JP4614458B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a technique for effective image processing of a ball ball game machine.

  Conventionally, among the various ball game machines, the so-called first type pachinko game machine is a game machine that changes a plurality of symbols in a display area such as a liquid crystal display provided substantially at the center of the game board. Display (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). This gaming machine shifts to a special game called so-called jackpot where more prize balls can be obtained than a normal game when a combination of symbols when a plurality of rows of symbol variations are stopped becomes a specific mode. It is known as a thing (for example, refer patent document 1). The variation display of the symbols in the display area is not just a variation display of multiple symbols, but the time of variation display in a state where it is a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, as in the so-called reach variation screen. For example, it is designed to increase the player's expectation such as making it longer than usual.

Here, when expressing whether or not jackpots are generated by the way of changing the display of symbols, there are often used techniques that imply that the occurrence of jackpots is close by various display methods. For example, it seems that it seems to stop at the winning symbol by temporarily relaxing the fluctuation speed, or suggesting that the chance of hitting is higher than usual by significantly increasing the fluctuation time. Has been developed.
JP 2003-230714 A

  However, many of the effects that have been developed in recent years are effects that increase the player's expectations while suggesting the possibility of winning in story development using characters and specific motifs, for example. A great deal of time and effort must be devoted to the design and production. Therefore, if a production that can increase the player's expectations with a simpler structure is introduced, the relative labor for the developer will be reduced, leading to the early introduction of new models and the reduction of development costs.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The objective is to provide the technique which can suggest the possibility of winning with a simpler mechanism in a ball game machine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a game board on which a game area is formed, and a predetermined position in the game area. A winning lottery means for executing a winning lottery for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by entering the starting prize port, A symbol display device for variably displaying a plurality of symbols for showing the result of the lottery determination, and a pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns in which a variation process from variation start to stop in variation display of the plurality of symbols is defined The combination of a plurality of stop symbols is determined according to the result of the success / failure lottery in order to show the result of the success / failure lottery with a combination of a plurality of stop symbols displayed on a predetermined active line on the display screen of the symbol display device, and a plurality of combinations Strange An effect deciding means for selecting one of the patterns, a display control means for variably displaying a plurality of symbols on the symbol display device according to the selected variation pattern, and a winning mode indicating that the result of the lottery is a hit Special game control means for executing a special game that is a game advantageous to the player over the normal game when a combination of a plurality of stop symbols is displayed. The pattern storage means further holds matrix sheet data formed by arranging a plurality of stop symbol candidates in a matrix form in a sheet form, and a combination of a part of stop symbols stopped and displayed on a plurality of effective lines as a variation pattern However, if one symbol is stopped and aligned, a reach state is formed, which is a combination of winning symbols, and a symbol that has already been confirmed as a stop symbol in multiple active lines and forms a reach state is fixed at least in that region. It is expressed by displaying a sheet using matrix sheet data in a form that can be partially visually recognized through the display area of the remaining unstopped symbols, and moving a plurality of stop symbol candidates in the sheet simultaneously with each sheet. To display the remaining unstopped symbols in the display area. Sometimes holding a sheet variation pattern for displaying the stop symbol.

  Here, the “effective line” may be a line in which a sequence of a plurality of symbols to be treated as a symbol combination indicating whether or not the symbol is hit on a screen on which a plurality of symbols are arranged. Usually, at least one effective line is included in the screen, and there may be a case where a plurality of effective lines are permanently provided depending on the model, or a case where a plurality of effective lines are temporarily provided only for the selected specific production. There is also. “Multiple effective lines” are the same as the direction of the variable display, for example, a combination of a horizontal line and an oblique line for the vertical variation display, and a horizontal line and a vertical line for the vertical variation display. It may include an effective line of direction. In the symbol variation based on the “sheet variation pattern”, the symbol forming the reach state is temporarily fixed, but it is not necessarily limited to the mode of fixing only the symbol forming the reach state. It does not prevent fixing adjacent symbols. Therefore, the “non-stopped symbols” only refer to symbols other than the fixed symbols, and not all the symbols that do not form the reach state are “unstopped symbols”.

  According to this aspect, unlike a plurality of stop symbol candidates that are consecutive in a line in numerical order as used in normal symbol variation, a sheet in which the plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged in a matrix is used. Variations different from normal variation display can be realized depending on factors such as type, number, arrangement, and variation direction. As a result, there is no need to create an excessive performance or design, and it is possible to realize an effect that increases the player's expectation more easily.

