JP4746577B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic game machine such as a ball game machine or a revolving game machine with a built-in computer device, and particularly suitably applied to a revolving game machine in which a game is started every time on the condition that a game medium is inserted. Is done.

  In a spinning machine such as a slot machine, when a player inserts a medal into the medal slot and operates a start lever, the rotation of the three rotating reels is started accordingly. When the player presses the stop button to stop the rotating reel, when the symbols are aligned on the stop line, a payout medal corresponding to the symbol is paid out.

  In such a slot machine, the highest game value is the big bonus (BB) symbol, and the regular bonus (RB) symbol is equivalent to this. If this BB symbol or RB symbol can be aligned on the stop line, then a bonus game is started and a game state with a high winning probability is continuously maintained, so that there are much more dividend medals than before. Numbers can be expected.

  In practice, however, the symbols that can be aligned are determined in advance by an internal lottery process executed at the start of each game, and the player wins the symbols won by this internal lottery process on the stop line. This confirms the winning status. Therefore, in order to start the bonus game, it is necessary to win the BB symbol or the RB symbol by the lottery process and align the BB symbol or the RB symbol on the stop line by the subsequent stop operation.

  By the way, since the probability of winning the BB symbol or the RB symbol is set low corresponding to each game value, the winning state is not achieved unless a large number of games are consumed. Also, even if the BB symbol or RB symbol is won by internal lottery, the number of RB symbols and BB symbols arranged on each rotating reel is small, so the player does not set the target symbol and perform an optimal stop operation. As long as the RB symbol and BB symbol cannot be aligned. Therefore, in order to prevent unnecessarily increasing the number of out-of-game games while in the internal winning state, each gaming machine intentionally makes a specific stop symbol array (reach eyes) appear through stop control inside the device. In addition, the player is indefinitely notified of the internal winning state by executing a notice effect on the display device.

In such a gaming machine, it is more advantageous for the player to start a game on the gaming machine after accurately grasping the reach and the notice effect. In addition to knowing the winning probabilities of each bonus game, we also want to know statistical data such as the number of games played until the bonus game is won. Therefore, in order to respond to such a request, there has been proposed a gaming machine that displays support information for a player such as an effect history, a winning history, a bonus interval, and a game description (Patent Documents 1 to 3).
JP 2002-011140 A JP 2004-141370 A JP 2006-204681 A

  However, the game support information should be appropriately provided according to the player's needs, and each of the above-described inventions can always notify detailed support information in response to a simple operation until the game starts. It is not.

  Also, if a player who knows the support information wants to start the game, instead of continuing to provide detailed support information indefinitely, unnecessary information should be deleted immediately, leaving only the necessary information. In this respect, the above-described inventions have some problems. That is, the information that should be immediately deleted at the start of the game and the information that should be continuously displayed cannot be quickly and appropriately distinguished without placing an extra burden on the game control. For example, a gaming machine controls the game control in an integrated manner, an effect control unit that is controlled by the main control unit to execute unified effect control, and a display unit on the downstream side of the effect control unit In the conventional configuration, when the support information is increased, an excessive control burden is placed on one of the control units, and the original game control or effect is provided. Control and display control may be hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a gaming machine that can provide abundant support information to a player without placing an extra burden on the original game control, effect control, and display control. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to claim 1 includes a main control unit on which a first computer circuit for overall control of game operations is mounted, and an effect operation based on a command from the main control unit. And a third computer circuit that controls the driving IC of the display device based on a command from the effect control unit and executes a symbol display operation. The effect control unit outputs a first command to the symbol control unit based on a command received from the main control unit, and responds to a switch operation from a player. A second command is output to the symbol control unit to display support information, and a memory area of the effect control unit that temporarily stores the command to the symbol control unit is a first memory that stores the first command. Area and player A second memory region is provided separately for storing a second command identifying the switch operation, when the performance control unit receives the first command indicating the start of the game from the main control unit, a second memory region The stored contents are controlled to be erased, and the untransmitted second command is deleted.

In the present invention, the command to the symbol control unit is divided into two, and when a predetermined first command that signifies the start of a game is received, the second command that has not been transmitted is erased, so that the transmission order is inconsistent. Can be prevented. Further, transmission of the first command having a high priority is not delayed no matter how much the type of second command or the amount of each data is increased. Moreover, an excessive control burden is not imposed on the main control unit and the symbol control unit.

  The symbol control unit typically controls the drawing operation of a display device capable of displaying a moving image, and the rendering operation executed by the rendering control unit is preferably a lamp rendering and an audio rendering. . Further, the switch operation includes an operation for highlighting any of the selection items displayed on the display device and an operation for instructing selection of any of the highlighted selection items. It is preferably included. In addition, it is effective that the support information is displayed in a deeper hierarchy in response to a switch operation from the player.

