIG. 11, the extra lottery is performed in response to the reverse pressing in the state where the regular bonus is won, but the conditions for the extra lottery may be slightly narrowed. For example, in the BB game after the RB winning is established twice, an extra lottery may be performed in accordance with the reverse pressing operation when the third regular bonus winning is established. Further, the lottery may be performed only when the replay is successfully removed by reverse pressing.
In addition, in the flow of FIG. 11, the extra lottery can be won a plurality of times, but instead, when the extra lottery is won once, the subsequent extra lottery may be skipped.

  Also, in the above embodiment, even if a replay removal operation by reverse pressing is performed, if the replay symbol can be pulled in, it is pulled in, but instead, when reverse pressing is performed Alternatively, control may be performed so that the RB winning is not established by kicking the replay symbol.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a front view showing an internal configuration of the slot machine. It is a front view which shows the structure of a front panel. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a slot machine. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of the symbol arrangement | sequence table of each reel. It is a figure which shows the table which set the content of discharge | release lottery and distribution lottery. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of the internal lottery table used during a big bonus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of game control at the time of non-release. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of game control at the time of discharge | release. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in a slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in a big bonus.

Explanation of symbols

8a, 8b, 8c Reel 30 Control unit 31 CPU
32 ROM
33 Work memory

Claims (5)

After moving and displaying a plurality of symbol arrays, a movement display control means for controlling the stop timing of the movement display of each symbol array so as to win a winning combination by lottery, and a winning flag indicating winning for a special role are accumulated. A flag accumulating means, a flag releasing means for releasing the accumulated winning flag according to establishment of a predetermined condition to establish a prize for the special combination , and a predetermined size according to the winning for the special combination Transition to a special game period in which a special game that can be awarded to a quasi-special role for which a privilege is set is executed, and the number of wins for the quasi-special role reaches a predetermined number, or the number of executions of a special game reaches a predetermined number In a slot machine provided with special game execution means for continuing the special game period until it reaches,
Informing means for informing the winning of the semi-special role during the special game period;
During the special game period, when the semi-special role is won and notified by the notification means, and a winning avoidance operation for avoiding the establishment of a prize for the semi-special role is performed , it is given to the player When the lottery for determining whether or not to increase the privilege to be executed is executed and the lottery is won, the lottery is not executed as a condition for releasing the winning flag by the flag releasing means after the special game period is over. And a game control switching means for switching to a more advantageous condition than the case where the lottery is not won . The flag releasing means releases the winning flag on condition that the number of game executions after the end of the special game period has reached a predetermined number,
In response to winning the lottery for determining whether or not to increase the privilege to be given to the player, the game control switching means determines the number of game executions executed until the winning flag is released. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein a control state is set that is less than that in a case where the control is not executed and a case where the lottery is not performed . The flag releasing means executes a lottery for determining whether or not to release a winning flag, and releases the winning flag on the condition that the lottery is won,
In response to winning the lottery for determining whether or not to increase the privilege to be given to the player, the game control switching means has the lottery winning probability executed by the flag releasing means is not executed. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the control state is set to be higher than the case and the case of losing the lottery . The game control switching means performs a stop operation on the plurality of symbol arrangements in a predetermined order in a state where the semi-special role is won during the special game period and the notification is performed by the notification means. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a lottery for determining whether or not to increase a privilege to be given to the player is executed as the winning avoidance operation . A slot machine according to claim 4, wherein
In a state where the semi-special role is won during the special game period, when the stop operation is performed on the plurality of symbol arrangements in the predetermined order, the semi-special role is not established at the timing. A slot machine further comprising stop control means for stopping the movement display of each symbol array .

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