  The pattern storage means, as a sheet fluctuation pattern, moves the sheet in a step-by-step manner one by one from the reach state to the final all-symbol stopped state, thereby displaying the remaining unstopped symbol display area. You may hold | maintain the pattern which displays a stop symbol candidate sequentially. As a result, it is possible to display symbols evenly on a display area that spans multiple levels by simply moving a sheet that includes a plurality of stoppable candidates, and each symbol that crosses the display area of each non-stopped symbol is slowly and gradually step by step. By making the player surely recognize, it is possible to suggest a high possibility of winning.

  The pattern storage means may hold a sheet in which a plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged in an irregular order as matrix sheet data. For example, the same type of symbols may be arranged continuously, or in the case of numbers, the numbers may be arranged in an at-random order that is not ascending or descending. As a result, it is possible to realize symbol variation that gives rise to a different sense of expectation from the variation display by a regular symbol sequence that continues in ascending or descending order, and it is possible to improve the interest of the player. Further, by changing only the display portion and the moving direction of such matrix sheet data, various variable displays can be realized. In other words, various variable displays can be realized by a single matrix sheet data. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the developer who has a problem of realizing various variable displays.

  The pattern storage means holds, as matrix sheet data, a sheet in which a predetermined number of stop symbol candidates that can be moved in a plurality of stages from the start to stop of movement display are arranged, and the sheet, Multiple stop symbol candidates were placed so that all symbol combinations on the active line that were in the reach state when moving to the limit would be out of symbol combinations, and reached the reach state before reaching the limit A plurality of stop symbol candidates may be arranged so that the symbol combination on the active line can be a symbol combination. According to this aspect, it is possible to determine whether the final stop symbol combination is the winning symbol mode or the off symbol mode by determining the number of stages to move the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to easily control whether to display the hit or miss, and the burden on development can be reduced.

  The pattern storage means includes, as matrix sheet data, a plurality of stop symbol candidates included in a symbol arrangement corresponding to a reach state symbol combination in a plurality of effective lines, and is selected according to a reach state actually displayed. Multiple types of sheets may be held. According to this aspect, matrix sheet data is prepared so that a plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of reach aspects assumed in advance. That is, since which display area becomes the display area of the unstopped symbol differs depending on the reach mode, a plurality of stop symbol candidates are appropriately arranged so as to correspond to the position of the display region and the symbol forming the reach state. In this case, the sheet may be configured to correspond to a plurality of types of reach states with one matrix sheet data, or the sheet may be configured to correspond to individual matrix sheet data for each reach state. As described above, since the reach state and the sheet configuration are made to correspond to each other, the sheet to be used is determined as long as the reach state configuration is determined. Therefore, the selection and control of the sheet can be simplified, and the development burden can be reduced.

  The pattern storage means includes, as matrix sheet data, stop symbol candidates for a plurality of stages from the reach state to all symbol stop states corresponding to the reach state symbol combinations in a plurality of effective lines, and is actually displayed. It is also possible to hold a sheet in which it is determined from which stage the display starts depending on the reach state. According to this aspect, it is possible to determine the mode of the variable display simply by determining the display start position of the sheet, so that the control process can be simplified and the development burden can be reduced.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention may be mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the ball game machine of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a balance between improvement of expectation due to performance and simplification of development.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko game machine, which is conventionally called a bullet ball game machine, will be described as an example. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state is output.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as “start port”) 62 on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. , A center ornament 64, a grand prize opening 66, an operation opening 68, and a general prize opening 72. Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed. The start opening 62 includes a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball and a normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the normal electric accessory at the start opening. The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the start port 62, and generates start win information indicating the winning at the time of entering. The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning. The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for expanding the special winning opening 66. The winning detection device 78 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the big winning opening 66, and generates big winning opening winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning.

  The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol 192 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided above the out opening 58 and the like. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball.

  The special symbol display device 61 provided on the left side of the game area 52 and the effect display device 60 provided in the approximate center of the game area 52 have a variation of the special symbol 192 on each screen and a decoration linked to the special symbol 192. The variation of the effect image including the symbol 190 is displayed (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol variation” or “variation display”). Here, the special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball is dropped into the start port 62, and the symbol mode when the change display is stopped is determined to be the winning symbol. When the symbol is a symbol, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the jackpot occurrence timing. The special symbol display device 61 is display means composed of, for example, 7 segment LEDs. The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that variably displays the decorative symbol 190 in a manner interlocked with the variation display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually producing the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 192. The effect display device 60 displays, as the decorative symbol 190, for example, a plurality of rows of moving images of symbol variation simulating a slot machine game in the central area of the screen. The effect display device 60 is constituted by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be constituted by a mechanical rotation device such as a drum or other display means such as an LED. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this embodiment, the special symbol 192 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 at the lower left of the production display device 60. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, the special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the effect display device 60. The operation port 68 is provided at the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passing of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers a lottery for expanding the start port 62. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a symbol called a normal symbol is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 for a predetermined time. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the lower right side of the effect display device 60. When the normal symbol fluctuation display stops after a predetermined time has elapsed, the start port 62 is normally expanded for a predetermined time with a probability of about 50% to 80%.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center ornament 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. A lottery hold lamp 20 is provided below the effect display device 60, and an operation hold lamp 22 is provided below the normal symbol display device 59 at the lower right of the game area 52, which is a symmetrical position. . The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holds is the number of lottery results won in the starting port 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. The operation holding lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of holdings of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights. The number of normal symbol fluctuations held is the number of game balls that have passed through the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol, and indicates the number of normal symbol lotteries for which the fluctuation of the normal symbol has not yet been executed. The operation button 82 is a button operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction on the gaming machine side. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

