JP4354203B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a variable display device that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information each identifiable based on the establishment of a predetermined start condition, and after the start condition is satisfied, on the basis of the establishment of a variable display start condition The present invention relates to a gaming machine that displays a display result after variably displaying the plurality of types of identification information and controls to a specific gaming state advantageous to a player when the display result of the variable display becomes a specific display result. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a variable display device that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information, each of which can be identified based on the establishment of a predetermined start condition, and after the start condition is satisfied, A game machine that controls a specific gaming state that is advantageous to the player when the display result of the variable display becomes a specific display result after variably displaying the type of identification information, for example, a bullet In a ball game machine, a hold lamp indicating the number of hold memories as the number of established start conditions and a reach lamp for notifying that there is a hold memory that is a big hit or a reach in the hold memory are separately provided and reserved. When there is a reserved memory that becomes a big hit or a reach in the list, the notice mode is determined at a different ratio depending on whether or not the reserved memory is a reserved memory that becomes a big hit. Based had performs prediction effect by controlling lighting reach lamp (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-164948 (page 3-6, FIG. 6)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the gaming machine having such a configuration, it is difficult to determine the number of reserved memory, which has been a problem when the notice effect is executed by changing the lighting state of the hold lamp. ) Can be eliminated by providing a holding lamp indicating the number of stored memories and a reach lamp for performing a notice effect separately. However, since the determination and control of the notice effect are performed by the main control board, the control burden on the main control board has been increased. Further, when the control is divided into the main control board and the sub control board, there is a possibility that the recognition of the reserved storage number is shifted. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that executes a notice effect without increasing the burden on a main control board.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above-described object, in the invention according to claim 1, after the predetermined start condition is satisfied (for example, the start winning to the start winning opening 14), the start condition of the variable display is satisfied (for example, the previous start condition) A variable display device (for example, variable display) that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information (for example, special symbols 10a and decorative symbols 9a to 9c) that can be identified based on variable symbol special display and end of jackpot gaming state) Device 8), which controls a specific gaming state (for example, a big hit gaming state) advantageous to the player when the display result of the variable display becomes a specific display result, Display for controlling the variable display device based on a game control means (for example, CPU 56) to be controlled and a command from the game control means (for example, an effect control command shown in FIG. 19) Control means (for example, the production control CPU 111), and the game control means includes the number of established start conditions (for example, the number of start memories) in which the start condition is satisfied but the variable display start condition is not yet satisfied. ) (For example, the function of storing the start memory number by the RAM 55 of the main board 31) and the number of established conditions when the start condition stored in the start memory means changes. Established number command transmission means for transmitting an identifiable established number command (a start control command designating control command shown in FIG. 19) (for example, when N in step S161, the start memory number designation command transmission table of step S162 The address is set in the pointer, and the command setting process is executed in step S163) and a predetermined numerical range is used for determination relating to variable display. On the basis of the numerical data update means (for example, the part that executes step S22 of the game control means) that updates the numerical data (for example, random 1 to random 8 in FIG. 6), and the start condition is satisfied, Extraction means (for example, step S113) for extracting the numerical data;Numerical data storage means for storing numerical data extracted by the extraction means (function for storing random numbers for determining big hits by the RAM 55 of the main board 31);It is determined whether or not the specific gaming state is controlled based on whether or not the numerical data extracted by the extraction means matches a predetermined determination value (for example, the jackpot determination value shown in FIG. 11A). Winning time numerical data determining means (for example, step S123) and a specific command (for example, specifying) that can be specified when it is determined by the winning time numerical data determining means to be controlled to the specific gaming state A specific command transmission means for transmitting a jackpot winning designation and a non-specific jackpot winning designation determination result command (for example, a winning command transmission table corresponding to data corresponding to the winning command stored in the winning effect buffer in step S166). The address is set in the pointer, and the command set process is executed in step S167);Whether or not the numerical data extracted when the start condition satisfying the start condition is met with the predetermined determination value among the numerical data stored in the numerical data storage means when the start condition is satisfied The determination result of the starting numerical data determining means (for example, step S56) for determining whether or not the display result of the variable display is to be a specific display result can be specified based on A determination result command transmission means (for example, step S302) for transmitting a determination result command (special symbol stop symbol designation command);The display control means comprisesBased on the reception of the determination result command from the determination result command transmission means, the plurality of types of identification information are variably displayed on the variable display device and specified by the determination result command. Variable display control means (for example, step S705) for deriving and displaying a display result according to the determination result;Start memory display for controlling display of start memory display means (for example, special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d) for individually displaying the number of established start conditions based on the established number command received from the established number command transmission means. The control means (function to control the LED of the display control CPU 111) and the number of established start conditions individually displayed on the start memory display means based on the reception of the specific command from the specific command transmission means Of these, the notice determination that determines whether or not to execute a notice effect (for example, the effects shown in FIGS. 36A to 36E) that can specify the start condition that caused the specific command to be transmitted. Means (for example, continuous notice determination processing: steps S644 and S648);Number of advance notices for determining a variable display count for executing the advance notice effect with an upper limit of the number of established start conditions specified by the established number command when the advance notice determining unit determines that the advance notice effect is to be executed. Determining means (for example, determination processing of continuous notice: steps S644 and S648);By the notice determination meansAboveWhen it is determined that the notice effect will be executedIn the period spanning variable display of the variable display count determined by the notice count determination means,By controlling the operation of a predetermined movable effect meansIt is possible to specify the start condition that caused the specific command to be transmitted.RuExecute the notice effectA notice effect control means (for example, a part for controlling display of the notice effect display unit 17 in accordance with the contents of the notice type buffer and the execution number counter in step S881). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the control burden on the game control means, which is the main control means, and the number of established start conditions.Involved inDisplay and notice effectInvolved inBy displaying the display separately, each can be clearly notified to the player. Furthermore, even if the display control means, which is a sub-control means, deviates in the number of established start conditions or a problem occurs in command reception, a change in the number of established start conditions causes a change in the number of established start conditions, so that the established number command is transmitted from the game control means Can be corrected immediately.
[0006]
  In the invention according to claim 2,The display control means sets flag information set in advance when the notice effect is executed, and flag information setting means for deleting the flag information when the notice effect is finished (for example, steps S666 and S883). The notice effect display control means executes the notice effect on the condition that the flag information is set, and the flag information setting means executes the notice effect by the notice determination means. After the determination is made, the flag information is set based on receiving a determination result command indicating that the display result of the variable display is a specific display result before executing the variable display of the determined variable display count. It is characterized by erasing.
  In the invention according to claim 3,The establishment number command transmission means specifies the number of establishment of the start condition stored in the start storage means at a predetermined timing (for example, timing at which the start port switch passage process is started in the 2 ms interruption process), An establishment number determination means (for example, step S161) for determining whether the establishment number is different from the previous specific result is provided, and the establishment is determined when the establishment number determination means determines that the establishment number is different from the previous identification result. A number command is transmitted (for example, a part in which the address of the start memory number designation command transmission table is set in the pointer in step S162 and the command setting process is executed in step S163). By configuring in this way, the game control means transmits the established number command to the display control means only when it is necessary to transmit the established number command, so the control burden on the game control means can be reduced.
[0007]
  Claims4In the invention according to the present invention, the variable based on the start condition (for example, the start memory displayed on the special symbol start memory display 18b in FIG. 36A) in which the notice effect is determined by the notice determining means. When the start condition for display is satisfied, the start of executing an effect different from when the start condition other than the variable display based on the start condition is determined based on the start condition for which the notification effect is not determined by the notification determination unit. It is characterized by providing effect means (for example, a part for executing processing for displaying the notification effect display 24 shown in FIG. 36E in step S884). By configuring in this way, it becomes clear to which start condition the notice effect was executed, and it can be easily recognized by the player.
[0008]
  Claims5In the invention according to the invention, the start memory display control means can control the display of the number of established start conditions in a plurality of display modes (for example, change of lighting color, etc.), and the notice determination means provides a notice effect. The special starting condition (for example, the special symbol start memory display 18b shown in FIG. 36 (A)) is displayed as the start condition (for example, the special symbol start memory display 18b shown in FIG. 36 (A)). Display control). By comprising in this way, a presentation effect can be improved by changing the display mode of a starting memory display means, and it can be made clear that a notice production is performed to a player. .
[0009]
  Claims6In the invention according to,in frontThe determination by the numerical data determination means at the time of entry is performed by the same module as the determination by the numerical data determination means at the start time (for example, the same jackpot determination processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed in steps S123 and S56). Features. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the program amount of the game control means. In addition, since it may take time until the variable display based on the start condition is actually started after the start condition is satisfied, it is stored as a random number (numerical data) rather than stored as “win” or “out” data. However, there is less risk that the data will be different due to the influence of noise, etc. (in this case, the deviation will be a hit, etc.) Even if it occurs, there is little probability of winning), and reliability can be improved.
[0010]
  Claims7In the invention according to the present invention, the notice determining means restricts the determination as to whether or not to execute the notice effect when the notice effect is executed by the notice effect display control means (for example, in step S661). In the case where the continuous notice execution flag is set, it is not determined whether or not the continuous notice is executed). By configuring in this way, there is no need to repeatedly execute the announcement effect, and there is no waste of determining the announcement effect again during execution of the announcement effect, so the control burden on the game control means can be reduced. .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overall configuration of a bullet ball gaming machine 1 which is an example of a gaming machine will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the ball game machine 1 as seen from the front, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the front of the game board 6. Here, a bullet ball game machine is shown as an example of the game machine, but the present invention is not limited to the ball game machine, and may be, for example, a coin game machine or a slot machine.
[0012]
The bullet ball gaming machine 1 includes an outer frame (not shown) formed in a vertically long rectangular shape and a game frame attached to the inside of the outer frame so as to be openable and closable. Further, the bullet ball gaming machine 1 has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape provided in the game frame so as to be opened and closed. The game frame is a front frame (not shown) that is installed to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame, a mechanism plate to which mechanism parts and the like are attached, and various parts attached to them (a game board 6 described later). ).
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ball game machine 1 has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2, there is a hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 3. Under the hitting ball supply tray 3, an extra ball receiving tray 4 for storing game balls that cannot be accommodated in the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle (operation knob) 5 for firing the hitting ball are provided. A game board 6 is detachably attached to the back surface of the glass door frame 2. The game board 6 is a structure including a plate-like body constituting the game board 6 and various components attached to the plate-like body. In addition, a game area 7 is formed on the front surface of the game board 6 in which a game ball that has been struck can flow down.
[0014]
Near the center of the game area 7, a predetermined start condition provided on the game board is established (for example, start winning), for example, a variable display start condition (for example, the previous special symbol variable display and jackpot game state end) A variable display device 8 is provided that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information (for example, special symbol 10a) that can be identified based on the establishment of In the present embodiment, the variable display device 8 is configured by an LCD display device, and a decorative symbol display unit 9 having a plurality of display areas (three in the present embodiment) for variably displaying decorative symbols 9a to 9c is provided at the center thereof. A special symbol display unit 10 for variably displaying the special symbol 10 a is provided on the lower right side of the decorative symbol display unit 9. In the special symbol display unit 10 in the present embodiment, a relatively monotonous variable display of the special symbol 10a displayed by one display area is performed. The decorative symbol display unit 9 is a variable display device for displaying the contents of the variable display performed in the special symbol display unit 10 to the player with higher effects.
[0015]
Note that the ball game machine 1 in the present embodiment controls to the big hit gaming state as a specific gaming state advantageous to the player when the display result of the special symbol display unit 10 becomes a predetermined specific display result. It has a function. The display result of the special symbol display unit 10 and the display result of the decorative symbol display unit 9 correspond to each other. For example, when the display result of the special symbol display unit 10 is a result indicating a big hit state, the display result of the decorative symbol display unit 9 is also a result showing a big hit state. In addition, when the display result of the special symbol display unit 10 indicates a deviating state other than the big hit state, the display result of the decorative symbol display unit 9 is also a result indicating the deviating state.
[0016]
In addition, the specific display result includes a special display result and a non-special display result other than the special display result, and the bullet ball game machine 1 in the present embodiment has a special display result when the display result of the special symbol display unit 10 is a special display result. The game state is controlled to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player (big hit gaming state), and after the big hit gaming state is finished, the gaming state is different from the big hit gaming state, and the probability change state as a special gaming state in which the display result is likely to become the big hit state. It also has a function to control.
[0017]
On the upper part of the variable display device 8, a normal symbol display 13 composed of 7 segment LEDs is provided. The normal symbol display 13 can variably display a plurality of types of identification information called normal symbols.
[0018]
Also, below the decorative symbol display section 9, the start winning opening 14 is entered and the start condition is established, but the start condition of the variable display device 8 (for example, the variable display of the previous special symbol 10a and the end of the big hit game state) A command from the main board 31 is stored in the start memory means (a function for storing the start memory number by the RAM 55 of the main board 31) that stores the start memory number that is the number of times that the start condition is not satisfied. Four special symbol start memory displays 18a to 18d are provided as start memory display means for displaying on the basis of the above. The special symbol start memory display 18 is display-controlled by a start memory display control means (function for controlling the LEDs of the display control CPU 111), and the start winning number is individually set up to a predetermined number (four in this embodiment). In this embodiment, every time there is an effective start prize (in this embodiment, a start prize when the start memory number is less than 4), the LED is turned on, and the variable display device 8 is variable. Each time the display is started, the number of LEDs that are lit on the special symbol start memory display 18 is reduced by one.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the number of effective start winnings is four, but is not limited to this. For example, the number of effective start winnings may be 30. In this case, the special symbol start memory display 18 may be configured to display the number of start memories for 30 times. Further, only a predetermined number (for example, five) of the starting memories for 30 times may be displayed individually. In that case, the total number of starting memories may be displayed as a numerical value (for example, “holding memory 15” or the like).