  According to the present invention described above, a wealth of support information can be provided to the player without placing an extra burden on the original game control, effect control, and display control.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples. 1 to 4 illustrate a slot machine SL according to an embodiment. In this slot machine SL, a rectangular box-shaped main body case 1 and a front panel 2 fitted with various game members are connected via a hinge 3 so that the front panel 2 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body case 1. (FIG. 2). 1 is a front view of the front panel 2, FIG. 2 is a right side view (a) and a plan view (b) of the slot machine SL, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the front panel 2, and FIG. A front view is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a symbol rotating unit 4 including three rotating reels 4 a to 4 c is disposed in the approximate center of the main body case 1, and a medal payout device 5 is disposed below the symbol rotating unit 4. On each of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, a BB symbol, an RB symbol, various fruit symbols, a replay symbol, and the like are drawn. The medal payout device 5 is provided with a medal hopper 5a for storing medals, a payout motor M, a medal payout control board 55, a payout relay board 63, a payout sensor (not shown), and the like. Here, the medal is derived from the payout opening 5b toward the front of the drawing based on the rotation of the payout motor M. Note that medals stored exceeding the limit amount are configured to fall into the auxiliary tank 6 through the overflow portion 5c.

  A power supply board 62 is arranged adjacent to the medal payout device 5, a main control board 50 is arranged above the symbol rotation unit 4, and a rotating drum setting board 54 is arranged adjacent to the main control board 50. ing. In addition, inside the symbol rotating unit 4, a rotating LED relay substrate 58 and a rotating relay substrate 57 are provided, and an external concentrated terminal plate 56 is disposed adjacent to the symbol rotating unit 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display unit 7 is disposed on the upper portion of the front panel 2, and display windows 8a to 8c corresponding to the respective rotating reels 4a to 4c are disposed on the lower portion thereof. Through the display windows 8a to 8c, about 3 symbols can be seen in the rotational direction of each of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, and a total of 9 symbols in the horizontal direction and 2 in the diagonal direction. Becomes a virtual stop line. On the left side of the display window 8a, an LED group 9 indicating a gaming state is provided. Below that, a payout display unit 10 for displaying the number of medals to be paid out as a gaming result, and the number of medals in a credit state are displayed. The storage number display part 11 to display is provided.

  In the center of the front panel 2 in the vertical direction, a medal insertion slot 12 for inserting medals is provided, and adjacent thereto, a return button 13 for returning medals filled in the medal insertion slot 12 is provided. Also, a credit check button 14 for paying out a credit medal, an insertion button 15 for artificially inserting one credit medal in place of inserting a medal into the medal slot 12, and a credit medal in a pseudo manner A maximum loading button 16 for loading three sheets is provided.

  Below these gaming members are a start lever 17 for starting rotation of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, stop buttons 18a to 18c for stopping the rotating reels 4a to 4c, and a display unit 7 (Example). , A liquid crystal display unit) is provided with a menu switch 19 for displaying support information for the player. The menu switch 19 includes an up switch UP (UP contact) indicated by an upward arrow, a down switch DW (DW contact) indicated by a downward arrow, and a determination switch DE (DE contact) provided therebetween. . These menu switches 19 can be operated only after the medals are inserted into the medal slot 12 after each game, or until the next game is started after the insertion buttons 15 and 16 are turned on. It has become.

  In addition, below the front panel 2, a horizontally long tray 20 that stores medals and a medal outlet 21 that communicates with the payout port 5 b of the payout device 5 are provided. Speakers SP are arranged on the left and right sides of the medal outlet 21. The speaker SP is also arranged at the upper part of the gaming machine, but does not appear in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the front panel 2, a medal sorting device 22 that sorts medals inserted into the medal insertion port 12, and a medal that has been determined to be inappropriate by the medal sorting device 22 A return passage 23 that guides the vehicle 21 is provided. A substrate case 24 that houses the effect control board 51, the effect interface board 52, the liquid crystal control board 61, and the like is disposed on the upper back side of the front panel 2. A game relay board 53 that relays signals between the various game members shown in FIG. 1 and the main control board 50 is provided on the medal sorting device 22.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the slot machine SL according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the slot machine SL is unified based on a main control board 50 that comprehensively controls operations of various game members including the rotating reels 4a to 4c, and a control command CMD received from the main control board 50. Control command from the effect control unit 51 via the effect interface board 52, the effect interface board 52 located between the main control board 50 and the effect control board 51 A liquid crystal control board 61 that receives the CMD ′ and drives the liquid crystal display unit 7 and a power supply board 62 that converts the AC voltage (24V) into the DC voltage (5V, 12V, 24V) and supplies the converted voltage to each part of the apparatus. Has been.

  A computer circuit having a one-chip microcomputer is mounted on the main control board 50, the effect control board 51, and the liquid crystal control board 61. Accordingly, the hardware configuration and software functions of the computer circuit may be collectively referred to as a main control unit 50, an effect control unit 51, and a liquid crystal control unit 61 in the following description.

  The main control unit 50 provides the production control unit 51 with an audio production by the speaker SP, a lamp production by the LED lamp or the cold cathode ray tube discharge tube, and a design production or error notification by the liquid crystal display unit 7. A control command CMD is output.

  The production control board 51 is connected to the liquid crystal control unit 61 through the production interface board 52, and the liquid crystal control unit 61 is based on the control command CMD ′ received from the production control unit 51, It implements notification processing such as game status, symbol effect processing, error notification processing, and the like. The effect control unit 51 is connected to the menu switch 19, and outputs a control command CMD ′ corresponding to the operation position (UP, DE, DW) of the menu switch 19 to the liquid crystal control unit 61. Then, the liquid crystal control unit 61 displays game support information (menu screen) on the liquid crystal display unit 7 based on the received control command CMD ′.

