JP4710094B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine that plays a game by firing a game ball toward a game board surface.

  Various types of game machines are known as ball game machines that play a game by firing a game ball toward the surface of the game board. Among these ball game machines, a so-called pachinko machine has a plurality of winning holes on the surface of the game board. When a game ball enters one of the winning holes, Game balls are paid out.

  In general, such a ball game machine is provided with two special types of winning openings called “starting opening” and “big winning opening”. When a game ball launched on the surface of the game board enters the start opening, the display of the fluctuation of the symbol is started on the liquid crystal screen provided almost at the center of the game board. Is stopped and displayed. If the symbol that is stopped and displayed at this time is a predetermined “winning symbol”, the so-called special game is performed by repeating the operation in which the big prize opening is in an open state only for a predetermined period. When the big winning opening is opened, the game ball can easily enter and the player can acquire a lot of prize balls. Therefore, such a game state is sometimes referred to as “big hit game”.

  In addition, after the big hit game is over, depending on the type of the winning symbol that triggered the big hit game, the probability of stopping and displaying the winning symbol again is set to a high probability. As described above, a state in which the probability that the winning symbol is stopped and displayed is set to a high probability is called a “probability variation state (or simply a probability variation state)”. In the “probability variation state”, the winning symbol is likely to be stopped and displayed, and the big hit game is likely to be started. Therefore, the gaming state is very advantageous for the player.

  Furthermore, in recent years, in order to increase the interest of the player by changing the game, in addition to the conventional big hit mode, the winning ball is opened twice only for a very short time, so that the winning ball is almost paid out. A ball game machine with a special big hit mode that ends without being proposed has been proposed (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2), and is currently introduced in many game halls. In the present specification, a special big hit mode that is completed in a short time by opening the big prize opening only twice is called a two round big hit.

  The two-round jackpot ends in a very short time with almost no prize balls. For this reason, when two rounds of big hit occurs, the big hit game can be ended without the player being aware of it, and the gaming state can be switched to the probability variation state. As a result, it is possible to give the player an impression as if it has suddenly switched to the probability variation state, and to excite the player's interest.

JP 2004-329876 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-344643

  However, the 2nd round big hit is a big hit mode that ends with almost no winning ball, so if the player notices the occurrence of the 2nd round big hit, there is a risk that the player's interest will be reversed. There was a problem that there was. In other words, since a lot of game balls can be obtained with a normal jackpot, when the player realizes that the two round jackpot has ended with almost no prize balls, the player feels that he has lost the jackpot for one game. There was a risk of losing interest in.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and provides a ball game machine capable of attracting the player's interest even when two round round hits are installed. With the goal.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the bullet ball game machine of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A game ball is fired on a game board surface provided with a start port that can be switched between a normal state and an open state in which the game ball is easier to enter than the normal state. In the ball game machine that performs a big hit game advantageous to the player by opening a big winning opening provided on the surface of the game board, when a lottery is performed and the lottery is won,
A main control unit that controls a series of controls to detect the game hitting the start opening and perform the lottery, and to perform the jackpot game according to the result of the lottery,
A sub-control unit that controls various effects performed in accordance with the progress of the game,
Under the control of the main control unit, a special symbol display unit for performing a change display and a stop display of the special symbol representing the result of the lottery,
A first effect symbol display unit for displaying a first effect symbol for performing an effect in accordance with the variation display of the special symbol, and performing a variation display and a stop display of the first effect symbol;
A second effect symbol display unit that displays a second effect symbol that is larger than the first effect symbol, and that performs change display and stop display of the second effect symbol;
An effect control unit that controls operations of the first effect symbol display unit and the second effect symbol display unit;
The main control unit
As aspect of the jackpot gaming, a first jackpot embodiment repeating the operation of opening the special winning opening a predetermined period, and a second jackpot aspects repeating the operation of only opening period shorter than the first jackpot aspect Memorizing jackpot mode storage means;
According to the result of the lottery, the jackpot game execution means for performing the jackpot game by selecting either the first jackpot mode or the second jackpot mode and opening the jackpot,
Fluctuation start information indicating the timing of starting the change of the special symbol, stop symbol information indicating the special symbol to be stopped and displayed in response to the result of the lottery, stop display information indicating the timing of the special symbol stop display, and the bonus game Game information output means for outputting jackpot game end information indicating the end timing to the sub-control unit;
When a predetermined game condition is established, start port opening means for opening the start port for a predetermined opening time; and
An opening time extending means for extending an opening time of the start port when a condition when the jackpot game is started corresponds to a predetermined condition;
As the state at the time of the lottery execution, a lottery state storage that stores a normal probability state in which the probability of winning is set to a normal probability and a high probability state in which the probability of winning is set to a higher probability than the normal probability Means,
Lottery state setting means for setting a state at the time of the next lottery execution to either the normal probability state or the high probability state according to the result of the lottery,
The sub-control unit
When receiving the variation start information, a variation start instruction output means for outputting an instruction to start variation of the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol to the effect control unit in accordance with the timing of the variation start of the special symbol. ,
Receiving the stop symbol information and the stop display information,
When the special symbol to be stopped and displayed is a symbol corresponding to the first jackpot mode, an instruction to stop and display the first and second effect symbols is displayed. While outputting to the production control unit according to the timing,
When the special symbol to be stopped and displayed is a symbol corresponding to the second jackpot mode, the effect control is performed in response to the stop display instruction of the first symbol in accordance with the timing of the special symbol stop display. And a stop display instruction output that is output to the effect control unit in accordance with the timing of the end of the big hit game after receiving the big hit game end information. Means and
The effect control unit controls the first effect symbol display unit and the second effect symbol display unit in accordance with various instructions output from the sub-control unit, whereby the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol display unit are controlled. 2 effect designs are displayed in a variable and stopped manner.
The main control unit
When the big hit game is started in the first big hit mode, the opening time of the start port is extended after the big hit game ends,
When the big hit game is started in the second big hit mode,
When the jackpot game is started in a state where the opening time of the start opening is extended, the opening time of the start opening is extended even after the jackpot game is over, and the next lottery is performed. Set the state to the high probability state,
When the jackpot game is started in a state where the opening time of the start opening is not extended, the opening time of the start opening is not extended even after the jackpot game ends, and the next lottery is performed. The state is set to the high probability state.

In such a ball game machine of the present invention, the game board surface is provided with a starting port that can be switched between a normal state and an opening state in which it is easier to enter the game ball. When a game ball enters the starting port, a lottery is performed. Further, the starting port is opened for a predetermined opening time when a predetermined gaming condition is established. The lottery result is displayed as a special symbol, and a first effect symbol that performs variable display and stop display together with the special symbol, and a second effect symbol that is larger than the first effect symbol are provided. The big hit mode during the big hit game includes a first big hit mode in which the opening operation is repeated for a predetermined period and a second big hit mode in which the opening operation is repeated for a shorter period than the first big hit mode. Is provided. And, when the big hit game is started in the first big hit mode, after the end of the big hit game, the opening time of the start port is extended, while on the other hand, when the big hit game is started in the second big hit mode The opening time of the start port is extended according to the state at the start of the jackpot game. In other words, if a big hit game is started with the opening time of the start opening extended, the opening time of the start opening is extended after the end of the big hit game, and conversely, the opening time of the start opening is extended. When the big hit game is started in a state where the big hit game is not started, the opening time of the start port is not extended after the big hit game is finished. In addition, the lottery state can be switched between a normal state in which the winning probability is set to a normal probability and a high probability state in which the winning probability is set to a higher probability than the normal probability. If the second big hit mode is won, the next lottery state is switched to the high probability state. In such a ball game machine of the present invention, the change display and stop display of the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol are controlled as follows. First, when variation start information indicating the timing of variation start of a special symbol is output from the main control unit to the sub control unit, the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol are output from the sub control unit to the effect control unit. An instruction to start the variation display of the effect design is issued, and the variation display of the first effect design and the second effect design is started. When the big hit mode at the time of the big hit game is the first big hit mode , stop display information indicating the timing for stopping and displaying the special symbol is output from the main control unit to the sub control unit, Both the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol are stopped and displayed by the instruction output from the control unit to the effect control unit. On the other hand, when the big hit mode is the second big hit mode , when stop display information is output from the main control unit, an instruction to stop display of the first effect symbol is output from the sub control unit. Only the first effect symbol is stopped and displayed. Next, when jackpot game end information indicating the end timing of the jackpot game is output from the main control unit to the sub-control unit, an instruction to stop and display the second effect symbol is received. Is output toward the effect control unit, and the second effect symbol is stopped and displayed.

As described above, in the ball game machine of the present invention, when the big hit mode at the time of the big hit game is the second big hit mode , the state where the second effect symbol is variably displayed until the big hit game ends. It has become. Since the second effect symbol is larger than the first effect symbol, the player's attention is attracted to the variable display of the second effect symbol. You will not notice that you are operating in the opening mode of the jackpot game . Here, in the second big hit mode , the game ball is less likely to enter the big winning opening as compared to the first big hit mode. Therefore, when the big hit game is performed in the second big hit mode , the player is disappointed. However, if you do not realize that the big prize opening is operating in the second big hit mode , you will not cool the interest and attract the player's interest to the game. It is possible to keep. Moreover, even if the big hit game is performed in the second big hit mode, the setting of the opening time of the start port does not change before and after the big hit game. If the setting of the opening time of the start opening is changed by performing the big hit game in the second big hit mode, even if the player is not aware of the big hit game itself, the second big hit mode is suitable for a player who has a good idea. There is a risk that you will notice that a big hit game has been played. However, if the setting of the opening time of the start opening does not change before and after the big hit game performed in the second big hit mode, the player is aware that the big hit game has been executed in the second big hit mode. The fear can be surely avoided. In addition, the big hit game in the second big hit mode can be performed without being noticed by the player, and after the big hit game in the second big hit mode is finished, it can be switched to a high probability state. Therefore, the player will play the game while expecting that the player has probably switched to a high probability state without knowing it. As a result, even if the game is set to the normal state, it is possible to play a game while always feeling great interest in the game.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
A-2. Game board configuration:
A-3. Control circuit configuration:
B. Overview of the game:
C. Overview of control:
C-1. Game control processing:
C-2. Special design game processing:
C-3. Special electric game game processing:
D. Production control process:
D-1. Outward production processing:
D-2. Round 15 big hit effect processing:
D-3.2 Round big hit effect processing:

A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the gaming machine 1 is mainly composed of a front frame 4, an upper plate portion 5, a lower plate portion 6, a game board 10, and the like. In FIG. 1, detailed illustration of the game board 10 is omitted. The front frame 4 is attached to a middle frame 3 (not shown), and the middle frame 3 is attached to a main body frame 2 (not shown). The middle frame 3 is formed of a plastic material and is attached to the inside of the main body frame 2. The main body frame 2 is a substantially rectangular frame formed by assembling wooden plate-like members, and forms an outer frame of the gaming machine 1. One end of the front frame 4 is pivotally supported with respect to the middle frame 3, and one end of the middle frame 3 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body frame 2. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3, and the front side is covered with the front frame 4.

  The front frame 4 is formed of a plastic material, and a circular opening 4a is formed at a substantially central portion. A transparent plate such as a glass plate is fitted in the opening 4a, and the board surface of the game board 10 disposed on the back side can be visually recognized. The front frame 4 is provided with various lamps 4b to 4f for effectively producing a game.

  An upper dish portion 5 is provided below the front frame 4, and a lower dish portion 6 is provided below the upper dish portion 5. A locking device 9 is provided on the right side of the front frame 4, and a prepaid card type ball lending device 13 (CR unit) is provided on the left side of the front frame 4.

  The upper dish portion 5 is provided with a dish-shaped recess and a dish outer edge portion 5a formed so as to surround the recess. The game ball is thrown into a recess formed in the upper plate part 5 and supplied to the launching device unit 12 (see FIG. 5). The dish outer edge 5a is provided with various buttons such as a game ball lending switch 5b, a return switch 5c, and a discharge button for discharging the inserted game ball. Furthermore, a first speaker 5y having a plurality of long holes and a plurality of small holes formed thereon is provided at a substantially central portion on the front side of the upper plate part 5. Furthermore, two operation switches SW1 and SW2 are provided on the front side (player side) of the upper plate part 5. By operating this switch, the player can intervene in the progress of the game, such as changing the game conditions during the game.

  The lower plate part 6 is provided with a discharge port 6 a for discharging game balls from the inside of the gaming machine 1, and the discharged game balls are stored in the lower plate part 6. Further, second speakers 6 c are provided on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the lower dish portion 6.