[0020]
In this embodiment, the special symbol start memory display 18 for displaying the start memory number is provided separately from the variable display device 8, but the variable display device 8 displays the start memory number individually. It is good also as a simple structure. In this case, in the variable display device 8, the decorative symbol display unit 9 and the special symbol start memory display 18 may be provided separately. With this configuration, the number of start memories can be increased even during variable display. The displayed state can be obtained. Further, the special symbol start memory display 18 may be provided in a part of the decorative symbol display unit 9. In this case, the display of the start memory number may be interrupted during variable display.
[0021]
A start winning opening 14 and a variable winning ball device 15 are provided below the variable display device 8. The winning ball that has entered the start winning opening 14 is guided to the back of the game board 6 and detected by the start opening switch 14a. A variable winning ball device 15 that opens and closes is provided below the start winning opening 14. The variable winning ball device 15 is opened by a solenoid 16.
[0022]
An open / close plate 20 that is opened by the solenoid 21 in the above-described specific game state (big hit game state) is provided below the variable winning ball device 15. The opening / closing plate 20 is a means for opening and closing the special winning opening. Of the winning balls guided from the opening / closing plate 20 to the back of the game board 6, the winning ball that has entered one (V winning area) is detected by the V winning switch 22, and the winning ball that has entered the other (10 count winning area). The sphere is detected by the count switch 23. A solenoid (not shown) for switching the path in the special winning opening is also provided on the back of the game board 6.
[0023]
When a game ball wins the gate 32 and is detected by the gate switch 32a, a predetermined random number value is extracted if the normal symbol start memory, which is the start memory of the normal symbol display 13, has not reached the upper limit. And if it is a state which can start the variable display in which a display state changes in the normal symbol display 13, the variable display of the normal symbol display 13 will be started. If the normal symbol display 13 is not ready to start variable display whose display state changes, the value of the normal symbol start memory is incremented by one. In the vicinity of the normal symbol display 13, a normal symbol start memory display 19 having only a predetermined number (four in this embodiment) of LED display units for displaying the normal symbol start memory number (only the reference numeral is shown in FIG. 3). ) Is provided. Each time there is a prize at the gate 32, the normal symbol start memory display 19 increments the LED to be turned on by one. Each time variable display on the normal symbol display 13 is started, the number of LEDs to be lit is reduced by one. The special symbol 10a and the normal symbol can be variably displayed on one variable display device. In that case, the special variable display area and the normal variable display area are realized by one variable display device.
[0024]
In this embodiment, the left and right lamps marked with ○ and X (the symbols become visible when lit) are alternately lit to perform variable display of the normal symbols, and the variable display is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 29 Continue for 2 seconds). Then, if the left lamp marked with ○ is turned on at the end of the variable display, it is a win. Whether or not to win is determined by whether or not the value of the random number extracted when the game ball wins the gate 32 matches a predetermined hit determination value. When the display result of the variable display on the normal symbol display 13 is a win, the variable winning ball apparatus 15 is opened for a predetermined number of times for a predetermined time so that the game ball is likely to win. That is, the state of the variable winning ball device 15 changes from a disadvantageous state to a player's advantageous state when the normal symbol is a winning symbol.
[0025]
Furthermore, in the probability variation state as the special game state, the probability that the stop symbol in the normal symbol display 13 becomes a winning symbol is increased, and one or both of the opening time and the number of times of opening of the variable winning ball device 15 are increased. And more advantageous for the player. Further, in a predetermined state such as a probability change state, the variable display period (fluctuation time) in the normal symbol display 13 may be shortened so that it is more advantageous for the player.
[0026]
The game board 6 is provided with a plurality of winning holes 29, 30, 33, 39, and winning of game balls to the winning holes 29, 30, 33, 39 is performed by winning hole switches 29a, 30a, 33a, 39a, respectively. Detected. Decorative lamps 25 blinking during the game are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 7, and an outlet 26 for absorbing a hit ball that has not won a prize is provided below. In addition, two speakers 27 that utter sound effects and sounds as predetermined sound outputs are provided on the left and right upper sides outside the game area 7. A plurality of frame-installed light-emitting members (top frame lamp 40, frame lamp left 41, and frame lamp right 42) provided on the front frame are provided at the upper outer periphery, the outer peripheral left side, and the outer peripheral right side of the game area 7. . In this example, a prize ball lamp 51 that is turned on when there is a remaining number of prize balls is provided in the vicinity of the frame lamp left 41, and a ball that is turned on when the supply ball is cut off in the vicinity of the frame lamp right 42. A cut lamp 52 is provided. A plurality of board-installed light emitting members (board lamp left 11 and board lamp right 12) provided on the game board are provided on the left and right of the variable display device 8.
[0027]
The frame lamp left 41, the frame lamp right 42, the panel lamp left 11 and the panel lamp right 12 are composed of a plurality of lamps (not shown). The frame lamps 41 and 42 and the panel lamps 11 and 12 having the plurality of lamps are controlled in a gaming state such as a reach effect described later.
[0028]
Next, the reach state will be described. In the present embodiment, the reach state means that when the stopped symbol constitutes a part of the jackpot symbol, the symbols that have not been stopped yet are variablely displayed (variable display) and all or one of them. This is a state in which the symbols of the parts are displayed in a synchronized manner while constituting all or part of the jackpot symbol.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, an effective line that is a big hit when a predetermined symbol is stopped is determined in the decorative symbol display unit 9 as a plurality of predetermined display areas, and a part of the display on the effective line is displayed. A state in which variable display is performed in a display area on an active line that has not been stopped when a symbol predetermined in the area is stopped (for example, left, right among left, middle, and right display areas) In the display area, the part of the jackpot symbol (for example, “7”) is stopped and the right display area is still in the variable display state), and the display area on the active line A state in which all or some of the symbols are synchronously displayed while constituting all or part of the jackpot symbol (for example, the left, middle, and right display areas are all displayed in a variable manner and are always displayed. The same pattern Refers to the state) variable display is being carried out.
[0030]
Since the special symbol display unit 10 in the present embodiment is composed of one display area, the reach state described above is not achieved. However, the special symbol display unit 10 variably displays while the reach effect is being performed in the decorative symbol display unit 9, and the variation of the special symbol display unit 10 is stopped together with the stoppage of the variation of the decorative symbol display unit 9. . Further, the special symbol display unit 10 may be configured by a plurality of display areas, and in that case, the special symbol display unit 10 may be in a reach state.
[0031]
In addition, during the reach, an unusual effect may be performed with a lamp or sound. This production is called reach production. Further, in the case of reach, a character (an effect display imitating a person or the like, which is different from a design) may be displayed, or the background display mode may be changed. This change in character display and background display mode is called reach effect display.
[0032]
The game balls launched from the hit ball launching device enter the game area 7 through the hit ball rail, and then descend the game area 7. When the hit ball enters the start winning opening 14 and is detected by the start opening switch 14a, the special symbol 10a and the decorative symbols 9a to 9c can be started to be variably displayed (for example, the end of the big hit game or the end of the previous variable display). ), The decorative symbol display unit 9 starts variable display (variable display) of the decorative symbols 9a to 9c, and the special symbol display unit 10 starts variable display of the special symbol 10a. If the special symbol 10a and the decorative symbols 9a to 9c cannot be variably displayed, the starting memory number is increased by one.
[0033]
The variable display of the special symbol 10a in the special symbol display unit 10 is stopped when a certain time has elapsed, and the variation of the decorative symbol display unit 9 is stopped when the variation of the special symbol display unit 10 is stopped. When the special symbol 10a at the time of the stop becomes a jackpot symbol (specific display result), the display result of the decorative symbol display unit 9 becomes a jackpot symbol (specific display result), and the state shifts to the jackpot gaming state. That is, the opening / closing plate 20 is opened until a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of hit balls wins. When the hit ball enters the V winning area while the opening / closing plate 20 is opened and is detected by the V winning switch 22, a continuation right is generated and the opening / closing plate 20 is opened again. The generation of the continuation right is allowed a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 rounds).
[0034]
When the special symbol 10a in the special symbol display unit 10 at the time of stoppage is a jackpot symbol with a probability variation (special display result: probability variation symbol), the combination of the decorative symbols 9a to 9c in the ornament symbol display unit 9 also changes the probability variation. The jackpot symbol (special display result: probability variation symbol) is accompanied and controlled to the jackpot gaming state, and the probability of the next jackpot becomes high after the jackpot gaming state ends. That is, it becomes a more advantageous state (special game state) for the player, which is a probable change state.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration in the main board 31. 3 also shows a payout control board 37, a lamp driver board 35, an audio output board 70, and an effect control board 80. The main board 31 includes a basic circuit 53 for controlling the ball game machine 1 according to a program, a gate switch 32a, a start port switch 14a, a V winning switch 22, a count switch 23, winning port switches 29a, 30a, 33a, 39a, Commands from the basic circuit 53 such as a switch circuit 58 for supplying signals from the full switch 48 and the clear switch 921 to the basic circuit 53, a solenoid 16 for opening and closing the variable winning ball apparatus 15, a solenoid 21 for opening and closing the opening and closing plate 20, etc. And a system reset circuit 65 for resetting the basic circuit 53 when the power is turned on.
[0036]
Although not shown in FIG. 3, the count switch short circuit signal is also transmitted to the basic circuit 53 via the switch circuit 58. Further, the switches such as the gate switch 32a, the start port switch 14a, the V winning switch 22, the count switch 23, the winning port switches 29a, 30a, 33a, 39a, and the full tank switch 48 may be referred to as sensors. That is, the name of the game medium detection means is not limited as long as it is a game medium detection means (game ball detection means in this example) that can detect a game ball. What is called a switch may be what is called a sensor, that is, that the switch is an example of a game medium detecting unit, as in other embodiments.
[0037]
Further, according to the data given from the basic circuit 53, the jackpot information indicating the occurrence of the jackpot, the effective starting information indicating the number of starting winning balls used for starting the variable display of the special symbol in the special symbol display unit 10, and the probability variation are generated. An information output circuit 64 is provided for outputting an information output signal such as probability variation information indicating this to an external device such as a hall computer.
[0038]
The basic circuit 53 includes a ROM 54 for storing a game control program, a RAM 55 as a storage means (means for storing variation data) used as a work memory, and a CPU 56 as a game control means for controlling a game signal according to the program. And an I / O port unit 57. In this embodiment, the ROM 54 and RAM 55 are built in the CPU 56. That is, the CPU 56 is a one-chip microcomputer. The one-chip microcomputer only needs to incorporate at least the RAM 55, and the ROM 54 and the I / O port unit 57 may be externally attached or built-in. Since the CPU 56 executes control according to the program stored in the ROM 54, the CPU 56 executes (or performs processing) hereinafter, specifically, the CPU 56 executes control according to the program. is there. The same applies to CPUs mounted on substrates other than the main substrate 31.
[0039]
Further, a part or all of the RAM (may be a CPU built-in RAM) 55 is a backup RAM backed up by a backup power source created on the power supply board. That is, even if the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped, a part or all of the contents of the RAM 55 is saved for a predetermined period.
[0040]
Further, based on a command from the game control means (CPU 56) provided on the game control board, an effect control CPU 111 as an effect control means provided on the effect control board 80 is provided in the variable display device 8. Display control of the symbol display unit 10 and the decorative symbol display unit 9, audio output control of the speaker 27 as an audio output device, panel lamps (11, 12, 25) as panel installation light emitting members and frame lamps as frame installation light emitting members The light emission control of (40 to 42) is performed. From the main board 31, an effect control command is transmitted as command information relating to display control of the variable display device 8, lighting of lamps, and the control of effects such as generation of game sounds. In the effect control board 80, display control of the decorative symbol display unit 9 and the special symbol display unit 10 is performed in accordance with the transmitted effect control command.
[0041]
In this embodiment, the effect control means (for example, the effect control CPU 111) mounted on the effect control board 80 and including the display control means is the effect from the game control means (CPU 56 and peripheral circuits such as the ROM 54 and RAM 55). Based on the control command, the variable display device 8 provided on the game board 6, the normal symbol display 13, the decoration lamp 25, the board lamp left 11, the board lamp right 12, etc. are controlled and provided on the frame side. The display control of the top frame lamp 40, the frame lamp left 41, the frame lamp right 42, the prize ball lamp 51, and the ball-out lamp 52 is performed. Each lamp may be an LED or other types of light emitters, and the LEDs used in this embodiment and other embodiments may be other types of light emitters. That is, a lamp or LED is an example of a light emitter.
[0042]
A drive signal for driving the lamp / LED is generated in the lamp driver substrate 35. In addition, when a movable member as a production means is installed in the gaming machine, a drive signal for driving the production drive means 61 such as a motor or a solenoid for driving the movable member is also supplied to the lamp driver board 35. Created in.