  In addition, the effect control unit 51 realizes lamp effects in various LEDs and cold cathode ray tube discharge tubes via the LED board 59, the inverter board 60, and the rotary LED drive board 58 together with the effect interface board 52. Yes. Furthermore, the effect control unit 51 drives the speaker SP through the effect interface board 52 to realize an audio effect.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the control command CMD ′ transmitted from the effect control unit 51 to the liquid crystal control unit 61 includes (a) a control command for the group A that defines the contents of the game state notification and symbol effect, and (b ) Group B control commands for defining error contents and (c) Group C control commands for defining menu screen contents. Here, the error command B group control command generated and transmitted by the main control unit 50 is simply transferred to the liquid crystal control unit 61 as it is. Similarly, the control command CMD received from the main control unit 50 is transferred to the liquid crystal control unit 61 as it is for the control command of the A group for informing the game state. On the other hand, for the group A control command that defines the content of the symbol effect, a newly generated control command CMD 'is transmitted to the liquid crystal control unit 61 through a further effect lottery. However, the newly generated control command CMD ′ is a control command of the same category as the control command CMD received from the main control unit 50, and is a sound production by the speaker SP, a lamp by an LED lamp or a cold cathode ray tube discharge tube. The symbol effect synchronized with the effect is realized by the liquid crystal display unit 7.

  On the other hand, the control command of the group C for the menu screen for displaying the game support information is generated in the effect control unit 51 based on the ON operation of the menu switch 19, and this is output to the liquid crystal control unit 61 as the control command CMD ′. Is done. The C group control command and the A group control command are output from the effect control unit 51 exclusively in principle. Therefore, when the production control unit 51 receives the control command of the A group from the main control unit 50 when outputting the control command of the C group, the production control unit 51 does not output the control command of the C group in principle. Only the control command is transferred to the liquid crystal control unit 61.

  However, the control command for the B group and a part of the control command for the A group are output from the effect control unit 51 to the liquid crystal control unit 61 at the same time. As this exceptional control command, for example, a notice command for notice effect executed before the game is started is exemplified. This notice effect is, for example, an effect that informs indefinitely that the BB symbol or RB symbol is won in the internal lottery before the next game starts. Although it is a non-conclusive notification, it also includes falsehoods, but even if the menu screen (game support screen) is being displayed, giving the player a hint can cause the player to waste the internal winning state at the corner. Is prevented in advance.

  The main control unit 50 is connected to various game members of the slot machine through the game relay board 53. Specifically, the start switch of the start lever 17, the stop switch of the stop buttons 18a to 18c, the input switch of the input buttons 15 and 16, the liquidation switch of the checkout button 14, and the photointerrupters PH1 and PH2 constituting the input number determination unit 21d The blocker solenoid 31 constituting the inserted medal return unit 21c and the various LED elements 9 to 11 are connected.

  Further, the main control unit 50 is connected to the three stepping motors for rotating the rotating reels 4a to 4c and the index sensor for detecting the reference position of the rotating reels 4a to 4c via the rotating relay board 57. Has been. Then, by rotating or stopping the stepping motor, the rotating operation of the rotating reels 4a to 4c and the stopping operation at the target position are realized.

  The main controller 50 is also connected to the medal payout device 5 through the payout relay board 63. The medal payout device 5 is provided with a medal payout control board 55, a medal payout sensor, and a payout motor M. The medal payout control board 55 is based on a control command from the main control unit 50. Is rotated to pay out a predetermined amount of medals.

  In addition, the main control unit 50 is also connected to the external concentration terminal board 56 and the rotary setting board 54. The external concentrated terminal board 56 is connected to the hall computer HC, for example, and the main control unit 50 outputs the number of inserted medals, the number of paid out medals, etc. through the external concentrated terminal board 56. Further, the rotating setting board 54 outputs a setting key signal indicating the rank setting value of the probabilistic medal payout number set by the staff.

  FIG. 6 shows the internal circuits of the effect control board 51, the effect interface board 52, and the liquid crystal control board 61 in some detail. The effect control board 51 controls the one-chip microcomputer 65 with a series of audio signals based on the control command CMD received from the main control unit 50 and the ROM 66 that stores the control program of the effect control unit 51. Therefore, it is configured to include an audio reproduction IC 67 to be output and an audio ROM 68 for storing audio information to be output by the audio reproduction IC in a compressed state.

  As illustrated, the one-chip microcomputer 65 receives the control command CMD output from the main control unit 50 via the effect interface board 52 at the input port IN1. The one-chip microcomputer 65 receives the strobe signal STB synchronized with the control command CMD at the interrupt terminal, activates the interrupt processing program, acquires the control command CMD based on the activated reception program (interrupt processing program), and Yes. As described above, the control commands to be acquired are a group A production command that defines the game state notification and the content of the symbol production, and a group B error notification command that defines the content of the error notification.

  Further, the one-chip microcomputer 65 receives the menu switch 19 at another input port IN2. Then, a control command for the group C corresponding to the switch operation position (a menu screen command defining the contents of the game support screen) is generated, and if it is an operation state in which output is permitted, this is combined with the strobe signal STB ′. The output is output from the output port OUT toward the effect interface board 52. Note that a group A effect command and a group B error notification command are also output from the output port OUT together with the strobe signal STB '.