  When the player rotates the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. When a game ball is dropped into each of the general winning opening 72, the start opening 62, and the big winning opening 66, a winning ball corresponding to the type of the winning opening is paid out to the upper ball tray 15 or the lower ball tray 16. A game ball dropped into each winning hole such as the general winning hole 72 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out hole 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In the present application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating a game of a slot machine takes a display mode in which three symbols are matched. In the special game, the grand prize winning slot 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after nine or more game balls are dropped. Such opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

  When a special game occurs and the winning stop symbol at that time is in a specific mode, the probability variation game and the variation shortening game are started as the specific game after the special game is finished. In the probability variation game, a lottery with a higher win probability than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game is generated relatively early. During the execution of the fluctuation shortening game, the fluctuation display time of the normal symbol is shortened, and the time during which the start port 62 is opened is set relatively long.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to the start port 62. The sub board 104 includes the liquid crystal unit 42 and controls display contents on the effect display device 60, operations of the plurality of movable objects 140, and lighting of the game effect lamp 90, and in particular, display contents according to the lottery result by the main board 102. And the lighting of the movable accessory 140 and the game effect lamp 90 is activated along with the progress of the production. The main board 102 and the sub board 104 constitute a game control device 100. The set base 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in the present embodiment. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a general winning port 72, an operating port 68, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, a normal symbol display device 59, and operation buttons 82. The speaker 18 and the game effect lamp 90 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control device 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game but also the staging operations such as the symbol variation display, the movable accessory 140, and the electric decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared by a main board 102 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including basic operations of the game, and a sub board 104 that controls design effects and the like. The game control device 100 is configured to include elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs and a CPU used for arithmetic processing in terms of hardware.

  In the present embodiment, the main board 102 is a ball determination unit 110, a winning / failing lottery unit 112, a symbol determination unit 114, a hold control unit 116, a main display control unit 118, a special game control unit 120, a specific game execution unit 122, and an opening / closing control. Means 124 are provided. The sub-board 104 in this embodiment includes a pattern storage unit 130, an effect determination unit 132, an effect display control unit 134, and an accessory control unit 136. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

  The entrance determination means 110 determines whether or not a game ball has entered each winning opening. When receiving the start winning information, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 62, and when receiving the big winning opening winning information, determines that the game ball has won the big winning opening 66, and the general winning is obtained. When the information is received, it is determined that the game ball has won the general winning opening 72. Upon receiving the passage information, the entry determination unit 110 determines that the game ball has passed through the operation port 68.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 accepts a random number value to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game when the game ball enters the start port 62. Get as a value. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “65535”. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a plurality of success / failure tables to be referred to in the success / failure determination. In the plurality of success / failure tables, a determination result of winning or losing is associated with a lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to a success / failure table for determination of success / failure based on a normal probability in normal times, and refers to a success / failure table in which the winning probability is higher than the normal probability when the probability changes. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to any of the plurality of success / failure tables and determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win. The determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is variably displayed in the special symbol display device 61 in the form of a special symbol. In addition, a decorative symbol that shows the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is displayed in a variable manner on the effect display device 60.

  The symbol determination unit 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 according to the lottery result by the success / failure lottery unit 112. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by lottery. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The symbol determination means 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol or a normal symbol stop symbol, or a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The symbol determination unit 114 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining a special symbol, and determines a stop symbol of the special symbol according to the determination result of the success / failure lottery unit 112 and the symbol determination lottery value. The symbol determination unit 114 selects one of a plurality of variation patterns in accordance with the determination result of the success / failure lottery unit 112. The symbol determination unit 114 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and variation pattern to the main display control unit 118 and the effect determination unit 132.

  The symbol determination means 114 stores a plurality of types of variation patterns in which variation modes from the variation start to the stop when the special symbol is variably displayed are defined. Multiple types of variation patterns have various variation times. That is, for each variation pattern, a variation display time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol is stopped when the variation display time elapses.