[0043]
In addition, the display control of the special symbol display unit 10 that variably displays the special symbol and the normal symbol display 13 that variably displays the normal symbol is also performed by the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) mounted on the effect control board 80. It is executed based on the production control command.
[0044]
Since each control means controls the electrical components provided in the gaming machine, each control means is hereinafter referred to as an electrical component control means, and a board on which the electrical component control means is mounted may be referred to as an electrical component control board. . An electrical component is a component (such as a mechanical component or a circuit) provided in a gaming machine and operates electrically. As the electrical component control means, for example, payout control means for controlling a ball payout device as an electrical component, an effect variable display device 8 as an electrical component, a light emitter (lamp or LED), and a speaker 27 There are control means (production control CPU 111) and the like.
[0045]
Next, the operation of the gaming machine will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the game control means (CPU 56) on the main board 31. When power is turned on to the gaming machine and the input level of the reset terminal becomes high level, the CPU 56 starts main processing after step S1. In the main process, the CPU 56 first performs necessary initial settings.
[0046]
In the initial setting process, the CPU 56 first sets the interrupt prohibition (step S1). Next, the interrupt mode is set to interrupt mode 2 (step S2), and a stack pointer designation address is set to the stack pointer (step S3). Then, the built-in device register is initialized (step S4). Further, after initialization (step S5) of CTC (counter / timer) and PIO (parallel input / output port) which are built-in devices (built-in peripheral circuits), the RAM 55 is set in an accessible state (step S6).
[0047]
The CPU 56 used in this embodiment also incorporates an I / O port (PIO) and a timer / counter circuit (CTC). The CTC also includes two external clock / timer trigger inputs CLK / TRG2, 3 and two timer outputs ZC / TO0,1.
[0048]
The CPU 56 used in this embodiment is provided with the following three modes as maskable interrupt modes. When a maskable interrupt occurs, the CPU 56 automatically sets the interrupt disabled state and saves the contents of the program counter in the stack.
[0049]
Interrupt mode 0: The built-in device that has issued the interrupt request sends an RST instruction (1 byte) or a CALL instruction (3 bytes) onto the internal data bus of the CPU. Therefore, the CPU 56 executes the instruction at the address corresponding to the RST instruction or the address specified by the CALL instruction. At reset, the CPU 56 automatically enters interrupt mode 0. Therefore, when setting to interrupt mode 1 or interrupt mode 2, it is necessary to perform a process for setting to interrupt mode 1 or interrupt mode 2 in the initial setting process.
[0050]
Interrupt mode 1: In this mode, when an interrupt is accepted, the mode always jumps to address 0038 (h).
[0051]
Interrupt mode 2: A mode in which the address synthesized from the value (1 byte) of the specific register (I register) of the CPU 56 and the interrupt vector (1 byte: least significant bit 0) output by the built-in device indicates the interrupt address It is. That is, the interrupt address is an address indicated by 2 bytes in which the upper address is the value of the specific register and the lower address is the interrupt vector. Therefore, an interrupt process can be set at an arbitrary address (although it is skipped). Each built-in device has a function of transmitting an interrupt vector when making an interrupt request.
[0052]
Therefore, when the interrupt mode 2 is set, it becomes possible to easily process an interrupt request from each built-in device, and it is possible to install an interrupt process at an arbitrary position in the program. . Further, unlike the interrupt mode 1, it is easy to prepare each interrupt process for each interrupt generation factor. As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 56 is set to the interrupt mode 2 in step S2 of the initial setting process.
[0053]
Next, the CPU 56 checks the state of the output signal of the clear switch 921 input via the input port only once (step S7). When the on-state is detected in the confirmation, the CPU 56 executes normal initialization processing (steps S11 to S14).
[0054]
If the clear switch 921 is not in the on state, whether or not data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, power supply stop processing such as addition of parity data) has been performed when power supply to the gaming machine is stopped Confirm (step S8). When it is confirmed that such protection processing is not performed, the CPU 56 executes initialization processing. Whether there is backup data in the backup RAM area is confirmed, for example, by the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area in the power supply stop process. In this example, if “55H” is set in the backup flag area, it means that there is a backup (ON state), and if a value other than “55H” is set, it means that there is no backup (OFF state).
[0055]
After confirming that there is a backup, the CPU 56 performs a data check of the backup RAM area (parity check in this example) (step S9). In step S9, the calculated checksum is compared with the checksum calculated and stored by the same process in the power supply stop process. When the power supply is stopped after an unexpected power outage or the like, the data in the backup RAM area should be saved, so the check result (comparison result) is normal (matched). That the check result is not normal means that the data in the backup RAM area is different from the data when the power supply is stopped. In such a case, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state when the power supply is stopped, an initialization process that is executed when the power is turned on is not performed when the power supply is stopped.
[0056]
If the check result is normal, the CPU 56 supplies power to the internal state of the game control means (CPU 56 and peripheral circuits such as the ROM 54 and RAM 55) and the control state of the electrical component control means such as the effect control means (effect control CPU 111). A game state recovery process for returning to the stop state is performed (step S10). Then, the saved value of the PC (program counter) stored in the backup RAM area is set in the PC, and the address is restored.
[0057]
In this embodiment, it is confirmed whether or not the data in the backup RAM area is stored by using both the backup flag and the check data, but only one of them may be used. That is, either the backup flag or the check data may be used as an opportunity for executing the state recovery process.
[0058]
In the initialization process, the CPU 56 first performs a RAM clear process (step S11). Also, control of a predetermined work area (for example, a normal symbol determination random number counter, a normal symbol determination buffer, a special symbol buffer, a special symbol process flag, a payout command storage pointer, a winning ball flag, a ball out flag, a payout stop flag, etc. A work area setting process for setting an initial value to a flag for selectively performing processing according to the state is performed (step S12). Further, a process of transmitting an initialization command for initializing the sub-boards (the payout control board 37 and the effect control board 80 in this embodiment) to each sub-board is executed (step S13). As an initialization command, a command indicating the initial symbol displayed on the special symbol display unit 10 and the decorative symbol display unit 9 (for the effect control board 80), and a command for instructing the prize ball lamp 51 and the ball-out lamp 52 to be turned off. Etc.
[0059]
Then, a CTC register set in the CPU 56 is set so that a timer interrupt is periodically generated every 2 ms (step S14). That is, a value corresponding to 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value.
[0060]
When the execution of the initialization process (steps S11 to S14) is completed, the display random number update process (step S17) and the initial value random number update process (step S18) are repeatedly executed in the main process. When the display random number update process and the initial value random number update process are executed, the interrupt disabled state is set (step S16). When the display random number update process and the initial value random number update process are finished, the interrupt enabled state is set. (Step S19). The display random number is a random number for determining the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display unit 10, and the display random number update process is a process for updating the count value of the counter for generating the display random number. It is. The initial value random number update process is a process of updating the count value of the counter for generating the initial value random number. The initial value random number is a random number for determining an initial value of a count value such as a counter for generating a random number for determining whether or not to make a big hit (a big hit determination random number generation counter). In a game control process described later, when the count value of the jackpot determination random number generation counter makes one round, an initial value is set in the counter.
[0061]
Note that when the display random number update process is executed, the interrupt disabled state is performed because the display random number update process is also executed by the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. This is to avoid competing. That is, if a timer interrupt is generated during the process of step S17 and the counter value for generating the display random number is updated during the timer interrupt process, the continuity of the count value is impaired. There is a case. However, such an inconvenience does not occur if the interrupt is prohibited during the process of step S17.
[0062]
When the timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 56 performs the register saving process (step S20), and then executes the game control process of steps S21 to S33 shown in FIG. In the game control process, first, the CPU 56 inputs detection signals of switches such as the gate switch 32a, the start port switch 14a, the count switch 23, and the winning port switch 29a via the switch circuit 58, and determines their state. (Switch process: Step S21).
[0063]
Next, a process of updating the count value of each counter for generating each determination random number such as a big hit determination random number used for game control is performed (step S22: numerical data updating means). The CPU 56 further performs a process of updating the count value of the counter for generating the initial value random number (step S23) and a process of updating the counter value of the display for generating the display random number (step S24).
[0064]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number. Each random number is used as follows.
(1) Random 1: Decide whether or not to generate a big hit (for big hit judgment)
(2) Random 2: For deciding the special symbols
(3) Random 3: Determines the combination of special symbols that generate a big hit (for determining big hit symbols)
(4) Random 4: Determine the variation pattern of the special symbol (for variation pattern determination)
(5) Random 5: Decide whether or not to reach when no big hit is generated (for reach determination)
(6) Random 6: Determines whether or not to generate a hit based on a normal symbol (for normal symbol hit determination)
(7) Random 7: Determine initial value of random 1 (for determining random 1 initial value)
(8) Random 8: Determine initial value of random 6 (for determining random 6 initial value)
In step S22 in the game control process shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 56 generates a jackpot determination random number (1), a jackpot determination random number (3), and a determination random number per ordinary symbol (6). Counter is incremented (added by 1). That is, they are determination random numbers, (2) special symbol determination random numbers, (4) variation pattern determination random numbers, (5) reach determination random numbers, and display random numbers in (7) Random 1 initial value determining random numbers and (8) random 6 initial value determining random numbers are initial value random numbers. In order to enhance the game effect, random numbers related to ordinary symbols other than the random numbers (1) to (8) are also used. Random numbers 1, 3 and 6 are used for determination relating to variable display, and are numerical data in a predetermined numerical range. These numerical data are updated by numerical data updating means (for example, step S22). The
[0065]
Further, the CPU 56 performs special symbol process processing (step S25). In the special symbol process control, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a special symbol process flag for controlling the ball game machine 1 in a predetermined order according to the gaming state. The value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state. Further, normal symbol process processing is performed (step S26). In the normal symbol process, the corresponding process is selected and executed according to the normal symbol process flag for controlling the display state of the normal symbol display 13 in a predetermined order. The value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.
[0066]
Next, the CPU 56 performs a process of setting an effect control command related to the special symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM 55 and sending the effect control command (special symbol command control process: step S27). Further, a process for sending an effect control command by setting an effect control command for the normal symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM 55 is performed (normal symbol command control process: step S28).
[0067]
Further, the CPU 56 performs information output processing for outputting data such as jackpot information, start information, probability variation information supplied to the hall management computer, for example (step S29).
[0068]
Further, the CPU 56 executes a prize ball process for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection signals from the prize opening switches 29a, 30a, 33a, 39a (step S30). Specifically, a payout control command indicating the number of winning balls is output to the payout control board 37 in response to winning detection based on any of the winning opening switches 29a, 30a, 33a, 39a being turned on. The payout control CPU mounted on the payout control board 37 drives the ball payout device 97 according to a payout control command indicating the number of prize balls.
[0069]
And CPU56 performs the memory | storage process which checks increase / decrease in the starting memory | storage number (step S31). In addition, a test terminal process, which is a process for outputting a test signal for enabling the control state of the gaming machine to be confirmed outside the gaming machine, is executed (step S32). Further, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a drive command is issued to the solenoid circuit 59 (step S33). The solenoid circuit 59 drives the solenoids 16 and 21 in accordance with a drive command to open or close the variable winning ball device 15 or the opening / closing plate 20 or to switch the game ball passage in the special winning opening. Thereafter, the contents of the register are restored (step S34), and the interrupt enabled state is set (step S35).
[0070]
With the above control, in this embodiment, the game control process is started every 2 ms. In this embodiment, the game control process is executed by the timer interrupt process. However, in the timer interrupt process, for example, only a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred is set, and the game control process is performed by the main process. May be executed.
[0071]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol process processing program executed by the CPU 56. The special symbol process shown in FIG. 7 is a specific process of step S25 in the flowchart of FIG. When performing the special symbol process, the CPU 56 performs a variable shortening timer subtraction process (step S310) to detect that a game ball has won the start winning opening 14 provided in the game board 6. If the switch 14a is turned on, that is, if a start winning that causes the game ball to win the start winning opening 14 is generated (step S311), the start opening switch passing process (step S312) is performed, and then according to the internal state. Any one of steps S300 to S308 is performed. The variation shortening timer is a timer for setting the variation time when the variation time of the special symbol is shortened.
[0072]
Special symbol normal processing (step S300): Waits until the variable symbol variable display can be started. When the special symbol variable display can be started, the starting memory number is confirmed. If the starting memory number is not 0, it is determined whether or not to win the game as a result of variable display of special symbols. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S301.
[0073]
Special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S301): A special symbol stop symbol after variable display of the special symbol is determined. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S302.
[0074]
Fluctuation pattern setting process (step S302): A variation pattern (variable display mode) of variable display of special symbols is determined according to a random 4 value. Also, a variable time timer is started. At this time, the left middle right final stop symbol and information for instructing the variation mode (variation pattern) are transmitted to the effect control board 80. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S303.
[0075]
Special symbol variation process (step S303): When a predetermined time (the time indicated by the variation time timer in step S302) elapses, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to shift to step S304.
[0076]
Special symbol stop process (step S304): Control is performed so that symbols variably displayed on the special symbol display unit 10 are stopped. Specifically, it sets to the state where the production control command which shows special symbol stop is transmitted. If the stop symbol is a combination of jackpot symbols, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to shift to step S305. If not, the internal state is updated to shift to step S300.