  The effect interface board 52 includes bus buffers 69 and 70 and class D amplifiers 71 and 72. The bus buffer 70 transfers the control command CMD and the strobe signal STB from the main control unit 50 to the effect control board 51, and the bus buffer 69 controls the liquid crystal control of the control command CMD ′ and the strobe signal STB ′ from the effect control unit 51. Transferred to the substrate 61. The class D amplifiers 71 and 72 perform class D amplification on the two-channel stereo audio signals AOL and AOR output from the audio reproduction IC 67 and supply them to four speakers. Since the D-class amplifier is provided, it is possible to produce a powerful sound production with low power consumption.

  The liquid crystal control board 61 includes a one-chip microcomputer 73, a driving IC 74 for the liquid crystal display unit 7, and a ROM 75. The control command CMD ′ transmitted from the effect control unit 51 is supplied to the input port IN3 of the one-chip microcomputer 73 together with the strobe signal STB ′. The one-chip microcomputer 73 receives the strobe signal STB ′ synchronized with the control command CMD ′ at the interrupt terminal, thereby starting the interrupt processing program, and based on the started reception program (interrupt processing program), the control command CMD. 'Get. Then, the one-chip microcomputer 73 displays a screen corresponding to the acquired control command CMD ′ on the liquid crystal display unit 7 by controlling the LCD driving IC 74.

  As described above, the slot machine of FIG. 1 has been described with a focus on the circuit configuration. Next, the control operation realized by the main control unit 50 will be briefly described. The control program of the main control unit 50 includes an infinite loop main process (FIG. 7) that starts when the power is turned on, a timer interrupt process (not shown) that is started by a scheduled interrupt from the counter circuit, And a voltage drop interruption process (not shown) activated by a detection signal RES from the substrate 62.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the power is turned on, the RWM work area is cleared after the initial processing (ST1) (ST2). Further, the CPU that is set to the interrupt disabled state in the initial process (ST1) is set to the interrupt enabled state (ST2).

  When the process of step ST2 is completed, the medal insertion process for the medal actually inserted from the medal insertion slot 12 and the medal actually inserted by pressing the insertion buttons 15 and 16 is performed (ST3). . Next, random number extraction processing (ST4) is executed. In the random number extraction process, the value of the random number counter CT, which is a software counter, is acquired in the variable RND. Note that the value of the random number counter CT is periodically updated in a timer interrupt process (not shown).

  Thereafter, a symbol lottery process is executed based on the random number value RND extracted in the random number extraction process (ST4) (ST5). The winning combination determined by the symbol lottery process includes per BB (big bonus), RB (regular bonus), and other small combinations. Per small role includes per fruit symbol (small role 1 to small role 3) from which about 2 to 15 payout medals are paid out and per replay game (small role 4) where a re-game is possible.

  In this embodiment, per RB (regular bonus) means a winning combination in which a high-value game called a jack game or the like can be executed within a predetermined number of times within a range of a maximum of 133 payouts. The jack game is, for example, a game in which about 15 medals are paid out when one medal is inserted. On the other hand, per BB (big bonus) is a winning combination in which the state per RB is repeatedly realized. For example, this big bonus game is continued until 346 medals are paid out.

  However, even if such a high-value bonus game (RB / BB) is in a winning state in the lottery process inside the device (referred to as a bonus internal winning state), the corresponding symbols on the rotating reels 4a to 4c are set to a predetermined state. Execution will not start unless it is aligned with the stop line. Moreover, since it is not easy to immediately align the corresponding symbol with the predetermined stop line in a game that has been in the bonus internal winning state, the bonus internal winning state is continuously maintained until it is activated. It has become.

  When the symbol lottery process (ST5) as described above is completed, after performing the effect lottery corresponding to the success / failure state, preparation work for rotating the rotating reels 4a to 4c is performed, and the rotating reels 4a to 4c by timer interruption are performed. Can be rotated (ST6), and after that, when the stop buttons 18a to 18c are pressed, a rotating cylinder stop process for stopping the corresponding rotating reels 4a to 4c is performed (ST7).

  Here, stop control is executed so as to follow the result of the symbol lottery process (ST5). That is, as a result of the symbol lottery process (ST5), the symbols on the rotating reels 4a to 4c are aligned so as to match the winning results on condition that the player is appropriately stopped if there is any internal winning state. However, if the timing at which the player presses the stop button is inappropriate, the player is stopped with the symbol in the detached state. As a result, the small winning combination at the corner is wasted, but the bonus winning is carried over after the next game.

  When all the rotating reels 4a to 4c are stopped in this way, it is determined whether or not the winning symbols are aligned on an effective stop line (ST8), and a required number of medals are paid out (ST9).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the replay symbols are aligned (ST10). If the replay symbols are aligned, the re-game operation start process (ST11) is executed, and then the process proceeds to step ST2. If the replay symbols are not aligned, it is determined whether or not the RB symbols are aligned. If the RB symbols are aligned, the regular bonus start process (ST13) is executed, and then the process proceeds to step ST2. Further, it is determined whether or not the present is in the regular bonus game (ST14), and if it is in the regular bonus game, necessary processing (ST15) is executed, and then the process proceeds to step ST2.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step ST14 is NO, it is determined whether or not the BB symbols are aligned (ST16). If the BB symbols are aligned, the big bonus start process (ST17) is executed. The process proceeds to step ST2. It is also determined whether or not the big bonus game is currently being played (ST18). If NO, nothing is done and the process proceeds to step ST2. On the other hand, if it is during the big bonus game, after performing the processing necessary for the big bonus game (ST19), it is determined whether or not the end condition of the big bonus game is satisfied (ST20). If the determination result is NO, do nothing and move to step ST2, but if the determination result is YES, clear the work area including the RWM area used during the BB game and go to step ST3. Transition.