  A firing handle 8 is provided at the right end of the lower plate portion 6. The firing handle 8 is provided with a touch switch 8a for detecting that the player is touching the handle. The rotation axis of the launching handle 8 is connected to a launching device unit 12 (not shown) mounted on the back side of the lower pan 6, and when the player rotates the firing handle 8, the movement of the launching handle 8 is caused to the launching device unit 12. Then, a launch motor (not shown) built in the unit is rotated, and a game ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the operation angle of the handle 8. On the left side surface of the launch handle 8, a launch stop switch 8b that is operated by the player to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball is disposed.

A-2. Game board configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a board surface configuration of the game board 10. As described above, the game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. In addition, a substantially circular game area 11 surrounded by the outer rail 14 and the inner rail 15 is formed at the center of the game board 10.

  A central device 26 is provided in the approximate center of the game area 11, a variable winning device 18 is provided in a lower portion of the gaming area 11, and between the central device 26 and the variable winning device 18. A starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is provided. The starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is a so-called tulip type starting port configured such that a pair of blade pieces can be opened and closed on the left and right. Inside the start port 17, there are a start port (ordinary electric accessory) switch 17s (see FIG. 5) for detecting the passing of the game ball, and an ordinary electric accessory (start port) solenoid 17m for operating the wing piece. (See FIG. 5). When the pair of wing pieces are opened to the left and right, the game ball is likely to enter the opening state, and when the pair of wing pieces are upright, the game ball is less likely to enter the normal state than the opening state. It becomes. The starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 of the present embodiment is configured so that a game ball can always enter, but in the normal state, the game ball cannot enter and is opened. It may be possible to enter the ball only in the state. In this case, in addition to a start opening (ordinary electric accessory) that can enter only in the open state, a start opening that can be entered constantly is provided by a general entrance that does not have a blade piece. It is desirable.

  An effect display device 27 is provided substantially in the center of the central device 26. The effect display device 27 is equipped with a liquid crystal screen, and can variably display various effect symbols such as display symbols, character symbols, and background symbols. Various symbols displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 will be described later.

  A symbol display device 28 is provided at the lower left of the central device 26. Although the detailed configuration will be described later, the symbol display device 28 can display normal symbols, special symbols, and the like in a variable stop manner.

  A normal symbol operation gate 36 is provided at the left end of the game area 11, and a gate switch 36 s for detecting the passage of the game ball is provided inside the gate. Further, a lamp windmill 24 is provided between the normal symbol operating gate 36 and the central device 26. A number of obstacle nails 23 are provided between and around each of these gaming devices.

  In the variable winning device 18 provided below the central device 26, a large winning device 31 is provided substantially in the center. This special winning device 31 is composed of a special winning opening 31d that opens substantially in a substantially rectangular shape, a special winning opening solenoid 31m (see FIG. 5) for opening and closing the special winning opening 31d, and the like. The special winning opening 31d repeats the opening operation in a predetermined manner a plurality of times when a predetermined condition described later is satisfied. The game state in which the special winning opening 31d repeats the opening operation is called a special game state (or a big hit game). Generally, when the special winning opening 31d is in an open state, the game ball enters the special winning opening 31d with a high probability, so that the player can acquire a large number of gaming balls. In addition, a big winning opening switch 31s is provided inside the big winning opening 31d, and it is possible to detect a game ball won in the big winning opening 31d.

  An out port 48 is provided below the game board 10, and a back ball preventing member 58 is provided below the out port 48. The back ball preventing member 58 has a function of preventing a game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the launch position.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the symbol display device 28 mounted on the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. The symbol display device 28 of the present embodiment is a specific example of the symbol display means of the present invention, and is mainly composed of a normal symbol display unit 29 and a special symbol display unit 30. The normal symbol display unit 29 includes a left normal symbol display unit 29a and a right normal symbol display unit 29b, and the special symbol display unit 30 includes a left special symbol display unit 30a and a right special symbol display unit 30b. Has been. The two normal symbol display portions 29a and 29b are configured by using light emitting diodes (LEDs), the left normal symbol display portion 29a lights red light, and the right normal symbol display portion 29b lights green light. It is possible to do. The special symbol display unit 30 uses a so-called 7-segment LED. Of these, the 7 segment portion constitutes the left special symbol display portion 30a, and the comma portion constitutes the right special symbol display portion 30b. Yes. The 7-segment portion and the comma portion can be lit with red, orange, or green light. In addition, the symbol display device 28 is also provided with a normal symbol hold display unit 29c and a special symbol hold display unit 30c. Each of these consists of four LEDs. The display contents of the symbol display device 28 having such a configuration will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the screen configuration of the effect display device 27 installed in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. As described above, the effect display device 27 is mainly configured by using a liquid crystal display screen. On the liquid crystal screen, the display symbol 27a, the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d, and the background of the background. The symbol 27e is displayed. Among these, the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are variably displayed in various manners in accordance with the display of the special symbol display unit 30 shown in FIG. 3, and a game can be produced. ing. Detailed contents of the effects performed by the effect display device 27 will be described later.

A-3. Control circuit configuration:
Next, the configuration of the control circuit of the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control circuit of the gaming machine 1 is composed of a number of control boards, various boards, relay terminal boards, and the like. A main control board 200 that controls the success / failure involved, a sub-control board 220 that controls the overall control of various effects performed in accordance with the game, and various designs for effects on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. And an effect control board 230 that controls the production of the game, a payout control board 240 that controls the operation of paying out the rented or winning balls, a launch control board 260 that controls the game ball launching, and the like. Yes. These control boards include a CPU that executes various logic operations and calculation operations, a ROM that stores various programs and data executed by the CPU, a RAM that stores temporary data when the program is executed, and peripheral devices. Peripheral device interface (PIO) for exchanging data with the CPU, an oscillator that outputs a clock for the CPU to perform operations, a watchdog timer for monitoring CPU runaway, and a CTC that periodically generates an interrupt signal Various peripheral LSIs such as (counter / timer circuit) are connected to each other via a bus. Also, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 represents the direction in which data or signals are input / output. In FIG. 5, only the CPU 201 and ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200 and the CPU 221 mounted on the sub control board 220 are illustrated, and the RAM, PIO, and sub control mounted on the main control board 200 are illustrated. The illustration of other various devices such as RAM and ROM mounted on the substrate 220 is omitted.

  As shown in the drawing, the main control board 200 receives a game ball detection signal from the start port switch 17s, the big prize port switch 31s, the gate switch 36s, etc. Are determined, commands for instructing various operations are output toward the sub-control board 220, the effect control board 230, the payout control board 240, the launch control board 260, and the like. Further, the main control board 200 includes a normal electric accessory solenoid 17m for opening and closing a pair of blade pieces provided at the start port 17, a large prize opening solenoid 31m for opening and closing the big prize opening 31d, and The symbol display device 28 for displaying the fluctuation stop of the normal symbol and the special symbol is connected via the relay terminal board, and outputs signals to these various solenoids 17m and 31m and the symbol display device 28. The operation is also controlled. As described above, the main control board 200 of the present embodiment receives the detection signal of the game ball, determines the basic progress of the game, whether or not it is related to the prize ball, opens the big prize opening 31d, etc. Since it controls various types of control, it corresponds to the “main control unit” of the present invention.

  When the sub-control board 220 receives various commands from the main control board 200, it analyzes the contents of the command and produces a game according to the result. That is, various effects are directed toward the effect control board 230 that controls the effect display device 27 described above, the amplifier board 224 that drives the various speakers 5y and 6c, and the decoration drive board 226 that drives the various LEDs and lamps for decoration. The game is rendered by outputting commands and driving signals. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation switches SW <b> 1 and SW <b> 2 provided on the front side of the upper plate part 5 are connected to the sub control board 220 via the effect button board 228. When the player operates the operation switches SW1 and SW2, this operation signal is supplied to the sub-control board 220, and the sub-control board 220 reflects the received operation signal on various effect contents including the effect display device 27. It is possible. Note that the sub-control board 220 of this embodiment corresponds to the “sub-control unit” of the present invention because it controls the overall control of various effects performed in accordance with the game.

  When the effect control board 230 receives a command from the sub-control board 220, the effect display device 27 is controlled in accordance with the contents of the command to thereby display the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d on the liquid crystal screen. Etc. to produce a variable display. As will be described in detail later, the display symbol 27a of this embodiment corresponds to the “first effect symbol” of the present invention, and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d of this embodiment are This corresponds to the “second effect design” of the invention. Therefore, the production control board 230 of this embodiment corresponds to the “production control unit” of the present invention.

  The payout control board 240 is responsible for various controls relating to so-called ball rental and prize ball payout. For example, when the player operates the ball lending switch 5b or the return switch 5c provided in the upper platen 5 described above, this signal is transmitted from the ball lending display board 242 to the payout control board 240. The ball lending device 13 pays out a ball while exchanging data with the payout control board 240. When the main control board 200 outputs a prize ball payout command, the payout control board 240 receives this command and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m to pay out the prize ball.

B. Overview of the game:
Next, an outline of the game performed in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be briefly described.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, a game is performed as follows. First, when a player throws a game ball into the recess of the upper plate portion 5 and rotates the launch handle 8, the game balls thrown into the upper plate portion 5 are supplied to the launcher unit 12 one by one, The game area 11 is fired as described above with reference to FIG. The strength at which the game ball is launched can be adjusted by the rotation angle of the launching handle 8, and the player can aim the game ball by changing the rotation angle of the launching handle 8.

  When the launched game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 36 provided on the left side of the game area 11, the normal symbol variation display is started in the normal symbol display unit 29 of the symbol display device 28. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the symbol display device 28 is provided with the left normal symbol display unit 28a and the right normal symbol display unit 28b. The left normal symbol display unit 28a is configured to be capable of lighting red light, and the right normal symbol display unit 28b is configured to be capable of lighting green light. When the normal symbol variation display is started, the left and right normal symbol display portions 28a and 28b perform blinking display.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which normal symbols are variably displayed. The normal symbol in the variable display can take the four states shown in the figure. First, the state shown in FIG. 6A represents a state in which the left normal symbol display unit 29a is turned on and the right normal symbol display unit 29b is turned off. FIG. 6B shows a state where both the left normal symbol display unit 29a and the right normal symbol display unit 29b are lit. FIG. 6C shows a state in which the left normal symbol display unit 29a is turned off and the right normal symbol display unit 29b is turned on. FIG. 6D shows the left normal symbol display unit 29a and the right normal symbol display. Each of the portions 29b represents a state where the light is turned off. During the normal symbol variation display, these four display states are displayed in a mode of switching one after another at a high speed, and when a predetermined time elapses, the display is stopped in any one of the four display states. At this time, when the display is stopped in a predetermined display state, a so-called normal symbol is reached and the start port 17 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). In the present embodiment, the display state shown in FIG. 6C, that is, the state in which the left normal symbol display unit 29a is turned off and the right normal symbol display unit 29b is lit is set for the normal symbol. Yes.

  If the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 36 during the normal symbol variation display, the passage of this game ball is stored as the number of holdings, and after the current normal symbol variation display is completed, the variation display is performed. Is done. Up to four normal symbol holds can be stored, and the stored number of normal symbols is displayed on the normal symbol hold display section 29c (see FIG. 3).

  Next, when a game ball enters the start port 17 that is in an open state, a special symbol variation display is started. The special symbol is displayed by the special symbol display unit 30 as described with reference to FIG. As described above, the special symbol display unit 30 of this embodiment is composed of the left special symbol display unit 30a composed of 7-segment LEDs and the right special symbol display unit 30b of the comma portion. The symbol display sections 30a and 30b can be lit in red, orange, or green.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which special symbols are variably displayed. During the special symbol variation display, the symbol “A” or “Y” is displayed on the left special symbol display unit 30a, and the comma “.” Is displayed on the right special symbol display unit 30b. Further, “A” and “Y” in the left special symbol display unit 30a and the comma “.” In the right special symbol display unit 30b can take three states of red, orange, and green. In the special symbol display unit 30 of the present embodiment, these display states can be combined to display 12 types of states shown in FIG. In the figure, the 7-segment LED or the comma portion that is finely hatched indicates that it is lit in a red state. In addition, a little rough hatching indicates that it is lit and displayed in an orange state, and a rough hatching indicates that it is lit and displayed in a green state. . When the special symbol variation display is started, these 12 types of display states are displayed in such a manner that they are switched one after another at a high speed.

  Among the 12 types of display modes shown in FIG. 7, a combination of red “Y” and red “comma” (hereinafter, this combination is expressed as “red Y-red comma”), and The combination of orange “Y” and red “comma” (that is, “orange Y-red comma”) is set as an out-of-band design. The remaining 10 kinds of symbol combinations are winning symbols. After the special symbol is variably displayed on the symbol display device 28, when the symbol that has been stopped is a winning symbol, a so-called special gaming state is started, and a gaming state in which the special winning opening 31d is opened in a predetermined manner ( Round) is repeated a predetermined number of times. If a game ball enters the start port 17 during the special symbol fluctuation display, the game ball entry is stored as the number of special symbols held, and after the current special symbol fluctuation display ends, Fluctuation display is performed. It is possible to store up to four special symbols on hold, and the number of stored special symbols is displayed on the special symbol hold display section 30c (see FIG. 3).

