JP4911697B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a technique for controlling a movable accessory on a game board of the ball game machine.

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

As an effect on the reach fluctuation screen, after making it fluctuate for a while, it seems to have stopped with the off symbol combination, and then restarts the fluctuation again, and then stops at the combination of hit or miss as the final symbol combination Production is generally known. Here, if an effect that resumes the change after the stop is completely stopped by a combination of detachment is assumed, it may be an effect that has been overkill as an effect that deceives the player. Therefore, as an effect that makes it seem as if it has stopped as described above, an effect that the movement does not stop completely but it seems to have stopped by repeatedly finely moving back and forth so that it is difficult for the player to easily observe Is often adopted. The player who sees such an effect expects that the change will be resumed and stop again with the winning symbol combination.
JP 2003-230714 A

  While an effect of resuming the fluctuation from the fine movement state that appears to be stopped is prepared, the fine movement state may be completely stopped as it is to determine the formal stop state. As a developer who designs the production contents on the reach screen, in order to make a transition from a fine movement period that appears to be a stop to a formal stop, the stop timing is such that a natural transition is made from a fine movement image to a stop image. And the transition image must be designed. When determining the design stop timing, the developer usually relies on visual observation of the optimal timing that appears to be a natural transition even if a complete stop is performed while checking and checking the screen of the finely moving design in units of frames. Will be decided. That alone will be a burden on the developer, but it may not be a beautiful transition for the effort. In other words, processing delays, deviations, processing failures, etc. will occur according to the internal processing burden at that time from when the decorative design change stop command is issued internally until the change actually stops. As a result, beautiful transitions as planned were not always reproduced. In addition, the content of the production is often forced to change the design until the final stage of the game machine design, and whenever such a change occurs, the stop timing must be determined again, which is a great burden on the developer. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for easily optimizing a stunning image in a ball game machine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a game board on which a game area is formed, and a predetermined position in the game area. The start winning opening, the winning lottery means for executing the lottery upon entering the starting winning opening, the main display control means for variably displaying on the display device the special symbol indicating the lottery result, and the lottery result A pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns in which a variation display process of a decoration symbol, which is a symbol showing the effect, is defined, and an effect of variably displaying the decoration symbol on the display device according to any one of the plurality of variation patterns Display control means, and special game control means for executing a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game when the result of the lottery is a win. The pattern storage means center the symbol position to be displayed as the final stop mode in order to make it appear that the variable symbol display is temporarily stopped before reaching the final stop mode. A pattern that includes a semi-stop mode that is a mode of continuously finely moving in the front-rear direction, and a mode that includes a mode of instantaneous stop at the timing of reaching the symbol position to be displayed as the final stop mode in the period of the semi-stop mode The main display control means sends a stop command related to the decorative symbol variation display to the effect display control means at the timing of the momentary stop mode, and the effect display control means stops instantaneously when receiving the stop command. In this state, the display stop of the variation pattern is confirmed as it is.

  Here, the “front-rear direction” only means repeated fine movements in one direction and fine movements in another direction, and the direction is not necessarily limited to the meaning of being back and forth with respect to the direction of pattern fluctuation. is not. Therefore, it may be finely moved in the up / down / left / right directions, and the exact direction is not limited as long as it is sufficiently slow or small as compared with a normal movement of symbol variation. “Momentary stop” means a stop within a range that is not treated as a complete stop due to game standards and regulations, or general wisdom, and whether it is a “moment” in a strict sense is not. Therefore, although it is stopped when viewed microscopically, it is stopped for a length of time that is not necessarily grasped by the player's visual observation.

  According to this aspect, the symbol at the “instant stop” is already in the position to be displayed as the final stop mode even if the variable stop is confirmed as it is, so the symbol becomes unnatural with the confirmation of the stop. There is no shifting or frame skipping motion. As a result, it is possible to show a natural and smooth transition from the fine movement state before the stop is confirmed to the complete stop state, and it is easy to determine the stop position for showing such a natural transition regardless of whether or not it depends on visual observation. Can reduce the burden on the developer. Further, even if such a period of stop state is provided, it is set so that it cannot be grasped by the human eye, and even if it does not stop in that state, an unnatural movement does not occur and the aesthetic appearance is not impaired.