[0077]
Preliminary winning opening opening process (step S305): Control for opening the large winning opening is started. Specifically, the counter and the flag are initialized, and the solenoid 21 is driven to open the special winning opening. Also, the process timer sets the execution time of the big prize opening opening process and sets the big hit flag. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S306.
[0078]
Processing during opening of a special winning opening (step S306): processing for sending an effect control command for displaying a large winning opening round to the effect control board 80, processing for confirming the establishment of the closing condition of the special winning opening, and the like are performed. When the closing condition for the last big prize opening is satisfied, the internal state is updated to shift to step S307.
[0079]
Specific area valid time process (step S307): The presence / absence of passing through the V winning switch 22 is monitored, and a process of confirming that the big hit gaming state continuation condition is satisfied is performed. If the condition for continuing the big hit gaming state is satisfied and there are still remaining rounds, the internal state is updated to shift to step S305. In addition, when the big hit gaming state continuation condition is not satisfied within a predetermined effective time, or when all rounds are finished, the internal state is updated to shift to step S308.
[0080]
Big hit end processing (step S308): Control is performed to cause the presentation control means (production control CPU 111) to perform display control for notifying the player that the big hit gaming state has ended. Then, the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S300.
[0081]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a variation pattern used in this embodiment. In FIG. 8, “EXT” indicates EXT data of the second byte in the effect control command having a two-byte structure. That is, each variation pattern of special symbols and the effect control command are associated with each other on a one-to-one basis.
[0082]
The “normal fluctuation” is a fluctuation pattern that does not involve a reach mode. Further, in this embodiment, a shortened variation pattern is used. The shortened variation pattern is a very short variation pattern in which the variation time of the special symbol is, for example, 1.0 seconds.
[0083]
In this embodiment, the fluctuation patterns 1 to 15 are used both when the probability is high (probability change) and when the probability is low (non-probability change = normal state). You may make it shorten each fluctuation time. Moreover, the variation pattern group used at the time of high probability (a plurality of variation patterns that can be used) may be separated from the variation pattern group used at the time of low probability.
[0084]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a start port switch passing process (step S312) that is executed when a start winning is generated. In the start port switch passing process, the CPU 56 checks whether or not there is an effective start winning. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the start memory number has reached the maximum value (step S111). In this embodiment, the maximum value of the starting memory number is 4. In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the effective start winning is set to 4, but the number is not limited to this and may be any other predetermined number. For example, by setting the upper limit of the effective start winning prize to 30, the maximum value of the start memory number may be set to 30. In this embodiment, if the starting memory number has not reached 4, the starting memory number is increased by 1 (step S112), the random number values such as the big hit determination random numbers are extracted, and these are set to the starting memory number value. The data is stored in a storage area (special symbol determination buffer) as a corresponding numerical data storage unit (step S113: extraction unit). Note that extracting a random number means reading a count value from a counter for generating a random number and setting the read count value as a random value. Next, a timer for determining whether to shorten the variation time is set (step S114). Then, a winning effect setting process is executed (step S115).
[0085]
In this embodiment, the start port switch passing process is executed during the special symbol process in the 2 ms timer interrupt process shown in FIG. That is, in the start port switch passing process, it is determined whether or not there has been an effective start winning at a predetermined timing (in this embodiment, every 2 ms).
[0086]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a winning effect setting process. In the winning effect processing, first, the CPU 56 sets a winning flag indicating that there has been a start winning (step S121). The winning flag is referred to in the storage process (step S31) executed after the special symbol process. Next, the CPU 56 extracts random 1 from the counter for generating random 1 (random number for determining big hits) (step S122), and executes the big hit determining module. That is, the jackpot determination subroutine is called (step S123: winning value numerical data determination means). When it is determined in the jackpot determination module that the jackpot is based on a random value of 1 (step S124), it is determined whether or not the probability jackpot is set (step S125).
[0087]
In this embodiment, there are 11 special symbols “0” to “9” and “−”, and the special symbols are displayed in order of “0” to “9” to “−” on the special symbol display unit 10. Changes in special symbols are realized by changing. Note that the display of the display symbols may change discontinuously during the change of the special symbols. Further, a big hit is made when the final stop symbol (definite symbol) of the special symbol becomes the specific display result (for example, 7). And in the case of a big hit, when an odd symbol is displayed, the game shifts to a high probability state after the big hit game ends. Further, when a big hit occurs in the high probability state or when a special symbol is changed a predetermined number of times, the high probability state ends and returns to the low probability state.
[0088]
Therefore, in step S125, the CPU 56 extracts a random number 3 (a jackpot symbol determining random number), determines a jackpot symbol based on the extracted random number, and determines that a probability variation jackpot is obtained if the determination result is an odd symbol. If it is determined that the probability variation big hit is not reached, data indicating a non-specific big win winning designation command is set in the RAM 55 as a winning command (step S126). If it is determined that the probable big hit will be made, data indicating a specific big win winning designation command is set in the RAM 55 as a winning command (step S127).
[0089]
If it is determined in step S124 that the game is not a big hit, random 5 is extracted from the counter for generating random 5 (reach determination random number) (step S131), and the reach determination module is executed. That is, the reach determination subroutine is called (step S132). If the reach determination module determines that reach is reached based on a random value of 5 (step S133), data indicating a reach winning designation command is set in the RAM 55 as a winning command (step S134). If it is determined that the reach is not reached, data indicating a lost winning designation command is set in the RAM 55 as a winning command (step S135).
[0090]
Then, the data set as a winning command in the RAM 55 is stored in an area defined as a winning effect buffer in the RAM 55 (step S136). The data stored in the winning effect buffer is referred to in the storage process (step S31) executed after the special symbol process.
[0091]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the extraction means (step S113) for extracting numerical data from the numerical data update means (step S22) described above at the time of starting winning, and the numerical data extracted by the extraction means are set to a predetermined determination value. In this case, a winning value data determination unit (step S123) is provided for determining whether or not the game state is controlled to the big hit gaming state based on whether or not the big hit determination value described later is matched. In this way, since it is determined whether or not a big hit is made at the time of winning a start, it is possible to continuously produce until the variable display by the start memory that becomes a big hit.
[0092]
In addition, a specific command (specific big hit winning designation command, non-specific big hit winning designation command) that can specify when it is determined by the winning numeric data judging means (step S123) that it is controlled to the big hit gaming state It has.
[0093]
FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a jackpot determination table used in the jackpot determination module. FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a reach determination table used in the reach determination module. As shown in FIG. 11A, the jackpot determination value and the reach determination value as predetermined determination values are provided. In this embodiment, the jackpot determination value is “3” at low probability (non-probability variation). Yes, the jackpot determination values are “3”, “7”, “79”, “103”, and “107” at the time of high probability (when probability change). As shown in FIG. 11B, the reach determination values are “0”, “1”, and “11” when the probability is low (non-probability change), and the reach determination value is “0” when the probability is high. , “1”, “7”, “9”, “11”, “12”. Accordingly, reach is more likely to occur at high probability than at low probability.
[0094]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the jackpot determination module. In the big hit determination process, the CPU 56 first determines whether or not the state at that time is in a probable change (step S141). If the probable change is in the middle, the high in the big hit determination table shown in FIG. It is decided to use the table at the time of probability (step S142). If the probability change is not in progress, it is determined to use the low probability table in the jackpot determination table (step S143).
[0095]
Then, it is determined whether there is a value that matches the extracted random 1 value in the jackpot determination table (steps S144 and S145), and if there is a matching value, the jackpot is determined (step S146). If there is no value to be determined, it is determined that no big hit is made (step S147).
[0096]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the reach determination module. In the reach determination process, the CPU 56 first determines whether or not the state at that time is in the probability change state (step S151), and if it is in the probability change state, the high value in the reach determination table shown in FIG. It is decided to use the table at the time of probability (step S152). If the probability change is not in progress, it is decided to use the table at the low probability in the reach determination table (step S153).
[0097]
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a value that matches the extracted random value 5 in the reach determination table (steps S154 and S155), and if there is a matching value, the reach is determined (step S156) and the values match. If there is no value, it is decided not to reach (step S157).
[0098]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the special symbol normal process (step S300) in the special symbol process. In the special symbol normal process, the CPU 56 is in a state where the variation of the special symbol can be started (for example, when the value of the special symbol process flag is a value indicating Step S300) (Step S51), Is confirmed (step S52). Specifically, the count value of the start winning counter is confirmed. The case where the value of the special symbol process flag is a value indicating step S300 is a case where the symbol is not changed in the special symbol display unit 10 and is not in the big hit game.
[0099]
If the starting memory number is not 0, each random number value stored in the storage area corresponding to the starting memory number = 1 is read and stored in the random number buffer area of the RAM 55 (step S53), and the value of the starting memory number is set. The contents of each storage area are shifted by 1 (step S54). That is, each random number value stored in the storage area corresponding to the start memory number = n (n = 2, 3, 4) is stored in the storage area corresponding to the start memory number = n−1.
[0100]
Next, the CPU 56 reads the jackpot determination random number from the random number storage buffer (step S55), and executes the jackpot determination module (step S56: starting numerical data determination means). When it is determined to be a big hit (step S57), the CPU 56 sets a big hit flag (step S58). Then, the value of the special symbol process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S59).
[0101]
As described above, the present embodiment is provided with numerical data storage means for storing the big hit determination random number (random 1) as the numerical data (a function for storing the big hit determination random number by the RAM 55 of the main board 31). When the variable display start condition is satisfied, the game control means (for example, the CPU 56) receives the numerical data extracted when the start condition is satisfied among the numerical data stored in the numerical data storage means. There is provided a starting numerical data determination means (step S56) for determining whether or not to control the jackpot gaming state based on whether or not the jackpot determination value as the determination value is matched.
[0102]
In this embodiment, the above-mentioned winning numerical data determination means and starting numerical data determination means are constituted by a common module. That is, the big hit determination process (step S123) as the starting numerical data determination means executed at the time of starting winning, and the big hit determination process as the start numerical data determination means (step S56) executed when the variable display start condition is satisfied. The processes executed in and are the same. In this way, the jackpot determination process executed at the start winning prize and the jackpot determination process executed when the variable display start condition is satisfied are made the same module, so that the program amount of the ROM 54 mounted on the main board 31 can be reduced. Can be reduced.
[0103]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S301) in the special symbol process. In the special symbol stop symbol setting process, the CPU 56 checks whether or not the big hit flag is set (step S61). When the big hit flag is set, the big hit symbol is determined according to the value of the big hit symbol random number (random 3) (random 3 read in step S53) (step S62). In this embodiment, each symbol of the symbol number set in the jackpot symbol table corresponding to the value of random 3 is determined as a jackpot symbol. In the jackpot symbol table, symbol numbers of a plurality of types of jackpot symbols are set. Then, the value of the special symbol process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the variation pattern setting process (step S63).
[0104]
If the big hit flag is not set, the CPU 56 determines a missing symbol (step S64). The special symbol loss symbol in this embodiment is “−”. Then, the process proceeds to step S63. When the probability variation symbol is determined in step S62, a probability variation flag indicating that the game is shifted to the probability variation state after the big hit game is ended is set.
[0105]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the storage process (step 31) in the 2 ms timer interrupt process. In the storage process, the CPU 56 checks whether or not the count value of the start memory counter is the same as the count value of the previous start memory counter (step S161: establishment number determination means). If they are not the same, that is, if there is a change in the starting memory number, the address of the command transmission table for designating the starting memory number corresponding to the starting memory number is set as the established number command in the pointer (step S162), and this is a subroutine. Command set processing is executed (step S163: established number command transmission means). Then, the count value of the start memory counter is set in the previous start memory counter (step S164). Thus, in this embodiment, when the start condition stored in the start storage means (the function of storing the start memory number by the RAM 55 of the main board 31) (the number of start memories) is changed, the number established. An established number command transmitting means is provided for transmitting an established number command (a start control number designating effect control command shown in FIG. 19) with which (starting stored number) can be specified.
[0106]
In this embodiment, when the count value of the start memory counter is the same as the count value of the previous start memory counter, the command for specifying the start memory number is not transmitted. That is, when there is no change in the starting memory number, no command is transmitted from the main board 31 to the effect control board 80. With this configuration, the start memory number designation command is transmitted to the effect control board 80 only when it is necessary to send the start memory number designation command from the main board 31. It is possible to reduce the control burden on the CPU 56.
[0107]
An effect control command is transmitted to the effect control board 80 by executing the command set process. In this embodiment, each effect control command that can be transmitted to the effect control board 80 is stored in a ROM command transmission table. In the command set process, the CPU 56 sets the effect control command data stored at the address of the ROM 54 indicated by the pointer as an output port for outputting the effect control command data, and indicates that the command is transmitted. An effect control INT signal is output.
[0108]
If the winning flag is set (step S165), the address of the winning command transmission table corresponding to the data corresponding to the winning command stored in the winning buffer is set to the pointer (step S165). S166), a command set process which is a subroutine is executed (step S167: specific command transmission means).
[0109]
When the start memory number is changed by the above processing, an effect control command for designating the start memory number is transmitted to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) mounted on the effect control board 80 (step S161). ~ S163). Also, when the starting memory number increases, a specific command (specific big win prize designation, non-specific big prize prize designation), reach prize designation or off prize designation designation effect control command is transmitted (steps S112 to S112 shown in FIG. 9). S115, steps S166 and S167 shown in FIGS. 10 and 16).