  The symbol determining means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining a normal symbol when the game ball passes through the operation port 68, and determines a stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the lottery random number. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol is a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the normal electric accessory at the start port 62 for a predetermined time.

  The holding control means 116 holds the winning / losing lottery value acquired by the winning / failing lottery means 112 as a holding ball. The success / failure lottery value is accumulated until the number of holds reaches a predetermined upper limit. The upper limit of the number of holds is 4.

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a special symbol variation display according to the variation pattern determined by the symbol determination unit 114. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, so that the main display control means 118 and the effect display are displayed. The fluctuation display by the control means 134 is synchronized and interlocked. The main display control means 118 causes the normal symbol display device 59 to display normal symbol fluctuations.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the result of the lottery determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously continued a plurality of times, and is constituted by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. The special game control means 120 determines whether or not to continue the unit game, that is, whether or not to start the next unit game, based on the number of continuations of the unit game and the presence / absence of the passage detection of the special winning opening 66 to the specific area. Determine. If the continuation condition for starting the next unit game is not satisfied, or if the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game is terminated.

  The specific game execution means 122 controls the game in the probability variation state. The specific game executing means 122 shifts the game state after the special game to the probability variation state when the winning / failing lottery value is a value to be transferred to the specific game. In principle, the probability variation state is continued until the next jackpot occurs, and during that time, the probability of the hit determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is maintained at a high value.

  The opening / closing control means 124 controls the opening / closing of the ordinary electric accessory at the start opening 62 and the special winning opening 66. When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the opening / closing control unit 124 sends an opening instruction to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 76 to open the start port 62. Further, the opening / closing control means 124 sends an opening instruction to the special winning opening solenoid 80 during the special game, and opens the special winning opening 66.

  The pattern storage unit 130 holds a plurality of variation pattern data as the variation pattern of the effect image including the decorative design. The effect determining unit 132 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the decorative symbol in accordance with the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery unit 112, according to the stop symbol of the special symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol. The effect determining unit 132 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a stop symbol of a decorative symbol and a pattern table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates a shift to a special game, three symbols such as “777” and “111” are arranged. A combination is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers to be arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. When the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946” is selected. However, if the determination result is that the game does not shift to a special game, and a variation pattern of a special symbol indicating a loss with reach is selected, only one such as “191” or “727” is selected. Select a combination that does not have the same pattern. The effect determining means 132 determines a combination of a plurality of stop symbols to be displayed on the effective lines by the number of effective lines on the display screen of the effect display device 60. The number of effective lines may be one in normal times, and may be switched to a plurality of effective lines only when a specific variation pattern is selected. The effect determining unit 132 sends information about the stop symbol of the decorative symbol and the variation pattern of the effect image to the effect display control unit 134.

  The variation pattern of the effect image defines the variation display mode of the effect image, that is, the effect process from the start of variation of the effect image to the stop of variation. In the fluctuation pattern, a pattern for displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern for displaying a symbol out of reach after reaching a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state are displayed. When the pattern is included. In particular, the pattern when reaching the reach state includes patterns having various fluctuation times. For each variation pattern, a variation time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses. The effect determining means 132 selects the variation pattern of the effect image having the same variation time as that of the special symbol according to the variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The effect display control means 134 displays the effect image on the effect display device 60 in accordance with the selected variation pattern data based on the result of the success / failure lottery performed by the success / failure lottery means 112. The effect display control means 134 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and sound output from the speaker 18.

  In accordance with the instruction received from the effect display control means 134, the accessory control means 136 causes the movable accessory 140 to act in an effect manner in accordance with the effect contents in the effect display device 60 and the blinking process of the game effect lamp 90.

  Hereinafter, characteristic functions and operations in the present embodiment will be described. The pattern storage unit 130 in this embodiment further holds the matrix sheet data 200 and also holds a sheet fluctuation pattern that is a fluctuation pattern using the matrix sheet data 200. FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of the matrix sheet data 200. The matrix sheet data 200 is data formed by arranging a plurality of stop symbol candidates in a matrix with a sheet-like picture in the background. The matrix sheet data 200 is used for variation display when a sheet variation pattern is selected by the effect determining means 132. .