  The pattern storage means includes an instantaneous stop portion formed in a time range capable of absorbing the arrival delay of the stop command from the main display control means to the effect display control means as the instantaneous stop portion included in the variation pattern. The included pattern may be retained. The term “stop instruction arrival delay” here includes a case where a delay occurs due to an external factor in signal transmission from an electronic element that issues a stop instruction to an electronic element that executes image processing. The processing in the electronic device that issues or executes the processing may include a processing delay that may occur due to a load imposed by other processing. However, the term “time range” here does not strictly require that all cases that can be assumed as “delay of arrival of stop command” can be absorbed, and can generally absorb delays that can occur relatively frequently. If it is within the range, this is sufficient. As a result, the developer can determine the variable stop position without further considering the influence of the arrival delay or processing delay of the stop instruction, and the development burden is reduced.

  The main display control means sends a stop command to the effect display control means with the aim of an intermediate timing in the momentary stop period. It is easiest to determine the timing for issuing a stop command with an intermediate position within the time range of the instantaneous stop as the target, and even if an actual arrival delay or processing delay occurs in the stop command, the effect is instantaneous stop This reduces the developer's burden because it is likely to be absorbed within this time range.

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

  According to the ball game machine of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the development burden for ensuring the appropriate display of stunning images.

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

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

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

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

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

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center decoration 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. The center decoration 64 is provided with a lottery holding lamp 20 at the upper part thereof and an operation holding lamp 22 at a left side part thereof. The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holds is the number of lottery results won to the start port 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. The operation hold lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of hold of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights. The number of normal symbol fluctuations held is the number of game balls that have passed through the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol, and indicates the number of normal symbol lotteries for which the fluctuation of the normal symbol has not yet been executed. In addition, a game effect lamp 90 is provided in the game area 52 and plays a role of production by blinking or the like. The operation button 82 is a button operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction on the gaming machine side. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

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

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating the game of the slot machine takes a display mode in which the three patterns are matched. In the special game, the grand prize winning slot 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 9 or more game balls are dropped. Such opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The symbol determining unit 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60 according to the lottery result by the success / failure lottery unit 112. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by lottery. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The symbol determination means 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol or a normal symbol stop symbol, or a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

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

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

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

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

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a special symbol variation display according to the variation pattern determined by the symbol determination unit 114. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, so that the main display control means 118 and the effect display are displayed. The fluctuation display by the control means 134 is synchronized and interlocked. However, microscopically, command arrival delays due to signal transmission delays and processing delays may occur depending on the load conditions at that time. There was a risk of it occurring. In the present embodiment, the contents of the variation pattern are optimized in order to eliminate such problems on the screen display. Details of the optimization will be described later. The main display control means 118 displays the normal symbol variation on the normal symbol display device 59.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the result of the lottery determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously continued a plurality of times, and is constituted by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. If the number of continuations of the unit game has not reached the upper limit number, the special game control means 120 starts the next unit game after the end of the current unit game. When the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game is terminated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Here, in the plurality of variation patterns stored in the pattern storage unit 130, the variation display of the decorative symbols is temporarily stopped before reaching the final stop mode as a pattern when the reach state is reached. A semi-stop pattern, which is a pattern that undergoes a semi-stop mode, is included. This semi-stop mode is centered on the symbol position that should be displayed as the final stop mode in order to make it appear as if it has stopped with a plurality of symbols, for example, “3”, “4”, and “3”. This is a mode of continuously finely moving in the front-back direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a semi-stop mode. In this state, each symbol slightly moves up and down, left and right, etc., and is not completely stopped. When using a semi-stop pattern for variable display, after the variable display is made, it appears to have stopped in a semi-stop mode with an out-of-order symbol combination, then changed again, and then changed with the final stop symbol combination. Stop. The final stop symbol may be a winning symbol combination or a missed symbol combination.

  In the semi-stop pattern in the present embodiment, as the semi-stop mode, a mode of instantaneous stop at the timing approaching the symbol position to be displayed as the final stop mode in the period for displaying the semi-stop mode is included. That is, at least one period of instantaneous stop is provided at the final stop position while finely moving the decorative design repeatedly in each direction around the final stop position. However, the momentary stop state is a stop within a range that is not treated as a complete stop due to the game. Although it is stopped microscopically, it stops according to the player's naked eye. It is in a state of being stopped for a length of time that cannot always be grasped.

  The main display control means 118 issues a decorative symbol variation stop command with a target of intermediate timing in the instantaneous stop period included in the semi-stop mode when the variation display is performed by the semi-stop pattern, and the effect display. This is sent to the control means 134. The timing for issuing the variable stop command is determined by determining the instantaneous stop period at the design stage of the semi-stop pattern. For example, the symbol determination unit 114 selects the variation pattern of the special symbol corresponding to the semi-stop pattern of the decorative symbol by storing the semi-stop pattern and the temporal position of the instantaneous stop period in association with each other and storing them in the symbol determination unit 114. In this case, the instantaneous stop period is also recognized and sent to the main display control means 118. When such a variation pattern is selected, the main display control unit 118 may issue a variation stop command with the target being an intermediate timing of a predetermined instantaneous stop period.