[0110]
Thus, in this embodiment, when it is determined that the winning-time numerical data determining means (step S123) is controlled to the big hit gaming state, a specific command (specific big win winning designation, Specific command transmission means (step S167) for transmitting the non-specific big win winning designation) to the effect control board 80 before the variable display start condition is satisfied.
[0111]
In this embodiment, if it is not a big win, an effect control command for specifying a reach winning prize or a missed winning prize is transmitted, but if it is not a big hit, an effect control command for specifying a lost winning prize is always transmitted. You may do it. Hereinafter, a specific command (specific jackpot winning designation, non-specific jackpot winning designation), reach winning designation and off prize designation designation effect control command may be referred to as a winning determination result command or a determination result command.
[0112]
Note that the jackpot and reach (see steps S123 and S132) determined when the start winning occurs is a condition (starting condition, not starting condition) for starting variable display in the special symbol display unit 10. It is determined based on establishment. When a condition (start condition) that allows variable display to be started in the special symbol display unit 10 is satisfied, it is determined again whether or not to make a big hit and whether or not to make a reach loss (see step S56). Based on the determination result, the actual variable display result is derived (see step S62). However, the random number value used when the variable display start condition is satisfied is a value extracted by the extracting means (step S113) and stored in the storage area when the variable display start condition is satisfied. Therefore, the decision result of whether or not to make a probable big hit when the variable display start condition is met, whether or not to make a non-probable big hit, and whether or not to make a detachable reach is when the start condition of the variable display is met It becomes the same as the decision result.
[0113]
This is because the process of step S113, which is a process of extracting predetermined numerical data used when the variable display start condition is satisfied, and the winning effect setting process corresponding to the determination when the variable display start condition is satisfied are 1. This is because it is completed within the timer interruption process of the first time and does not change during that time.
[0114]
Further, the game control means (CPU 56) transmits a start memory number designation command as a start memory number command prior to the determination result command (in the storage process, the processes in steps S162 and S163 are performed more than the processes in steps S166 and S167). Run first). Therefore, the production control means (production control CPU 111) is based on the result of the lottery based on the result of the lottery whether or not to make a big hit executed when the start winning is generated based on the latest start memory number. In the variable display of multiple special symbols, the number of starting memories is the upper limit, that is, an effect that is continuously executed over multiple variable displays, and may be a big hit, specifically a big hit It is possible to make a determination regarding a notice effect for notifying the player using the effect means provided in the gaming machine.
[0115]
Next, a method for sending a control command from the game control means (CPU 56) to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) will be described. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a signal line of an effect control command transmitted from the main board 31 to the effect control board 80. As shown in FIG. 17, in this embodiment, the effect control command is transmitted from the main board 31 to the effect control board 80 through eight signal lines of the effect control signals D0 to D7. An effect control INT signal signal line for transmitting a strobe signal (effect control INT signal) is also wired between the main board 31 and the effect control board 80. FIG. 17 shows an example of the effect control command. However, control commands to other electrical component control boards are also transmitted through eight signal lines and one INT signal signal line.
[0116]
When the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) of the effect control board 80 receives the effect control command described above from the game control means (CPU 56) of the main board 31, a special symbol display unit is displayed according to the contents shown in FIG. 10 and the display state of the decorative symbol display unit 9 and the normal symbol display 13 are changed. Control commands other than the example shown in FIG. 19 are also transmitted from the game control means (CPU 56) to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111). For example, a control command indicating the number of lighting of the normal symbol start memory display 19 and a more detailed effect control command related to the big hit game are also transmitted from the game control means (CPU 56) to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111).
[0117]
In this embodiment, the effect control command has a 2-byte structure, the first byte represents MODE (command classification), and the second byte represents EXT (command type). The first bit (bit 7) of the MODE data is always “1”, and the first bit (bit 7) of the EXT data is always “0”. Note that such a command form is an example, and other command forms may be used. For example, a control command composed of 1 byte or 3 bytes or more may be used.
[0118]
As shown in FIG. 18, the 8-bit effect control command data of the effect control command is output in synchronization with the effect control INT signal. The effect control means (effect control CPU 111) mounted on the effect control board 80 detects that the effect control INT signal has risen, and starts the process of taking in 1 byte of data by the interrupt process. Therefore, when viewed from the effect control means (effect control CPU 111), the effect control INT signal corresponds to a capture signal that triggers the capture of effect control command data.
[0119]
The effect control command is sent only once so that the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) can recognize the effect control command. In this example, “recognizable” means that the level of the effect control INT signal changes, and that it is sent only once so as to be recognizable means that, for example, each of the first and second bytes of the effect control command data Accordingly, the production control INT signal is output in a pulse shape (rectangular wave shape) only once. The effect control INT signal may have a polarity opposite to that shown in FIG.
[0120]
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the effect control command sent to the effect control board 80. In the example shown in FIG. 19, commands 8000 (H) to 800E (H) are effect control commands for designating a special symbol variation pattern in the special symbol display unit 10 that variably displays the special symbols. Note that a command for specifying a variation pattern (variation pattern command) also serves as a variation start instruction. Command 800E (H) is a command for designating a shortening variation pattern.
[0121]
The command 88XX (H) (X = any value of 4 bits) is an effect control command related to a normal symbol variation pattern. Command 89XX (H) is an effect control command for designating a stop symbol of a normal symbol. Command 8A00 (H) is an effect control command for instructing stop of variable display of normal symbols.
[0122]
Command 91XX (H) is an effect control command for designating a special symbol stop symbol. A symbol number is set in “XX”. Command A000 (H) is an effect control command for instructing stop of variable symbol special display. The command BXXX (H) is an effect control command that is sent from the start of the big hit game to the end of the big hit game. Commands C000 (H) to EXXXX (H) are effect control commands relating to the display state of the special symbol display unit 10 not related to the variation of the special symbol and the big hit game.
[0123]
The command C3XX (H) is a determination result command that is transmitted when a start prize is generated. C300 (H) is an effect control (determination result) command for specifying a winning prize, and C301 (H) is an effect control (determination result) command for specifying a win prize (reach prize specifying command). C302 (H) is an effect control (determination result) command (non-specific big win winning designation command) for specifying a non-specific big hit winning prize, and C303 (H) is an effect control (determination result) command (specific big win winning designation) for a specific big win winning designation. Specified command). The specific commands described above are C302 (H) and C303 (H). Command D000 (H) is an effect control command for designating a customer waiting demonstration.
[0124]
Command E0XX (H) is an effect control command indicating the number of LEDs to be lit in special symbol start memory display 18. For example, the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) turns on the LEDs of the number of special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d designated by “XX (H)” among the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d. Or turn it off. That is, the command E0XX (H) is a command for instructing the control of the display device provided for informing the information of the reserved number (starting memory number). In addition, in the special symbol start memory displays 18a to 18d, the command related to the number of lit LEDs may be configured to indicate increase / decrease in the number of lit LEDs. In this embodiment, since the upper limit value of the start memory is 4, “XX” is any one of 0-4.
[0125]
The command E400 (H) is a command transmitted when the high probability state is changed to the low probability state, and the command E401 (H) is transmitted when the low probability state is changed to the high probability state. It is a command.
[0126]
When the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) of the effect control board 80 receives the effect control command described above from the game control means (CPU 56) of the main board 31, the special symbol display unit 10 according to the contents shown in FIG. And the display state of the decorative symbol display part 9 and the normal symbol display 13 is changed.
[0127]
Further, the variable display start designation command indicating the start of variable display and the variable display mode designation command capable of specifying the variable display mode are realized by the variation pattern designation effect control command, and the identification information capable of identifying the display result of the identification information. The designation command is realized by a special symbol designation effect control command, and the variable display end designation command indicating the end of variable display is realized by a special symbol stop effect control command. In this embodiment, the effect control command for specifying the variation pattern is also used as the variable display start specifying command for indicating the start of variable display and the variable display mode specifying command for specifying the variable display mode. The designation command and the variable display mode designation command that can specify the variable display mode may be separated.
[0128]
In the gaming machine of the present invention, the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) has the decorative symbol display section 9 as the effect means before the variable display start condition based on the establishment of the variable display start condition is satisfied. , Etc. are used to determine the type of notice effect that is an effect to be executed. Further, the effect control means (the effect control CPU 111) notifies the start according to the start memory number that is the number of variable display times of the identification information that has been started but the variable display start condition is satisfied based on the received determination result command. Determination tables 1 to 4 (see FIGS. 25 and 26) are selected to determine the mode of the notice effect.
[0129]
  In the ROM (not shown) of the effect control board 80, the number of notice executions that is an effect mode is stored for each of the plurality of notice determination tables 1 to 4, and the number of notice executions stored for each notice determination table is the number of start memories. The number of executions is set within the range of the start memory number with the start memory number as an upper limit. Also, eachNoticeThe production mode stored for each determination table is at least partially different in the present embodiment.
[0130]
The mode of the notice effect is determined by selecting the notice determination table corresponding to the start memory number. In this embodiment, the start memory number command for specifying the start memory number by the game control means (CPU 56) is the effect control means ( It is transmitted to the CPU 111 for effect control.
[0131]
Next, the operation of the effect control CPU 111 as effect control means (effect control CPU 111) will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing main processing executed by the effect control CPU 111. In the main process, first, an initialization process is performed for clearing the RAM area, setting various initial values, and initializing a 2 ms timer for determining the start interval of effect control (step S701). Thereafter, the effect control CPU 111 shifts to a loop process for checking the timer interrupt flag (step S702). As shown in FIG. 21, when a timer interrupt occurs, the effect control CPU 111 sets a timer interrupt flag (step S711). If the timer interrupt flag is set in the main process, the effect control CPU 111 clears the flag (step S703) and executes the following effect control process.
[0132]
In this embodiment, the timer interrupt takes every 2 ms. That is, the effect control process is activated every 2 ms. In this embodiment, only the flag is set in the timer interrupt process, and the specific effect control process is executed in the main process, but the effect control process may be executed in the timer interrupt process.
[0133]
In the effect control process, the effect control CPU 111 first analyzes the received effect control command (step S704). Next, the effect control CPU 111 performs display control process processing (step S705). In the display control process process, a process corresponding to the current control state is selected and executed from among the processes corresponding to the control state. Then, a process of updating a notice random number counter for determining whether to perform continuous notice is executed (step S706). Thereafter, the process returns to the process of checking the timer interrupt flag in step S702.
[0134]
Next, an effect control command reception process from the main board 31 will be described. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a command reception buffer for storing the effect control command received from the main board 31. In this example, a command reception buffer in the form of a ring buffer capable of storing six 2-byte effect control commands is used. Therefore, the command reception buffer is configured by a 12-byte area of reception command buffers 1 to 12. A command reception number counter indicating in which area the received command is stored is used. The command reception number counter takes a value from 0 to 11. It is not always necessary to use the ring buffer format. For example, three symbol designating command storage areas (2 × 3 = 6 byte command receiving buffer) and other command storing areas for designating other variation patterns ( (2 × 1 = 2 byte command reception buffer). In this case, the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) is controlled based on the latest command stored in a storage area such as a variation pattern. Thereby, it is possible to quickly respond to an instruction from the main board 31.
[0135]
23 and 24 are flowcharts showing a specific example of the command analysis process (step S704). The effect control command received from the main board 31 is stored in the reception command buffer, but in the command analysis process, the effect control CPU 111 checks the content of the command stored in the command reception buffer.
[0136]
In the command analysis process, the effect control CPU 111 first checks whether or not a reception command is stored in the command reception buffer (step S611). Whether it is stored or not is determined by comparing the value of the command reception number counter with the read pointer. The case where both match is the case where the received command is not stored. When the reception command is stored in the command reception buffer, the effect control CPU 111 reads the reception command from the command reception buffer (step S612). When read, the value of the read pointer is incremented by one.
[0137]
If the received effect control command is a special symbol designation effect control command (91XX (H)) (step S613), the effect control CPU 111 uses the special symbol in the RAM as data indicating the special symbol indicated by "XX". Store in the storage area (step S614).
[0138]
If the received effect control command is an effect control command designating a variation pattern (step S621), the effect control CPU 111 stores the EXT data of the command in the variation pattern data storage area (step S622), and the variation pattern. A reception flag is set (step S623).
[0139]
If the received effect control command is an effect control command for specifying the start memory number (step S631), the effect control CPU 111 updates the start memory number in the start winning number storage area in the RAM to the number specified by the effect control command. (Step S632). In addition, the number of LEDs to be turned on in the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d is updated (step S633). Further, the value of the notice random number counter is incremented by 1 (step S634). The notice random number counter is a counter for generating a random number for determining whether or not to execute continuous notice. In this embodiment, the count value of the notice random number counter takes a value in the range of 0 to 126, and when the count value reaches 127, the value is returned to 0.
[0140]
If the received effect control command is a determination result command for specifying a winning prize (step S635), the effect control CPU 111 increments the value of the notice random number counter by 1 (step S636). Also when the received effect control command is a reach result designation determination result command (step S637), the value of the notice random number counter is incremented by 1 (step S638).