  In the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, a “specific probability variation symbol” is provided in addition to the “normal symbol” and “probability variation symbol” as the symbol. In FIG. 7, “normal winning symbol” is surrounded by a broken line, “probable variation winning symbol” is surrounded by a solid line, and “specific certain variation changing symbol” is surrounded by a one-dot chain line. When a game ball enters the start port 17, whether or not a special symbol is determined is determined, and any of these 12 types of special symbols is stopped and displayed on the special symbol display unit 30 according to the determination result. Is done. For example, when the success / failure determination result is a normal hit, the normal hit symbol indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7 is stopped and displayed. If the winning / failing determination result is a specified probability variation, the specified probability variation symbol surrounded by a one-dot chain line, and if the winning / failing determination result is out of the range, it is surrounded by a thin solid line. The symbol is stopped and displayed. As described above, the special symbol is a symbol representing the result of the determination as to whether or not the main control board 200 is used.

  When the special symbol of the special symbol display unit 30 in the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed as "normal winning symbol" or "probable winning symbol", the special gaming state is started and the special winning opening 31d is in a predetermined mode. The round opened at is repeated up to 15 rounds. When the “normal winning symbol” or the “probable variation winning symbol” is stopped and the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, it becomes easier for the game ball to enter, and the player receives a number of awards until the 15th round is completed. It becomes possible to acquire a ball. Such a game state is a so-called “hit game”. In addition, even after the special game state ends, for a while, the opening time of the start port 17 is extended so that the game ball can easily enter the start port 17 and the fluctuation time of the normal symbol and the special symbol is shortened. State (so-called short-time state). In addition, when the winning symbol is “probable variation winning symbol”, the probability that the winning symbol is stopped and displayed again is set to a high value. A gaming state in which the probability of being stopped and displayed with a winning symbol is high is called a probability variation state (or probability variation state). In this way, when the “normal winning symbol” or the “probable variation winning symbol” is stopped and displayed, the player can proceed with the game very advantageously. It is normal to do.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol on the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed with the “specific probability change symbol”, the big hit game is started, and after the big hit game is ended, the above-described probability change state is obtained. However, the big hit game started by being stopped and displayed with the “specific probability change symbol” is performed only for two rounds. In addition, a single round ends when the special winning opening 31d is opened for a very short time (in this embodiment, 0.1 second). For this reason, even if a big hit game is started with the “specific probability change symbol”, the prize ball is almost not paid out, and it ends in a very short time, and the player is unaware that the big hit game has been performed. The game continues. As a result, when the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed with the “specific probability variation symbol”, the player feels as if the player has suddenly switched from the normal gaming state to the certain variation state. It should be noted that the number of rounds when the “specific probability variation symbol” is stopped and displayed is less than the number of rounds when the “normal probability symbol” or “probability variation symbol” is stopped and displayed (15 in this embodiment). If it is a plurality of times, it is also possible to make three rounds, four rounds, etc. instead of two rounds.

  In the present embodiment, the 15th round big hit which is started when the “normal winning symbol” or the “probable variation winning symbol” is stopped and displayed on the special symbol display unit 30 is the “first big hit mode of the present invention”. The two-round jackpot that is started when the “specific probability variation symbol” is stopped and displayed corresponds to the “second jackpot mode” of the present invention.

  In this way, the special symbol variably displayed on the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed in which symbol greatly influences the gaming state. However, it is not always easy to determine whether the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is “ordinary winning symbol”, “probable variation winning symbol”, or “disappearing symbol”. In addition, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, in addition to these symbols, a “specific probability variation symbol” is also provided. It is difficult. Therefore, in accordance with the above-described change stop display of the special symbol, the effect display device 27 also performs the effect of displaying the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d in a variable stop display.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing how the display symbol 27 a is variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. As shown in the figure, the display symbol 27a is set with twelve types of symbols that are designed from alphabets “A” to “L”. When the special symbol variation display is started, the display symbol 27a starts the variation display by switching the symbols “A” to “L” one after another. When the special symbol is stopped and displayed in any of the symbols shown in FIG. 7, the special symbol is stopped and displayed in accordance with the special symbol. FIG. 8 also shows which special symbols each display symbol 27a corresponds to twelve kinds of display symbols 27a. In this way, the display symbol 27a starts variable display together with the special symbol, and when the special symbol is stopped and displayed, the display symbol 27a performs stop display with the symbol corresponding to the special symbol. Accordingly, the display symbol 27a of the present embodiment corresponds to the “first effect symbol” of the present invention, and the portion displaying the display symbol 27a on the effect display device 27 is the “first effect symbol” of the present invention. Corresponds to the “design display part of“.

  In the present embodiment, the display design 27a is described as a design in which alphabets “A” to “L” are designed. However, the design displayed as the display design 27a is as described above. It is not limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the inside of a simple figure such as a circle, triangle, or square is divided into a plurality of areas, and a plurality of symbols are set by coloring each area, and these symbols are displayed. It may be displayed as a symbol 27a.

  Compared to the special symbol shown in FIG. 7, the display symbol 27a as shown in FIG. 8 makes it easier to understand the result of the special symbol, but the player can intuitively understand the result of the decision. It is not easy to understand. In addition, since the display contents are simple, it is not possible to expect many effects for producing a game. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the display symbol 27a, three character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d are also displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an aspect of the effect performed using the three character symbols displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, in addition to the display symbol 27a, three character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d and a background symbol 27e are displayed on the liquid crystal display screen constituting the effect display device 27. When the variation display of the special symbol is started on the symbol display device 28 described above, the effect display device 27 starts the variation display of these three character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d at the same time in addition to the display symbol 27a. In the present embodiment, as a character design, a design in which nine numbers from “1” to “9” are designed is prepared. As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 10, the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are displayed larger than the display symbol 27a, and change display and stop display are performed in the same manner as the display symbols. Accordingly, the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d in this embodiment correspond to the “second effect symbols” of the present invention, and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d on the effect display device 27. The portion for displaying the symbol corresponds to the “second effect symbol display portion” of the present invention.

  FIG. 10A conceptually shows a state in which the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are variably displayed on the screen on which the background image 27e is displayed. When a predetermined time elapses after the variable display is started, the left character symbol 27b is first stopped and displayed in any one of “1” to “9”, and then the right character symbol 27d is stopped and displayed. The middle character symbol 27c is stopped and displayed.

  The combination of the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d that are stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 is interlocked with the combination of the special symbols that are stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 described above (therefore, the display symbol 27a). It is configured. For example, when the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 stops at “normal hit symbol”, the three character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed at the same symbol representing an even number, In the case of stopping at “symbol”, the display is stopped with the same symbol representing an odd number. On the other hand, when the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 is stopped at the “specific probability variation symbol”, the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are stopped and displayed in a predetermined combination that is not aligned with the same symbol, and the “off symbol” is displayed. When stopping, the three symbols are stopped and displayed in any combination that does not match the same symbol.

  In this way, the special symbol displayed on the symbol display device 28, the display symbol 27a displayed on the effect display device 27, and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d correspond to each other in display contents. The timing at which the display symbol is confirmed is set to be the same. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the effect display device 27 is provided at a position that is more easily noticeable than the symbol display device 28, and the display screen is large and the display content is easy to understand. It is normal to play a game while looking at the screen of the device 27. In particular, it is normal to play a game while looking at the three character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d. Therefore, when the left character symbol 27b that is first stopped and displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 and the right character symbol 27d that is subsequently stopped and displayed are the same symbol, it is stopped and displayed last. The middle character symbol 27c also stops at the same symbol, and the player pays attention to the variation of the symbol so that the so-called big hit game is started. In this way, the effect of variably displaying the last symbol with the two character symbols stopped at the same symbol is called a reach effect, and it is possible to increase the interest of the player by performing the reach effect. It has become.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, even when the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are not aligned with the same symbol in the effect display device 27 (so-called “split eyes”), it is not always “out of”. In some cases, the symbol display device 28 may be stopped and displayed with a “specific probability variation symbol”. However, since the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 is set to a similar symbol, it is determined whether the special symbol that has been stopped is “Out of symbol” or “Specific probability variation per symbol”. In addition, the character symbols that are stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 are exactly the same in that they are “separated” in which the three symbols are not aligned, and are difficult to distinguish. In addition, the two-round jackpot game, which is performed following the stop display of the “specific probability variation symbol”, ends in a very short time without obtaining a prize ball. Is often not noticed.

  After all, when a “specific probability change hit” occurs, it seems that for the player, the game state suddenly (that is, the game does not stop at the winning symbol and therefore does not play the big hit game), and the game state has changed to the probability change state. As a result, it is possible to greatly enhance the interest of the player in the game.

  Hereinafter, in order to realize the above-described game, details of control executed mainly on the main control board 200 and the sub control board 220 will be described.

C. Overview of control:
The progress of the game performed in the gaming machine 1 is controlled by the main control board 200. Various effects performed as the game progresses are executed by the sub control board 220 and the effect control board 230 connected to the sub control board 220 under the control of the main control board 200. In the following, first, the game control process performed on the main control board 200 to advance the game will be described, and then the effect control process performed on the sub-control board 220 in order to produce an effect in accordance with the progress of the game. Will be described.

C-1. Game control processing:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of a game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 to control the progress of the game. As shown in the figure, in the game control process, each process such as a prize ball-related process, a normal symbol game process, a normal electric accessory stop process, a special symbol game process, and a special electric accessory game process is repeatedly executed. The time required for one round of processing is about 4 msec. Therefore, these various types of processing are repeatedly executed about every 4 msec. The main control board 200 advances the game of the entire gaming machine 1 by transmitting various commands to the various control boards including the sub-control board 220 during these processes. The game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 will be described below according to the flowchart.

  When starting the game control process, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performs a process (pay ball related process) for paying out a game ball as a prize ball (S50). In this process, it is detected whether or not a game ball has entered a switch related to winning a game ball (such as the start opening switch 17s or the big prize opening switch 31s) among various switches connected to the main control board 200. To do. When a game ball is detected, the number of prize balls to be paid out is calculated, and then a process for outputting a prize ball number designation command to the payout control board 240 is performed.

  When a prize ball number designation command output from the main control board 200 is received, the payout control board 240 interprets the content of the command. And according to the result, a drive signal is output to the payout motor 109m mounted in the payout device 109, and the process of actually paying out the winning ball is performed.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 outputs a prize ball number designation command (S50), this time, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol game process is performed, that is, whether or not the normal symbol variation stop display is performed (S90). ). Such a determination is made by detecting whether or not the ordinary electric accessory is in operation, in other words, whether or not the starting port 17 is open. If the normal electric accessory is not operating, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is performed (S90: yes), and if the normal electric accessory is operating, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not performed (S90: no).

  When it is determined that the normal symbol game process is to be performed (S90: yes), the normal symbol game process described below is performed (S100). On the other hand, when it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not performed (S90: no), the normal symbol game process (S100) is skipped.

  In the normal symbol game process (S100), the following processes are mainly performed. First, it is determined whether or not the number of held ordinary symbols is present (whether or not it is “0”). Here, the reserved number of normal symbols is set when the game ball passes through the normal symbol operating gate 36, and in this embodiment, the upper limit value of the reserved number is set to “4”. Then, based on the determination result of the normal symbol, it is determined whether the normal symbol is to be stopped and displayed as a winning symbol (see FIG. 6 (c)) or any other outlier symbol. Next, after setting the normal symbol fluctuation display time, the normal symbol fluctuation display is started. When the variable display time has elapsed, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed with the determined symbol. When the normal symbol is stopped and displayed at this time, the operation of the normal electric accessory is started. . In the normal symbol game process, the normal symbol variation stop display is performed as described above, and when the normal symbol is stopped and displayed in the winning symbol, the process of operating the normal electric accessory is performed. When the ordinary electric accessory operates, the pair of blade pieces provided at the start port 17 rotate outward, and the start port 17 is in an open state.

