JP4926221B2 - Game machine, production control method, and production control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a revolving type gaming machine, a production control method, and a production control program, which are provided with a movable production actor that performs a predetermined production by moving the board surface.

  Conventionally, when a game ball launched into a game area of a game board enters a specific start port, three rows of symbols (for example, symbols of numbers 1 to 12) displayed on the image display unit move from top to bottom. When the same or related symbols are arranged on a certain line (effective line), a big win is opened, and a pachinko gaming machine capable of playing a big hit game is widely used.

  In such pachinko machines, in addition to effects such as image display on the image display unit, blinking and lighting using multiple lamps, so-called movable effects actors called so-called gimmicks can be lit or operated. This enhances the production effect. For example, a pachinko gaming machine that performs an effect combining a plurality of effects such as displaying an image on an image display unit in synchronization with the operation of a movable effect accessory is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  In the case of performing a combination of a plurality of different effects in this way, the pachinko gaming machine has an effect control composed of a plurality of processing units such as a lamp control unit, an image control unit or an effect control unit in order to disperse the burden of the effect processing. It is configured with a part.

  The production control unit controls the production control unit as a whole, and makes different production requests to the lamp control unit and the image control unit based on the production request from the main control unit of the pachinko gaming machine. The lamp control unit and the image control unit perform the rendering process independently when the rendering control unit requests rendering.

  Here, the movable effect combination is operated only when a specific effect is requested. The movable effect accessory is controlled by, for example, a lamp control unit that controls a plurality of lamps. For example, the lamp control unit includes one origin sensor that counts the number of times that the origin position of the movable effect accessory passes a predetermined position.

  The lamp control unit controls the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor based on the origin position detected by the origin sensor, and controls the operation of the movable effect accessory. By controlling the operation of the movable effect agent in this way, the lamp control unit can easily detect the displacement of the movable effect agent, for example, using an encoder to detect the displacement of the movable effect agent or the amount of rotation. The moving position and rotation angle are detected.

  The image display unit is controlled by an image control unit that performs image display control. The image control unit performs control to display an image corresponding to the rendering request on the image display unit when the rendering request is made by the rendering control unit.

JP 2008-043659 A

  However, when the movable effect actor and the image display unit are controlled by different processing units as described above, the screen control unit cannot know the origin position of the movable effect actor at the time of receiving the effect request. It is impossible to know the amount of movement and the amount of rotation of the movable production character.

  For this reason, for example, when the movable director is stopped at an arbitrary timing, such as when the movable director is stopped when the player presses the director button connected to the director, the screen controller It is not possible to know the timing at which the movable director is stopped.

  Therefore, in the pachinko gaming machine as described above, it is difficult to display an image on the image display unit in synchronization with the timing at which the movable effect agent stops. In addition to such effects, it is difficult to synchronize the movable effect actor and the image display on the image display unit, and thus it is difficult to perform an effect combining a plurality of effects.

  Such a problem can be solved by detecting the displacement of the movable effect actor and the amount of rotation using an encoder. However, in this case, the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can synchronize the stoppage of a movable effect character and the display of an image on an image display unit in order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can enhance the effect using a plurality of effects. Another object is to provide a gaming machine having a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention employs the following configuration. Reference numerals in parentheses indicate correspondence with the embodiments in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. A gaming machine (100) according to the present invention is provided on a game board (101), and is driven to rotate to move a movable effect character (130) that performs a predetermined effect, and the movable effect character (130). On the game board (101), the drive means (201) for controlling the rotational drive of the drive means (201) by outputting a control signal to the drive means (201) An image display means (104) for changing and displaying an image during a game, an image control means (302b) for controlling display of the image to be displayed on the image display means (104), At the time of a specific performance request, an effect request for the movable effect actor (130) corresponding to the specific effect request is made, and the specific performance is synchronized with the effect of the movable effect actor (130). Production control means (302a) that makes a display request for the production image corresponding to the request, and the drive control means (400) outputs the control signal when the production request for the movable production actor (130) is requested. After controlling and stopping the drive means (201), the effect control means (302a) is notified that the drive means (201) has been stopped, and the effect control means (302a) After the means (400) informs that the drive means (201) has been stopped, the image control means (302b) makes a display request for the effect image to the image control means (302b), and the image control means (302b) When the display of the effect image is requested, the effect image is displayed on the image display means (104).

