JP4483893B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine, or a coin gaming machine, and more particularly to a technique for displaying a three-dimensional image.

  For example, there is a pachinko machine that is generally known as this type of gaming machine. This pachinko machine has two game states, a jackpot state that is advantageous for a player who can acquire a large number of pachinko balls and a normal state that is disadvantageous for a player who consumes pachinko balls. In any state, in order to perpetuate the interest of the player, a realistic display mode is displayed according to the game state. In particular, the display mode in the normal state includes a normal variation in which the player simply moves the identification symbol, which is a two-dimensional image for identifying the gaming state, and an identification symbol to make the player feel the occurrence of the jackpot state. With reach to move. In each of these display modes, for example, the player can feel a sense of realism by enlarging, reducing, or moving an identification symbol, which is a two-dimensional image drawn using a perspective method, on the display screen. I am doing so.

However, the conventional pachinko machine described above has the following problems.
In conventional pachinko machines, a display mode in which the identification symbol is moved in the depth direction of the display screen by gradually expanding or reducing the identification symbol, which is a two-dimensional image, is realized as a whole. There is a problem that the player cannot feel a sense of reality due to lack of feeling .

The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of perpetuating interest of the player to achieve a display mode with extraordinary field feeling.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has the following configuration.
The configuration of the present invention includes a game board, a start opening provided in the game board, a game ball detection means for detecting a game ball that has entered the start opening, and a special game based on detection by the game ball detection means. Main control means for performing a lottery and outputting a series of fluctuation signals corresponding to the lottery, and a sub-control means for performing fluctuation control based on the fluctuation signal from the main control means, the sub-control means Includes a first storage unit storing an object formed by a plurality of polygons, a second storage unit storing a texture corresponding to each polygon of the object, and an object read from the first storage unit in a virtual three-dimensional manner. Object placement means for placing in space, projection means for projecting an object placed in the virtual three-dimensional space onto a projection plane, and texture stored in the second storage means The texture pasting means for performing pasting processing corresponding to the object by changing it according to the shape of the object, and data to be applied to the texture corresponding to the object, wherein the texture is transparent Generation of a display image including an image of an identification symbol configured by including a third storage unit storing a plurality of transparent pattern data provided so as to have different area areas, and the object and a texture corresponding to the object An image storage means for storing a display image for at least one screen generated by the display image generation means, and an image display means for outputting and displaying the display image stored in the image storage means on a display device. A gaming machine, wherein the image display means is the texture corresponding to the object. Said transparent pattern data so that the area of the transparent region increases using multiple, an image that the identification symbols is gradually hidden ones and outputs displayed on the display device is read from the image storing means It is .

[Action]
The operation of the present invention is as follows.
The game ball detection means detects a game ball that has entered the start port of the game board. The main control means draws a special game based on the detection by the game ball detecting means and outputs a series of fluctuation signals corresponding to the lottery. The sub control means performs fluctuation control based on the fluctuation signal from the main control means. The image storage means includes a first storage means for storing an object formed of a plurality of polygons, a second storage means for storing a texture corresponding to each polygon of the object, and an object read from the first storage means for virtual 3 Object placement means for placing in the three-dimensional space, projection means for projecting the object placed in the virtual three-dimensional space onto the projection plane, and the texture stored in the second storage means are changed in accordance with the shape of the object. A texture pasting unit that performs pasting processing corresponding to the object, and data to be applied to the texture corresponding to the object, and a plurality of transparent pattern data provided so that the areas of the transparent regions in which the texture is transparent are different. The third storage means for storing the object, the object and the corresponding object Storing at least one screen of the display image generated by the display image generating means for generating a display image including the image of the composed identification symbols and a texture that is. The image display means outputs and displays the display image stored in the image storage means on the display device. Furthermore, the image display means uses a plurality of transparent pattern data so as to increase the area of the transparent area of the texture corresponding to the object, and reads and displays an image in which the identification pattern is gradually hidden from the image storage means. Display output on the device.

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a display mode with extraordinary field feeling. As a result, the player's interest can be made permanent.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
A pachinko machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine equipped with an image display device. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control board and an image display device provided in the pachinko machine, and FIG. 3 is an image display device. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the three-dimensional image process part in FIG.

  The pachinko machine according to this embodiment includes a game board 2 provided with a control board 1 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the entire pachinko machine, a frame 3 to which the game board 2 is attached, and a lower side of the game board 2. An upper receiving tray 4 provided, a rotary handle 5 connected to an unillustrated launching device for launching pachinko balls stored in the upper receiving tray 4 to the surface of the game board 2, and a lower provided on the lower side of the upper receiving tray 4 A display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6 for displaying a receiving tray 8, an identification symbol for identifying the gaming state by the player, and a symbol other than the identification symbol that is displayed to enhance the effect in the gaming state is a board surface of the gaming board 2 And an image display device 7 (see FIG. 2) mounted so as to be arranged at substantially the center. On the display screen 6a, one or a plurality of identification symbols and changes in auxiliary symbols (movement, rotation, deformation, etc.) on the background on which a predetermined pattern is drawn are displayed according to the gaming state in the gaming machine. The pachinko machine has two types of game states, a jackpot state in which the player can acquire a large number of pachinko balls and a normal state in which the player consumes the pachinko balls. In the normal state, a normal variation that is a display mode in which a plurality of identification symbols simply change, and a reach that is a display mode as if a big hit state occurs regardless of whether or not a big hit state has occurred are displayed. The On the other hand, in the jackpot state, auxiliary symbols are mainly displayed, and a different display mode is displayed for each round. In addition, when a game is not performed in the pachinko machine, a demonstration or the like is displayed. Here, the identification symbol refers to the image of a symbol number or symbol number attached to allow the player to recognize the gaming state such as jackpot or reach in the pachinko machine, and the auxiliary symbol is a jackpot or reach etc. The symbol other than the identification symbol displayed in order to enhance the effect.

  The game board 2 includes a rail 2a for guiding a pachinko ball launched by the rotary handle 5 to the board surface, a plurality of non-illustrated nails that guide the pachinko ball to unspecified places, and a pachinko ball that has been induced by the nail. A plurality of winning holes 2b for winning, a starting hole 2c for winning a pachinko ball guided near the center of the game board 2, and a relatively large number of pachinko balls to be awarded at a time in a specific gaming state. And a large winning opening 2d that can be used. A winning detection sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) for detecting the entrance of a pachinko ball is provided in each winning opening 2b, start opening 2c, and large winning opening 2d. When the winning detection sensor 11 detects the entrance of the pachinko ball, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are supplied to the upper tray 4 by the control board 1 provided in the game board 2. A start start sensor 12 (see FIG. 2) is provided in the start port 2c. Furthermore, an open / close solenoid 13 (see FIG. 2) is provided at the special winning opening 2d. The operation of the open / close solenoid 13 allows the special winning opening 2d to be closed. In addition to what has been described above, for example, a holding lamp or the like for storing the number of pachinko balls that have entered the start port 2c is provided, but description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

  The upper receiving tray 4 has a receiving tray shape, and stores the pachinko balls supplied from the ball supply port 4a to which the pachinko balls are supplied. Further, on the opposite side of the upper tray 4 where the ball supply port 4a is disposed, a ball feed port (not shown) that communicates with a launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward the rail 2a is provided. Furthermore, a ball removal button 4b for transferring the stored pachinko balls to the lower tray 8 is provided at the upper part of the upper tray 4 and the pachinko balls stored in the upper tray 4 are pressed by pressing this ball removal button 4b. Can be transferred to the lower tray 8. The lower receiving tray 8 has a receiving tray shape and receives a pachinko ball transferred from the upper receiving tray 4. In addition, the lower tray 8 is provided with a ball removal lever (not shown) for removing the pachinko balls stored therein.