  By the way, at an appropriate timing of the above-described series of game control operations, the main control unit 50 outputs an effect group A command for effect to the effect control unit 51. For example, when the command for directing the group A is confirmed, for example, if the insertion of a medal is confirmed in step ST3, a “medal insertion command” is transmitted. However, when the insertion of a medal is not permitted for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). Send “Demo Screen Display Command”. If the operation of the start lever 17 is confirmed, a “start lever acceptance command” is transmitted. In addition, an “effect command” is transmitted at the timing of step ST5 so that an effect operation corresponding to the lottery result of the symbol lottery process (ST5) is executed. In addition, a “notice command” may be transmitted to execute a notice operation at an appropriate timing.

  Note that these command transmission processes are executed in a timer interrupt process (not shown) that is started by interrupting the main process at regular intervals.

  Next, the operation content of the effect control unit 51 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. The operation of the effect control unit 51 includes a main process (not shown) executed after power-on, a timer interrupt process (FIG. 8A) started by interrupting the main process every predetermined time, and a strobe signal STB. And reception interrupt processing (FIG. 8B) that is activated due to the above.

  When the one-chip microcomputer 65 of the effect control unit 51 receives the strobe signal STB output from the main control unit 50 via the effect interface board 52, the reception interrupt process (FIG. 8B) is activated. Then, on condition that the same data is input a plurality of times, the control command CMD is acquired from the input port IN1, and stored in the command buffer (ST34).

  On the other hand, in the timer interrupt process (FIG. 8A), first, the input process of the menu switch 19 is executed (ST30). As shown in FIG. 8C, in the menu switch input process, first, it is determined whether or not the time is the permitted timing when the operation of the menu switch 19 is permitted (ST40). The operation of the menu switch 19 is permitted only at the permission timing after the end of the previous game and before the start of the next game. Therefore, if it is not this permission timing, processing is finished without doing anything. Note that the end of each game is notified to the effect control unit 51 by a dedicated control command, and the start of the next game is notified by transmission of a “medal insertion command” or a “start lever reception command”.

  If the determination at step ST40 is the menu switch permission timing, the presence / absence of button operation is determined based on the data of the input port IN2. As described above, since the menu switch 19 is provided with three contacts (UP, DE, DW), when a button operation is permitted, a menu command corresponding to the ON-operated contact is generated. (ST42), stored in the menu command buffer MB (ST43). As shown in FIGS. 8E and 8F, in this embodiment, the menu command buffer MB is a ring buffer managed by a read pointer RD1 and a write pointer WR1, and a game command buffer YB having a similar ring buffer structure. Are provided separately.

  FIG. 12 exemplifies game support information (menu screen) displayed by turning on the menu switch 19. In this embodiment, the menu screen has three layers, and the initial screen shown in FIG. 12A is displayed first. In this initial screen, selection fields of “winning history”, “game information”, “reel arrangement”, “reach”, “character selection”, and “return” are displayed, and the UP contact (↑) or DW contact of the menu switch 19 As the (↓) is turned ON, the highlighted selection column moves up and down.

  When the DE contact (decision contact) of the menu switch 19 is turned on with the selection field other than “Return” highlighted in the initial screen of FIG. 12A, the menu screen starts from the zeroth layer. It is deepened to one level and information corresponding to the highlight position is displayed (see FIGS. 12B to 12F).

  As shown in FIGS. 12B to 12F, a selection field including “return” is also displayed on the menu screen of the first layer. Even in the first level, when the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned on with the selection field other than “Return” highlighted, the menu screen is further deepened from the first level to the second level. Information corresponding to the highlight position is displayed. On the other hand, when the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned on while the “return” column is highlighted, the original screen is restored. This point is the same in the case of the first layer, and if the “return” field is operated twice from the state of the second layer, the initial screen shown in FIG.

  10 to 11 are flowcharts specifically explaining the menu command generation process (ST42) of FIG. 8C, which realizes the above operation. In the menu command generation process, first, it is determined whether or not a hierarchy variable NEST indicating the depth of the hierarchy is zero (ST60). Since NEST = 0 in the initial state when the menu switch 19 is turned ON for the first time after the game is over, in such a case, the control commands (menus) corresponding to the initial screen (see FIG. 12A) are subsequently continued. Screen command) is generated (ST61). Next, the hierarchical variable NEST is incremented by 1, and the line variable LN1 for specifying the selection column is initialized to zero, and the process is terminated (ST62). Note that the control command generated in the process of step ST61 is stored in the menu command buffer MB in the subsequent process of step ST43 (FIG. 8C). The storage position is a position indicated by the write pointer WR1, and after the storage process, the write pointer WR1 is cyclically updated in the forward direction.

  When the menu switch 19 is turned on again after such command generation processing, since the hierarchical variable NEST is NEST ≠ 0 (NEST = 1), the processing from step ST60 to step ST63 is performed. Then, it is determined whether any one of the UP contact, the DW contact, and the DE contact has been turned ON. Here, when the UP contact is turned on, the line variable LN1 is cyclically updated in the positive direction (usually +1) (ST65), but when the DW contact is turned on, the line variable LN1 is updated. Are updated cyclically in the negative direction (usually -1) (ST68).