  In the matrix sheet data 200 of FIG. 4, 36 stop symbol candidates form a matrix of 3 columns and 12 rows. In the normal variation display, a symbol sequence of decorative symbols in which numbers and symbols are arranged in a regular order such as ascending order or descending order for each symbol display area is variably displayed. However, in the matrix sheet data 200 of this embodiment, As shown in the drawing, a plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged in an irregular order. “2”, “7”, “2”, and so on, or “2”, “2”, “2”, etc. Also good. Any one of these 36 stop symbol candidates is used as a final stop symbol in the variation display using the sheet variation pattern. Therefore, the matrix sheet data 200 includes a plurality of stop symbol candidates in a symbol arrangement corresponding to one or a plurality of reach state symbol combinations in a plurality of effective lines. For example, if the stop symbols at both ends of the left, center, and right symbols are confirmed and the center becomes an unstopped symbol, one of the multiple stop symbol candidates included in the center column is the final stop symbol. Will be used. In that case, the same symbol as the symbol constituting the reach state is included in the center column of the matrix sheet data 200, and finally when the winning symbol combination is displayed, the same symbol as the winning symbol is used as the final stop symbol, When displaying the off symbol combination, the other symbols are used as the final stop symbols. In the case of this figure, for example, “2” and “3” are included in the central row so that they can be used as a winning symbol so as to correspond to the combined reach of “222” and “333”. “7” that can be used as an off symbol is also included in the center row. Thus, a plurality of types of sheets are prepared so as to be selected according to the reach mode that is actually displayed. In addition, a plurality of types of sheets are fixedly laid out only in the arrangement of symbols, and some symbols can be used by replacing them with other symbols. In the example of this figure, for example, in the case of a combined reach of “555” and “666”, the portions “2” and “3” may be replaced with “5” and “6”.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows the reach scene of the change display in the sheet change pattern. An example in which a reach state is formed in two intersecting effective lines as shown in FIG. As the symbol variation based on the sheet variation pattern, initially, the same variation as the normal symbol variation is displayed. That is, a symbol sequence in which a plurality of stop symbol candidates that are numeric symbols are successively formed in ascending or descending order is variably displayed on each of the first symbol sequence 208a, the second symbol sequence 208b, and the third symbol sequence 208c. . In each symbol row, a blank symbol indicating that a winning symbol combination or a missing symbol combination is not formed is sandwiched between numerical stop symbol candidates.

  After the normal variation display, a plurality of stop symbol candidates are displayed semi-stopped in the first symbol row 208a, the second symbol row 208b, and the third symbol row 208c, and a combination of stop symbol candidates arranged in a straight line is hit or missed. An effective line is formed so as to be treated as a symbol combination indicating. Here, the combination of the first stop symbol 202a and the second stop symbol 202b, which are some of the stop symbols that are stopped and displayed on the plurality of active lines, and the combination of the third stop symbol 202c and the fourth stop symbol 202d are one more. If the symbols are stopped and aligned, a reach state is formed in which a winning symbol combination is achieved. Here, the symbol combination “212” and the symbol combination “313” are displayed. At this time, only the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d are displayed. The stop symbol is confirmed, and the non-stop symbol 204 is not confirmed as a stop symbol. The first blank symbol 206a, the second blank symbol 206b, the third blank symbol 206c, the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d, which are displayed before and after each. Since none of the 4 blank symbols 206d constitutes a winning symbol combination or a missed symbol combination, a line including these symbols does not form an effective line. The state shown in FIG. 5 is shifted to the state shown in the next figure.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which symbols other than the stop symbol determined in the sheet variation pattern are erased. From the state of FIG. 5, the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d, which have already been determined as the stop symbols, remain fixed in that area, and the other symbols The remaining unstopped symbols 204 and the first to fourth blank symbols 206a, 206b, 206c, 206d (hereinafter, these non-stopped symbols and blank symbol display areas are collectively referred to as “non-stopped symbol display areas”) It is. The state shown in FIG. 6 shifts to the state shown in the next figure. In the example of this figure, the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d are all symbols that form the reach state, but the symbols that are necessarily fixed All of these do not have to form a reach state. For example, the first stop symbol 202a and the fourth stop symbol 202d may be “2”, the third stop symbol 202c may be “3”, and the second stop symbol 202b may be “1”.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the matrix sheet data 200 is superimposed and displayed behind the stop symbol determined in the sheet variation pattern. From the state of FIG. 6, the fixed stop so that it can be partially seen through the display area of the remaining unstopped symbols other than the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d. The matrix sheet data 200 is displayed on the background of the design. Here, nine stop symbol candidates arranged at the upper part of the matrix sheet data 200 shown in FIG. 4 are superimposed on two effective lines on the display screen of the effect display device 60. In particular, among the top nine stop symbol candidates in the matrix sheet data 200, the central stop symbol candidate is temporarily stored as a part of the symbol combination on the effective lines in the central symbol display area where two effective lines intersect. Is displayed. At this time, “2” is displayed in the central symbol display area, and “222” is formed on the active line of the first stop symbol 202a and the second stop symbol 202b. "" Definitely stops, the winning symbol combination is formed as it is, but here, the stop is not fixed and the fluctuation is continued.