  The rotary handle 5 is connected to a launching device that launches a pachinko ball toward the rail 2a. By rotating the rotary handle 5, the launching device launches a pachinko ball with a strength corresponding to the amount of rotation. Note that when the player holds the rotary handle 5 in a rotated state, the launching device launches one pachinko ball at a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 1 provided in the game board 2 includes a main control unit 16 that is a microcomputer including a memory and a CPU, and a counter 14 that outputs a value that determines a gaming state in the gaming machine. A start start sensor 12 for detecting the entrance of a pachinko ball at the start port 2c (see FIG. 1), a winning detection sensor 11 for detecting the entrance of the pachinko ball at the winning port 2b (see FIG. 1), and a big prize An open / close solenoid 13 that opens and closes the mouth 2d (see FIG. 1), an I / F (interface) 15 that is connected to an I / F (interface) 17 of the image display device 7 so that information can be distributed, and the like. Yes. The control board 1 supplies a predetermined amount of pachinko balls based on the detection of the ball detection sensors at the winning opening 2b and the start opening 2c described above, and executes various events for operating a lamp and a speaker (not shown). Is. In addition, the control board 1 transmits various commands for instructing a display mode according to the gaming state to the image display device 7 through the I / F 15.

Specifically, the processing performed in the control board 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Step S1 (detects the incoming ball)
A player drives a pachinko ball into the game board 2 with the rotary handle 5 and starts a pachinko game. A part of the pachinko balls driven into the game board 2 are led to the vicinity of the center of the board surface and enter the starting port 2c. When the pachinko ball enters the start port 2c, the start sensor 12 that detects the ball that has entered the start port 2c sends a start signal to the main control unit 16 and also receives a prize provided in the start port 2c. The detection sensor 11 sends a winning signal to the main control unit 16. In this embodiment, the start sensor 12 and the winning detection sensor 11 are used together by the same sensor. Even when a pachinko ball enters the winning opening 2b, the winning detection sensor 11 of each winning opening 2b sends a winning signal to the main control unit 16.

Step S2 (supplying pachinko balls)
When detecting a winning signal from the winning detection sensor 11, the main control unit 16 operates a pachinko ball supply mechanism (not shown) to supply a predetermined amount of pachinko balls to the upper tray 4 through the ball supply port 4a.

Step S3 (Lottery lottery)
When the main controller 16 detects a start signal from the start sensor 12, the main controller 16 reads the output value of the counter 14 and performs a lottery lottery. In the big hit lottery, if the output value of the counter 14 is a predetermined value, “big hit” is generated. On the other hand, if the output value of the counter 14 is other than the predetermined value, the normal gaming state of “out of” is continued.

Step S4 (send command)
The main control unit 16 determines a display mode according to the normal gaming state or a specific gaming state, and transmits a command according to the display mode to the image display device 7 via the I / F 15. The command is an instruction for causing the image display device 7 to execute a predetermined display program, and a display pattern corresponding to the gaming state is displayed on the display screen 6a by executing the display program. For example, in the case of a jackpot, the main control unit 16 transmits a command instructing the start of a predetermined reach, and a command instructing the type of jackpot identification symbol to be stopped at the final stage of the reach after a predetermined time has elapsed. Send. As a result, the reach of the type designated by the command is displayed on the display screen 6a of the image display device 7 and then displayed so as to stop at the jackpot identification symbol of the type designated by the command. At this time, the main control unit 16 gives a release signal to the open / close solenoid 13 to open the big winning opening 2d after the stop of the jackpot identification symbol is displayed on the display screen 6a, so that the player has a number of players. Make the pachinko ball ready. Further, in this gaming state, the control board 1 gives, for example, that about 10 balls have won a prize winning opening 2d as one round, and each round ends or the start of the next round is instructed. The command is transmitted to the image display device 7. Thereby, the display mode of a different pattern for every round is displayed on the display screen 6a. On the other hand, in the case of losing, a command for instructing the type of identification symbol of losing to be stopped at the final stage of reach, or a command for stopping the identification symbol that is fluctuated in the normal gaming state with the identifying symbol of losing. It transmits to the image display device 7. As a result, the display screen 6a is displayed so as to stop at the losing identification symbol after displaying the reach, or to stop at the losing identification symbol after normal fluctuation.

Step S5 (new entry detection?)
The main control unit 16 waits until it detects the presence or absence of a new start signal from the start sensor 12 (new entry). If there is no new start signal, this process is terminated and the process waits until a new start signal is detected. The control board 1 that executes the above-described steps S1 to S5 corresponds to a game state generating means. Note that the start-up sensor 12 detects the entrance of the pachinko ball during the variation of the identification symbol (reach, normal variation, etc.), and stores the number of the pachinko balls that have entered the hold lamp, which is omitted from the above description. If it is, the lighting of the holding lamp is detected as a new start signal. If there is a new start signal, steps S2 to S4 are repeated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image display device 7 includes an I / F 17 that receives a command sent from the control board 1, and a 3D that is arranged in a world coordinate system that is a virtual 3D space based on the command. A character storage unit 18 that stores an object that is information, a texture that is a pattern image of the object, and a background image, and a program corresponding to the received command is executed to set the object in the world coordinate system, and the object A three-dimensional image processing unit 19 that generates a display image with a texture attached thereto, an image storage unit 20 that temporarily stores the display image generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit 19, and a liquid crystal monitor that displays the display image 6 is provided. The world coordinate system is a three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to the virtual three-dimensional space in the present invention. An object is a three-dimensional virtual object arranged in the world coordinate system, and is three-dimensional information composed of a plurality of polygons. A polygon is a polygonal plane defined by vertices of a plurality of three-dimensional coordinates. A texture is an image that is pasted on each polygon of an object, and by pasting a texture on the object, an image corresponding to the object, for example, a display image including an identification symbol, an auxiliary symbol, and a background is generated.

  The I / F 17 is connected to the I / F 15 of the control board 1 so as to be able to distribute information, and receives commands sent from the control board 1. The I / F 17 sequentially passes the received commands to the three-dimensional image processing unit 19.

  The character storage unit 18 is a memory that stores an object that is three-dimensional information that is appropriately read from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 and a texture that is a two-dimensional image of the object. Specifically, the character storage unit 18 displays a jackpot identification pattern such as a fish or octopus texture, a round display pattern texture indicating the number of jackpot rounds, and a presentation effect during the round. Along with various textures such as a texture of a sea turtle pattern, a plurality of types of objects composed of one or a plurality of polygons to which each texture is pasted are stored. Further, the character storage unit 18 also stores a background image on which, for example, a seabed coral reef pattern is displayed as the background of the display screen 6 a of the liquid crystal monitor 6. The data of each object, texture, and background image is appropriately read out by the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 when the display image is generated.

  The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that controls and manages the entire image display device, a memory that appropriately stores calculation results in the CPU, an image data processor that generates an image to be output to the liquid crystal monitor 6, and the like. It is what is done. In order to realize a display mode according to the command, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a viewpoint and character storage unit 18 in a world coordinate system that is a three-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to the virtual three-dimensional space of the present invention. Various read-out objects are arranged, and so-called geometry calculation processing is performed in which the objects are changed or the viewpoint is displaced. Also, projection information that is two-dimensional coordinate information obtained by projecting an object in the world coordinate system onto a projection plane based on the line of sight from the viewpoint is generated. Based on the projection information, a position corresponding to the vertex of each polygon of each object in the frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20, that is, an address in the frame memory is obtained. Then, the texture read from the character storage unit 18 is deformed so as to match the vertex of each polygon of each object, and the texture is drawn based on each address in the frame memory. At this time, if the texture is a texture to be attached to an object of an identification symbol that disappears from the display screen 6a, the texture is made translucent by a predetermined mask pattern. When the drawing of the texture on all objects is completed, a display image is generated in the frame memory of the image storage unit 20 and the display image is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6. As will be apparent from the following description, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 corresponds to an object moving unit, a projection plane swinging unit, a projecting unit, and a display image generating unit in the present invention.