  When the normal symbol game process is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not the normal electric accessory is operating (S190). If it is in operation (S190: yes), a process for stopping the ordinary electric accessory (ordinary electric accessory stopping process) is performed (S200). On the other hand, when the ordinary electric accessory is not operating (S190: no), it is not necessary to perform the ordinary electric accessory stopping process, and the process is skipped.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the ordinary electric accessory stopping process. Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to a flowchart. In the ordinary electric accessory stop process, first, it is determined whether or not a predetermined operating time of the ordinary electric accessory has passed (S202). As described above, when the ordinary electric accessory is operated, the start port 17 is in an open state, but when a predetermined time has elapsed, the pair of blade pieces are restored to the normal state in which they are upright again. Therefore, in S202, it is determined whether or not the normal electric accessory has reached a preset operation time. If it is determined that the operating time has been reached (S202: yes), after stopping the operation of the ordinary electric accessory (S206), the ordinary electric accessory game process is terminated and the game control shown in FIG. Return to processing. Note that the normal electric accessory operating time (that is, the opening time of the start port 17) is set to a short time (0.5 seconds in this embodiment) in the normal gaming state, but the opening time extending function described later. When is operated, it is extended to a long time (5 seconds in this embodiment).

  On the other hand, when a prescribed number of game balls enter the opening 17, the start port 17 returns to the normal state even when the opening time has not reached the set time. Correspondingly, if the operating time of the ordinary electric accessory has not reached the predetermined time (S202: no), it is determined whether or not a specified number of game balls have entered the ordinary electric accessory ( S204) When it is determined that a specified number of game balls have entered (S204: yes), the operation of the ordinary electric accessory is stopped and the ordinary electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 12 is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no prescribed number of balls (S204: no), the ordinary electric accessory game process shown in FIG. Return to the game control process shown in.

  When the normal symbol display unit 29 stops and displays the winning symbol, the operation of opening the start port 17 for a predetermined time is executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. Accordingly, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “starting port opening means” of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the game control process, it is determined whether or not the special symbol game process is started after returning from the ordinary electric accessory stop process (S300). Such a determination is made by detecting whether the condition device is operating. Here, the condition device is a device that is a condition for operating the accessory continuous operation device, and the special symbols are “normal hit symbol”, “probable hit symbol”, and “specific probability variable symbol” shown in FIG. It is a device that starts operation when a stop display is displayed in any of the above. The condition device operates the accessory continuous operation device, thereby starting a gaming state (so-called big hit game) in which the big winning opening 31d is continuously opened. Here, “whether or not the condition device is operating” means “whether or not a big hit game is being played”. The condition device and the accessory continuous action device are configured by a control program executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. Then, if the condition device is not in operation (if it is not in jackpot game), it is determined that special symbol game processing is to be performed (S300: yes), and if the condition device is in operation (if in jackpot game) It is determined that the special symbol game process is not performed (S300: no).

  If it is determined that the special symbol game process is to be performed as a result of the above determination (S300: yes), the special symbol game process described below is performed (S320). On the other hand, when it is determined not to perform the special symbol game process (S300: no), the special symbol game process (S320) is skipped.

  As will be described in detail later, in the special symbol game process (S320), the following process is performed. First, whether or not the special symbol is successful is determined to determine whether it is one of “normal hit”, “probable hit”, “specific probability hit”, or “out”. And if it is any of "normal hit", "probability change hit", or "specific probability change hit symbol", the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are operated to start the so-called jackpot game.

  When the special symbol game process (S320) is completed and the game control process shown in FIG. 11 is resumed, it is determined whether or not the condition device is in operation (S390). Then, if it is determined that the condition device is in operation (S390: yes), a process for playing the big hit game (special electric accessory game process) is started (S400). The details of the special electric accessory game process will be described later. Depending on the special symbol winning pattern that activated the condition device, the big hit game is performed in either of 15 round big hits or 2 round big hits. Is called. On the other hand, if it is determined that the condition device is not in operation (S390: no), the process returns to the top of the game control process without performing the special electric accessory game process, and the prize ball related process is started again.

  When the winning symbol is stopped and displayed on the special symbol display unit 30, depending on the winning symbol, either the 15 round big hit (first big hit mode) or the two round big hit (second big hit mode) may be used. The process of opening the big prize opening 31d and playing the big hit game is executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. Further, the operation contents for the 15th round jackpot and the operation contents for the 2nd round jackpot are stored as programs and data in the ROM of the main control board 200. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “big hit game execution means” of the present invention, and the ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200 corresponds to the “big hit mode of the present invention. It corresponds to “memory means”.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the game progresses by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 repeatedly performing the game control processing as described above. Then, whether or not the special symbol is successful is determined in the special symbol game process (S320), the operation of the condition device is started according to the result, and the big hit game is executed in the special electric game game process (S400). It is like that. The detailed contents of the special symbol game process (S320) and the special electric accessory game process (S400) will be described below.

C-2. Special design game processing:
13 and 14 are flowcharts showing the flow of the special symbol game process. As described above, this process is a process executed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 in the game control process shown in FIG. When the special symbol game process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the special symbol is changing (S322). As described above with reference to FIG. 3, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the special symbol display unit 30 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the special symbols can be variably displayed.

  If the special symbol on the special symbol display unit 30 is not changing (S322: no), it is determined whether it is during the display time for displaying the special symbol stop symbol (S324). That is, since a stop display time is provided for the player to confirm the stop symbol for a while after the special symbol change display is ended, it is determined whether or not the stop display time is in progress. When it is confirmed that the special symbol is not variably displayed and the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S324: no), it is determined whether or not the number of special symbols held is “0”. (S326). Here, the special symbol holding number is set when a game ball enters the start port 17 and can be set until the upper limit value “4” is reached. If the number of special symbol hold is “0” (S326: yes), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the number of special symbol hold is not “0”, in other words, if the special symbol hold remains (S326: no), the special symbol determination is started.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, prior to determining whether or not a special symbol is appropriate, it is determined whether or not the probability of jackpot occurrence is in a high probability state (probability variation state) (S328). The probability variation state is when the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display unit 30 is stopped at either the “probability variation symbol” or the “specific probability variation symbol” shown in FIG. It continues until the next special game starts. Therefore, in S328, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is a probable change state. If the probable change is in progress (S328: yes), whether or not the special symbol is determined in a state where the probability of jackpot is set high. A determination is made (S330). On the other hand, if the probability change is not in progress (S328: no), whether the special symbol is true or not is determined with the probability of jackpot set to a normal value (S332).

  The special symbol determination is performed by referring to the following determination table and jackpot determination table. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a success / failure determination table referred to for determining whether or not a special symbol is successful in the special symbol game process of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the success / failure determination table includes a probability change table shown in FIG. 15 (b) and a non-probability change table shown in FIG. 15 (a). A special symbol success / failure determination random number is stored in association with a success / failure determination result of either “big hit” or “out”. 15A and 15B, the probability change success / failure determination table has a higher probability of occurrence of “big hit” than the non-probability change success / failure determination table. Yes. Here, the special symbol success / failure determination random number is a random number that is acquired when the game ball enters the start port 17 and stored in the RAM on the main control board 200. A special symbol is determined by referring to the success / failure determination table from the special symbol determination random number. As a result, if it is determined to be a “big hit”, the special symbol is determined by referring to the jackpot state determination table. Determine the jackpot aspect of.

  If the special symbol is determined with reference to the non-probability determination table shown in FIG. 15 (a), the “big hit” is won with a normal probability, as shown in FIG. 15 (b). In the case of determining whether or not the special symbol is determined with reference to the probability variation determination table, the “big hit” is won with a higher probability than the normal probability. In the present embodiment, since these determination tables are stored in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200, the ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200 corresponds to the “lottery status storage means” of the present invention. ing.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a big hit mode determination table that is referred to in order to determine the big hit mode when the determination result of the special symbol is a big hit. As shown in the figure, in the big hit mode determination table, the big hit mode of “normal hit”, “probable hit”, or “specific positive hit” is stored in association with the big hit mode determination random number. Yes. Here, the big hit mode determination random number is a random number acquired when the determination result of the special symbol is “big hit”. The determination of the big hit mode may be performed together with the determination of the special symbol stop symbol in the special symbol variation pattern setting process (see FIG. 17) to be described later. In this case, the big hit is made by the special symbol stop symbol determination random number. Since the mode is also determined, there is no need to provide a big hit mode determination random number or a big hit mode determination table.

  In S328 to S332 of the special symbol game process shown in FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not the probability change is in progress prior to the determination of whether or not the special symbol is correct. If the special symbol is determined with reference to the jackpot determination table in FIG. 16 and the probability change is not in progress, the special symbol is determined with reference to the determination table in FIG. 15A and the jackpot determination table in FIG. Judgment is made. As described above, when it is determined whether or not the special symbol is appropriate, a process for setting a variation pattern of the special symbol is performed (S338).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for setting a variation pattern of a special symbol (special symbol variation pattern setting processing) in the special symbol game process. Here, the special symbol variation pattern defines the variation time of the special symbol, and the variation time of the special symbol also corresponds to the variation time of the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d. When the special symbol variation pattern setting process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the result of the determination is a probability variation (S3380). If it is a probability variation (S3380: yes), a special symbol stop symbol for probability variation is determined (S3382). As shown in FIG. 7, since four kinds of symbols are set as the probability variation winning symbols, one of the symbols is determined by lottery.

  On the other hand, if the result of the determination is not a positive hit (S3380: no), it is determined whether or not the normal hit is obtained (S3384). If it is determined that the normal hit has occurred (S3384: yes), the stop symbol of the special symbol for normal hit is determined (S3386). As shown in FIG. 7, since five patterns are set as the normal winning symbols, a lottery is performed to determine any one symbol.

  Further, when the result of the determination is not a normal hit (S3384: no), it is next determined whether or not it is a specific probability change (S3388). If it is determined that the specific probability variation has occurred (S3388: yes), the specific probability variation symbol is determined (S3390). As shown in FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, only one specific probability variation symbol is set, so if the determination result is a specific probability variation, a lottery is performed. The stop symbol can be determined without any change. Of course, a plurality of types of symbols with specific probability variation may be provided, and the symbols may be determined by lottery.

  As described above, when the determination result of the special symbol is a win, after determining the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the hit mode such as the probability variation, the normal hit, the specific probability variation, A variation pattern of the special symbol is determined according to the hit mode (S3395). When determining the variation pattern of the special symbol, if a plurality of variation patterns are provided according to the winning mode, a lottery is performed and one variation pattern is selected from them. Thus, when the special symbol variation pattern is determined according to the hit state of the special symbol, the special symbol variation pattern setting process of FIG. 17 is terminated and the process returns to the special symbol game process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the result of the determination is not a specific probability variation (S3388: no), since it is not any of “probability variation”, “ordinary success”, or “specific probability variation”, the determination result of the success / failure is Since it can be determined that it is “displacement”, it is only necessary to determine a stop symbol and a variation pattern for removal. However, in the case of “disappearing”, there are a case where it is disengaged after the reach effect and a case where it disengages without reaching the reach effect. Therefore, before determining the stop symbol and the variation pattern, first, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not a reach effect is to be performed (S3396). Then, depending on the presence or absence of the reach effect, a special symbol stop symbol and a special symbol variation pattern are determined by lottery (S3398).

  When the special symbol stop pattern and the variation pattern are determined according to the determination result by performing the above-described processing, the special symbol variation pattern setting process shown in FIG. Return to symbol game processing.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 returns from the special symbol fluctuation pattern setting process, it outputs a special symbol fluctuation pattern designation command to the sub-control board 220 (S340), and displays the special symbol fluctuation display on the symbol display device 28. Start (S342). The special symbol variation pattern designation command output here is a command for designating the special symbol variation pattern determined in the special symbol variation pattern setting process shown in FIG. Further, since the special symbol variation display is started when the special symbol variation pattern designation command is output from the main control board 200, the special symbol variation pattern designation command indicates the timing of the special symbol variation start, This is a command for contacting the sub-control board 220. Therefore, the special symbol variation pattern designation command of this embodiment corresponds to the “variation start information” of the present invention.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 starts displaying the variation of the special symbol (S342), the CPU 201 subsequently performs a process of subtracting 1 from the number of special symbol hold (S344). As described above, the symbol display device 28 of this embodiment can display the twelve kinds of special symbols shown in FIG. 7, and performs variable display by switching the display of these symbols one after another. Also, when the special symbol variation display is started, the number of special symbols held is consumed, so 1 is subtracted from the data of the number of special symbols stored in the RAM on the main control board 200. It is. Then, when 1 is subtracted from the special symbol holding number, a special symbol stop information designation command is output toward the sub-control board 220 (S346). The special symbol stop information designation command output here is a command for designating a special symbol stop symbol determined together with the special symbol variation pattern in the special symbol variation pattern setting process described above with reference to FIG. Therefore, the special symbol stop information designation command of this embodiment corresponds to the “stop symbol information” of the present invention.