  Thereafter, a control command corresponding to the updated line variable LN1 is generated, and the process ends (T66). The control command generated at this time specifies which column of the selection column in the initial screen (FIG. 12A) of the zeroth hierarchy is to be highlighted. For example, the line variable LN1 = 2 If so, the initial screen with the characters “reel arrangement” highlighted is displayed under the control of the liquid crystal control unit 61 in response to such a control command CMD ′.

  On the other hand, in the display state of the initial screen of the zeroth hierarchy (FIG. 12A), when the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned on with the line variable LN1 = 5 and “return” is highlighted. In step ST69, a screen erasing control command is generated (ST70), the hierarchy variable NEST is decremented by 1, and the process ends (ST71). As a result, the liquid crystal control unit 61 that has received the screen erasing control command CMD 'erases the initial screen of FIG.

  In the display state of the initial screen of the zeroth hierarchy (FIG. 12A), when the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned ON with the line variable LN1 being LN1 = 1 to 4, the process of step ST72 is performed. Executed. In step ST72, a control command corresponding to the value of the line variable LN1 and the value of the hierarchy variable NEST (= 1) is generated. Then, the hierarchy variable NEST is incremented by 1 and the line variable LN2 is initialized to zero, and the process ends (ST73).

  The generated control command CMD 'is stored in the menu command buffer MB (ST43 in FIG. 8C) and then transmitted to the liquid crystal controller 61 (ST33 in FIG. 8A). As a result, in the liquid crystal control unit 61 that has received the control command CMD ', the first-level menu screen as shown in FIGS. 12B to 12F is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7. 12B to 12F are menu screens drawn based on the control command CMD 'corresponding to NEST = 1 and corresponding to the line variables LN1 = 0 to 4, respectively.

  The line variables LN1 = 0 to 4 correspond to “winning history”, “game information”, “reel arrangement”, “reach”, and “character selection”, respectively. For example, the winning history screen displays how many games have been consumed in the past before the bonus game is started on the gaming machine. Accordingly, a single control command CMD 'corresponding to the line variable LN1 = 0 is not sufficient, and the number is considerably large. For example, the winning history screen shown in FIG. 12 (b) displays a total of 10 (10 × 16 bits) in order to display the number of consumed games (actual data) until the start of the 12 bonus games. The series of control commands CMD ′ described above are used.

  Having described the first hierarchy screen, the operation after the hierarchy variable NEST is updated to 2 in the process of step ST73 will be described with reference to FIG. Hierarchical variable NEST is set to 2, for example, any of “1/4”, “2/4”, “3/4” and “4/4” during display of the winning history screen (FIG. 12B). This is when the DE contact of the menu switch is turned on in the highlighted state (highlighted). In this case, the displayed result data goes back in the order of “1/4” → “2/4” → “3/4” → “4/4”.

  While the reach screen (FIG. 12E) or the character selection screen (FIG. 12F) is displayed, “1/2”, “2/2”, “Jessica”, “Amy” The hierarchical variable NEST is also 2 when the DE contact of the menu switch is turned ON with any of them highlighted.

  In such a state that the hierarchical variable NEST is NEST = 2, the determination of step ST74 (FIG. 11) is made after step ST63, and the process proceeds from step ST60 to the process after step ST63, and UP contact, DW contact, DE contact. It is determined whether any of these has been turned ON (ST75, ST78, ST80). Here, when the UP contact is turned on, the line variable LN2 is cyclically updated in the positive direction (ST76), but when the DW contact is turned on, the line variable LN2 is circulated in the negative direction. (ST79).

  Thereafter, a control command corresponding to the updated line variable LN2 is generated, and the process ends (ST77). The control command generated at this time is used to specify which column of the selection column in the menu screen (FIGS. 12B, 12E, and 12F) in the first hierarchy is highlighted (highlighted). is there.

  On the other hand, when the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned on in the state where the “return” is emphasized in the display state of the menu screen of the first hierarchy (FIGS. 12B, 12E and 12F). After the determination in step ST80, a control command for the first hierarchy screen corresponding to the line variable LN1 is generated (ST81), the hierarchy variable NEST is decremented by 1, and the process is terminated (ST82). As a result, the liquid crystal control unit 61 that has received the control command CMD 'displays the first layer screen on the liquid crystal display unit 7.

  When the DE contact of the menu switch 19 is turned ON in the display state of the initial screen of the first hierarchy (FIGS. 12B, 12E and 12F), the process of step ST83 is executed. In step ST83, a control command corresponding to the value of the line variable LN2 and the value of the hierarchy variable NEST (= 2) is generated. If the third hierarchy exists, the hierarchy variable NEST is incremented by 1 and the line variable LN3 is initialized to zero to finish the process (ST84). If there is a third hierarchy, the subsequent processing is executed in the same manner as in FIG. However, in the present embodiment, the process is terminated on the menu screen of the second hierarchy. Therefore, if it is determined in step ST74 that NEST ≠ 2, the process is terminated without doing anything as an error.

  In any case, the menu command CMD 'generated as described above is stored in the menu command buffer MB having the ring buffer structure illustrated in FIG. 8E, and the menu switch processing is completed (ST43).