The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 is configured as follows, for example. Hereinafter, an example of the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 includes a CPU 21, a program ROM 22 that stores a program executed by the CPU 21, a work RAM 23 that stores data obtained by executing the program, and an instruction from the CPU 21. A DMA 24 that collectively transfers data stored in the work RAM 23, an I / F 25 that receives data transferred by the DMA 24, and a geometry calculation processing unit 26 that performs coordinate calculation processing based on the data received by the I / F 25 A rendering processing unit 27 that generates a display image based on data received by the I / F 25, a palette processing unit 28 that appropriately supplies color information based on a plurality of types of color palettes to the rendering processing unit 27, and an image storage unit A plurality of frame memories provided in 20 A selector unit 29 for switching, and a video output section 30 for outputting to the liquid crystal monitor 6 to display images. The CPU 21, the program ROM 22, the work RAM 23, the DMA 24, and the I / F 25 are connected to the same data bus, and the character storage unit 18 that stores objects, textures, and the like is independent of the data bus described above. It is connected to the geometry calculation processing unit 26 and the rendering processing unit via a data bus.

  The program ROM 22 is a program that is first executed by the CPU 21 when the gaming machine is powered on, a plurality of types of programs for displaying according to the types of commands sent from the control board 1, and map data The data of the mask pattern for making the color palette and the texture translucent are stored. For example, a program for performing display sets an object and a viewpoint in the world coordinate system in order to realize a display mode according to a command by referring to a prepared table or performing arithmetic processing on the referenced data. Setting information for deriving is derived. The display program includes not only a program that is executed alone, but also a program that generates a task for performing display according to the type of command by combining a plurality of tasks, for example. The setting information includes the coordinate value for placing the object in the world coordinate system, the rotation angle that indicates the posture of the object placed in the world coordinate system by the amount of rotation from the reference posture of the object, The coordinate value for setting the viewpoint in the world, the rotation angle for rotating the line of sight in order to set the line of sight of the viewpoint in the world coordinate system (for example, the z axis) in a predetermined direction, the object, texture, and background stored in the character storage unit 18 It is information for generating a display image for one screen to be displayed on the display screen 6a as well as information including various data such as storage addresses of images and the like.

  The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that manages and controls the entire image display device 7 using a control program stored in the program ROM 22, and mainly executes a program corresponding to a command sent from the control board 1. In order to display a predetermined display mode on the display screen 6a, processing for setting an object and a viewpoint in the world coordinate system is performed. Specifically, the CPU 21 sequentially writes setting information obtained by executing a display program for performing display corresponding to the command in accordance with the type of command received by the I / F 17 to the work RAM 23, The DMA 24 is instructed to transfer setting information in the work RAM 23 at every interrupt processing interval (for example, 1/30 seconds or 1/60 seconds).

  The work RAM 23 temporarily stores setting information that is an execution result obtained by the CPU 21. The DMA 24 is a so-called direct memory access controller that can transfer the data stored in the work RAM 23 without the processing in the CPU 21. That is, the DMA 24 collectively transfers the setting information stored in the work RAM 23 to the I / F 25 based on the transfer start instruction from the CPU 21.

  The I / F 25 receives the setting information transferred by the DMA 24. The I / F 25 performs coordinate operations such as a storage address of an object stored in the character storage unit 18 included in the setting information, an arrangement coordinate value for arranging the object in the world coordinate system, and an arrangement coordinate value for setting a viewpoint. Is supplied to the geometry calculation processing unit 26, and data of a storage address such as a texture stored in the character storage unit 18 included in the setting information to be image drawn is supplied to the rendering processing unit 27. Further, the I / F 25 provides the palette processing unit 28 with a color palette for instructing the color of the texture included in the setting information.

  The geometry calculation processing unit 26 performs coordinate calculation processing accompanying movement or rotation of a three-dimensional coordinate point based on data given from the I / F 25. Specifically, the geometry calculation processing unit 26 reads out an object composed of a plurality of polygons arranged in the local coordinate system based on the storage address of the object stored in the character storage unit 18. Then, based on the coordinate value where the object with the posture rotated based on the rotation angle data is arranged, the coordinate value of each polygon of the object in the world coordinate system when arranged in the world coordinate system is calculated. Here, the local coordinate system is an object-specific coordinate system in which an object having a reference posture is set. Further, the coordinate value of each polygon of the object in the viewpoint coordinate system based on the viewpoint set based on the coordinate value of the viewpoint and the rotation angle is calculated. Further, projection information including two-dimensional coordinate values of each polygon of the object on the projection plane when the object is projected onto the projection plane set perpendicular to the line of sight based on the viewpoint is calculated. Then, the geometry calculation processing unit 26 gives the projection information to the rendering processing unit 27.

  The palette processing unit 28 includes a palette RAM (not shown) that stores a plurality of types of color palettes composed of a plurality of types of color information written by the CPU 21, and the color palette data instructed from the CPU 21 through the I / F 25. This is given to the rendering processing unit 27. Giving a color palette means giving the storage address of the color palette stored in the palette RAM, for example, to the rendering processing unit 27, and the rendering processing unit 27 stores the display image when the display image is generated. Refer to color information. Each color information is determined by a combination of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). When the color palette data size is, for example, 16 bits, each value of 0 to 15 is used. Is assigned predetermined color information. Further, each data of the color palette, that is, each palette is assigned to each dot constituting the texture, and the entire texture is drawn by drawing each dot with the color information of each palette. It should be noted that by sequentially changing the color information assigned to each palette of this color palette, it is possible to generate a plurality of types of textures having different hues in stages.

  The rendering processing unit 27 first reads a background image based on a storage address where the background image in the character storage unit 18 is stored, and draws the background image in a frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20. Then, each polygon of the object based on the projection information is expanded in the frame memory. Furthermore, the rendering processing unit 27 renders the texture read from the character storage unit 18 on an area corresponding to each polygon in the frame memory based on the texture storage address in the character storage unit 18 and the data of the color palette. . At this time, if an identification symbol to be erased from the display screen 6a is drawn, the rendering processing unit 27 partially thins out the texture color information with the mask pattern instructed by the CPU 21 to make it translucent. As a result, a display image in which images of symbols corresponding to various objects are drawn on the background image is generated in the frame memory. This display image is a display image having a predetermined aspect ratio, for example, an aspect ratio of 3: 4, depending on the capacity of the frame memory. In the above-described geometry calculation processing unit 26 and rendering processing unit 27, clipping processing for determining a portion to be displayed on the screen, hidden surface processing for determining a visible portion and an invisible portion according to the front-rear relationship of the polygon, and light from the light source Processing such as shading calculation processing for calculating the state of hitting and the state of reflection is also performed as appropriate.