  Based on these commands output from the main control board 200, the CPU 221 on the sub-control board 220 side obtains the special symbol variation pattern and the special symbol stop symbol. And after performing the process mentioned later, after determining the production | presentation aspect in the production | presentation display apparatus 27, various commands are output toward the production | presentation control board 230 which controls operation | movement of the production | presentation display apparatus 27. FIG. In the effect control board 230, the control of the effect display device 27 is executed based on the command from the sub-control board 220, and as a result, on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27, the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, Variation display and stop display of 27c and 27d are performed.

  The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 determines the special symbol variation pattern and the special symbol stop symbol as described above, and sub-commands the special symbol variation pattern designation command and the special symbol stop information designation command corresponding to these. When output to the control board 220, the special symbol game process shown in FIG. 13 is terminated, and the game control process shown in FIG. 11 is resumed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the special symbol on the special symbol display unit 30 is fluctuating in the process of S322 immediately after the special symbol game process is started (S322: yes), the fluctuation pattern of the special symbol is already stopped. It is considered that the symbol has been determined and the change in the special symbol has started. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the special symbol variation time has elapsed (S348). That is, since the variation time of the special symbol is determined in advance according to the variation pattern, it is determined whether a predetermined variation time has elapsed by setting the timer at the same time as the variation of the special symbol is started. If the variation time has not yet elapsed (S348: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the variation time has elapsed (S348: yes), the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d that are variably displayed on the effect display device 27 toward the sub-control board 220 (and the case) Depending on the situation, the symbol stop command of the background symbol 27e) is output (S350), and the special symbol of the special symbol display unit 30 that is variably displayed on the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed (S352). When the symbol stop command is output from the main control board 200, the special symbol that has been variably displayed is stopped and displayed. Therefore, the symbol stop command indicates the timing of the special symbol stop display to the sub-control board 220. It is a command to communicate with. Therefore, the symbol stop command of this embodiment corresponds to the “stop display information” of the present invention. Then, after setting the special symbol stop display time on the symbol display device 28 (S354), it is determined whether or not the set stop display time has elapsed (S356). If the special symbol stop display time has not elapsed (S356: no), the special symbol game process is terminated and the game control process shown in FIG. 11 is resumed.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S356: yes), it is determined whether or not the special symbol that has been stopped and displayed is a symbol that will activate the condition device (S358 in FIG. 14). Here, the symbol that activates the condition device is one of the normal hit symbol, the probability variation symbol, and the specific probability variation symbol (that is, the big hit symbol) shown in FIG. In S358 of FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the symbols stopped and displayed on the special symbol display unit 30 of the symbol display device 28 are these jackpot symbols.

  If the symbol that is stopped and displayed is a symbol that activates the condition device (S358: yes), it is determined whether or not the symbol corresponds to a symbol with a specific probability variation (S360). If the symbol is not a specific probability variation symbol, that is, if the symbol that caused the condition device to operate is a normal symbol or a probability variation symbol (S360: no), the accessory continuous activation device is continuously activated. The number of times (the number of continuous operations) is set to the standard number (15 in this embodiment) (S364). On the other hand, when the symbol that causes the condition device to operate is the symbol with specific probability variation (S360: yes), the number of continuous operations is set to the number for specific probability variation (two in this embodiment). (S362).

  Next, the operation of the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device is started (S366). Here, the accessory continuous operation device is a device that reopens the once closed big prize opening 31d, and is a device that starts the operation when the condition device operates. As will be described in detail later, a so-called big hit game is started when the condition device operates and the accessory continuous operation device starts operating.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, the probability changing function and the time shortening function do not work when the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are operated. The time reduction function is a function for shortening the time for which the symbols are variably displayed on the symbol display device 28 and the effect display device 27. Accordingly, when the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are operated in S366 of FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is being changed (S368). If the probability change is in progress (S368: yes), since the probability change function and the time reduction function are operating, these functions are stopped (S370). On the other hand, if the current gaming state is not in a certain change (S368: no), it is checked whether the time is short (S374), and if it is short (S374: yes), the time reduction function is stopped. (S376). Further, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, when the time reduction function is activated, the function of extending the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory is also working. Therefore, if the time reduction function is stopped in S370 or S376, After the function opening time extension function is also stopped (S372), the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is exited, and the game control process of FIG. 11 is resumed. On the other hand, if the game state when the condition device and the accessory continuous action device are operated in S366 is neither probable nor short (S374: no), the special symbol game process is exited and the game control process is resumed. .

  As described above, the processing in the case where the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is a symbol that activates the conditional device (S358: yes) has been described. If the symbol is not activated (S358: no), the following processing is performed.

  First, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is being changed (S378). As described above, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, the probability variation state is set to continue until the next special gaming state occurs. Therefore, if it is determined that the current gaming state is a probability variation state (S378: yes), the special symbol game processing shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is exited while maintaining the probability variation state, and the game of FIG. Return to control processing.

  If it is determined in S378 that the current gaming state is not in a certain change (S378: no), it is determined whether or not the time is short (S380). If it is determined that the time is short (S380: yes), after counting the number of fluctuations of the special symbol during the time reduction (S382), it is determined whether or not the number of fluctuations has reached a predetermined number (S384). In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the time-short state is set to continue until the next big hit game is started or the special symbol fluctuates a predetermined number of times (here, 100 times). Therefore, when the current gaming state is short (S380: yes), it is determined whether or not the number of changes in the special symbol has reached a predetermined number (S384). If the predetermined number of times has been reached (S384: yes), the time reduction function is stopped (S386), and then the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is also stopped (S372), and then FIG. 13 and FIG. The special symbol game process shown in FIG. 11 is exited and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, if the number of fluctuations of the special symbol has not yet reached the predetermined number (S384: no), the special symbol game process is exited while maintaining the short-time state, and the game control process of FIG. 11 is resumed.

  As described above, in the special symbol game process, whether the special symbol is successful or not is determined, and if the normal hit, the probability variation, or the specific probability variation is detected, the operation of the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device is started. Process. As a result, in the game control process shown in FIG. 11, the special electric accessory game process is subsequently started, and a so-called jackpot game is performed.

C-3. Special electric game game processing:
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a partial flow of the special electric accessory game process. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the remaining flow of the special electric accessory game process. By executing such special electric accessory game processing, a special gaming state (so-called big hit gaming state) occurs. Hereinafter, the special electric accessory game process will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, but as a preparation, the contents of a game called a special game state will be briefly described.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 2, a special winning opening 31d is provided below the game board, and the special winning opening 31d is closed in a normal gaming state. However, when the special game is started, the special winning opening 31d is opened. The “special electric accessory” referred to in this specification refers to the special winning opening 31d. Since the big winning opening 31d can be opened larger than the other winning openings, when the big winning opening 31d is in the open state, the game ball enters with high probability. The opened large winning opening 31d is once closed when a predetermined opening time elapses or a predetermined number of game balls enter, but is again opened when a predetermined closing time elapses. The “container continuous operation device” referred to in this specification is a device that reopens the special winning opening 31d. A game from when the special winning opening 31d is opened until it is closed is called “round”. If these rounds are repeated and a predetermined number of rounds are consumed, the big hit game is completed.

  In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a “special probability variation symbol” is set as a special symbol, and when the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are activated by this symbol, the following big hit game is performed. Done. That is, after the special winning opening 31d is opened for about 0.1 second, it is closed immediately and one round is completed, and when this is repeated two times, the special game is terminated. The special game performed in such a manner is completed in a very short time with almost no game balls entering the large winning opening 31d, and thus no prize balls are paid out. Therefore, the game is continued without the player noticing that the big hit game has been performed.

  The jackpot game described above is realized by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performing the special electric accessory game process shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, detailed processing contents will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

  When the special electric accessory game process is started, the CPU 201 first determines whether or not the special winning opening 31d is open (S402). The special winning opening 31d is closed in the normal gaming state, and therefore, the special winning opening 31d is closed immediately after the start of the special game. Therefore, it is determined that the special winning opening is not open (S402: no), and it is determined whether or not the number of continuous operations of the special electric accessory has reached a predetermined number (S404). In the special symbol game process described above with reference to FIG. 14, the number of continuous operations of the special electric accessory is set to 15 times for “probable change” or “normal hit” and 2 for “specific probability change”. Also, when the big hit gaming state occurs, the special electric accessory is opened a predetermined number of times, and a predetermined number of rounds are repeated. Corresponding to this, when the special winning opening 31d is closed (S402: no), whether or not the number of times of operation of the special electric accessory has reached a predetermined number, in other words, a predetermined number of rounds is determined. It is determined whether or not the processing has been completed (S404).

  As a matter of course, immediately after the special game is started, the number of times of operation of the special electric accessory has not reached the predetermined number (S404: no), so it is determined whether or not the closing time of the special winning opening has elapsed. (S406). The closing time of the big prize opening is a time during which the big prize opening 31d is in a closed state between rounds. Immediately after the special game is started, the special winning opening 31d is in a closed state, and therefore it is naturally determined that the closing time of the special winning opening 31d has elapsed (S406: yes), and the special winning entry 31d is opened. After the opening (S408), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 18 is temporarily terminated and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 returns to the game control process, as shown in FIG. 11, after performing a series of various processes after the prize ball related process (S50), the special electric game game process (S400) again. To start. As described above, the time required for the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 to execute the game control process shown in FIG. 11 once is about 4 msec. Therefore, the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 18 is also executed about every 4 msec. Then, when the special game is started and the special electric accessory game process of FIG. 18 is executed for the first time, as described above, the special winning opening 31d is opened in S406 and the process is ended as it is. When the second round of processing is performed after 4 msec, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is being opened (S402: yes).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has reached a predetermined time (S410). As described above, in the special game, the special winning opening 31d is in an open state, but is closed when the opening time reaches a predetermined time or when a predetermined number of game balls enter the special winning opening 31d. In response to this, in S410, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has reached a predetermined time. If the opening time has reached the predetermined time (S410: yes), after closing the special winning opening 31d (S414), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 18 is exited, and the game control of FIG. Return to processing. On the other hand, if the opening time has not reached the predetermined time (S410: no), it is determined whether or not the number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 31d has reached a specified number (S412). When the number of game balls reaches the specified number (S412: yes), the special winning opening 31d is closed (S414). On the other hand, when the prescribed number has not been reached (S412: no), the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has not yet reached the predetermined time, and the number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 31d is also the prescribed number. Therefore, the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 18 is exited while the special winning opening 31d is kept open, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  While the game control process of FIG. 11 is repeatedly executed, whether the opening time of the special winning opening 31d reaches a predetermined time (S410 of FIG. 18: yes) or a predetermined number of games in the special winning opening 31d. The ball enters (S412: yes), and the special winning opening 31d is closed (S414). Thus, one round of game is completed. Then, when the special electric accessory game process is executed next, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is closed (S402: no), and it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of rounds have ended (S404). If all the rounds have not ended (S404: no), after confirming that the closing time of the big prize opening has reached a predetermined time (S406: yes), the new prize opening 31d is opened again and a new one is opened. A round is started (S408). As described above, when the symbol for operating the condition device is the “specific probability variation symbol”, the opening time of the special winning opening 31d is set to about 0.1 second. Even if the special winning opening 31d is opened, the opening time immediately passes (S410: yes), the opening is closed again (S414), and one round is completed in a very short time.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S404 that the predetermined number of rounds have ended (S404: yes), the operation of the condition device and the accessory continuous action device is stopped in order to end the big hit game (S416). In addition, as described above, when the symbol that caused the condition device to operate is “specific probability variation symbol”, since the number of rounds is set to two, the predetermined number of rounds immediately ends. (S404: yes), the operation of the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device is stopped (S416), and the big hit game is ended.

  When the big hit game is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not the special symbol for operating the condition device is the “probable variation per symbol” or the “specific certain variation per symbol” (S418 in FIG. 19). If it is determined that the symbol is one of these symbols (S418: yes), after the operation of the probability variation function is started (S420), the special symbol that activates the conditional device is “probability per symbol”. It is determined whether or not (S422). As a result, when it is determined that the symbol is a “probable change symbol” (S422: yes), in addition to the probability change function, the operation of the opening time extension function and the time reduction function of the ordinary electric accessory is started (S428, S430). . When the operation of the probability changing function is started in this way, a so-called probability changing state is reached, and as shown in FIG. 13, in the determination of whether or not the special symbol is performed next time or later, the big hit determination is made more than in the normal state. A high probability state occurs with a high probability. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 determines whether or not to operate the probability changing function according to the special symbol that causes the condition device to operate. The special electric combination shown in FIGS. It is executed while performing a game process. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “lottery state setting unit” of the present invention. When the opening time extension function is activated, the opening time of the start port 17 is extended. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 that operates the opening time extending function corresponds to the “opening time extending means” of the present invention.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the symbol is not “probable variation per symbol” (S422: no), the condition device has started to operate according to “specific probability variation per symbol”. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the function for extending the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory was activated at the start of the operation of the condition device, in other words, whether or not the symbol for the specific probability variation was stopped or displayed during the probability variation. Judgment is made (S424). If it is determined that the opening time extension function has been activated at the start of the operation of the condition device (S424: yes), the operation of the opening time extension function and the time reduction function of the ordinary electric accessory is started (S428, S430). On the other hand, when it is determined that the opening time extension function has not been activated at the start of the operation of the condition device (S424: no), the process for starting the opening operation of the opening time extension function and the time reduction function of the ordinary electric accessory. Skip.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the special symbol that causes the condition device to operate is not the “probable variation symbol” or the “specific certain variation symbol” (S418: no), the special symbol that causes the condition device to operate. Since the symbol was “ordinary symbol”, the normal electric accessory opening time extension function is started without activating the probability changing function (S428), and then the time reduction function is started ( S430).