  In the above invention, the drive control means (400) includes a detection means (405) for detecting an origin position of the drive means (201), and the drive control means (400) is provided with the movable effect accessory (130). The driving means (201) may be stopped based on the origin position of the movable effect actor (130) detected by the detection means (405).

  In the above invention, the drive control means (400) sends the control signal to the drive means (201) from the origin position of the movable effect actor (130) to a position where the movable effect actor (130) is stopped. It is good also as outputting.

  In the above invention, the drive control means (400) causes the movable effect accessory (130) to emit light when the image control means (302b) causes the image display means (104) to display the effect image. It is good as well.

  In the above invention, an effect button (119) that is provided in the game area (103) and receives the specific effect request is further provided, and the effect control means (302a) is configured by pressing the effect button (119). It is good also as receiving the said specific production request.

  In the above invention, the effect supervising means (302a) requests the image control means (302b) to display the guide images (1201a, 1201b) for accepting the operation of the effect button (119), and the guide image ( When the effect button (119) is pushed by the display of 1201a, 1201b), an effect request for the movable effect actor (130) is made to the drive control means (400), and the image control means (302b). The guide image (1201a, 1201b) may be displayed on the image display means (104) when the guide image (1201a, 1201b) is requested to be displayed.

  In the above invention, the movable effect combination (130) is provided below the image display means (104), and includes a plurality of rotation combinations each provided with one drive means (201) and independently driven to rotate. The image control means (302b) includes the object (130a, 130b, 130c), and the image control unit (302b) is configured to display the image above any one of the plurality of rotating combinations (130a, 130b, 130c). The guide image (1201a, 1201b) is displayed on the display means (104), and the drive control means (400) stops only the predetermined rotating accessory when the effect button (119) is pressed. Thereafter, the production control unit (302a) is informed that the predetermined rotating combination has been stopped, and the production control unit (302a) receives a signal from the drive control unit (400). After notifying that the predetermined rotating combination has been stopped, the image control means (302b) makes a display request for the effect image, and the image control means (302b) displays the effect image. At the time of the request, the effect image may be displayed on the image display means (104) above the predetermined rotating combination.

  In the above invention, a plurality of symbols are provided on the side surfaces of the rotary combination (130a, 130b, 130c), and the drive control means (400) is configured to request the production of the movable production combination (130). The rotating combination (130a, 130b, 130c) is stopped so that any one of the plurality of symbols is in a position facing the player in front of the game board (101). The effect image may be displayed on the image display means (104) and the predetermined symbol may be caused to emit light.

  In addition, the effect control method according to the present invention is an effect control method in which the drive unit (201) is rotationally driven to move the movable effect agent (130) that is provided on the game board (101) and performs a predetermined effect. An output step (404) for outputting a control signal to the drive unit (201), and a drive for controlling the rotational drive of the drive unit (201) by the output of the control signal in the output step (404). A control step (400), and an image control step (302b) for controlling the image display unit (104) provided on the game board (101) to display an image during a game in a varying manner. When a predetermined specific production request is made, the production request for the movable production actor (130) corresponding to the specific production request is made and synchronized with the production of the movable production actor (130). An effect supervision step (302a) for making a display request for an effect image corresponding to the specific effect request, wherein the drive control step (400) is an input for receiving an effect request for the movable effect accessory (130). When the request received in the step (401) and the input step (401), the drive unit (201) is stopped after controlling the output of the control signal to stop the drive unit (201). An output control step (402) for notifying the display, and the production control step (302a) is notified by the output control step (402) that the drive unit (201) has been stopped. An image display request is made, and the image control step (302b) performs display control of the effect image at the time of the effect image display request in the effect control step (302a). And butterflies.

  An effect control program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the effect control method described above.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to synchronize the operation of the movable effect actor and the image display on the image display unit. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can enhance the effect by using a plurality of effects. In addition, there is an effect that a gaming machine having a simple configuration can be provided.