  The selector unit 29 selects a plurality of frame memories as appropriate. Specifically, the selector unit 29 is, for example, a first frame memory or a second frame memory, which is a plurality of frame memories provided in the image storage unit 20 when an image is drawn by the rendering processing unit 27 described above. Select one of the frame memories. In this case, a display image is generated in the selected frame memory. On the other hand, the selector unit 29 reads a display image for which a display image has already been generated from the frame memory on the side where drawing has not been performed, and sends the display image to the video output unit 30. The selector unit 29 sequentially switches between the reading-side frame memory and the drawing-side frame memory. The video output unit 30 converts the display image sent from the selector unit 29 into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the liquid crystal monitor 6.

  The image storage unit 20 is a so-called video RAM that stores a display image generated by the rendering processing unit 27. The image storage unit 20 constitutes a so-called double buffer provided with a first frame memory and a second frame memory which are storage areas for storing display images for one screen, for example. Note that the number of frame memories provided in the image storage unit 20 is not limited to two, and may be any number as long as it is one or more.

  The liquid crystal monitor 6 includes a screen 6 a that displays a display image output from the video output unit 30, and is attached so that the screen 6 a is exposed on the board surface of the game board 2. The display screen 6a is, for example, a so-called wide screen with an aspect ratio of 9:16, and the liquid crystal monitor 6 uses the display image output from the video output unit 30 with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a. In addition, the display image is displayed on the display screen 6a. The liquid crystal monitor 6 also has a function of displaying a display image having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as it is, and appropriately changes the aspect ratio of the display image displayed on the display screen 6a according to the gaming state. You can also. The liquid crystal monitor 6 corresponds to display means in the present invention.

  Processing performed in the above-described image display device 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step T1 (Understanding commands)
The I / F 17 sequentially receives commands sent from the control board 1 and sequentially passes the commands to the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stores the command in a command buffer (not shown) provided in the work RAM 23. Further, each time there is an interrupt process from the liquid crystal monitor 6, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads a command stored in the command buffer and executes a program in the program ROM 22 corresponding to the command to execute one screen worth. Display images are sequentially generated. By executing the program, the following steps are executed in the three-dimensional image processing unit 19. The interrupt process described above is performed in synchronization with, for example, a vertical scanning signal every 1/30 seconds or 1/60 seconds of the liquid crystal monitor 6.

Step T2 (Set viewpoint in world coordinate system)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets an attention point for determining an area in the world coordinate system to be displayed on the display screen. This point of interest is set at a position that substantially matches the arrangement position of a specific object arranged in the world coordinate system, for example. Furthermore, a viewpoint for displaying the state in the world coordinate system on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6 is set based on the attention point. This viewpoint is the origin of the three-dimensional coordinate system, and is set so that the direction of the line of sight from the viewpoint faces the point of interest. The line of sight is, for example, the z-axis of the coordinate system with the viewpoint as the origin. A coordinate system centered on this viewpoint is called a viewpoint coordinate system. Hereinafter, a concept and a specific calculation method until a viewpoint having a line of sight directed to the attention point is set in the world coordinate system will be described.

When a plurality of identification symbols are displayed on the display screen 6a, a plurality of objects OJ1 to OJ6 are arranged at respective arrangement positions in the world coordinate system as shown in FIG. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 obtains the coordinate values (WP _x , WP _y , WP _z ) of the arrangement position WP in the world coordinate system of the object OJ3 for displaying the identification symbol displayed near the center of the display screen 6a. Ask. For example, in the case of the pachinko machine of this embodiment, the coordinate value of the arrangement position WP is obtained by referring to the coordinate value of the world coordinate system prepared in advance in the program. For example, in the case of a gaming machine other than a pachinko machine, it is obtained based on an input signal from an input means such as a controller. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets the coordinate values (WP _x , WP _y , WP _z ) of the arrangement position WP as the coordinate values of the attention point.

As shown in FIG. 7, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a new three-dimensional coordinate system with the attention point arrangement position WP as the origin O in the world coordinate system. Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, the new three-dimensional coordinate system is rotated around each two-dimensional axis of the new three-dimensional coordinate system. For example, a new three-dimensional coordinate system is rotated by θ _x ° about the x axis and θ _y ° about the y axis. For example, in the case of the pachinko machine of this embodiment, the rotation angles θ _x ° and θ _y ° are obtained by referring to rotation angle data prepared in advance in the program. For example, in the case of a gaming machine other than a pachinko machine, it is obtained based on an input signal from an input means such as a controller. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the z-axis, which is another one-dimensional axis of the new coordinate system, is displaced according to the center of the point of interest, and the z-axis faces an arbitrary direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the distance L from the point of interest on the z-axis of the new three-dimensional coordinate system is based on the data of the distance L from the point of interest to the viewpoint given in advance. The new coordinate system is moved to the arranged position P ₀ . At this time, the z-axis of the new three-dimensional coordinate system is moved so as to face the point of interest. In this embodiment, the line-of-sight direction is described as being on the positive side of the z-axis, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the line-of-sight direction may be on the negative side of the z-axis. it can. In this embodiment, the arrangement position WP of the point of interest coincides with the arrangement position of the object J. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the arrangement position WP of the attention point is set to an arbitrary position. be able to. Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 performs the coordinate value of the above-described attention point arrangement position WP, the rotation angles θ _x and θ _y around each axis of the new coordinate system, and the distance L from the attention point. Are substituted into the following equation (1).

(P _0X , P _0Y , P _0Z ) = (Lsin θ _y cos θ _x + WP _x
, Lsin θ _x + WP _y , L cos θ _y cos θ _x + WP _z ) (1)

The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 calculates the coordinate values (P _0X , P _0Y , P _0Z ) in the world coordinate system of the origin O of the three-dimensional coordinate system in which the _target point is on the z axis by the above-described equation (1). _Then , the new three-dimensional coordinate system is moved to the arrangement position P ₀ of the world coordinate system specified by the coordinate values (P _0X , P _0Y , P _0Z ). A new three-dimensional coordinate system at the arrangement position P ₀ of the world coordinate system is set as a viewpoint SP having a line of sight facing the point of interest. A state in the world coordinate system in the direction in which the line of sight from the viewpoint SP is directed is displayed on the display screen 6 a of the liquid crystal monitor 6. By rotating the viewpoint coordinate system by a predetermined angle around the x-axis and y-axis of the viewpoint coordinate system centered on the viewpoint SP, the line of sight (z-axis) is oscillated according to the rotation angle around each axis. Can be made. Thereby, the projection plane described later can be arbitrarily displaced.

Step T3 (place and change objects)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads out the objects OJ1 to OJ6 for displaying a plurality of identification symbols on the display screen 6a from the character storage unit 18, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 uses the world coordinates in accordance with the coordinate values based on the coordinate values (P _0X , P _0Y , P _0Z ) of the arrangement position P ₀ of the viewpoint SP. seeking the coordinate values in the system, arranged respectively each object OJ1~OJ6 them to each position P ₁ to P ₆ based on each coordinate value. Note that the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 calculates the data of the part represented by ΔP of the coordinate value of the arrangement position of each object, or refers to the data prepared in advance in the program ROM 22 and the value of ΔP and the viewpoint A coordinate value in the world coordinate system is obtained from the coordinate value of the SP.