  As described above, the menu command generation process (ST42) in particular has been described in detail for the menu switch process (ST30) in the timer interrupt process of FIG. As is clear from this processing content, in this embodiment, the player simply turns on one of the UP contact, DW contact, and DE contact of the menu switch 19 to display the desired support information on the liquid crystal display unit 7. The And since the program structure is simple, the detailed information which a player's request | requirement meets can be provided by deepening a hierarchy suitably.

  Returning to FIG. 8A, the description will be continued. In the timer interrupt process (FIG. 8A) of the effect control unit 51, when the menu switch process (ST30) is completed, the received command is analyzed. (ST31). The specific processing content is as shown in FIG. 8D, and the control command CMD newly acquired in the reception interrupt processing (FIG. 8B) is determined (ST44). As described above, the control commands output by the main control unit are mainly classified into a group A control command for defining the game state notification and the content of the symbol effect, and a group B control command for defining the content of the error notification. It has been separated.

  If the control command acquired this time is an effect command CMD related to a design effect, the effect command CMD is analyzed (ST45), and a series of effect operation scenarios is determined (ST46). Note that the series of effect scenarios has details of the effect contents determined by effect drawing in the effect control unit 51 again based on the effect command CMD received from the main control unit 50. The content of the decision is usually an effect in which a sound effect, a lamp effect, and a symbol effect are executed in synchronization, and a new control command (effect command) CMD ′ for specifying such a series of effect scenarios is generated. (ST47).

  The generated control command CMD 'is stored in the game command buffer YB. The game command buffer YB is a ring buffer managed by the write pointer WR2 and the read pointer RD2, and after the control command CMD ′ is stored, the write pointer WR2 is cyclically updated in the forward direction (ST48). .

  The case where the production command is received among the control commands of the A group has been described above. However, when another control command of the A group or the control command of the B group is received, after the determination in step ST44, the step Moving to ST48, the control command is stored in the game command buffer YB.

  In the timer interrupt process of FIG. 8, when the received command analysis process (ST31) is completed as described above, the lamp effect is performed according to the effect scenario determined in step ST46 corresponding to the elapsed time from the start of the effect. A voice effect is executed (ST32). Note that the symbol effect is executed in synchronization with the lamp effect and the sound effect in the liquid crystal control unit that has received the control command CMD '.

  When the effect scenario update process (progress process) is completed, the control command CMD 'stored in the command buffers MB and YB is transmitted to the liquid crystal controller 61, and the timer interrupt process is terminated (ST33).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of the command transmission processing (ST33). In the command transmission process, the control command stored in the game command buffer YB is transmitted with priority.

  In the command transmission process (ST33), first, regarding the control command (group A or group B control command) stored in the game command buffer YB, is the control command indicated by the read pointer RD2 a control command indicating the start of the game? It is determined whether or not (ST50). For example, if a “medal insertion command” or a “start lever acceptance command” is stored in the read position of the game command buffer YB, it is determined that the game is in a start state.

  This means that the player has started the next game, so it is no longer necessary to continue displaying the menu screen. This is considered to be the same even when the menu screen corresponding to the ON operation of the menu switch 19 is not yet displayed due to a transmission delay due to the large number of control commands CMD 'necessary for display.

  Therefore, when a control command indicating the start of the game is detected at the read position of the game command buffer YB, the values of the two pointers WR1 and RD1 of the menu command buffer MB are matched (ST51). As a result of this processing, the value of the read pointer RD1 matches the value of the write pointer WR1, which means that the menu command stored so far is discarded (erased). For example, in FIG. 9B, all menu commands 1 to N are discarded, in other words, the contents of the menu command buffer MB are cleared.

  Therefore, no matter how much the game support information displayed on the menu screen is increased, as a result, it may take time to send the control command CMD ′. The corresponding game effect can be started without delay.

  When the process of step ST51 is completed, the value of the hierarchical variable NEST is returned to zero (ST52). This is because there is a possibility that the production control unit 51 is performing a menu screen display operation (ST63 to ST84) at the timing when the production control unit 51 receives a game start control command from the main control unit 50. This is because the hierarchical variable NEST may be set to 1 or 2. In this embodiment, since the hierarchical variable NEST is always returned to zero at the start of the game (ST52), the process of step ST61 is executed when the menu switch 19 is turned on after the end of the game. Thus, the initial screen (FIG. 12A) is correctly displayed.

  When the process of step ST52 is completed, the value of the write pointer WR2 of the game command buffer YB is compared with the value of the read pointer RD2 (ST53). If the values of the two pointers match (WR2 = RD2), it means that there is no control command to be transmitted. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, when WR2 ≠ RD2, this means that there is a control command CMD ′ to be transmitted to the liquid crystal control unit 61.

  Therefore, if the values of the write pointer WR2 and the read pointer RD2 do not match, a number of control commands not exceeding the upper limit value M is transmitted to the liquid crystal control unit 61 (ST54). Further, the value of the read pointer RD2 is cyclically updated in the positive direction of the game command buffer YB by the number of command transmissions (ST54).

  Note that the number of transmissions in step ST54 is limited so as not to exceed the upper limit M. If a large number of control commands are transmitted at once, (a) command transmission processing (ST33) consumes a great deal of time. This is because the processing of the other effect control unit 51 is adversely affected, and (b) the liquid crystal control unit 61 also has an excessive processing load such as command reception processing. In this embodiment, since the number of control commands transmitted at a time is limited, for example, no matter how much the game support information displayed on the menu screen is increased, a special control burden is imposed on the effect control unit 51 and the liquid crystal control unit 61. Not give.