[0141]
If the received effect control command is a non-specific big hit winning designation result command (step S641), the value of the notice random number counter is incremented by one (step S642), the random number is extracted (step S643), and the continuous notice is given. (Step S644: notice determination unit). Further, even when the received effect control command is a determination result command for designating a specific big win (step S645), the value of the notice random number counter is incremented by 1 (step S646), and a random number is extracted (step S647). A notice is determined (step S648: notice determining means).
[0142]
If the received command read in step S612 is another effect control command, a flag corresponding to the received command is set (step S649).
[0143]
Thus, in this embodiment, whether or not the notice effect is to be executed based on the reception of the determination result command of the specific big hit prize designation and the non-specific big prize winning designation as the specific command from the CPU 56 of the main board 31. Preliminary notice judging means (continuous notice judging processing: steps S644 and S648) is provided.
[0144]
Further, as described above, in this embodiment, when a determination result command (command other than a specific command) that is out of place on the effect control board 80 is received, it is determined whether or not to execute a continuous notice. Although not performed, it is also possible to determine whether or not to execute the continuous notice even when a determination result command is received. At this time, the rate of executing the continuous notice may be lowered as compared with the case where a specific command (specific big win winning designation, non-specific big winning winning designation) is received. In addition, when a specific command (specific big prize winning designation, non-specific big prize winning designation) and a reach prize designation command are received, it may be determined whether or not to perform a continuous notice.
[0145]
Next, the determination of continuous notice will be described. 25 and 26 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of the notice determination table. (A) Notice determination table 1 shows the relationship between the type of a specific command (non-specific jackpot winning designation, specified jackpot winning designation) and the number of executions of continuous notice when the starting memory number is 1, and (B) notice judgment Table 2 shows the relationship between the type of the specific command when the start memory number is 2 and the number of times of continuous notice execution. (C) The notice determination table 3 shows the type of the specific command when the start memory number is 3. (D) The notice determination table 4 shows the relation between the type of the specific command and the number of executions of the continuous notice when the start memory number is 4.
[0146]
As shown in FIG. 25 (A), when the starting memory number is 1, when a specific command is received and the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter coincides with the value shown in the notice determination table 1, it continues. The notice starts. The number of executions of the continuous notice is one, and the contents of the effect (notice effect A or notice effect B) to be executed are determined by the random number extracted from the notice random number counter. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rate at which the continuous notice is executed is changed according to the type of the specific command. In other words, the notice determination table 1 is configured so that, when a specific jackpot winning designation command is received among the specific commands, the ratio of continuous notices to be executed is higher than when a non-specific big hit winning designation command is received. Has been.
[0147]
As shown in FIG. 25 (B), when the start memory number is 2, when the specific command is received and the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter matches the value shown in the notice determination table 2, The notice starts. In addition, the maximum number of times of continuous notice is two, and the number of times of continuous notice is executed (one or two times) and the contents to be executed (notice effect A or notice effect B) according to the random number extracted from the notice random number counter. Is determined. Similarly to the notice determination table 1, the notice determination table 2 is configured so that the rate at which the continuous notice is executed changes according to the type of the specific command. Furthermore, the notice determination table 2 of this embodiment is configured such that the number of continuous notice executions changes according to the type of the specific command. In other words, among the specific commands, when the specific jackpot winning designation command is received, the notice determination table is set so that the number of execution times (two times) is higher than when the non-specific big hit winning designation command is received. 2 is configured.
[0148]
As shown in FIG. 26 (C), when the start memory number is 3, when the specific command is received and the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter matches the value shown in the notice determination table 3, it continues. The notice starts. Also, the maximum number of continuous notices is three, and the number of consecutive notices (one, two, three) and the contents of the notice (notice effect A or notice) are executed according to the random number extracted from the notice random number counter. Production B) is determined. Similarly to the notice determination table 2, the notice determination table 3 is configured so that the ratio and the number of executions of the continuous notice change according to the type of the specific command. Furthermore, the notice determination table 3 of this embodiment is configured such that the types of notice effects that are executed according to the types of specific commands are biased. In other words, when a non-specific big win winning designation command is received among the specific commands, the proportion of execution of the notice effect A is increased. When a specific big winning winning designation command is received, the notice effect B The notice determination table 3 is configured so that the ratio of execution of is increased.
[0149]
As shown in FIG. 26 (D), when the start memory number is 4, when the specific command is received and the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter matches the value shown in the notice determination table 4, it continues. The notice starts. In addition, the maximum number of times of continuous notice is four times, and the number of times of continuous notice is executed (1, 2, 3, 4) and the contents of the effect to be executed (notice effect) based on the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter. A or notice effect B) is determined. Similarly to the notice determination table 3, the notice determination table 4 is configured so that the rate at which the continuous notice is executed, the number of executions, and the kind of notice effect change according to the type of the specific command. The notice determination table 4 is configured such that when a non-specific big win winning designation command is received among the specific commands, the proportion of the notice effect B is executed, and when the specific big hit winning designated command is received. Is configured so that the notice effect B does not appear.
[0150]
Since the data indicating the number of executions corresponding to the start memory number is set in the notice determination tables 1 to 4 described above, the effect control means (the effect control CPU 111) has the determination result command and the notice determination tables 1 to 1. The number of continuous notice executions can be selected based on the contents of 4. Moreover, since at least a part of the contents of each of the notice determination tables 1 to 4 is different, it is possible to perform different presentations using presentation means such as the variable display device 8 according to the difference in the number of starting memories. .
[0151]
Further, in this embodiment, when a determination result command for specifying a special big win winning designation is received, there is a higher probability that a continuous notice will appear than when a determination result command for specifying a non-specific big winning prize is received. Further, it may be configured such that the continuous notice can be executed only when a determination result command for specifying a special big win is received.
[0152]
Further, as described above, in this embodiment, when the result of variable display of the decorative symbol (stop symbol) in the decorative symbol display unit 9 is out of place, the continuous notice in the decorative symbol display unit 9 does not appear. That is, since the game control means (CPU 56) makes a determination related to the variation pattern when the start winning occurs, the variation pattern of the symbol used when the result of the variable display is out of place is actually It can be determined before the change is started (whether it is a hit or not), and the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) is in a case where the result of variable display is out of accordance with the determination result of the game control means (CPU 56). Does not select the continuous notice in the decorative symbol display unit 9. That is, the continuous notice in the decorative symbol display unit 9 appears when it is determined at the time of starting winning that the result of variable display of the special symbol in the special symbol display unit 10 is a big hit.
[0153]
In this embodiment, the notice effect A and the notice effect B are provided as the continuous notice. However, when the number of start memories is four (the notice determination table 4), the probability big hit (specific big hit winning designation) When the determination result command is received, the notice effect B does not appear. Then, when a non-specific big hit winning designation determination result command that is a big hit is received, the probability that the notice effect A appears will be set low. As described above, the player may have a big hit expectation by changing the reliability of the big hit depending on the performance to be executed. Further, the notice effect A and the notice effect B may appear evenly without changing the reliability of the big hit.
[0154]
In this way, the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) in the present embodiment executes a continuous notice that is continuously executed over a plurality of variable displays based on the determination result by the winning numerical data determination means. It has a function to do.
[0155]
FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the continuous notice determination process executed in steps S644 and S648. In the continuous notice determination process, the effect control CPU 111 first determines whether or not the continuous notice is being executed (step S661). Whether or not it is being executed can be determined by a continuous advance notice executing flag that is an internal flag set during execution. If continuous notice is not being executed, one of the notice determination tables 1 to 4 is selected (step S662). The notice determination tables 1 to 4 are one of a plurality of tables in the ROM (not shown) of the effect control board 80, and are tables in which the information shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is set. . In this embodiment, the effect control CPU 111 selects a table corresponding to the start memory number indicated by the start control number designation effect control command received immediately before, from the notice determination tables 1 to 4.
[0156]
Then, the effect control CPU 111 checks whether or not the same continuous notice determination value as the random number value extracted from the notice random number counter is set in the notice determination tables 1 to 4 (step S663) and matches. If there is, the corresponding continuous notice execution number is extracted from the notice determination tables 1 to 4. If the number of executions is not 0 (step S664), the type of continuous notice is stored in the notice type buffer, the number of executions of continuous notice is stored in the execution number buffer in the RAM (step S665), and the continuous notice lottery flag is set. (Step S666).
[0157]
Through the above processing, the notice random number counter advances each time a determination result command for starting memory number designation, out-of-place prize designation, reach prize designation, non-specific big hit prize designation, specific big prize prize designation is received, and a specific command (non- When a special jackpot winning designation or a specific jackpot winning designation) is received, a lottery is executed as to whether or not to give a continuous notice. When it is decided to perform the continuous notice, the number of executions is selected according to the number of start memories.
[0158]
In addition, in the continuous notice executed at the selected number of executions, different rendering modes can be realized by changing the sound generation pattern at each execution time, or the lamp / LED blinking pattern can be partially set at each execution time. It is possible to achieve more types of continuous notice effects by performing different processes such as realizing different presentation modes by making them different, or making the character type, movement, etc. partially different for each execution time it can.
[0159]
As will be described later, the effect control CPU 111, when the special symbol display unit 10 performs variable display of the special symbol after the non-zero execution count is determined, during the special symbol variable display period corresponding to the execution count. Controls the notice effect (continuous notice).
[0160]
In this embodiment, the effect control means (effect control CPU 111) is, for example, in a probabilistic state (high probability state) or a non-probable change state (low probability state) regardless of the gaming state of the gaming machine. Regardless, since one notice determination table corresponding to each start memory number is referenced, even if the gaming state is different, the selection probability of the number of executions is the same. However, for example, each notice determination table corresponding to the number of start memories for the probability change state and each notice determination table corresponding to the number of the start memories for the non-probability change state are provided. You may comprise the data of a notice determination table so that the probability of selection may become high.
[0161]
Further, even if each notice determination table corresponding to the number of start memories for the probability change state and each notice determination table corresponding to the number of the start memories for the non-probability change state are not divided, for example, in the probability change state, more continuous notices are executed. By expanding the numerical value (judgment value) range so that the number of times is selected, in the probability variation state, it is possible to increase the probability that more continuous notice execution times are selected. The effect control means (for example, the effect control CPU 111) can recognize the gaming state by the effect control command of E4XX (H) (see FIG. 19).
[0162]
In this embodiment, when the continuous notice is being executed, it is not determined whether or not to execute the continuous notice. That is, if the continuous notice execution flag is set in step S661, the processes of steps S662 and S663 for determining the continuous notice are not executed. As described above, in this embodiment, there is provided a restricting means (step S661) for restricting the determination as to whether or not to execute the continuous notice. By configuring in this way, since the notice effect is not executed repeatedly, the control burden on the game control means (CPU 56) can be reduced.
[0163]
Note that it is also possible to determine whether or not to execute the continuous notice even during the execution of the continuous notice and to execute the continuous notice in duplicate.
[0164]
FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the display control process (step S705) in the main process shown in FIG. In the display control process, any one of steps S800 to S807 is performed according to the value of the display control process flag. In each process, the following process is executed.
[0165]
Fluctuation pattern command reception waiting process (step S800): It is confirmed whether or not an effect control command (variation pattern command) has been received by the command reception interrupt process. Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not a flag (variation pattern reception flag) indicating that a variation pattern command has been received is set. The variation pattern reception flag is set when it is confirmed by command analysis processing that a variation pattern designation effect control command has been received (step S623).
[0166]
Decoration symbol effect setting processing (step S801): A stop symbol and a variation pattern of an ornament symbol are determined. Also, the decorative pattern variation pattern is determined to match the variation pattern of the special symbol indicated by the variation pattern command for the variation time of the special symbol.
[0167]
Preliminary setting process (step S802): It is determined whether or not to perform continuous advance notice and the type of notice effect when it is given.
[0168]
Symbol variation start processing (step S803): Control is performed so that variation of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is started.
[0169]
Symbol variation processing (step S804): Controls the switching timing of each variation state (variation speed) constituting the variation pattern and monitors the end of the variation time. Also, stop control of special symbols and decorative symbols is performed.
[0170]
Symbol stop waiting setting process (step S805): When an effect control command (special symbol stop and ornament symbol stop effect control command) for instructing symbol stop is received at the end of the variation time, the symbol change is stopped and stopped. Control to display a symbol (definite symbol) is performed.
[0171]
Big hit display processing (step S806): After the end of the variation time, the control of the probability variation big hit display or the normal big hit display is performed.
[0172]
Big hit game processing (step S807): Control during big hit game is performed. For example, when an effect control command for display before opening the big winning opening or display when opening the big winning opening is received, display control of the number of rounds is performed.
[0173]
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example of process data set for each variation pattern table. The process data is composed of data obtained by collecting a plurality of combinations of process timer setting values and display control execution data. Each display control execution table includes special symbol control execution data in which each variation mode constituting the variation pattern of the special symbol is described, and a decoration in which each variation mode constituting the variation pattern in the decorative symbol is described. Symbol control execution data is included. The process timer set value is set with a change time in the change mode. The effect control CPU 111 refers to the process data, and controls to display the special symbols and decorative symbols in a varying manner set in the display control execution data for the time set in the process timer set value.
[0174]
The process data shown in FIG. 29 is stored in a ROM (not shown) in the effect control board 80. Process data is prepared for each variation pattern. The process data is prepared for each combination of each variation pattern of the special symbol and each variation pattern of the decorative symbol. Therefore, the production control CPU 111 selects process data to be used according to the variation pattern.