Specifically, the object OJ1 is placed at the placement position P ₁ (P _0X + ΔP _1X , P _0Y + ΔP _1Y , P _0Z + ΔP _1Z ) in the world coordinate system, and the placement position P ₂ (P _0X + ΔP _2X , P _0Y + ΔP _2Y , The object OJ2 is located at P _0Z + ΔP _2Z ), the object OJ3 is located at the placement position P ₃ (P _0X + ΔP _3X , P _0Y + ΔP _3Y , P _0Z + ΔP _3Z ), and the placement position P ₄ (P _0X + ΔP _4X , P _0Y + ΔP _4Y , The object OJ4 is placed at P _0Z + ΔP _4Z ), the object OJ5 is placed at the placement position P ₅ (P _0X + ΔP _5X , P _0Y + ΔP _5Y , P _0Z + ΔP _5Z ), and the placement position P ₆ (P _0X + ΔP _6X , P _0Y + ΔP _6Y , The objects OJ6 are respectively arranged on P _0Z + ΔP ₆ Z). For convenience, the shape of each object is illustrated in a spherical shape in FIG. 6 and the like, but the shape of each object is formed in a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the shape of each identification symbol. Further, in this embodiment, since the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are arranged with the viewpoint SP as a reference, even when the arrangement position of the viewpoint SP and the line-of-sight direction are displaced, that is, when the point of interest is moved, The identification symbols displayed by the objects OJ1 to OJ6 can be displayed at a certain position on the display screen 6a.

  Further, when moving an arbitrary object among the objects OJ1 to OJ6, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially updates the coordinate value of the x-axis component of the arrangement position of the arbitrary object for each interrupt process ( An arbitrary object is moved in the horizontal direction by subtracting or adding coordinate values. As a result, the object moves in the world coordinate system, so that the identification symbol displayed by the object also moves on the display screen 6a. Similarly, if the coordinate value of the y-axis component of the arrangement position of an arbitrary object is sequentially updated, the object is arbitrarily moved in the vertical direction, and if the coordinate value of the z-axis component is sequentially updated, the object is arbitrarily moved in the depth direction. Can do. The process in step T3 will be described later in detail.

Step T4 (deformation correction of the viewpoint coordinate system)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 uses the coordinate values of the arrangement positions P _{1 to} P ₆ of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 arranged in the world coordinate system as the coordinate values of the viewpoint coordinate system with the viewpoint SP as a reference, that is, the origin. Convert. That is, only the component represented by the above-described coordinate value Δ is extracted. Here, since the aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame memory by the rendering processing unit 27 is 3: 4, when this display image is displayed on the display screen 6a having the aspect ratio of 9:16, the display image is extended. This causes the negative effect that the resulting image is displayed. Therefore, by deforming and correcting the viewpoint coordinate system according to the aspect ratio of the display image and the aspect ratio of the display screen, each identification symbol and the like arranged in the viewpoint coordinate system is deformed.

  Specifically, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 calculates a deformation correction value for correcting the deformation of the viewpoint coordinate system. This deformation correction value is a magnification value for enlarging or reducing the vertical width or horizontal width of each object OJ1 to OJ6. The deformation correction value can be calculated by the following equation (2) where the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is A: B and the aspect ratio of the display image is a: b. The deformation correction value calculated by the following equation (2) is a magnification for deforming and correcting the horizontal width of an object or the like when the horizontal width of the display image is deformed according to the screen based on the vertical magnification of the display image. This value is a magnification value for correcting the deformation of the vertical width of each of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 when the vertical width of the display image is deformed according to the screen.

  (A × b) ÷ (a × B) (2)

  When the aspect ratio of the display image generated in the frame memory is 3: 4 and the aspect ratio of the display screen 6a is 9:16, the aspect ratio of the display image is 9:16 on the display screen 6a. Since it is displayed, it is displayed as if the horizontal width of the display image is enlarged by 4/3 times. At this time, the horizontal width of the identification symbol displayed by each of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 included in the display image is also enlarged by 4/3 times. Here, by substituting each value of the aspect ratio of the display image and the display screen 6a into the expression (2), the width of each of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 is indicated by 3/4 (hereinafter referred to as “3/4 times”). ) To calculate the deformation correction value of the magnification value to be reduced. Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reduces the horizontal direction (x-axis direction) of the viewpoint coordinate system to 3/4 times based on the deformation correction value. As a result, each of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 is reduced to 3/4 times in the x-axis direction of the viewpoint coordinate system. In this embodiment, the viewpoint coordinate system is deformed and corrected in step T4. However, the processes after step T4 can be performed without correcting the deformation.

Step T5 (projection on the projection plane)
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a projection plane TM perpendicular to the z axis that is the direction of the line of sight from the viewpoint, between the viewpoint SP and the objects OJ1 to OJ6. Since the projection plane TM is perpendicular to the z-axis of the viewpoint coordinate system and the z value is fixed, it can be handled as a two-dimensional coordinate value on the projection plane TM. The projection plane TM has an area corresponding to a frame memory provided in the image storage unit 20.

  Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 performs perspective projection or parallel projection of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 according to the moving direction of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 projected on the projection plane TM. The use of perspective projection and parallel projection will be described in detail later. Thereby, each vertex of each polygon constituting each of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 is projected so as to be perspectively moved or translated on the projection plane TM, and the three-dimensional coordinate value of each vertex is two-dimensional on the projection plane TM. Converted to the coordinate value of. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 acquires the projection information of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 in the world coordinate system when the projection of all the objects is completed.

  Here, the perspective projection means that the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are projected from the viewpoint SP. Specifically, the vertices of the polygons of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 move linearly toward the viewpoint SP. To project as if. Accordingly, for example, the images of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are displayed so as to change according to the distance from the viewpoint SP. Parallel projection refers to projecting the objects OJ1 to OJ6 as they are viewed from the projection plane TM. Specifically, the vertices of the polygons of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are linearly perpendicular to the projection plane TM. Projecting to move to. Thereby, regardless of the distance from the viewpoint SP, the images of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are always displayed at a constant size. The process in step T5 will also be described in detail later. Note that when the player wants to identify the gaming state, in order to make the identification symbol easy to identify, the object displaying the identification symbol is projected in parallel, but in other cases, the stereoscopic effect is expressed more. In order to do this, it is preferable to project the object displaying the identification symbol in perspective. Further, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary symbols other than the identification symbols are not particularly described, but the perspective projection or the parallel projection can be similarly applied to the auxiliary symbols. Step T5 corresponds to the function of the projection means in the present invention.

Step T6 (generate display image)
First, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads a background image stored in the character storage unit 18 and draws the background image in a frame memory in the image storage unit 20. This background image is an image for displaying the state of the sea and the seabed, for example.

  Next, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 addresses in the frame memory of the image storage unit 20 corresponding to the coordinate values of the vertices of the polygons of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 included in the projection information, that is, the respective items in the frame memory. The position of each polygon of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 is obtained. Then, the texture read from the character storage unit 18 is drawn on each polygon while being deformed according to each polygon. As a result, a display image is generated in the frame memory in which identification symbols and the like that are images of the objects OJ1 to OJ6 are superimposed on the background image.

  Further, when the specific identification symbol displayed on the display screen 6a is gradually disappeared, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially applies mask patterns M1 to M9 described later from the program ROM 22 every predetermined number of interrupt processes. read out. And the texture affixed on the specific object for displaying a specific identification symbol is processed in order by mask pattern M1-M9. Specifically, each of the mask patterns M1 to M9 is sequentially superimposed on the texture after being deformed according to each polygon of a specific object, and a non-display portion is provided by each of the mask patterns M1 to M9. Draw on each polygon. Thereby, it can display so that the identification symbol displayed by a specific object may disappear gradually. The process in step T6 will be described later in detail. Step T6 corresponds to the function of the display image generating means in the present invention.