  Here, if there is no instantaneous stop period in the semi-stop pattern, it is only necessary to stop at the moment when the decorative design is at the final stop position, but the decorative design is moving slightly and other than the final stop position. If it stops at the moment of the position, it will momentarily shift from that position to the final stop position, resulting in a frame-like display. In this embodiment, if there is a margin of the instantaneous stop state in the period before and after the stop scheduled timing, if the arrival of the variable stop command to the effect display control means 134 is delayed from the schedule In addition, it is possible to make a natural transition to the stop display without displaying a pattern shift or frame skip just before stopping. In addition, as a design for expressing such natural transition, developers can easily determine the issue timing without further considering the arrival delay or processing delay of the variable stop command. It can be reduced. In particular, it is easiest to determine when to issue a stop command with an intermediate position in the time range of instantaneous stop as the target, and the effects of stop command arrival delay and processing delay fall within the instantaneous stop period and are absorbed. It is highly possible that the burden on developers will be further reduced.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of processing in the semi-stop pattern on the time axis. As shown in the figure, the process in the case of variably displaying using the semi-stop pattern is expressed as a process from t1 to t9 on the time axis. At t1, a change start command is issued by the main display control means 118, and the effect display control means 134 that has received the change start command starts changing the display of decorative symbols. The period from t2 to t5 is a semi-stop mode period. After the decorative symbols are variably displayed from t1 to t2 and the reach mode is displayed, the semi-stop mode is displayed in the combination of the detached symbols once at the timing of t2. In the semi-stop period from t2 to t5, an instantaneous stop period from t3 to t4 is provided. In this figure, the time range from t3 to t4 is expressed with a comparatively long time so as to help understanding, but in practice it is set to a short period that is difficult to grasp visually. In the period from t3 to t4, the decorative symbol is instantaneously stopped at the final stop position. If a change stop command is issued by the main display control means 118 at an intermediate timing in the period from t3 to t4, the decorative symbol being displayed is determined as a final stop while staying at the instantaneous stop position. For example, when a change stop command is issued in the period from t3 to t4, it is displayed in a semi-stop mode once with a symbol combination, and the player expects a change again, but does not shift to the change again. It is also possible to produce an effect that the variation is stopped by the off symbol combination.

  On the other hand, when the variable stop command is not issued in the period from t3 to t4, the variable display is started again for all symbols at the timing t5, and the semi-stop mode is displayed again at the timing t6. A period from t6 to t9 is a period of a semi-stop mode, and a period from t7 to t8 included in the period is also provided as an instantaneous stop period. The main display control means 118 issues a change stop command at an intermediate timing in the period between t7 and t8, and the decorative symbol being displayed is determined as the final stop while remaining in the instantaneous stop position. In this way, a natural transition from a semi-stop mode to a complete stop can be ensured. Further, assuming that the variable stop command is not issued during the momentary stop period from t7 to t8, the process returns to t6 when the timing reaches t9 as it is, and the semi-stop mode from t6 to t9 is repeatedly executed. Since an instantaneous stop period from t7 to t8 occurs every time the repetition is made, a variable stop command may be issued during that period. Thus, an unnatural stop from the semi-stop state is avoided.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, processing is performed when a game ball has won the start port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, or when the game ball has passed through the operation port 68 (S10). (N in S12), control processing for normal games such as winning / failing lottery is executed (S14), and if a special game is in progress (Y in S12), control processing for special game is executed (S16), from S10 to S16 In step S18, prize ball payout corresponding to various winnings is processed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. In the normal game control process, if the winning / losing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the winning / losing lottery means 112 executes the determining process. (S34). In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the effect image according to the change pattern data. The fluctuation display is started (S36). If the winning or failing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36 Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already started (Y in S38), the symbol variation display process is executed (S40). If the symbol variation display has not started (N in S38), S40 is skipped. .