It is a front view showing an example of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of a movable production | presentation actor. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the control part of the pachinko game machine concerning embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the functional structure of the pachinko game machine concerning this Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram which showed the rotation state of the movable production | presentation actor. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the main process which a main control part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the timer interruption process which a main control part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a special symbol process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the effect display process which an effect supervision part performs. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the data for production memorize | stored in RAM of the production supervision part. It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the data flow in the effect control unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen displayed on a movable production | presentation actor and an image display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen displayed on a movable production | presentation actor and an image display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen displayed on a movable production | presentation actor and an image display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display screen displayed on a movable production | presentation actor and an image display part.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gaming machine, an effect control method, and an effect control program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Basic configuration of pachinko machine)
First, the basic configuration of the pachinko gaming machine according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the embodiment includes a game board 101. A launcher (see reference numeral 382 in FIG. 3) is arranged at a lower position of the game board 101. The game ball launched by driving the launching unit rises between the rails 102 a and 102 b and reaches the upper position of the game board 101, and then falls within the game area 103.

  The game area 103 is provided with a plurality of nails (not shown), and the game balls fall in an unspecified direction by the nails. In the game area 103, a windmill and various winning openings (such as a start opening and a big winning opening) that change the falling direction of the gaming balls are arranged at positions in the middle of the falling of the gaming balls.

  An image display unit 104 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the game board 101. As the image display unit 104, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like is used. A first start port 105 and a second start port 106 are disposed below the image display unit 104. The first start port 105 and the second start port 106 are winning ports for starting and winning.

  In the vicinity of the second start port 106, an electric tulip 107 as an electric accessory is provided. The electric tulip 107 has a closed state (a closed state) that makes it difficult to win the game ball to the second starting port 106 and an open state (opened state) that makes it easier to win a prize than the closed state. Control of these states is performed by a solenoid (see reference numeral 331 in FIG. 3) provided in the electric tulip 107.

  The electric tulip 107 is opened based on the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery performed when the game ball passes through the gate 108 arranged on the left side of the image display unit 104. Note that the gate 108 is not limited to the left side (the illustrated position) of the image display unit 104 and may be disposed at an arbitrary position in the game area 103.

  A big prize opening 109 is provided below the second start opening 106. The big winning opening 109 is a winning opening that is opened when a big hit state is reached and a predetermined number (for example, 15) of winning balls are paid out when a game ball wins.

  A normal winning opening 110 is provided on the side of the image display unit 104 or below. The normal winning opening 110 is a winning opening for paying out a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls by winning a game ball. The normal winning opening 110 is not limited to the position shown in the figure, and may be arranged at an arbitrary position in the game area 103. At the bottom of the game area 103, there is provided a collection port 111 for collecting game balls that have not won any winning ports.

  In the lower right part of the game board 101, a special symbol display unit 112 for displaying special symbols is arranged. The special symbol display unit 112 includes a first special symbol display unit (see reference numeral 112a in FIG. 3) on which a first special symbol (hereinafter referred to as “special diagram 1”) is displayed, and a second special symbol (hereinafter referred to as “special diagram 2”). ”) Is displayed on the second special symbol display section (see reference numeral 112b in FIG. 3).

  Here, the special figure 1 is a symbol representing the lottery result of the first jackpot lottery performed when the game ball wins the first starting port 105. The special figure 2 is a symbol representing the lottery result of the second big hit lottery performed when the game ball wins the second starting port 106. The first jackpot lottery and the second jackpot lottery are lotteries for determining whether or not the gaming state is a jackpot state.

  In addition, a normal symbol display portion 113 for displaying normal symbols is arranged in the lower right portion of the game board 101. Here, the normal symbol represents the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery. The normal symbol lottery is a lottery for determining whether or not to open the electric tulip 107 (long open or short open) as described above. The normal symbol display unit 113 is composed of, for example, a 7-segment display.

  On the left side of the special symbol display unit 112 and the normal symbol display unit 113, a reserved ball display unit 114 that displays the number of reserved symbols for the special symbol or the normal symbol is arranged. For example, an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) is used as the holding ball display unit 114. A plurality of LEDs serving as the holding ball display unit 114 are arranged, and the number of holdings is indicated by turning on / off. For example, when two upper LEDs among the LEDs constituting the holding ball display unit 114 are lit, it indicates that the number of holdings for the normal symbol is two.

  A frame member 115 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the game area 103 of the game board 101. On the two sides which are the upper side and the lower side of the game area 103 in the frame member 115, an effect light part (frame lamp) 116 is provided. The effect light units 116 each have a plurality of lamps. Each lamp irradiates the player in front of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and the irradiation direction of the light can be changed in the vertical direction so that the irradiation position moves from the overhead of the player along the abdomen. Each lamp is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the effect light unit 116 so as to change the light irradiation direction in the vertical direction.