Step T7 (display)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 outputs the display image generated in the frame memory to the liquid crystal monitor 6 via the video output unit 30. The liquid crystal monitor 6 sequentially displays the display image with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 sent from the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 for each interrupt process in accordance with the display screen 6a with the aspect ratio of 9:16. By executing steps T1 to T7 described above, a display image as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display screen 6a. As shown in FIG. 10, on the display screen 6a, for example, identification symbols G1 to G5 that are images of the above-described objects OJ1 to OJ5 are displayed in front of a background image HG showing the state of the seabed. At this time, the object OJ6 arranged outside the projection plane TM is not projected on the projection plane TM, and thus is not displayed on the display screen 6a. It should be noted that steps T1 to T7 described above can be repeated to display a display mode such as a normal variation in which all the identification symbols are varied or a reach in which only a specific identification symbol is varied.

  Next, the reach that is actually displayed on the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and each display mode shown in FIGS. The processing performed in the processing unit 19, particularly the processing in steps T3, T5, and T6 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

Step U1 (stops the upper and lower region identification symbols)
First, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), the display screen 6a is vertically divided into three areas of an upper area A, a middle area B, and a lower area C in the vertical direction. A plurality of types of identification symbols are displayed so as to fluctuate within A to C. Specifically, in the upper area A, the identification symbols assigned with the symbol numbers 1 to 9 are displayed so as to appear from the right side of the display screen 6a in the order of 9 to 1 and move to the left side. In B and the lower area C, the identification symbols assigned with the symbol numbers 1 to 9 are displayed in order of 1 to 9 so as to appear from the right side of the display screen 6a and move to the left side. In the following description, identification symbols assigned symbol numbers 1 to 9 that move in the upper region A are identified symbols A1 to A9, and identification symbols that are assigned symbol numbers 1 to 9 that move in the middle region B are used. Are designated as identification symbols B1 to B9, and identification symbols assigned symbol numbers 1 to 9 moving in the lower region C are designated as identification symbols C1 to C9. Furthermore, objects for displaying identification symbols to which symbol numbers 1 to 9 are assigned are objects J1 to J9.

In the normal variation described above, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 arranges a plurality of types of objects for displaying a plurality of types of identification symbols in the world coordinate system. By sequentially updating the coordinate value of the x component of each arrangement position of each object, each object is moved in the horizontal direction so as to cross the projection plane TM. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially projects these moving objects in parallel on the projection plane TM. As a result, a plurality of types of identification symbols that move in the horizontal direction in the areas A to C are displayed on the display screen 6a. In parallel projection, as shown in FIG. 19, when each object J2 is arranged at each arrangement position P ₁ , P ₃ , P ₄ , the form of each object J2 is relative to the projection plane TM. This is a projection method for projecting so as to appear vertically. Thereby, the identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 displayed by the objects J2 are displayed on the display screen 6a in the same state as the objects J2 are viewed from the projection plane TM.

As shown in FIG. 16A, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 places the objects J1 and J3 unrelated to reach at the placement positions P ₂ and P ₅ , and places the object J2 related to reach at the placement position P ₁ and the placement position. Once placed respectively P _4, stop updating the coordinate value of the x component of each position _{P 1, P 2, P 4} , P 5, thereby stopping the movement of each object J1 to J3. Thereby, on the display screen 6a, the horizontal movement of the identification symbols A2 and A1 of the upper area A and the identification symbols C2 and C3 of the lower area C is stopped. At this time, since the identification symbol A2 and the identification symbol C2 are aligned vertically on the display screen 6a, the player recognizes that the shift from normal variation to reach has been made.

Step U2 (movement and disappearance of predetermined identification symbol)
3-dimensional image processing unit 19, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), in order to move the object J2 disposed in positions P ₄ to the position of the position P _5, the coordinates of the x component of the position P ₅ The coordinate value of the x component at the arrangement position P ₄ is sequentially updated until it substantially matches the value. Thereby, on the display screen 6a, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the identification symbol C2 of the lower region C moves to the right.

Moreover, three-dimensional image processing unit 19, an object J1 arranged at the arrangement position P _2, is provided a non-visible portion of the patch Keru texture to each polygon of the object J3 disposed in position P _5, further The non-display portion is changed according to the movement of the identification symbol C2, and when the identification symbol C2 overlaps the identification symbol C3, the entire texture is hidden and the identification symbols C3 and A1 are erased. Further, when the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 eliminates the identification symbols C3 and A1, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 also stops the arrangement of the objects J3 and J1. In addition, the process which erase | eliminates a texture is a process which provides the non-display part in the target texture by superimposing the mask patterns M1-M9 mentioned later on a texture in order.

  The principle of the process of eliminating the predetermined identification symbol described above will be described with reference to FIGS. In order to facilitate understanding of this process, a process when a trapezoidal image shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the display screen 6a instead of the identification symbols C3 and A1 will be described. FIG. 21 illustrates how the image displayed in a trapezoid shape gradually disappears. As shown in FIG. 21A, the display screen 6a displays a three-dimensional image obtained by viewing a substantially square plane G lying in a predetermined space from diagonally above. Further, as shown in FIGS. 21B to 21D, the display screen 6a displays a state in which the hue of the image on the plane G gradually fades and disappears as time elapses.

  The above-described three-dimensional image of the plane G is displayed by a polygon and a texture pasted on the polygon. In this embodiment, polygons will be described, but the same applies to an object composed of one or a plurality of polygons. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, the image of the plane G displayed on the display screen 6a includes, for example, one rectangular polygon GP (see FIG. 22A) set in the local coordinate system, It is generated with a texture T (see FIG. 22A) which is an image pasted on the polygon GP. The polygon GP is composed of four vertices P1 to P4 represented by three-dimensional coordinate values in the local coordinate system. The texture T is composed of an image surrounded by vertices P1 to P4 that coincide with the vertices P1 to P4 of the polygon GP. The polygon GP and the texture T are stored in the character storage unit 18.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reads a polygon GP from the character storage unit 18 and arranges the polygon GP in a world coordinate system that is a virtual three-dimensional space. Furthermore, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sets a viewpoint SP for displaying the state in the world coordinate system, and sets a projection plane TM perpendicular to the line of sight from the viewpoint SP (in the z-axis direction in the drawing). Then, the vertices P1 to P4 of the polygon GP in the world coordinate system are respectively perspective projected onto the projection plane TM. As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, a substantially square polygon GP in the world coordinate system is projected in a trapezoidal shape on the projection plane TM, and the vertices P1 to P3 of the polygon GP are two-dimensional coordinate values on the projection plane TM. Is converted to

  As shown in FIG. 25A, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 deforms the shape of the texture T read from the character storage unit 18 so as to match the shape of the polygon GP on the projection plane TM, and the polygon GP. Affix to That is, drawing is performed so that the vertices P1 to P4 of the polygon GP and the vertices P1 to P4 of the texture T coincide with each other. When the drawing is completed, the display image generated in the projection plane TM, that is, in the frame memory is sent to the liquid crystal monitor 6. Thus, the image of the plane G shown in FIG. 21A is displayed on the display screen 6a of the liquid crystal monitor 6.

  A plurality of types of mask patterns are stored in the program ROM 22 of the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 described above. The plurality of types of mask patterns are for applying a non-displayed portion that is not displayed on the display screen 6a to the texture T after being deformed so as to act on the texture T after being deformed according to the polygon GP. The non-display portion provided in the texture T is changed stepwise until the entire texture T is not displayed so that the plane G which is an image of the polygon GP to which the texture T is pasted is gradually disappeared. ing.