  After transmitting the limited number of control commands in this way, if there is still a margin in the number of transmittable commands, the process proceeds from step ST55 to step ST56. Note that the process of step ST56 is executed not only when there is more room after transmission of the control command of the game command buffer YB but also when the game command buffer YB is empty (RD2 = WR2).

  In any case, it is first determined whether or not the values of the write pointer WR1 and the read pointer RD1 relating to the menu command buffer MB match (ST56). If the two match (WR1 = RD1), there is no control command (menu command) to be transmitted, but if they do not match (WR1 ≠ RD1), the control command to be transmitted to the liquid crystal control unit 61. It means that CMD ′ exists.

  Therefore, if the values of the write pointer WR1 and the read pointer RD1 do not match, a number of control commands not exceeding the upper limit value are transmitted to the liquid crystal controller 61 (ST57). Further, the value of the read pointer RD1 is cyclically updated in the forward direction of the menu command buffer MB by the number of command transmissions, and the process is finished (ST57).

  As described above, in this embodiment, different command buffers MB and YB are used according to the type of the control command. Therefore, even when the control commands of the A group to the C group exist in a complicated manner, the effect control unit 51 or There is no control burden on the liquid crystal controller 61. A case where the control commands of the A group to the C group exist in a complicated manner is, for example, a case where the player turns on the menu switch 19 before the start of each game. This is a case where an error notification command or an effect command for a notice operation is received from 50.

  In such a case, a large number of menu commands are stored in the menu command buffer MB, and further, an error notification command and an effect command (notice command) for a warning operation are stored in the game command buffer YB. Stored and control tends to get confused. However, even in such a complicated state, in this embodiment, since the control command of the game command buffer YB is transmitted first (see ST53 to ST55), an important error notification or notice effect is displayed in the menu display operation. There is no risk of being late for. Note that the error notification command and the notice command received during the display of the menu screen are displayed on the menu screen of the liquid crystal display unit 7 at the stage of being activated in the liquid crystal control unit 61, so that the player can It is possible to grasp game support information.

  The same applies to the case where the first menu command is transmitted after the transmission of the error notification command or the advance notice command. Necessary game support information is superimposed on the liquid crystal display unit 7 during the error notification or the advance effect operation. Is displayed. On the other hand, when the menu command is transmitted after the demonstration screen display command is transmitted, the liquid crystal control unit 61 that has received the command erases the demonstration screen and draws the menu screen.

  By the way, in the present invention, it is not particularly prohibited to unify the menu command buffer MB and the game command buffer YB. However, when a single command buffer is provided, it is necessary to select control commands to be transmitted with priority, and the control burden on the effect control unit 51 increases. In addition, even when the production control unit 51 receives a game start control command, among the untransmitted control commands stored in a single command buffer, the control command to be discarded and the control command to be left In this sense, the control burden on the production control unit 51 increases.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, the concrete description content does not specifically limit this invention, Various modifications are possible without deviating from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the embodiment, the first command CMD is preferentially handled among the first command CMD and the second command CMD ′, but conversely, the second command CMD ′ can be preferentially handled. For example, an error notification command CMD that does not require urgency may be transmitted downstream after the second command CMD '.

It is a front view of the slot machine which concerns on an Example. FIG. 2 is a right side view (a) and a plan view (b) of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is the figure which illustrated the front panel of the slot machine from the back. It is an internal front view of the main body case of the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram showing a connection relationship between the effect control unit and the liquid crystal control unit. It is a flowchart explaining the main routine in a main-control part. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content in an effect control part. It is a flowchart which shows a part of FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows another one part of FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the process following FIG. It is drawing which illustrated the menu screen.

Explanation of symbols

50 Main Control Unit 51 Production Control Unit 61 Symbol Control Unit

Claims (6)

A main control unit equipped with a first computer circuit for overall control of gaming operations, an effect control unit equipped with a second computer circuit for performing an effect operation based on a command from the main control unit, and And a symbol control unit equipped with a third computer circuit that controls a driving IC of the display device based on a command from the effect control unit and executes a symbol display operation.
The effect control unit outputs a first command to the symbol control unit based on a command received from the main control unit, and displays the support information in response to a switch operation from a player. The second command is output to the
The memory area of the effect control unit that temporarily stores a command to the symbol control unit includes a first memory region that stores a first command, and a second memory region that stores a second command that specifies a player's switch operation. is provided separately,
When the production control unit receives a first command indicating the start of the game from the main control unit, it is controlled to erase all the stored contents of the second memory area, and the second command that has not been transmitted is deleted. A gaming machine characterized by being configured.   The operation of the effect control unit includes a main process executed after power-on, a timer interrupt process started by interrupting the main process every predetermined time, and a reception interrupt process started when the command is received. The gaming machine according to claim 1, which is realized as described above.   3. The game according to claim 2, wherein the command transmitted from the effect control unit to the symbol control unit has a transmission number limited to a predetermined upper limit number within a single timer interruption process. Machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the symbol control unit controls a drawing operation of a display device capable of displaying a moving image.   The switch operation includes an operation for highlighting any of the selection items displayed on the display device, and an operation for instructing selection of any of the highlighted selection items. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the support information is displayed by deepening a hierarchy in response to a switch operation from a player.