  As described above, depending on the type of special symbol that caused the condition device to operate and the presence / absence of the opening time extension function at the start of operation of the condition device, the probability variation function, the time shortening function, and the opening time extension function are activated. Finally, a command indicating the end of the jackpot game (a jackpot game end command) is output to the sub-control board 220 (S432), and the special electric accessory game process shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 is performed. finish. The so-called big hit game is performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 executing the special electric accessory game process as described above.

  In the special electric utility game process shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 that is executed to execute the big hit game, the big hit game end command is output and the series of processes is ended. The end command is a command indicating the end timing of the big hit game. Therefore, the jackpot game end command in the present embodiment corresponds to the “hit game end information” of the present invention. Further, as described above, the special symbol variation pattern designation command corresponding to the “variation start information” of the present invention, the special symbol stop information designation command corresponding to the “stop symbol information” of the present invention, and the “stop display” of the present invention. The process of outputting the symbol stop command corresponding to “information”, the jackpot game end command corresponding to “hit game end information” of the present invention, and the like, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs the above-described special symbol game processing and special electric combination. This is done while executing a game process. Accordingly, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “game information output means” of the present invention.

  On the main control board 200, the game control process described above is performed, and the game progresses while performing the big hit game according to the determination result of the special symbol. In the special symbol game process and the special electric accessory game process, various commands are output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220. In the sub-control board 220, control related to various effects performed in accordance with the game is performed in accordance with the command thus output. Further, as described above, if the player notices that the two round big hit has occurred, the player will greatly reduce the interest in the game, so the sub-control board 220 of this embodiment is In order to avoid this, special control is also performed. Hereinafter, a process (effect control process) executed by the sub control board 220 to control an effect based on various commands received from the main control board 200 will be described.

D. Production control process:
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of effect control processing performed on the sub-control board 220 in order to perform an effect accompanying the game. This process is a process that is automatically started by the CPU 221 mounted on the sub control board 220 after the predetermined initial operation is finished when the power is turned on to the sub control board 220. Hereinafter, the effect control process (S1000) of the present embodiment will be described according to the flowchart.

  As shown in FIG. 20, in the effect control process, first, it is determined whether or not a special symbol variation pattern designation command has been received from the main control board 200 (S1002). As described above with reference to FIG. 13, when the main control board 200 outputs a special symbol fluctuation pattern designation command to the sub-control board 220 (S340 in FIG. 13), the special symbol fluctuation display is started (S342). For this reason, the special symbol variation pattern designation command is a command indicating the timing at which the special symbol variation display is started. In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the special symbol variation pattern designation command is a command that simultaneously designates not only the timing at which the special symbol variation display is started, but also the time that the variation display that has been started continues. Yes.

  The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 determines whether or not a special symbol variation pattern designation command has been received. If not received yet (S1002: no), the CPU 221 is in a standby state until a command is received. If it is determined that the special symbol variation pattern designation command output from the main control board 200 is received (S1002: yes), the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 transfers the received command toward the effect control board 230. (S1004).

  Note that the special symbol variation pattern designation command transferred from the sub control board 220 toward the effect control board 230 changes the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d in accordance with the timing of starting the variation of the special symbol. It is a command to start. Therefore, the special symbol variation pattern designation command of this embodiment corresponds to the “instruction to start variation of the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol” in the present invention, and the sub-control for transferring the command. The CPU 221 of the substrate 220 corresponds to the “variation start instruction output unit” of the present invention.

  Subsequently, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 determines whether a special symbol stop information designation command is received from the main control board 200 (S1006). As described above, the special symbol stop information designation command is a command indicating in which symbol the special symbol that has been variably displayed is stopped and displayed. As shown in FIG. 13, when the main control board 200 outputs a special symbol variation pattern designation command, it immediately outputs a special symbol stop information designation command. When a pattern designation command is received, a special symbol stop information designation command can also be received.

  If it is determined that a special symbol stop information designation command has been received (S1006: yes), it is determined whether or not the special symbol stop symbol (result of the determination) is a big hit (S1008). . That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 7, the special symbol corresponds to the determination result of any one of “normal hit”, “probable hit”, “specific probability hit”, or “out”, and the special symbol It is determined whether or not the special symbol designated by the stop information designation command corresponds to the winning symbol. If it is determined that the symbol does not correspond to the winning symbol, that is, if the result of the determination is “disappear”, the off-state effect processing is started (S1100). The contents of the off-stage effect process will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the stop symbol of the special symbol indicated by the special symbol stop information designation command is a winning symbol, that is, one of “normal winning symbol”, “probable variation symbol”, or “specific certain variation symbol” If it is determined that this is the case (S1008: yes), it is further determined whether or not it is a “specific probability variation symbol” (S1010). If it is not a specific probability variation symbol (S1010: no), it can be seen that the special symbol's success / failure determination result was “normal hit” or “probability variation”. Start (S1200). On the other hand, when the symbol is a specific probability variation symbol (S1010: yes), the special symbol win / fail determination result is “specific certain variation variation”, so that the after-round two-hit big-hit effect processing is started (S1300). .

  As described above, in response to the stop symbol of the special symbol designated by the special symbol stop information designation command, the off-stage effect process (S1100), the 15-round big hit effect process (S1200), and the two-round big hit effect process After performing any one of the effect processes in (S1300), the process returns to S1002 again, and a process for determining whether or not a special symbol variation pattern designation command has been received from the main control board 200 is performed. When the variation pattern designation command is received, the above-described series of processing is repeated.

D-1. Outward production processing:
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of the off-stage effect process executed in the effect control process. This process is a process executed by the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 when the special symbol designated by the special symbol stop information designation command is out of the design.

  In the off-stage effect process, first, the stop symbols of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d that are variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 are determined (S1102). Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 8, the display symbol 27a can be determined immediately in correspondence with the stop symbol of the special symbol. Also, for the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d, there are various combinations that are out of the combinations of symbols “1” to “9” (that is, so-called scatters, and per two rounds. Therefore, it is determined which combination of symbols is selected by lottery.

  Next, a command for designating the stop symbol of the determined display symbol 27a (display symbol designation command) and a command for designating the stop symbol of the character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d (character symbol designation command) are sent to the effect control board 230. (S1104).

  In the effect control board 230, the special symbol variation pattern designation command transferred from the sub-control board 220 in S1004 (FIG. 20) described above, and the display symbol designation command and character design designation transmitted from the sub-control board 220 in S1104. When the reception of all the commands of the command is confirmed, the variable display of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 is started. As a result, at the same time as the display of the special symbols on the symbol display device 28 is started, the display of the display symbols 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d is started on the effect display device 27.

  Next, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 determines whether or not a symbol stop command output from the main control board 200 has been received (S1106). As described above with reference to FIG. 13, the main control board 200 outputs a symbol stop command to the sub-control board 220 when the special symbol that is variably displayed is stopped (S350 in FIG. 13). Therefore, the symbol stop command is a command indicating the timing at which the special symbol that is variably displayed is stopped and displayed.

  If the symbol stop command is not sent from the main control board 200 (S1106: no), it is determined that the special symbol is still being variably displayed, and the standby state is entered as it is. When it is determined that the symbol stop command has been received from the main control board 200 (S1106: yes), the command for stopping the change display of the display symbol 27a (display symbol stop command) and the character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d are displayed. A command for stopping the change display (character symbol stop command) is transmitted toward the effect control board 230 (S1108). When the effect control board 230 receives a display symbol stop command from the sub control board 220, the effect display device 27 stops the display symbol 27a that is variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27, and also displays the display symbol 27a from the sub control board 220. When the character symbol stop command is received, the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d that are variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed. As a result, the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are also stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 at the timing when the special symbol is stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28.

  The display symbol stop command output from the sub control board 220 toward the effect control board 230 is a command for stopping and displaying the display symbol 27a that is variably displayed on the effect display device 27, and the character symbol stop command is Since this is a command for stopping and displaying the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d, the display symbol stop command of this embodiment corresponds to the “instruction to stop display of the first effect symbol” in the present invention. Similarly, the character symbol stop command of this embodiment corresponds to the “instruction to stop display of the second effect symbol” in the present invention. Further, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 of this embodiment that outputs these commands to the effect control board 230 corresponds to the “stop display instruction output means” of the present invention.

  When the display symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are output to the effect control board 230 in this way, the off-stage effect process shown in FIG. 21 is terminated and the process returns to the effect control process of FIG. When the determination result of the special symbol is “displaced”, the effect processing at the time of removal is performed, so that the sub-control board 220 and the effect control board 230 are changed according to the command from the main control board 200. Perform each process. As a result, the main control board 200, the sub control board 220, and the effect control board 230 operate as one body, and the special symbol of the symbol display device 28, the display symbol 27a and the character symbol 27b of the effect display device 27, It is possible to perform an effect in which 27c and 27d are integrated.

  In FIG. 22, the main control board 200, the sub-control board 220, and the effect control board 230 operate as a result of the off-stage effect process, and the special symbols, display symbols 27a, character symbols 27b, 27c, It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that 27d performs the production | production integrated. Also, in the figure, commands output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220 and commands output from the sub control board 220 toward the effect control board 230 are represented by arrows. Further, in the lower part of the figure, a period in which the display symbols 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 is shown. On the lower side, a period during which the special symbol is variably displayed is shown.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 20, when a special symbol variation pattern designation command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220, the sub control board 220 immediately transfers this command to the effect control board 230. To do. FIG. 22 shows a state in which the special symbol variation pattern designation command output from the main control board 200 is output to the sub control board 220 and the effect control board 230.

  Also, a special symbol stop information designation command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 following the special symbol variation pattern designation command. As described above, the special symbol stop information designation command is a command indicating in which symbol the special symbol is stopped and displayed. After determining the combination of the stop symbol of the display symbol 27a and the stop symbol of the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d based on the received special symbol stop information designation command (see S1102 in FIG. 21), A command for designating a stop symbol of the display symbol 27a (display symbol designation command) and a command for designating a combination of character symbols to be stopped (character symbol designation command) are output to the effect control board 230 (FIG. 21). S1104). In FIG. 22, a special symbol stop information designation command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220, and in response to this, a display symbol designation command and Character design designation commands are shown. In FIG. 22, the commands output for the display symbol 27a are represented by white arrows, and the commands output for the character symbols are represented by black arrows.

  In the effect control board 230, all of the special symbol change pattern designation command transmitted from the main control board 200 via the sub control board 220, and the display symbol designation command and the character symbol designation command transmitted from the sub control board 220 are displayed. Is received, the display display 27a provided on the effect display device 27 and the three character designs 27b, 27c, and 27d are started to be displayed in a variable manner. As described above with reference to FIG. 13, the main control board 200 outputs the special symbol variation pattern designation command when starting the variation display of the special symbol, so that the special symbol eventually starts the variation display. At the same time, the display display 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are also started to be displayed on the effect display device 27 at the same time.

  In FIG. 22, a special symbol variation pattern designation command is output from the main control board 200 and the special symbol starts to be varied, and a display symbol designation command and a character symbol designation command are output from the sub-control board 220 for effect control. When the board 230 receives all of the special symbol variation pattern designation command, the display symbol designation command, and the character symbol designation command, the display symbol 27a, the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d start to change at once. Has been. In FIG. 22, the change start time of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is delayed compared to the change start time of the special symbol. This delay is a delay in control processing (about 100 ms). The apparent change start times of the symbols visually recognized by the symbol display device 28 and the effect display device 27 are set to be substantially the same.