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail the symbol variation display process of S40 in FIG. Here, the decorative symbol variation display processing by the effect display control means 134 will be described in particular. First, the effect display control means 134 outputs the change image constituting the frame of the change display process to the effect display device 60. When the change stop timing is reached (Y in S44), the main display control means 118 displays the effect display. A change stop command is issued to the control means 134 (S46), and the effect display control means 134 that has received the change stop command stops the design change (S48). If the change stop timing is not reached in S44 (N in S44), the subsequent processes in S46 and S48 are skipped.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail S16 in FIG. First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the production display control means 134 starts the special game production process (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S74). ). If the big winning opening 66 has been opened, S72 and S74 are skipped (Y in S70). When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the grand prize opening 66 was opened (Y in S76), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76), there are nine or more game balls to the big winning opening 66 When the player has entered the ball (Y in S78), the opening / closing control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66 (S80). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76) and the number of balls entered into the grand prize winning opening 66 has not reached nine or more (N in S78), the processing after S80 is skipped and the flow of S16 Exit.

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

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

  In the above-described embodiment, the description has been mainly given of the so-called first type pachinko gaming machine as an example, but naturally it is not intended to be limited to such a model, but any model as long as a stunning symbol variation display is executed You may implement | achieve by the fluctuation pattern and fluctuation | variation stop control in no pachinko game machine.

  In FIG. 5, the example in which one instantaneous stop is provided for each period of the semi-stop mode has been described. However, in the modified example, a plurality of instantaneous stop periods may be provided for the period of the semi-stop mode. It is good also as a structure which mixes the semi-stop aspect provided with the period, and the semi-stop aspect which is not provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the variable stop command is issued targeting the intermediate timing of the instantaneous stop period has been described. This is because the signal of the variable stop command issued from the main board may be delayed due to communication delays and the actual stop timing may be delayed from the target timing, and the sub board that receives the variable stop command This is because there is a possibility that the actual stop timing may be relatively earlier than the target timing due to a delay in the drawing process on the side. In the modification, for example, in the case where the processing delay on the sub-board side does not have to be taken into consideration, the variable stop command may be issued with a target timing earlier than the intermediate timing in the instantaneous stop period. In this case, since a margin can be taken longer than issuance with an intermediate timing as a target, the influence of processing delay can be absorbed more reliably. In another modification, for example, in the case of a configuration that does not need to consider communication delay, the variable stop command may be issued with a target timing that is later than the intermediate timing in the instantaneous stop period. Also in this case, the margin can be longer than when the target is issued at an intermediate timing, so that the influence of the relative processing speed can be more reliably absorbed.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a figure which shows a semi-stop aspect typically. It is a figure which shows typically the flow of the process in a semi-stop pattern on a time axis. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 5 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the symbol fluctuation | variation display process of S40 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows S16 in FIG. 5 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Pachinko machines, 50 game boards, 52 game areas, 60 effect display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 start openings, 100 game control devices, 102 main boards, 104 sub-boards, 112 winning / losing lottery means, 114 symbol determining means 118 Main display control means, 120 Special game control means, 122 Specific game execution means, 130 Pattern storage means, 132 Production determination means, 134 Production display control means, 190 Decoration symbol, 192 Special symbol

Claims (2)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A start winning opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, and a game ball entering is a lottery opportunity;
A lottery means for determining whether or not to execute a lottery upon entering the starting prize opening;
Main display control means for variably displaying a special symbol which is a symbol indicating the result of the lottery on a display device;
Pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns in which a variation display process of a decorative symbol that is variably displayed on the display device in response to the special symbol to visually produce the result of the lottery is defined;
Effect display control means for variably displaying the decorative design on a display device according to any of the plurality of variation patterns;
Special game control means for executing a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game when the result of the lottery is a win,
Said pattern storage means, to show as variable display of previous SL decorative pattern is temporarily stopped before reaching the final stop mode, the around the symbol position to be displayed as the final stop mode together comprise a semi-stop mode which is a mode to continuously fine movement in the longitudinal direction, difficult to grasp the stopped state visually player's Te the symbol position location to be displayed as the final stop mode in the period of the semi-stop mode look including an instantaneous stop mode, such over a short period of time is an aspect stopping the decorative design, as part of the instant stop mode which is included in the change pattern, a temporally intermediate timing in the period to be the instantaneous stop mode A time range that can absorb the arrival delay of the stop command relating to the variable display of the decorative symbol sent from the main display control means to the effect display control means as a target. Instantaneous stop part is included patterns formed by retaining as the variation pattern,
The main display control means, in response to the lapse of a predetermined time variation initiation of the decorative pattern, sends the stop command at the timing when the Tometai like stop the moment to the effect display control means,
The effect display control means, a ball-shooting game machine, characterized in that the variation pattern intact from the moment stop Tometai like stopping displayed upon receipt of the stop command. The main display control means, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the variation of the decorative symbol, triggers the stop command to the timing at an intermediate timing in the period of the instantaneous stop mode. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein

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