  Then, the matrix sheet data 200 is moved stepwise in increments of symbols one by one until reaching the final all symbols stop state. For example, the movement may be performed at intervals of movement timing such as one step per second. In this way, by moving a plurality of stop symbol candidates included in the matrix sheet data 200 in a stepwise manner simultaneously for each sheet, the stop symbol candidates are sequentially displayed in the display area of the remaining non-stop symbols, and this is changed. Display. The unstopped symbol display area is displayed so that the stopped symbol candidates can be surely seen one by one. Therefore, the stop symbol candidate arrangement order itself has a function of helping the player to predict the final stop symbol, and has an effect of increasing the player's expectation. In this way, by changing the display area of the non-stopped symbols from which all of the non-stopped symbols and blank symbols are erased to a variable display in which all of the stop symbols are filled, the appearance of the winning symbol is better than the display of blank symbols. It is possible to produce such that there is a high possibility that the stop symbol combination is displayed. In addition, such a variable display with a high production effect can be expressed by a simple process of simply moving the matrix sheet data 200, and the development burden can be relatively reduced. The state shown in FIG. 7 shifts to the state shown in the next figure.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which all stop symbols are finally determined in the sheet variation pattern. FIG. 7 shows the state in which the matrix sheet data 200 is moved upward by one symbol at a time from the state of FIG. 7 to reach the movement limit. In the region where two effective lines intersect, the symbols on those effective lines are shown. “7” is definitely displayed as a stop symbol constituting a part of the combination. This “7” becomes a part of the outlier symbol combination of “272” and “373” in the two effective lines. As described above, the matrix sheet data 200 in FIG. 4 is a sheet that includes stop symbol candidates for a plurality of stages from the reach state to the all symbol stop state. Specifically, the matrix sheet data 200 is stopped after the movement display is started. This is a sheet on which 12-stage stop symbol candidates are arranged so that 9-stage movement is possible with 10-stage display. When the matrix sheet data 200 moves to the limit as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged so that all symbol combinations on the active line that have been in the reach state are removed and become symbol combinations. . On the other hand, in the matrix sheet data 200, before reaching the limit, a plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged so that the symbol combination on the active line that has been in the reach state as shown in FIG. .

  When selecting the sheet variation pattern as the variation pattern, the effect determining unit 132 determines from which stage the display starts on the matrix sheet corresponding to the selected variation pattern. In the example of FIG. 7, the case where display is started from the uppermost part of the matrix sheet data 200 shown in FIG. 4 has been described. In this case, since the player expects to stop at “2” or “3”, which is a part of the winning symbol combination, “2” is displayed several times starting from the display of “2” that meets the expectation. Is displayed in order to increase the expectation, and then immediately before the final stage, the winning symbol “3” is displayed, and then the last stop is “7”. . In this case, this is a technique of directing the expectation continuously from the beginning and then dismissing the expectation at the end. FIG. 9 shows a case where display is started from an intermediate stage among a plurality of stages included in the matrix sheet data 200 in the sheet variation pattern. In this case, instead of starting the display from “2” or “3” which is a part of the winning symbol combination, the display is started by “7” which is an outlier, and finally “2” or “3”. Stop. This is an effect technique in which an expectation is first disapproved, and finally a combination of symbols is displayed by stopping at an expected symbol. In this way, the effect determination means 132 determines which stage of the matrix sheet data 200 is to be displayed, depending on the reach state that is actually displayed and whether the hit or miss should actually be displayed. . In this way, various presentations according to the result of success / failure can be realized simply by determining from which stage of the matrix sheet data 200 the display starts and how many stages are moved. Further, information such as which matrix sheet data is used, the display start position, the number of moving stages, etc. may be pre-defined in the sheet fluctuation pattern, or a table in which the correspondence with the sheet fluctuation pattern and the reach mode is defined. May be held by the pattern storage unit 130.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, processing is performed when the game ball has won the start port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, or when the game ball has passed through the operation port 68 (S10). (N in S12), control processing for normal games such as winning / failing lottery is executed (S14), and if a special game is in progress (Y in S12), control processing for special game is executed (S16), from S10 to S16 In step S18, prize ball payout corresponding to various winnings is processed.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. In the normal game control process, if the winning / losing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the winning / losing lottery means 112 executes the determining process. (S34). In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the effect image according to the change pattern data. The fluctuation display is started (S36). If the winning / losing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36. Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already started (Y in S38), the symbol variation display process is executed (S40). If the symbol variation display has not started (N in S38), S40 is skipped. .