[0175]
FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a variation pattern command reception waiting process (step S800) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the variation pattern command reception waiting process, the effect control CPU 111 checks whether or not the variation pattern reception flag is set (step S871). If it is set, the flag is reset (step S872). Then, the value of the display control process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the decorative design effect setting process (step S801) (step S873).
[0176]
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a decorative symbol effect setting process (step S801) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the decorative symbol effect setting process, the effect control CPU 111 determines a decorative symbol stop symbol (step S875). At this time, the stop symbol of the decorative symbol is determined so as to match the variation pattern of the special symbol based on the variation pattern command received from the main board 31.
[0177]
Next, a decorative pattern variation pattern is determined (step S876). In this example, it is assumed that the decorative pattern variation pattern table set as the use table is a variation pattern provided corresponding to the variation pattern command received from the main board 31. Therefore, the variation pattern of the decorative design provided corresponding to the variation pattern of the special symbol based on the received variation pattern command is determined. Then, the value of the display control process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the notice setting process (step S802) (step S877).
[0178]
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the advance notice setting process (step S801) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the notice setting process, the effect control CPU 111 confirms whether or not continuous notice is being executed (step S811). If not being executed, it is confirmed whether or not the continuous notice lottery flag has been set (step S812). The continuous notice lottery completed flag is set in step S666 in the continuous notice determination process of FIG. 27, indicating that it is determined to execute the continuous notice. Therefore, if the continuous notice lottery flag has been set in step S812, that is, if it is decided to perform the continuous notice, the continuous notice lottery flag is reset (step S813), and the contents of the execution count buffer are changed. An execution counter is set (step S814). Next, a continuous notice execution flag is set (step S815), and the display control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the symbol variation start process (step S802) (step S817).
[0179]
If it is confirmed in step S811 that the continuous notice is being executed, the production control CPU 111 decrements the execution number counter by 1 (step S816), and the process proceeds to step S817.
[0180]
If it is confirmed in step S812 that the continuous notice lottery flag has not been set, the process proceeds to step S817 without setting the continuous notice because the decision to execute the continuous notice has not been made.
[0181]
  FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the symbol variation start process (step S803) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the symbol variation start process, the effect control CPU 111 first determines whether or not the continuous notice execution flag is set (step S880). The continuous advance notice execution flag is set in step S815 in the advance notice setting process, and indicates that the continuous advance notice is being executed. Continuous notice is runningAhThen, the LCD (notice effect display unit 17 to be described later of the variable display device 8) is displayed and controlled in accordance with the values of the notice type buffer and the execution number counter (step S881: notice effect display control means). Next, the effect control CPU 111 determines whether the continuous notice execution number counter is not 0 (step S882). When the execution number counter reaches 0, it means that the continuous notice for the determined number of executions is completed and variable display based on the start memory that triggered the execution of the continuous notice is started. . Therefore, when the execution number counter is 0, the continuous advance notice execution flag is reset (step S883), and the advance notice change start process is executed (step S884: start time production means). In the notice change start process, a process of notifying the player that the variable display corresponding to the start memory in which the decision to execute the continuous notice is made in the notice process of the notice of continuation is started. Thus, in this embodiment, it is variable as a notice display device provided separately from the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d so that the start memory that has been determined to execute the notice effect can be specified. Preliminary effect display control means (step S881) for controlling the display of the display device 8 is provided. In addition, when the variable display start condition based on the start memory that triggered the continuous notice is satisfied, a start time effect means (step S884) for notifying the player that the variable display is started is provided.
[0182]
Next, the effect control CPU 111 selects process data to be used (step S885). Next, the process timer set at the beginning of the selected process data is started (step S886), and the special symbol variation display is performed according to the contents of the special symbol control execution data 1 (step S887). The LCD (variable display device 8) is controlled in accordance with the contents of 1 to display the decorative symbols and the special symbols in a variable manner (step S888).
[0183]
Thereafter, a variation time timer (a timer corresponding to the variation time of the special symbol) is started (step S889), and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the symbol variation processing (step S890).
[0184]
FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the process during symbol variation (step S803) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the process during symbol variation, the effect control CPU 111 switches the display control execution data (step S832) when the process timer times out (step S831). That is, in the process data, the next set process timer is started, and the VDP is controlled according to the content of the display control execution data set next. Therefore, the VDP controls the display state of the variable display device 8 according to the contents of the display control execution table.
[0185]
If the variable time timer has timed out (step S833), a monitoring timer for monitoring the reception of the special symbol stop effect control command is started (step S834), and the value of the display control process flag is set to the symbol stop waiting process. (Step S835).
[0186]
FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the symbol stop waiting process (step S804) in the display control process shown in FIG. In the symbol stop waiting process, the effect control CPU 111 checks whether or not an effect control command (special symbol stop effect control command) for instructing symbol stop has been received (step S841). If an effect control command for instructing symbol stop is received, control is performed to stop the symbol with the stored stop symbol (step S842).
[0187]
When the big hit symbol is displayed in step S842 (step S843), the effect control CPU 111 sets the value of the display control process flag to a value corresponding to the big hit display process (step S806) (step S845). When the big hit symbol is not displayed in step S842 (when the missing symbol is displayed), the effect control CPU 111 sets the value of the display control process flag to a value corresponding to the variation pattern command reception waiting process (step S800). (Step S844).
[0188]
If an effect control command designating symbol stop is not received in step S841, it is confirmed whether or not the monitoring timer set in step S834 of FIG. 34 has timed out (step S846). If the monitoring timer times out, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred, and control is performed to display an error screen on the decorative symbol display unit 9 (step S847). Then, control goes to a step S843.
[0189]
In this embodiment, when a big hit is made by a start memory different from the start memory that triggered the continuous notice during execution of the continuous notice (step S843), it continues after the big hit gaming state ends. Although the configuration is such that the continuous notice is executed, the control of the continuous notice may be terminated at this time even if the notice for the number of times of the continuous notice is not completed when the big hit is made. That is, when the continuous notice is a big hit during execution (step S843), the process flag is set to the big hit display process (step S845), and the value of the execution number counter indicating the number of executions of the continuous notice is cleared. At the same time, the continuous notice execution flag may be reset.
[0190]
Next, the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described as specific examples of the continuous notice of the present embodiment.
[0191]
First, an example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 36 and FIG. In this embodiment, the special symbol start memory display 18a to 18d is individually displayed on the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d so that the start memory that triggered the continuous notice can be specified. A notice effect display control means for controlling the notice effect display unit 17 as a notice display device provided separately from 18a to 18d (a function for controlling the display of the notice effect display unit 17 during continuous notice execution by the effect control CPU). It has. The notice effect display unit 17 is provided below the decorative symbol display unit 9. In this embodiment, the notice effect display control unit executes the continuous notice by controlling the display of the notice effect display unit 17 so that the start memory that triggered the continuous notice can be specified.
[0192]
36 is an example of the notice effect A, and FIG. 37 is an example of the notice effect B. In the notice effect A in FIG. 36, an arrow is displayed on the notice effect display unit 17, and in the notice effect B in FIG. 37, a character (a finger in this embodiment) is displayed on the notice effect display unit 17. Then, the corresponding start memory of the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d below the variable display device 8 is specified by these symbols (arrows and characters) displayed on the notice effect display unit 17, and it is easy for the player. It is the structure which can be made to recognize.
[0193]
In the present embodiment, the main board 31 is specified when the value of the jackpot determination random number extracted at the time of starting winning matches with the jackpot determination value shown in FIG. The command transmitting means transmits a specific command indicating that effect to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111). The symbols (arrows and characters) shown in FIGS. 36 (A) and 37 (A) are displayed on the notice effect display unit 17 by determining that the continuous notice is executed in the continuous notice determination process. In this embodiment, the notice effect display unit 17 blinks an arrow on the variable display device 8 as the notice effect A (FIG. 36 (A)), and as the notice effect B, the variable display device 8 has a finger shape as a character. Is displayed in a blinking manner (FIG. 36 (A)), and the player is continuously notified by pointing the start memory 18b from above the start memory 18b, which has been a trigger for executing the continuous notice with the arrow and the index finger of the character. Is recognized to be executed. Then, as the position at which the start memory that triggered the continuous notice is displayed is changed, the notice effect display control means displays the notice effect display unit to indicate the start memory that triggered the continuous notice. 17 is controlled (FIGS. 36A to 36C, 37A to 37C). That is, the variable display when the start memory for triggering the continuous notice is the special symbol start memory display 18b in FIGS. 36 (A) and 37 (A) is ended, and the next variable display is started. The start memory displayed on the special symbol start memory display 18b at the time is displayed and moved to the special symbol start memory display 18a (FIG. 36B, FIG. 37B). At that time, the notice effect display control means controls display of the notice effect display unit 17 so that the symbols (arrows and characters) displayed on the notice effect display unit 17 point to the special symbol start memory display 18a (FIG. 36 ( C) and FIG. 37 (C)).
[0194]
The start memory display control means displays the start memories displayed on the special symbol start memory displays 18a to 18d in a plurality of display modes (for example, changing the display color, changing the blinking interval, etc. ), And as shown in FIGS. 36 (A) and 37 (A), in this embodiment, the start specified by the symbols (arrows and characters) displayed on the notice effect display unit 17 The memory 18b is subjected to blinking display control as a special display mode by the start memory display control means (function for controlling the LED of the effect control CPU 111).
[0195]
When the variable display based on the start memory other than the start memory that triggered the continuous notice is finished (FIGS. 36A to 36D, 37A to 37D), FIG. In step 884, a notice change start process for notifying the player of the start of variable display based on the start memory that triggered the execution of the continuous notice is executed (starting effect means). Specifically, the notification effect display 24 is displayed on the variable display device 8 (FIGS. 36E and 37E). Thereby, the player can recognize which start memory is based on which start memory is performed, and can recognize that variable display based on the start memory is started. it can. And the expectation in a game can be raised. In the notice change start process in step S884, the notification effect display 24 is displayed as the start time effect means. However, not only the notification effect display 24 but also the display, sound, lamp, and the like may be performed. By doing in this way, a player's sense of expectation can be raised more.
[0196]
In the present embodiment, as the specific command, the continuous notice is executed to determine whether or not to execute the continuous notice based on the reception of the determination result command of the specific big prize winning designation and the non-specific big prize winning designation. In this case, a specific display result or a special display result is derived and displayed (FIG. 36 (F) to FIG. 36 (H), FIG. 37 (F) to FIG. 37 (H)).
[0197]
In addition, as described above, it is determined whether or not the continuous notice is to be executed even when a determination result command that causes a loss (designation of a loss winning designation and a reach prize designation) or a determination result command that reaches a reach (reach winning designation) is received. By performing the above, the rate at which the continuous notice is executed may be increased.
[0198]
Further, in this embodiment, the continuous notice is executed by the notice effect display unit 17 provided at the lower part of the decorative symbol display unit 9 as the notice display device, but the notice variable display unit has the special symbol start memory displays 18a to 18d. For example, a 7-segment LED or the like may be provided separately from the decorative symbol display unit 9 and continuous notice may be executed by the LED.
[0199]
In the first embodiment described above, the continuous notice is executed by controlling the notice effect display unit 17 provided separately from the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d, but the special symbol start memory indicator 18a. A second embodiment in which a continuous notice is executed using a notice informing member 28 as a movable effect means provided separately from -18d may be used.
[0200]
FIG. 38 shows an enlarged view of the variable display device 8 used in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a notice member 28 is formed between the decorative symbol display unit 9 below the variable display device 8 and the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d so as to be able to enter and exit. Further, when the variable display device 8 is viewed from the front, the notice information member 28 is provided so as to be able to enter and exit at positions corresponding to the start memories of the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d. For example, when viewed from the front of the variable display device 8, the notification device 28 is formed so that it can enter and exit immediately behind the start memory 18 b. And it has a notice effect control means (function to control operation of the effect drive means of the effect control CPU 111) for controlling the operation of the notice information member 28.
[0201]
In this embodiment, the notice member 28 is provided so as to be able to enter and exit at each of the positions corresponding to the start memories of the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d. The notice member 28 may be moved directly behind the corresponding start memory by a solenoid or the like.
[0202]
Moreover, you may form the alerting | reporting alerting | reporting member 28 so that lighting and blinking are possible. In this case, it is possible to specify the start memory by lighting or blinking the notice information member 28 behind the corresponding start memory, and in this case, the notice information member 28 can be entered and exited. Thus, it is possible to specify the start-up memory without forming it.
[0203]
FIG. 39 shows an example of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the main board 31 is specified when the value of the jackpot determination random number extracted at the time of starting winning matches with the jackpot determination value shown in FIG. The command transmitting means transmits a specific command indicating that effect to the effect control means (effect control CPU 111). Then, when it is determined that the continuous notice is executed in the continuous notice determination process, the notice member 28 shown in FIG. 39A appears.
[0204]
In this embodiment, a notice informing member 28 with an arrow appears (FIG. 39A), and this arrow points from above the start memory 18b that triggered the continuous notice. Then, when the start memory for triggering the continuous notice is the special symbol start memory display 18b in FIG. 39 (A), the variable display is finished and the next variable display is started. The start memory displayed on the memory display 18b moves to the special symbol start memory display 18a (FIG. 39B). At that time, the notice effect control means (function for controlling the action drive means of the effect control CPU 111) retracts the notice notification member 28 pointing to the special symbol start memory display 18b, and the special symbol start memory display 18a. Is controlled so as to newly appear the notice member 28 (FIG. 39C).