  Specifically, mask patterns M <b> 1 to M <b> 9 shown in FIG. 26 are stored in the program ROM 22. The portion indicated by reference numeral 60 (indicated by the downward slanted line in the figure) of the mask patterns M1 to M9 is data for providing a non-display portion on the texture T, and the portion indicated by reference numeral 61 is an image of the texture T. The remaining portion, that is, the portion displayed on the display screen 6a. More specifically, the mask pattern M1 is stored in the program ROM 22 as 8-byte data of 00H, 11H, 00H, 00H, 00H, 11H, 00H, and 00H. For example, since 11H is a hexadecimal number, when it is expressed in binary, it becomes “00010001”, where “1” corresponds to the portion of reference numeral 60 and “0” corresponds to the portion of reference numeral 61. Similarly, the mask pattern M2 is 8 bytes of 00H, 11H, 00H, 44H, 00H, 11H, 00H, 44H, and the mask pattern M3 is 8 bytes of 00H, 55H, 00H, 55H, 00H, 55H, 00H, 55H. The mask pattern M4 is 8 bytes of 22H, 55H, 88H, 55H, 22H, 55H, 88H, 55H, and the mask pattern M5 is 8 bytes of AAH, 55H, AAH, 55H, AAH, 55H, AAH, 55H, mask. The pattern M6 is 8 bytes of BBH, DDH, AAH, 55H, BBH, DDH, AAH, 55H, and the mask pattern M7 is 8 bytes of BBH, FFH, AAH, 77H, BBH, FFH, AAH, 77H, mask pattern M8 Are BBH, FFH, EEH, FFH, BBH, FFH, EEH, FF 8 bytes, the mask pattern M9 is, FFH, FFH, FFH, FFH, FFH, FFH, FFH, is stored respectively in the program in the ROM22 as 8-byte data of FFH. In this embodiment, nine mask patterns changing in nine steps are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of mask patterns changing in two or more steps may be used. Moreover, it is not limited to the pattern of each of these mask patterns.

  The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 draws the texture T in which the portion of the reference numeral 60 overlapping the texture T is not displayed on the polygon GP by sequentially superimposing these mask patterns M1 to M9 on the texture T after deformation. . For example, the case where the mask pattern M5 is used will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 25A, the maximum pattern M5 is formed on the texture T so that a non-display portion is provided on the entire texture T after deformation. Repeat. As a result, as shown in FIG. 25B, the texture T can be in a state where, for example, non-display portions are provided in a zigzag pattern, and the display screen 6a is drawn by drawing the texture T on the polygon GP. The image of the plane G having a zigzag pattern can be displayed. As shown in FIGS. 21A to 21D, the mask patterns M1 to M9 are applied to the texture T in such an order that the number of non-display parts increases stepwise. A display mode in which the G image disappears gradually can be realized. In this embodiment, the case where the number of non-display portions increases stepwise has been described. However, for example, a mask pattern in which the area of the non-display portions increases stepwise can be used. When such a mask pattern is used, as shown in FIGS. 27A to 27D, a display in which a non-display part spreads from one point on the image of the plane G to the periphery thereof and the image disappears. An aspect can also be displayed.

  By performing the above-described processing on the textures affixed to the objects J3 and J1, respectively, the identification symbols C2 and A1 gradually disappear according to the movement of the identification symbol C2, as shown in FIGS. Display as you go.

Step U3 (stops the middle region identification symbol with the same type)
As shown in FIG. 16B, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 continuously updates the coordinate values of the x components of the arrangement positions P ₅ and P ₆ of the objects J8 and J9 to move the objects J8 and J9. Let Further, an object J8, J9 moves projection plane TM outside are sequentially disposed (not shown) outside the projection plane TM a new object J1~J7 position P ₇ to P _13, each of those positions P ₇ to P By sequentially updating the coordinate values of the ₁₃ x components, the objects J1 to J7 are similarly moved in the horizontal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12C, a plurality of types of identification symbols B1 to B9 are displayed on the display screen 6a so as to sequentially move in the horizontal direction in the middle region B.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 moves the coordinate value of the x component of the arrangement position P ₈ of the object J2 when the object J2 moves to almost the center of the projection plane TM. stop updating is stopped at the position of the position P ₈ which object J2 is shown. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13A, the identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 are displayed obliquely on the display screen 6a. At this time, the pachinko machine causes the player to recognize these identification symbols A2, B2, and C3 as winning identification symbols. Further, in order to increase the player's interest, the pachinko machine changes the winning identification symbols A2, B2, and C3 again to make a big hit with different types of identification symbols. The following steps will explain such a process of changing again. Note that, in cases other than the reach described in this embodiment, the steps up to here may be completed.

Step U4 (rotate all identification symbols and move in the depth direction)
As shown in FIG. 20A, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 rotates each object J2 by, for example, 90 ° around the y-axis centered on each of the placement positions P ₁ , P ₈ , P ₄ , Is directed in the depth direction with respect to the projection plane TM. Note that the rotation angle of each object J2 is arbitrary, and for example, it can be rotated by an arbitrary angle around an arbitrary axis centering on each arrangement position. Preferably, as described above, the traveling direction side of the object J2 is directed to the back side. This process corresponds to the function of the object rotation means.

  The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 generates a display image in which each object J2 is projected in parallel on the projection plane TM as shown in FIG. 19A until each object J2 is rotated. Thereby, the display mode as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13B is displayed on the display screen 6a. In FIG. 13B, in order to make it easy for the player to identify the type of the identification symbol, only the portion of symbol number “2” attached to each identification symbol A2, B2, C2 faces the front. However, for example, it can be displayed in the same manner as the identification symbols A2, B2, and C2.

As shown in FIGS. 19B and 20B, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 converts the objects J2 arranged at the arrangement positions P ₁ , P ₈ , and P ₄ into the arrangement positions P ₁ , A new arrangement position P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, P ₄ ′, which is an arrangement position on the projection plane TM side with respect to P ₈ and P ₄ , is newly arranged, and the projection method of each object J2 is changed from parallel projection to perspective projection. Change and generate the display image. In other words, each object J2 arranged at the arrangement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, P ₄ ′ is perspective-projected on the projection plane TM and displayed in substantially the same display mode as the display mode shown in FIG. . Arrangement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, and P ₄ ′ are, for example, identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 projected in parallel on the projection plane TM shown in FIG. 19A and the projection plane TM shown in FIG. The identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 that are perspective-projected are displayed at substantially the same position and substantially the same size on the display screen 6a.

Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially updates the coordinate values of the new placement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, and P ₄ ′ where the respective objects J2 are placed, and FIG. 17B and FIG. As shown in c), each object J2 is moved in the depth direction with respect to the projection plane TM. As a result, each object J2 is projected so as to gradually become smaller as it moves away from the projection plane TM, so that identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 are displayed on the display screen 6a as shown in FIG. A display mode in which the user swims toward the back side of the screen 6a is displayed. The identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 are reduced to a state in which the player cannot be identified. The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 displays the coordinate values of the arrangement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, and P ₄ ′ when the identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 are displayed in a small size that the player cannot identify. Is stopped, and the movement of each object J2 is stopped.