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. In the winner determination process, mainly a winner determination based on a lottery value, a symbol determination process, and a variation pattern selection process are performed. First, the success / failure lottery means 112 acquires a success / failure lottery value (S42), and determines the success / failure based on the success / failure lottery value (S44). The symbol determining means 114 determines a stop symbol of the special symbol based on the determination result (S46), and selects a variation pattern of the special symbol (S48). The effect determining means 132 determines the stop symbol combination of the decorative symbols in accordance with the determination result or the special symbol (S50), and selects the variation pattern of the decorative symbols (S52). For example, since the sheet variation pattern is a pattern with a relatively long variation time that is variably displayed through the reach state, the sheet variation pattern is selected only when a variation pattern with a relatively long time is selected as the variation pattern of the special symbol. When the decorative pattern variation pattern selected in S52 is a sheet variation pattern (Y in S54), the matrix sheet data 200 corresponding to the sheet variation pattern is selected (S56) and included in the selected matrix sheet data 200. The symbol is determined according to the reach mode (S58), the display start position and the number of moving steps of the matrix sheet data 200 are determined, and the flow of S34 in this figure is terminated (S60). If the decorative pattern variation pattern selected in S52 is not a sheet variation pattern (N in S54), the processing from S56 to S60 is skipped, and the flow of S34 in this figure is terminated.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing in detail the variation display process of S40 in FIG. First, when the variation pattern used for the variation display is not a sheet variation pattern (N in S100), the variation is displayed according to the normal variation pattern (S102), and the process jumps to S114 described later. Even if the variation pattern used for variation display is a sheet variation pattern (Y in S100), the variation is displayed according to the normal variation pattern (S102) until reaching the reach state (N in S104), which will be described later. Jump to S114.

  When the reach state is displayed in the variation display using the sheet variation pattern (Y in S104), if the display of the matrix sheet data 200 has not yet been started (Y in S106), the matrix sheet is determined from the predetermined start position. Display of the data 200 is started (S108). If display of the matrix sheet data 200 has already started in S106 (N in S106), the process of S108 is skipped. When the movement timing of the matrix sheet data 200 is reached (Y in S110), the matrix sheet data 200 is moved by one symbol (S112). When the movement timing has not been reached in S110 (N of S110), the process of S112 is skipped. When the variation display reaches the variation end timing (Y in S114), the variation being displayed is terminated and the flow of S40 in this figure is terminated (S116). For example, in the case of a variation due to the sheet variation pattern, the timing at which the predetermined number of movement stages of the matrix sheet data 200 is consumed is the variation end timing. When the end timing has not been reached in S114 (N in S114), the process of S116 is skipped and the flow of S40 in this figure is ended.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing in detail S16 in FIG. First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the production display control means 134 starts the special game production process (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S74). ). If the big winning opening 66 has been opened, S72 and S74 are skipped (Y in S70). When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the grand prize opening 66 was opened (Y in S76), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76), there are nine or more game balls to the big winning opening 66 When the player has entered the ball (Y in S78), the opening / closing control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66 (S80). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76) and the number of balls entered into the grand prize winning opening 66 has not reached nine or more (N in S78), the processing after S80 is skipped and the flow of S16 Exit.

  If the number of rounds of the unit game has reached 15 after closing the special winning opening 66 in S80 (Y in S82), the effect display control means 134 ends the effect processing of the special game (S84), and the special game control means 120 ends the special game (S86). If the number of rounds has not reached 15 (N in S82), 1 is added to the number of rounds and the flow of S16 is terminated (S90).

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In the above embodiment, the description has been mainly made on the so-called first type pachinko gaming machine, but of course, it is not limited to such a model, but other types of pachinko having a display device such as the so-called third type. You may implement | achieve by the design fluctuation display in a gaming machine.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the matrix sheet data 200 is moved in the upward direction has been described. However, in the modified example, a configuration in which the matrix sheet data 200 is moved in the downward direction or a configuration in which the matrix sheet data 200 is moved in the lateral direction may be used. Moreover, the structure which made the prediction of a final stop symbol difficult by mixing up and down, right and left movement may be sufficient.