  The variation display of the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is continued until the variation time defined by the special symbol variation pattern designation command elapses. The special symbol variation display is also continued until the variation time defined by the special symbol variation pattern designation command has elapsed. Then, when the variation time specified by the special symbol variation pattern designation command has elapsed, the main control board 200 stops displaying the special symbol that is variably displayed and outputs a symbol stop command to the sub-control substrate 220 ( (See S350 in FIG. 13). When the sub control board 220 receives the symbol stop command, the display symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are sent to the effect control board 230 in order to stop and display the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d during the variable display. Output. When the effect control board 230 receives these commands, the display symbol 27a is stopped and displayed with the previously specified stop symbol, and the three character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d are displayed in combination with the previously specified stop symbol. Stop display. FIG. 22 shows that when a symbol stop command is output from the main control board 200, the special symbol, the display symbol 27a, and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are stopped and displayed.

  When the determination result of the special symbol performed on the main control board 200 is “displaced”, the above-described effect process at the time of disengagement shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22, the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols are displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 almost simultaneously with the start of the special symbol variation display in the special symbol display unit 30 of the symbol display device 28. When the display of variation 27b, 27c, and 27d is started, and the special symbol is stopped and displayed, the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are stopped and displayed in a detachment manner at substantially the same time. As described above, the variation display and stop display of the special symbol are controlled by the main control board 200, and the variation display and stop display of the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d are directly directed to the effect control board 230. Although it is controlled by a separate control board such as being controlled by the sub-control board 220, a command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 as shown in FIG. By matching the timing by outputting commands from the sub-control board 220 to the effect control board 230, it is possible to perform an effect in which the special symbols, the display symbols 27a, and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are integrated. It becomes.

  As described above, the special symbol variation pattern designation command is a command indicating the timing of starting the variation of the special symbol, and at the same time, also serving as a command indicating the duration of the started variation display. That is, the sub-control board 220 can know in advance how long the variation display of the special symbol will continue by receiving the special symbol variation pattern designation command. Accordingly, the sub-control board 220 determines the contents of the effect to be performed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 within the range of the special symbol variation display time, and after transferring the special symbol variation pattern designation command, the display is performed. Various commands for designating the content of the effect can be output to the effect control board 230 before the symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are output.

  The processing performed when the special symbol specified by the special symbol stop information specifying command is a deviating symbol has been described above. However, the special symbol specified by the special symbol stop information specifying command is a normal hit symbol or a probable variable hit. If it is a symbol, the following effects are performed.

D-2. Round 15 big hit effect processing:
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of the 15 round big hit effect process executed in the effect control process. In the 15-round big hit effect process (S1200) as well as the above-described off-time effect process (S1100), first, the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols that are variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27 are displayed. Stop symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are determined (S1202). The stop symbol of the display symbol 27a can be immediately determined from the stop symbol of the special symbol. In addition, when the special symbol stop symbol is a normal winning symbol, one symbol is determined by lottery from among the symbols representing even numbers, and all the stop symbols of the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are displayed. Decide on a design. On the other hand, if the stop symbol of the special symbol is a probable hit symbol, the symbols of the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are all determined by lottery from among the symbols representing odd numbers. Decide on a design.

  Next, a command for designating the stop symbol of the determined display symbol 27a (display symbol designation command) and a command for designating the stop symbol of the character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d (character symbol designation command) are sent to the effect control board 230. (S1204). Thereafter, the effect control board 230 confirms reception of all the special symbol variation pattern designation command, display symbol designation command, and character symbol designation command, and the display symbol 27a displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. And the variation display of the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is started. Then, it is determined whether or not a symbol stop command output from the main control board 200 has been received (S1206). If a symbol stop command has not been received yet, the standby state is maintained until it is received. Thereafter, if it is determined that a symbol stop command has been received from the main control board 200 (S1206: yes), a command for stopping the variable display of the display symbol 27a (display symbol stop command) and the character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d are displayed. A command for stopping the change display (character symbol stop command) is transmitted toward the effect control board 230 (S1208).

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, when the special symbol is stopped and displayed at the normal hit symbol or the probability hit symbol, the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are activated (S366 in FIG. 14), and as a result, (S390 in FIG. 11: yes) On the main control board 200, a special electric accessory game process (S400) for playing a big hit game is started. Correspondingly, in the sub control board 220, when the display symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are transmitted to the effect control board 230 (S1208), subsequently, the big hit game effect start command is sent to the effect control board 230. (S1210). Here, the jackpot game effect start command is a command for instructing the start of the effect performed at the time of the jackpot game, and upon receiving this command, the effect control board 230 performs a predetermined effect performed at the start of the jackpot game, Start on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27.

  Next, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 determines whether or not a big hit game end command has been received from the main control board 200 (S1212). As described above with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, the main control board 200 performs a big hit game by performing the special electric accessory game process, and outputs a big hit game end command to the sub-control board 220 (S432). End the jackpot game. Thus, after the sub-control board 220 outputs a jackpot game effect designation command to instruct the effect control board 230 to start the effect accompanying the jackpot game, the main control board 200 indicates the jackpot game indicating the end of the jackpot game. It monitors whether an end command is sent. Then, when it is detected that a big hit game end command is sent from the main control board 200 (S1212: yes), a command (big hit game end effect) that instructs the start of the effect (hit end effect) performed at the end of the big hit game. Command) is output toward the effect control board 230 (S1214), and the 15-round big hit effect process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the special symbol, the display symbol 27a, and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are integrated as a result of the 15 round big hit effect processing. Similar to the off-stage effect shown in FIG. 22, when a special symbol variation pattern designation command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220, the sub-control board 220 sends this command to the effect control board. 230.

  When a special symbol stop information designation command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220, the sub control board 220 displays a combination of the stop symbol of the display symbol 27a and the stop symbol of the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d. A command (display symbol designation command) for designating the stop symbol of the display symbol 27a and a command (character symbol designation command) for designating a combination of the character symbol stop symbols are determined (see S1202 in FIG. 23). Output to the substrate 230. When the effect control board 230 receives the special symbol variation pattern designation command, the display symbol designation command, and the character symbol designation, the variation display of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d provided on the effect display device 27 is performed. To start. As a result, the special symbol, the display symbol 27a, and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d start changing display all at once.

  In FIG. 24, among the commands output from the sub control board 220 toward the effect control board 230, the commands output regarding the display symbol 27a are represented by white arrows, and the commands output regarding the character symbol. Is represented by a black arrow.

  Thereafter, a symbol stop command is output from the main control board 200 toward the sub-control board 220. Then, the sub control board 220 outputs a display symbol stop command and a character symbol stop command toward the effect control board 230. When the effect control board 230 receives these commands, the display symbol 27a is stopped and displayed with the previously specified stop symbol, and the three character symbols 27b, 27c and 27d are displayed in combination with the previously specified stop symbol. Stop display. The process up to this point, that is, the process from when the main control board 200 outputs the special symbol variation pattern until the effect control board 230 stops and displays the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d, is as shown in FIG. This is the same as the processing of the off-time effect described above.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 23, in the 15 round big hit effect processing, when a command for stopping and displaying the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is transmitted (S1208 in FIG. 23), A command for specifying the start of the accompanying effect (a jackpot game effect specifying command) is transmitted. In FIG. 24, a command that is output from the sub control board 220 toward the effect control board 230 regarding the big hit game, such as a big hit game effect designation command, is represented by an arrow with a fine diagonal line.

  When the effect control board 230 receives the jackpot game effect designation command from the sub-control board 220, the effect control board 230 starts a predetermined effect (for example, a jackpot fanfare effect) performed on the effect display device 27 at the start of the jackpot game. Then, when the effect at the start of the big hit game is finished, subsequently, an effect (for example, a big hit round effect) performed during the big hit game is started. This jackpot game consists of 15 rounds, with the action of temporarily closing the grand prize winning opening 31d as one round when a specified number of game balls enter the big winning prize opening 31d or when the opening time of the big winning prize opening 31d reaches a prescribed time. Repeat until. When the 15-round big hit game ends, a big hit game end command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 (see S432 in FIG. 19). That is, the jackpot game end command is a command indicating the timing of the end of the jackpot game. Therefore, when receiving this command, the sub control board 220 outputs a jackpot game end effect designation command to the effect control board 230 in order to end the effect during the jackpot game being performed on the effect display device 27 (see FIG. 23, see S1214). As a result, the effect control board 230 ends the effect performed during the jackpot game and starts a predetermined effect (for example, a jackpot ending effect) performed when the jackpot game ends.

  FIG. 24 shows the relationship between the special symbol change stop display and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 31d performed by the main control board 200 and the various effects performed on the effect display device 27 in the case of the 15 round big hit. Yes. First, when the variation display of the special symbol is started, the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d of the effect display device 27 start the variation display substantially simultaneously, and when the special symbol is stopped and displayed, the display symbol 27a. The character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are also stopped and displayed substantially simultaneously. Next, the main control board 200 performs 15 rounds of big hit game while repeating the opening and closing operation of the big winning opening 31d. On the effect display device 27, the effect at the start of the big hit game is performed after the special symbol is stopped and displayed until the big hit game is started, and when the big hit game is started, the effect during the big hit game is performed. . When the big hit game ends, a predetermined effect at the end of the big hit game is performed on the effect display device 27. As described above, the special symbol variation stop display and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 31d are controlled by the main control board 200, and the display on the effect display device 27 is directly controlled by the effect control board 230. As described above, the command is output from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 and the command is output from the sub-control board 220 to the effect control board 230 despite being controlled by separate control boards. By doing so, it is possible to perform an effect in which the whole is integrated.

  In addition, the operation | movement which opens and closes the grand prize winning opening 31d during the big hit game is controlled by the main control board 200, and the main control board 200 recognizes the start and end timing of each round. Therefore, a command indicating the start timing of the big hit game, a command indicating the start timing of each round, and a command indicating the end timing may be output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220. . In this way, by outputting commands from the sub-control board 220 to the production control board 230 in accordance with the start and end timing of each round, the production display device 27 is adapted to the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 31d. This makes it possible to produce a more detailed performance.

D-3.2 Round big hit effect processing:
As described above, from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220, a command related to the timing of the start and stop display of special symbols and a command related to the end timing of the big hit game are output. By outputting various commands from the control board 220 to the effect control board 230, it is possible to perform an appropriate effect on the effect display device 27 in accordance with the timing of the special symbol variation stop display or jackpot game. Become. As described above, in a gaming machine equipped with a 2-round jackpot, it is possible to give the player an impression that the gaming state has suddenly changed, and it is possible to greatly enhance the player's interest. If the player is aware of the occurrence of a round jackpot, there is a risk that the player's interest will be reduced. However, such a problem that the round two big hit has can be relatively easily avoided by simply devising the timing of outputting a command from the sub control board 220 to the effect control board 230. Below, the 2 round big hit effect processing which enables such a thing is demonstrated.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of the 2-round big hit effect process executed in the effect control process. Also in the 2-round big hit effect processing (S1300), as in the case of the off-round effect processing (S1100) or the 15-round big hit effect processing (S1200), first, the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c. , 27d are determined (S1302), and a display symbol designation command and a character symbol designation command are output toward the effect control board 230 (S1304). At the time of big round 2 hit, since there is only one stop symbol of the display symbol 27a and the character symbol 27b, 27c, 27d for the special symbol, it can be determined immediately based on the special symbol stop information designation command. Of course, a plurality of stop symbols may be set and the stop symbols may be selected by lottery. The effect control board 230 confirms that all of the special symbol variation pattern designation command, the display symbol designation command, and the character symbol designation command have been normally received, and is displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. Variation display of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d is started.

  Next, when it is confirmed that the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 has received the symbol stop command output from the main control board 200 (S1306: yes), the command for stopping the change display of the display symbol 27a (display symbol stop command) Is transmitted toward the effect control board 230 (S1308). That is, in the above-described off-stage effect process (S1100) and 15-round effect process (S1200), when the symbol stop command is received from the main control board 200, the display symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are simultaneously output. On the other hand, in the 2-round effect process, only the display symbol stop command is output toward the effect control board 230.

  Then, it is determined whether or not a jackpot game end command has been transmitted from the main control board 200 (S1310), and if a jackpot game end command has not been transmitted yet (S1310; no), the apparatus enters a standby state. As described above, 2 round big hits are set to a short duration (0.1 seconds in this embodiment) for one round, and the round ends immediately after two short rounds. Therefore, when the symbol stop command is received, the big hit game end command is supplied soon. Therefore, when the sub control board 220 outputs the display symbol stop command, it monitors the jackpot game end command sent subsequently, and receives the jackpot game end command (S1310: yes), effects control the character symbol stop command. It transmits to the substrate 230 (S1312). After all, in the two round big hit effect processing, when the symbol stop command is received, only the display symbol stop command is output to the effect control board 230, and for the character symbol stop command, the effect control board 230 is received after receiving the jackpot game end command. Is output. When the display symbol stop command and the character symbol stop command are output in this way, the two-round big hit effect processing shown in FIG. 25 is terminated, and the processing returns to the effect control processing of FIG.

  FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the special symbol, the display symbol 27a, and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are integrated as a result of the two round big hit effect processing. 22 and 24 described above, various commands output from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220 and various commands output from the sub control board 220 to the effect control board 230 are as follows. Represented by an arrow. Of these commands, the commands related to the display symbol 27a output from the sub control board 220 to the effect control board 230 are represented by white arrows, and the commands related to the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are painted black. It is represented by an arrow.

  Similar to the off-stage effect shown in FIG. 22 or the 15-round big hit effect shown in FIG. 24, the special symbol variation pattern designation command output from the main control board 200 is sent from the sub-control board 220 to the effect control board. Next, based on the special symbol stop information designation command output from the main control board 200, the combination of the stop symbol of the display symbol 27a and the stop symbol of the character symbols 27b, 27c, 27d is determined ( A display symbol designation command and a character symbol designation command are output from the sub control board 220 to the effect control board 230 (see S1304 in FIG. 25). As a result, on the effect display device 27, the variable display of the display symbol 27a and the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is started.

  Thereafter, when a symbol stop command is output from the main control board 200 toward the sub-control board 220, only the display symbol stop command is output from the sub-control board 220 toward the effect control board 230. In the effect control board 230, the display symbols 27a that are variably displayed on the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed according to the display symbol stop command from the sub-control board 220, but the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are displayed in a variable manner. continue. If all the three character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are not stopped and displayed, one or two character symbols may be stopped and displayed.

  As described above, the symbol stop command is a command indicating the timing at which the special symbol is stopped and displayed, and the special symbol is stopped and displayed in accordance with the output of the symbol stop command. Then, as shown in FIG. 20, the 2-round big hit effect processing is a process that is executed when the special symbol that is stopped and displayed is a specific probability variation symbol (S1010: yes in FIG. 20). When the symbol is stopped and displayed, the next two round big hit game is started and the special winning opening 31d is opened twice only for a short time. Even during the two round jackpot game, the variation display of the character design is continued. After that, when the two round jackpot game ends, a command indicating the end timing of the jackpot game (a jackpot game end command) is output from the main control board 200, and in response to this command, a character symbol stop command is effected from the sub-control board 220. The character design that is output to the board 230 and displayed in a variable manner is stopped and displayed. In FIG. 26, when the variation display of the special symbol is started, the display symbol 27a and the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are also simultaneously started to be varied, and then the display symbol 27a is stopped and displayed together with the special symbol stop display. The character design is shown to be stopped and displayed at the end of 2 rounds of big hit.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the special symbol is stopped and displayed at the specific probability change, the display symbol 27a stops with the special symbol stop display, but the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are in big hit for two rounds. In addition, the variable display is continued, and the stop display is made in accordance with the end of the second round big hit. As described above with reference to FIG. 4 or FIG. 10, the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d are displayed larger than the display symbol 27a, and the display content is configured to be intuitively easy to understand. There is a tendency to play games while watching the character designs 27b, 27c, and 27d. Further, based on such a tendency, so-called reach effects are also performed on the character designs 27b, 27c, and 27d, and the player's attention tends to be more attracted to the character designs 27b, 27c, and 27d. . Naturally, it is considered that the player is playing the game while watching the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d even when the two-round jackpot occurs. Therefore, the fluctuation display of the character symbols 27b, 27c, and 27d is also performed during the two-round jackpot. If this is continued, it will not be noticed that the special winning opening 31d is opened only for a short time. For this reason, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to surely avoid the possibility that the player notices the occurrence of the big hit of two rounds from the movement of the special winning opening 31d and cools the interest in the game. .

  Further, even if the player does not notice the movement of the grand prize winning port 31d, if he notices that the opening time of the starting port 17 has become long before long, if the player is an intuitional player, 2 You may find that a round jackpot has occurred. However, as described above with reference to FIG. 19, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the opening time extension function is activated at the time of occurrence of the big hit of two rounds (S424: yes in FIG. 19), the special electric The opening time extension function is activated before the bonus game processing is finished (S428), and when the opening time extension function is not activated when two round round big hits occur (S424: no in FIG. 19), the opening time is increased. The special electric accessory game process is terminated without activating the time extension function. In other words, the setting of the opening time of the start port 17 does not change before or after the occurrence of the big hit of the second round, so if you do not even notice the movement of the big prize winning port 31d, the big hit of the second round from the opening time of the start port 17 It is not noticed that had occurred. Therefore, even if it is an intuitional player, it is possible to more surely avoid the possibility of recognizing the occurrence of the big hit of two rounds and cooling the interest in the game.

  Furthermore, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to end the two round big hits without being noticed by the player, and when the two round big hits occur, the gaming state is set to the probabilistic state. The In a general gaming machine not equipped with a two-round game, a probable hit is generated and the probable state is not entered unless a big hit game of 15 rounds is passed. Can be easily recognized, and the game is performed in a state where the current gaming state is recognized. And if the current gaming state is a normal state that is not a probability change state, it will be hard to start a big hit game, but conversely if it is a probability change state, a big hit game will be started soon It is normal to play games with high expectations. In this way, a game that is played with great expectations for the occurrence of a big hit game is a game that can feel great interest for the player even before the big hit game is generated. On the other hand, a game that is played while preparing that the big hit game is not started is not so much interesting for the player, and it is easy to stop the game. From this point of view, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible for the player to end the two round big hits without being aware of the player at all. It can not be determined. Therefore, a player can always play a game with the expectation that a big hit game will be started soon, and even if the actual game state is a normal state, the player always enjoys an interest in the game. Can be done.

  In addition, such a game characteristic that the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment has has a great advantage for a so-called game hall. That is, as described above, in the normal state, the player plays the game while preparing for the fact that no big hit game is generated, and it is easy to stop the game. In other words, the game will not be stopped when it is in a probable state unless there is a special circumstance. In this regard, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the player is not noticed even if a two-round big hit occurs, so the player determines whether the current gaming state is a normal state or a probable change state. Can not do it. For this reason, even if a big hit game has not been generated for a long time, there is a tendency for the game to be continued continually, assuming that it has switched to a probable state without knowing it. As a result, the gaming hall can improve the operating rate of the gaming table.

  In addition, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, different effects are performed depending on whether the game is off, when the big hit is 15 rounds, or when the big round is two rounds. If one pays attention to the processing to be performed, all are just performing the same processing. That is, after outputting the special symbol variation pattern in accordance with the timing of starting the variation of the special symbol, the special symbol stop information designation command is output, and the symbol stop command is output in accordance with the timing at which the special symbol is stopped and displayed. Furthermore, in the case of playing a big hit game, the jackpot game end command is only output in accordance with the end timing of the big hit game. For this reason, it is possible to reliably avoid the player from noticing the occurrence of the big hit of two rounds without increasing the control load of the main control board 200 at all.

  While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is not limited to the wording of each claim unless it departs from the scope described in each claim. Improvements based on the knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can also be added as appropriate to the extent that those skilled in the art can easily replace them.

It is a front view of the gaming machine of the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the board surface structure of a game board. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the symbol display apparatus mounted in the gaming machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the effect display apparatus mounted in the game machine of a present Example. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control circuit in the game machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the normal symbol is variably displayed. It is explanatory drawing which showed notably the mode that the special symbol was variably displayed. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that a display symbol was variably displayed on the liquid crystal screen of an effect display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that the display symbol was fluctuately displayed on the liquid crystal screen of an effect display apparatus in the aspect from which it differs. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the one aspect | mode of the effect performed using three character designs on the liquid crystal screen of an effect display apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the rough flow of the game control process which a main control board performs in order to control progress of a game. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a normal electric accessory stop process. It is the flowchart which showed a part of special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the remaining part of the special symbol game process. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the success / failure determination table referred in order to perform the determination of the success / failure of a special symbol in the special symbol game process of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the hit mode determination table referred in order to determine a big hit mode when the determination result of the special symbol is a big win. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which sets the variation pattern of a special symbol in a special symbol game process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a part of special electric accessory game process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the remaining part of a special electric accessory game process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the effect control process performed in a sub control board | substrate in order to perform the effect accompanying a game. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the production | presentation process at the time of a removal performed in an effect control process. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the special symbol, the display symbol, and the character symbol are integrated by performing the off-stage effect process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of 15 round big hit effect processing performed in production control processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the special symbol, the display symbol 27a, and the character symbol are integrated by performing the 15 round big hit effect processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 2 round big hit effect process performed in an effect control process. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the special symbol, a display symbol, and the character symbol are integrated by performing 2 round big hit effect processing.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... ball game machine, 17 ... starting port (first winning port),
27 ... effect display device (first effect symbol display part, second effect symbol display part),
28 ... Symbol display device, 30 ... Special symbol display section,
31d: Grand prize opening 200: Main control board (main control unit),
201 ... CPU (big hit game execution means, game information output means, start port opening means, opening time extension means, lottery state setting means),
202 ... ROM (big hit mode storage means, lottery state storage means),
220 ... sub-control board (sub-control unit),
221 ... CPU (variation start instruction output means, stop display instruction output means),
230 ... Production control board (production control unit)

Claims (1)

A game ball is fired on a game board surface provided with a start port that can be switched between a normal state and an open state in which the game ball is easier to enter than the normal state. In the ball game machine that performs a big hit game advantageous to the player by opening a big winning opening provided on the surface of the game board, when a lottery is performed and the lottery is won,
A main control unit that controls a series of controls to detect the game hitting the start opening and perform the lottery, and to perform the jackpot game according to the result of the lottery,
A sub-control unit that controls various effects performed in accordance with the progress of the game,
Under the control of the main control unit, a special symbol display unit for performing a change display and a stop display of the special symbol representing the result of the lottery,
A first effect symbol display unit for displaying a first effect symbol for performing an effect in accordance with the variation display of the special symbol, and performing a variation display and a stop display of the first effect symbol;
A second effect symbol display unit that displays a second effect symbol that is larger than the first effect symbol, and that performs change display and stop display of the second effect symbol;
An effect control unit that controls operations of the first effect symbol display unit and the second effect symbol display unit;
The main control unit
As aspect of the jackpot gaming, a first jackpot embodiment repeating the operation of opening the special winning opening a predetermined period, and a second jackpot aspects repeating the operation of only opening period shorter than the first jackpot aspect Memorizing jackpot mode storage means;
According to the result of the lottery, the jackpot game execution means for performing the jackpot game by selecting either the first jackpot mode or the second jackpot mode and opening the jackpot,
Fluctuation start information indicating the timing of starting the change of the special symbol, stop symbol information indicating the special symbol to be stopped and displayed in response to the result of the lottery, stop display information indicating the timing of the special symbol stop display, and the bonus game Game information output means for outputting jackpot game end information indicating the end timing to the sub-control unit;
When a predetermined game condition is established, start port opening means for opening the start port for a predetermined opening time; and
An opening time extending means for extending an opening time of the start port when a condition when the jackpot game is started corresponds to a predetermined condition;
As the state at the time of the lottery execution, a lottery state storage that stores a normal probability state in which the probability of winning is set to a normal probability and a high probability state in which the probability of winning is set to a higher probability than the normal probability Means,
Lottery state setting means for setting a state at the time of the next lottery execution to either the normal probability state or the high probability state according to the result of the lottery,
The sub-control unit
When receiving the variation start information, a variation start instruction output means for outputting an instruction to start variation of the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol to the effect control unit in accordance with the timing of the variation start of the special symbol. ,
Receiving the stop symbol information and the stop display information,
When the special symbol to be stopped and displayed is a symbol corresponding to the first jackpot mode, an instruction to stop and display the first and second effect symbols is displayed. While outputting to the production control unit according to the timing,
When the special symbol to be stopped and displayed is a symbol corresponding to the second jackpot mode, the effect control is performed in response to the stop display instruction of the first symbol in accordance with the timing of the special symbol stop display. And a stop display instruction output that is output to the effect control unit in accordance with the timing of the end of the big hit game after receiving the big hit game end information. Means and
The effect control unit controls the first effect symbol display unit and the second effect symbol display unit in accordance with various instructions output from the sub-control unit, so that the first effect symbol and the second effect symbol display unit are controlled. 2 effect designs are displayed in a variable and stopped manner.
The main control unit
When the big hit game is started in the first big hit mode, the opening time of the start port is extended after the big hit game ends,
When the big hit game is started in the second big hit mode,
When the jackpot game is started in a state where the opening time of the starting opening is extended, the opening time of the starting opening is extended after the end of the jackpot gaming and the next lottery is performed. Set the state to the high probability state,
When the jackpot game is started in a state where the opening time of the start opening is not extended, the opening time of the start opening is not extended even after the jackpot game ends, and the next lottery is performed. The bullet ball game machine is characterized in that the state is set to the high probability state.

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