  An operation handle 117 is disposed at a lower position of the frame member 115. The operation handle 117 includes a firing instruction member 118 that drives the above-described launching unit to launch a game ball. The firing instruction member 118 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the operation handle 117 so as to be rotated clockwise as viewed from the player. The launching unit launches a game ball when the firing instruction member 118 is directly operated by a player.

  In the frame member 115, an effect button (chance button) 119 for receiving an operation by the player is provided on the lower side of the game area 103. In the frame member 115, a cross key 120 is provided next to the effect button 119. The effect buttons 119 and the cross key 120 constitute an operation unit that receives an operation from the player in the pachinko gaming machine 100. The frame member 115 incorporates a speaker (see reference numeral 354 in FIG. 3) that outputs sound.

  At the lower part of the image display unit 104, a movable effect actor 130 is disposed. The movable effect actor 130 can be rotated on the game board 101 by the drive motor 201. Specifically, the movable effect actor 130 has a configuration in which, for example, cylindrical drums 130a to 130c are connected in parallel. The drums 130a to 130c are arranged in parallel so that the central axis thereof is parallel to the game board 101 and the bottoms face each other.

  Each of the drums 130a to 130c includes one drive motor 201 and is driven to rotate independently. The drums 130a to 130c correspond to the rotating combination of the present invention. Although illustration is omitted, another accessory for effect is provided at a predetermined position in the game area 103 (for example, around the image display unit 104).

(Composition of movable director)
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of the movable effect actor 130 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the movable effect character 130. In FIG. 2, the drum 130 a that is a part of the configuration of the movable effect actor 130 will be described. Although not shown, the drums 130b and 130c have the same configuration as the drum 130a. In FIG. 2, the drum 130 a includes a drive system 200 and an effect system 210.

  The drive system 200 includes a drive motor 201, a drive transmission shaft 202, a drive gear 203, and a driven gear 204. The drive motor 201 converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and rotates the drive transmission shaft 202. The drive gear 203 is driven to rotate by the rotational force transmitted from the drive motor 201 via the drive transmission shaft 202. The driven gear 204 is meshed with the drive gear 203 and rotated by the rotational force of the drive gear 203. Note that the drive gear 203 is joined to a cylindrical detected portion 205. The drive motor 201 corresponds to the drive means of the present invention.

  The production system 210 includes a drum 130a. The drum 130 a rotates about the connecting portion 211 that supports the central axis of the drum 130 a and is connected to the driven gear 204 by the rotation of the driven gear 204.

  A side surface of the drum 130a is divided by boundary lines parallel to the axial direction of the drum 130a, and is configured by side surface design portions 212a to 212c each provided with a different design. Specifically, the side symbol portions 212a to 212c are regions divided so that, for example, the central angle of the bottom surface of the drum 130a is 120 °.

  The drum 130a is provided with a slit 213 as an origin position. The slit 213 is detected by the photo sensor 214. The slit 213 serves as a reference for determining the positions of the side symbol parts 212a to 212c. Specifically, the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 is counted using the slit 213 detected by the photosensor 214 as a reference.

  Since the control signal output to the drive motor 201 has a single rotational speed, the control signal output to the drive motor 201 is counted from when the slit 213 is detected by the photosensor 214, so that the drum 130a You can know the amount of rotation.

  For example, the slit 213 is detected at the position shown in FIG. 2, and then the side design portion 212 c is requested to stop at a position facing the player in front of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (hereinafter referred to as a player side position). Suppose that there was. In this case, the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 is controlled so that the position of the slit 213 at the time of the stop request moves to a position rotated by 120 ° from the position shown in FIG. Details will be described later.

  Further, the drums 130a to 130c may be configured such that a plurality of lamps emit light while rotating during a predetermined performance. In addition, the drums 130a to 130c may be configured to operate in conjunction with, for example, other effect actors having different sizes.

  In addition, when the drums 130a to 130c are stopped, among the symbols on the side symbol portions 212a to 212c, the symbols themselves located at the player side emit light by the LEDs provided in the drum 130a. It is good also as a structure. When all the symbols at the player side positions of the drums 130a to 130c are arranged in a predetermined pattern, all the symbols at the player side position may be configured to emit light.