  In the example of FIGS. 4 to 9, the configuration in which the matrix sheet data 200 is displayed in a state where a plurality of reach lines are formed with a plurality of types of symbols “2” and “3” is shown. For example, when the symbol variation is displayed using a symbol sequence in which the same symbol type is continuously included in each of the first symbol sequence 208a, the second symbol sequence 208b, and the third symbol sequence 208c, FIG. A plurality of reach lines may be formed in a state where the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d described in FIGS. In this case, a total of six reach lines are formed by the upper and lower lines, the two lines of the first symbol row 208a and the third symbol row 208c, and the two diagonal lines intersecting each other. It can be suggested that the possibility of is higher. In this example, the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, the fourth stop symbol 202a, the fourth stop symbol 202c, the fourth stop symbol 202c, the fourth stop symbol 202c, the fourth stop symbol 202c, It may be possible to display such that all of the stop symbols 202d are aligned at “7”. Further, as the matrix sheet data 200, using a sheet containing a lot of “7” which is the same symbol as the first stop symbol 202a, the second stop symbol 202b, the third stop symbol 202c, and the fourth stop symbol 202d, It may be suggested that the possibility of is even higher.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. The structure of matrix sheet data is shown typically. The reach scene of the change display in a sheet change pattern is shown typically. It is a figure which shows the state which erased symbols other than the stop symbol decided in the sheet | seat fluctuation pattern. It is a figure which shows the state which superimposes and displays a matrix sheet data behind the stop symbol decided in the sheet | seat fluctuation pattern. It is a figure which shows the state which all the stop symbols were finally decided in the sheet | seat fluctuation pattern. It is a figure which shows the case where a display is started from the middle step among a plurality of steps included in matrix sheet data in the sheet variation pattern. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 10 in detail. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the fluctuation | variation display process of S40 in FIG. 11 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows S16 in FIG. 10 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Pachinko machines, 50 game boards, 52 game areas, 60 effect display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 start ports, 100 game control devices, 112 winning / losing lottery means, 114 symbol determining means, 130 pattern storage means, 132 production effects Determining means, 134 effect display control means, 190 decorative design, 192 special design, 200 matrix sheet data.

Claims (6)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A start winning opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, and a game ball entering is a lottery opportunity;
Triggering lottery means for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by entering the starting winning opening,
A symbol display device for variably displaying a plurality of symbols for indicating the result of the success / failure lottery;
Pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns in which a variation process from variation start to stop in the variation display of the plurality of symbols is defined;
The combination of the plurality of stop symbols is determined according to the result of the success / failure lottery in order to indicate the result of the success / failure lottery with a combination of a plurality of stop symbols displayed on a predetermined active line on the display screen of the symbol display device. Production determining means for selecting one of the plurality of variation patterns;
Display control means for variably displaying the plurality of symbols on the symbol display device according to the selected variation pattern;
Special game control for executing a special game which is a game advantageous to the player over the normal game when the combination of the plurality of stop symbols is displayed in a winning mode indicating that the result of the winning / failing lottery is winning Means, and
The pattern storage means further holds matrix sheet data formed by arranging a plurality of stop symbol candidates in a matrix in a sheet form, and a part of the stop symbols stopped and displayed on a plurality of effective lines as the variation pattern If the other combination is stopped and aligned, it forms a reach state that is a winning symbol combination, and at least a symbol that has already been determined as a stopped symbol and forms a reach state in the plurality of effective lines. A sheet using the matrix sheet data is displayed in a form that can be partially visually recognized through the display area of the remaining non-stopped symbols while being fixed in the region, and a plurality of stop symbol candidates in the sheet are simultaneously moved for each sheet. The change display expressed by letting it move and stopping the movement of the sheet Pinball game machine, characterized in that to hold the sheet variation pattern for displaying the stop symbol simultaneously in a display area of Rino non stop symbol.   The pattern storage means, as the sheet variation pattern, moves the sheet in a step-by-step manner one symbol at a time from the reach state to the final all symbol stop state, and the remaining unstopped state. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein a pattern for sequentially displaying stop symbol candidates is held in a symbol display area.   The bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pattern storage means holds a sheet in which the plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged in an irregular order as the matrix sheet data.   The pattern storage means holds, as the matrix sheet data, a sheet in which a predetermined number of stop symbol candidates that can be moved in a plurality of stages from the start to stop of movement display are arranged, and the matrix sheet data, When the seat is moved to the limit, the plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged such that all symbol combinations on the active line that have been in the reach state are out of the symbol combination, and in the stage before reaching the limit The ball game according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of stop symbol candidates are arranged so that a symbol combination on the active line that has been in the reach state can be a symbol combination. Machine.   The pattern storage means includes, as the matrix sheet data, the plurality of stop symbol candidates included in the symbol arrangement corresponding to the symbol combination of the reach state in the plurality of effective lines, and the reach state actually displayed. The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of types of sheets selected in accordance with the number of sheets are held.   The pattern storage means includes, as the matrix sheet data, stop symbol candidates for a plurality of stages from the reach state to the all symbol stop states corresponding to the reach state symbol combinations in the plurality of active lines. 6. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein a sheet that determines which stage to start display is determined in accordance with a reach state that is actually displayed.

Images