Step U5 (moves another kind of identification symbol toward you)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 replaces each object J2 of the identification symbols A2, B2, and C2 displayed so as to be indistinguishable with another type of object J1 newly read from the character storage unit 18. That is, when the movement of each object J2 is stopped, the placement of the object J2 is stopped, and another kind of object J1 is newly placed at the placement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, P ₄ ′. Further, as shown in FIG. 20D, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 sequentially updates the arrangement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, P ₄ ′ so that each object J1 faces the projection plane TM. Move to just before the projection plane TM. The immediately preceding coordinate values on the projection planes of the placement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, and P ₄ ′ can be arbitrarily determined. For example, the player appears that the image of the object J2 is displayed closest to the display screen 6a. It is a coordinate value that can be felt. As a result, each object J1 is projected so as to gradually increase as it approaches the projection plane TM. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14A, the identification symbol A1 displayed by each object J1 is displayed on the display screen 6a. , B1, C1 are displayed in such a manner that each swims toward the display screen 6a. And in the position immediately before each object J1 on the projection plane TM, identification symbol A1, B1, C1 is displayed larger than the display mode of identification symbol A2, B2, C2 displayed previously.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20D, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 further stops the placement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, and P ₄ ′ after stopping each object J1 immediately before the projection plane TM. As shown in FIG. 20 (e), the objects J2 immediately before the projection plane TM are moved backward to a predetermined position by updating sequentially. The predetermined position can be arbitrarily determined as long as the image is displayed so that the image of the object J2 displayed on the display screen is slightly retracted. As described above, the process from moving each object J2 to the position immediately before the projection plane TM and further moving it back corresponds to the function of the object moving means in the present invention. Further, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 reciprocally rotates the viewpoint coordinate system by a predetermined angle around, for example, the y-axis and the x-axis of the viewpoint coordinate system centered on the viewpoint SP until the object is retracted, Continue to displace the z-axis. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18A, the projection plane TM set perpendicular to the z-axis continues to be displaced, for example, vertically and horizontally around the viewpoint SP. The process of swinging and displacing the projection plane TM corresponds to the function of the projection plane swinging means in the present invention. As a result, each object J1 is perspectively projected on the projection plane TM in a state of swinging displacement, and on the display screen 6a, as shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the identification that has moved toward the display screen 6a is identified. A display mode is displayed in which the symbols A1, B1, and C1 collide with the display screen 6a and the display screen 6a swings due to the reaction. Thereafter, the three-dimensional image processing unit 19 stops the swing of the viewpoint coordinate system, and displays the identification symbols A1, B1, C1 displayed by the object J1 on the display screen 6a as shown in FIG. Let In the present embodiment, the projection plane TM is continuously swung and displaced while the object J2 is retracted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each object J2 is located immediately before the projection plane TM. The projection plane TM can be oscillated and displaced only when it is stopped.

Step U6 (confirmed with the final winning identification symbol)
The three-dimensional image processing unit 19 assigns the objects J1 arranged at the arrangement positions P ₁ ′, P ₈ ′, P ₄ ′ to the arrangement positions P ₁ , P ₈ , P ₄ shown in FIG. While arranging again, the projection method of each object J1 is changed from perspective projection to parallel projection, and the display image is generated. That is, the objects J1 arranged at the arrangement positions P ₁ , P ₈ , P ₄ are projected in parallel on the projection plane TM and displayed in the display mode shown in FIG. Thereby, the final winning identification symbol is determined. Through the above steps U1 to U6, the series of reach display modes shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 are displayed.

  In the pachinko machine of the embodiment described above, each identification symbol is moved horizontally on the display screen, and after the movement is stopped, each identification symbol is further moved to the back side of the display screen. Can make you feel interesting. In addition, when the identification symbol is moved in the horizontal direction, since the object for displaying the identification symbol is projected in parallel, it is possible to easily identify a plurality of types of identification symbols to the player. On the other hand, when the identification symbol is moved to the back side, since the object is projected in perspective, a three-dimensional effect can be obtained as a whole of the plurality of identification symbols, and the interest of the player can be increased. Furthermore, after the identification symbol is moved to the back side of the display screen so that it cannot be identified, the identification symbol is replaced with another type of identification symbol, and the identification symbol is moved to a state where it can be identified. Later, since the identification symbol is the final winning symbol, the player's interest can be further increased. In addition, a display mode in which the identification symbol moving toward the display screen collides with the display screen and rebounds by the reaction is displayed, and the projection plane TM is oscillated and displaced so that the inside of the display screen 6a is changed. Since it is made to shake, a player's interest can further be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor has been described. However, for example, a CRT monitor or an LED monitor can be used instead of the liquid crystal monitor.

  In the above-described embodiments, the pachinko machine has been described as the gaming machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be modified to a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a coin game machine.

  As described above, the present invention is suitable for gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines.

It is an external view which shows schematic structure of the pachinko machine which concerns on an Example. It is a functional block diagram of the pachinko machine concerning an example. It is a functional block diagram of a three-dimensional image processing unit. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the control base | substrate of a pachinko machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the image display apparatus of a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows a mode that the some object has been arrange | positioned in the world coordinate system. It is a figure which shows a mode that the attention point was set. It is a figure which shows a mode until a viewpoint is set based on an attention point. It is a figure which shows the mode of the projection plane in a world coordinate system, and several objects. It is a figure which shows a mode that the image of the object was displayed on the display screen. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of reach in a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows a mode until an identification symbol stops once at the time of reach. It is a figure which shows a mode that the identification symbol which stopped once started to move toward the back. It is a figure which shows a mode that the identification symbol which returned to the near side collides with a display screen. It is a figure which shows a mode that the jackpot identification symbol was decided. It is a figure which shows a mode until the object for displaying an identification symbol at the time of reach stops once. It is a figure which shows a mode that the object once stopped started moving toward the back. It is a figure which shows a mode that the projection plane was rock | fluctuated. It is a figure which shows a mode that the object projected in parallel projection and perspective projection. It is a figure which shows a mode that the object was moved with respect to the projection plane. It is a figure which shows one display mode in a display screen. It is a figure which shows the mode of a polygon and a texture. It is a figure which shows a mode that the polygon was arrange | positioned in the world coordinate system. It is a figure which shows a mode that the polygon was projected on the projection plane. It is a figure which shows a mode that a mask pattern is made to act on the deformed texture. It is a figure which shows multiple types of mask patterns. It is a figure which shows one display mode in a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control base 6 ... Liquid crystal monitor 6a ... Display screen 7 ... Image display apparatus 18 ... Character memory | storage part 19 ... Three-dimensional image processing part 20 ... Image storage part 22 ... Program ROM
J1 to J9 ... Object A ... Upper stage area on display screen B ... Middle stage area on display screen C ... Lower stage area on display screen A1 to A9 ... Identification pattern displayed on upper stage area B1 to B9 ... Identification pattern displayed on middle stage area C1 to C9 ... Identification symbols displayed in the lower area SP ... Viewpoint

Claims (1)

A game board; a start opening provided in the game board; a game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball that has entered the start opening; and a special game lottery based on detection by the game ball detecting means; Main control means for outputting a series of fluctuation signals corresponding to lottery, and sub-control means for performing fluctuation control based on the fluctuation signals from the main control means,
The sub-control unit includes: a first storage unit that stores an object formed by a plurality of polygons; a second storage unit that stores a texture corresponding to each polygon of the object; and an object read from the first storage unit Object placement means for placing the object placed in the virtual three-dimensional space, projection means for projecting the object placed in the virtual three-dimensional space onto a projection plane, and the texture stored in the second storage means as the shape of the object Texture pasting means for performing pasting processing corresponding to the object by changing according to the data, and data acting on the texture corresponding to the object, the area of the transparent region where the texture is transparent A third storage means for storing a plurality of differently provided transparent pattern data; Image storage means for storing a display image for at least one screen generated by a display image generation means for generating a display image including an image of an identification pattern configured to include an object and a texture corresponding to the object When,
An image display means for outputting and displaying a display image stored in the image storage means on a display device,
The image display means includes
Using the plurality of the transparent pattern data so that the area of the transparent region of the texture corresponding to the object increases, an image in which the identification symbol is gradually hidden is read from the image storage means and the display device A game machine characterized by being displayed on the display .

Images