[0205]
The special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d have a function of displaying the start memory by a plurality of display modes. As shown in FIG. 39A, the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d are specified by the notice information member 28 in this embodiment. The start memory 18b is subjected to blinking display control as a special display mode by a start memory display control means (function for controlling the LED of the effect control CPU 111).
[0206]
When the variable display based on the start memory other than the start memory that triggered the continuous notice is completed (FIGS. 39A to 39D), the trigger to execute the continuous notice in step 884 of FIG. A notice change start process for notifying the player of the start of variable display based on the start memory is executed (starting effect means). Specifically, the notification effect display 24 is displayed on the variable display device 8 (FIG. 39E). Thereby, the player can recognize which start memory is based on which start memory is performed, and can recognize that variable display based on the start memory is started. it can. And the expectation in a game can be raised.
[0207]
As described above, the effect control CPU 111 individually displays the number of established start conditions (starting memory number) with a predetermined number as an upper limit (for example, four) based on the starting memory number designation command. The start memory display control means for controlling the display of the memory indicators 18a to 18d and the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d based on the reception of the specific command (specific big win winning designation, non-specific big hit winning designation determination result command) The notice effect (for example, the effects shown in FIGS. 36 (A) to 36 (E)) that can specify the start memory that causes the specific command to be transmitted among the start memories individually displayed in 18d is executed. The notice determining means for determining whether or not to perform (for example, the determination process of continuous notice: steps S644 and S648) and the notice determining means to execute the notice effect. And a notice effect display control means for performing control to display the notice effect display 24 on the notice effect display unit 17 of the variable display device 8 provided separately from the special symbol start memory displays 18a to 18d. Thus, the control burden of the game control means as the main control means can be reduced, and the player can be clearly notified of each by separately displaying the number of established start conditions and the notice effect display. . Furthermore, even if the display control means, which is a sub-control means, deviates in the number of established start conditions or a problem occurs in command reception, a change in the number of established start conditions causes a change in the number of established start conditions, so that the established number command is transmitted from the game control means Can be corrected immediately.
[0208]
In addition, as described above, the start memory of the start memory individually displayed on the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d based on the reception of the specific command (determination result command for the specific big win winning designation or the non-specific big hit winning designation). Of these, the notice determination for determining whether or not to execute the notice effect (for example, the effects shown in FIGS. 39A to 39E) that can specify the start-up memory that causes the specific command to be transmitted. When the means for determining the notice effect is executed by the means (for example, the determination process for continuous notice: steps S644 and S648) and the notice determining means, the notice notification member 28 as the predetermined movable effect means is controlled to operate. The notice effect control means to be executed in this manner can reduce the control burden on the game control means, which is the main control means, and the table of the number of established start conditions Respectively possible to separately display the display of the announcement attraction to be able to clearly inform the player the. Furthermore, even if the display control means, which is a sub-control means, deviates in the number of established start conditions or a problem occurs in command reception, a change in the number of established start conditions causes a change in the number of established start conditions, so that the established number command is transmitted from the game control means Can be corrected immediately.
[0209]
Further, as described above, the start memory number stored in the start memory means is specified at the timing when the start port switch passing process is started in the 2 ms interrupt process, and whether or not the start memory number is different from the previous specified result. The establishment number determination means (for example, step S161) for determining whether or not the establishment number determination means determines that it is different from the previous specific result, and transmits the establishment number command to the effect control CPU 111. Since the game control means transmits the established number command to the display control means only when it is necessary to transmit the established number command, the control burden on the game control means can be reduced.
[0210]
Further, as described above, when the start condition of the variable display based on the start memory in which it is determined that the notice effect is to be executed by the notice determination unit, the determination that the notice effect is to be executed by the notice determination unit is established. Start effect means for executing an effect different from that when the start condition other than the variable display based on the start condition that is not performed is established (for example, the notification effect display 24 shown in FIG. 36E is displayed in step S884). By providing the portion for executing the processing, it becomes clear to which start condition the notice effect was executed, and it can be easily recognized by the player.
[0211]
Further, as described above, the start memories individually displayed on the special symbol start memory indicators 18a to 18d can be controlled to be displayed in a plurality of display modes (for example, change of lighting color, etc.), Start memory display means by controlling the display of the start memory for which the notice effect is to be executed in a special display mode (for example, the flashing display mode of the special symbol start memory display 18b shown in FIG. 36A). The display effect can be improved by changing the display mode, and it can be made clear that the notice effect is being performed for the player.
[0212]
Further, as described above, the start storage means stores numerical data storage means for storing random numbers 1 to 8 as the numerical data extracted by the extraction means (step S113) (the RAM 55 of the main board 31 is used to generate the big hit determination random number). The CPU 56 is configured to determine whether the numerical data extracted at the start winning among the numerical data stored in the numerical data storage means when the variable display start condition based on the start winning is satisfied. Including a start time numerical data determination means (for example, step S56) for determining whether or not the display result of the variable display is a specific display result based on whether or not it matches the The determination is performed by the same module as the determination by the starting numerical data determination means (for example, steps S123 and S56). By performed by executing the same jackpot determination processing shown in 2), it is possible to reduce the program of the game controller. In addition, since it may take time until the variable display based on the start condition is actually started after the start condition is satisfied, it is stored as a random number (numerical data) rather than stored as “win” or “out” data. However, there is less risk that the data will be different due to the influence of noise, etc. (in this case, the deviation will be a hit, etc.) Even if it occurs, there is little probability of winning), and reliability can be improved.
[0213]
Further, as described above, the notice determining means is a restricting means (for example, step) for restricting whether or not to execute the notice effect when the notice effect is executed by the notice effect display control means (step S881). If the continuous notice execution flag is set in S661, it is not determined whether or not to execute the continuous notice). Since there is no waste of determining the notice effect again during the performance, the control burden on the game control means can be reduced.
[0214]
In the present embodiment, the main board 31 is divided by dividing the control performed by the CPU 56 mounted on the main board 31 as the main CPU into the effect control CPU 111 mounted on the effect control board 80 as the sub CPU. The program amount and circuit configuration of the program stored in the ROM 54 can be simplified. As a result, even if a fraudulent act is made in the ROM 54 of the main board 31 that is likely to be fraudulent because a program for determining a big hit or a probability variation is stored, such a fraudulent act is easily detected. In addition, it is possible to facilitate the inspection work when detecting such an illegal act. Furthermore, even if there is a fraud in the circuit configuration, it becomes easy to find the fraud.
[0215]
The plurality of commands described above are described as being transmitted from the board to the board (for example, the main board 31 to the effect control board 80). However, the transmission / reception of the commands is performed by the CPU mounted on the board. . That is, the CPU (for example, CPU 56) mounted on the board transmits the command, and the CPU (for example, CPU 111 for effect control) also receives the command.
[0216]
【The invention's effect】
  As is apparent from the above description, in the invention of claim 1, the control burden of the game control means that is the main control means can be reduced, and the number of established start conditions is established.Involved inDisplay and notice effectInvolved inBy displaying the display separately, each can be clearly notified to the player. Furthermore, even if the display control means, which is a sub-control means, deviates in the number of established start conditions or a problem occurs in command reception, a change in the number of established start conditions causes a change in the number of established start conditions, so that the established number command is transmitted from the game control means Can be corrected immediately.
[0217]
  Claims3In the present invention, the game control means transmits the established number command to the display control means only when it is necessary to transmit the established number command, so the control burden on the game control means can be reduced.
[0218]
  Claims4In this invention, it becomes clear to which start condition the notice effect was executed, and it can be easily recognized by the player.
[0219]
  Claims5In this invention, the effect of the presentation can be improved by changing the display mode of the start-up memory display means, and it can be made clear that the notice effect is being performed for the player.
[0220]
  Claims6In this invention, the program amount of the game control means can be reduced.
[0221]
  Claims7In this invention, the notice effect is not repeatedly executed, and the control burden of the game control means can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a bullet ball gaming machine according to an embodiment as viewed from the front.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a front surface of the game board.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a main board.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a CPU on a main board.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a 2 ms timer interrupt process.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a special symbol process.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a variation pattern.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a start port switch passing process.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a winning effect setting process;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a big hit determination table and a reach determination table.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a big hit determination module.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a reach determination module.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a special symbol normal process.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a special symbol stop symbol setting process.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a storage process.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command form of a control command.
FIG. 18 is a timing chart showing the relationship between an 8-bit control signal and an INT signal that constitute a control command.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents of an effect control command.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the effect control CPU.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a command reception buffer.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing command analysis processing;
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing command analysis processing;
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a notice determination table.
FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a notice determination table.
FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing continuous notice determination processing;
FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing display control process processing;
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of process data.
FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a variation pattern command command reception wait process.
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing decorative design effect setting processing;
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a notice setting process.
FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a symbol variation start process.
FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a process during symbol variation.
FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a symbol stop waiting process.
FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the first embodiment of the notice effect.
FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a first embodiment of a notice effect.
FIG. 38 is an example of a variable display device used in the second embodiment.
FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the second embodiment of the notice effect.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Ball game machine
8 Variable display device
9 Decorative design display
10 Special symbol display
14 Start prize opening
17 Notice display section
24 Notification effect display
28 Notice material
31 Main board
55 RAM
56 CPU
80 Production control board
111 CPU for effect control

Claims (7)

A variable display device that variably displays a plurality of types of identification information that can each be identified based on satisfaction of a variable display start condition after a predetermined start condition is satisfied, wherein the display result of the variable display is a specific display result A gaming machine that controls to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player when
Game control means for controlling the progress of the game;
Display control means for controlling the variable display device based on a command from the game control means,
The game control means includes
Start storage means for storing the number of established start conditions in which the start condition is satisfied but the variable display start condition is not yet satisfied;
An established number command transmitting means for transmitting an established number command capable of specifying the established number when a change occurs in the established number of established start conditions stored in the starting storage means;
Numeric data updating means used for determination relating to variable display, and updating numeric data within a predetermined numeric range;
Extraction means for extracting the numerical data based on the establishment of the start condition;
Numerical data storage means for storing numerical data extracted by the extraction means;
A winning time of numerical data determining means for determining whether controlled to the specific game state based on whether the numerical data extracted matches the predetermined reference value by said extraction means,
A specific command transmitting means for transmitting a specific command capable of specifying the fact when it is determined that the specific gaming state is controlled by the winning time numeric data determining means;
Whether or not the numerical data extracted when the start condition satisfying the start condition is met with the predetermined determination value among the numerical data stored in the numerical data storage means when the start condition is satisfied A starting numerical data determination means for determining whether the display result of the variable display is a specific display result based on
A determination result command transmission means for transmitting a determination result command capable of specifying the determination result of the start time numerical data determination means ,
The display control means includes
Based on the reception of the determination result command from the determination result command transmission means, the plurality of types of identification information are variably displayed on the variable display device and specified by the determination result command. Variable display control means for deriving and displaying a display result according to the determination result;
Start memory display control means for controlling display of start memory display means for individually displaying the number of established start conditions based on the established number command received from the established number command transmission means;
Based on the reception of the specific command from the specific command transmission means, the start condition that caused the transmission of the specific command is specified out of the number of established start conditions individually displayed on the start memory display means Notice determining means for determining whether or not to perform possible notice effect;
Number of advance notices for determining a variable display count for executing the advance notice effect with an upper limit of the number of established start conditions specified by the established number command when the notice determining means determines that the advance notice effect is to be executed. A determination means;
The variable display in over a period of variable display number determined by the notice number determination means when a determination that executing the prediction effect made by the warning judging means, wherein the operating control predetermined movable representation section gaming machine is characterized in that and a prediction effect control means for executing the prediction effect that enables identifying the start condition has become due to the specific commands sent. The display control means includes flag information setting means for setting predetermined flag information when executing the notice effect, and erasing the flag information when ending the notice effect,
The notice effect display control means executes the notice effect on the condition that the flag information is set,
The flag information setting unit specifies the display result of the variable display before executing the variable display of the determined variable display number after the determination to execute the notification effect is performed by the notification determination unit. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the flag information is erased based on reception of a determination result command indicating that it is a display result . The establishment number command transmission means includes:
Comprising a number-of-established number determination means for determining the number of established start conditions stored in the start-up storage means at a predetermined timing, and determining whether the number of established conditions differs from the previous specified result;
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the number-of-establishment determination unit determines that the result is different from a previous specific result, the number-of-establishment number command is transmitted. A start condition in which a determination to execute the notice effect is not made by the notice determination means when a variable display start condition is established based on the start condition for which the notice effect is determined by the notice determination means. the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a start presentation means for performing a different effect than when the variable display of the start condition has been met based on. The start memory display control means includes
The number of established start conditions can be controlled in a plurality of display modes.
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display control in a special display mode the start condition in which it is determined that the executing the prediction effect made by the warning judging means. The determination by the numerical data determining means when the entering prize, the gaming machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is performed by determining the common module according to the start time of numerical data determining means. The notice determination means is
Wherein when the prediction effect is executed by announcement attraction display control means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises regulating means for regulating the determination of whether or not to execute announcement attraction Game machines.

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