  Although not shown, the drums 130a to 130c are configured such that their respective origin positions are aligned at the same position with respect to the game board 101 after the power is turned on or when a game is newly started. The drums 130a to 130c are independently driven to rotate. Each of the drums 130a to 130c is provided with a different photosensor 214, and detects the respective origin positions of the drums 130a to 130c.

(Internal configuration of control unit of pachinko machine)
Next, the internal configuration of the control unit of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the control unit of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 300 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a main control unit 301 that controls the progress of the game, an effect control unit 302 that controls the contents of the effect, and a prize ball control that controls the payout of the prize ball. Part 303. The configuration of each control unit will be described in detail below.

(1. Main control unit)
The main control unit 301 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 311, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 312, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 313, an input / output interface (I / O) (not shown), and the like. The

  The main control unit 301 functions to control the progress of the game of the pachinko gaming machine 100 by executing various programs stored in the ROM 312 while the CPU 311 uses the RAM 313 as a work area. Specifically, the main control unit 301 performs a jackpot lottery (first jackpot lottery, second jackpot lottery), normal symbol lottery, game state control, and the like to control the progress of the game. For example, the main control unit 301 is realized by a main control board.

  The CPU 311 executes basic processing accompanying the progress of game content based on various programs stored in advance in the ROM 312. The ROM 312 stores a jackpot lottery program, a normal symbol lottery program, an electric tulip control program, a big prize opening control program, and the like.

  The jackpot lottery program is a program for performing a jackpot lottery when a game ball is detected by the first start port SW321 or the second start port SW322. The normal symbol lottery program is a program for performing a normal symbol lottery that makes the electric tulip 107 hit (open) or lose (hold closed) when the passage of the game ball to the gate 108 is detected. The electric tulip control program is a program that keeps the electric tulip 107 in a closed state in a normal state and opens the electric tulip 107 for a predetermined period based on the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery. The big prize opening control program is a program for opening the big prize opening 109 for a predetermined number of rounds when the big hit.

  The main control unit 301 includes various switches (SW) for detecting a game ball, a solenoid for opening and closing an electric accessory such as the electric tulip 107 and the prize winning port 109, the first special symbol display unit 112a, The second special symbol display unit 112b, the normal symbol display unit 113, the reserved ball display unit 114, and the like are connected.

  Specifically, the various SWs described above include a first start port SW321 that detects a game ball won in the first start port 105, and a second start port SW322 that detects a game ball won in the second start port 106. , A gate SW 323 that detects a game ball that has passed through the gate 108, a big winning opening SW 324 that detects a gaming ball that has won a prize winning opening 109, and a normal winning opening SW 325 that detects a gaming ball that has won a winning prize 110 Is connected to the main control unit 301.

  Detection results by the respective SWs (321 to 325) are input to the main control unit 301. A proximity switch or the like can be used for these SWs. It should be noted that a plurality of the normal winning opening SW325 may be provided for each arrangement position of the normal winning opening 110.

  Further, as the solenoid, an electric tulip solenoid 331 that opens and closes the electric tulip 107 and a big prize opening solenoid 332 that opens and closes the big prize opening 109 are connected to the main control unit 301. The main control unit 301 controls driving of the solenoids (331, 332). For example, the main control unit 301 controls the driving of the electric tulip solenoid 331 based on the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery. Further, the main control unit 301 controls the driving of the big prize opening solenoid 332 based on the lottery result of the big hit lottery.

  Based on the lottery results of the jackpot lottery (the first jackpot lottery, the second jackpot lottery), the normal symbol lottery, the main control unit 301, the first special symbol display unit 112a, the second special symbol display unit 112b, the normal symbol display unit The display content of 113 is controlled. For example, the main control unit 301 variably displays the special figure 1 of the first special symbol display unit 112a when the first big hit lottery is performed. Then, after a predetermined period, the special figure 1 is stopped and displayed with a symbol indicating the lottery result of the first jackpot lottery.

  Similarly, the main control unit 301 changes / stops display of the special symbol 2 of the second special symbol display unit 112b when the second big hit lottery is performed, and the normal symbol of the normal symbol display unit 113 when the normal symbol lottery is performed. Is changed / stopped.

  Further, the main control unit 301 is also connected to the effect control unit 302 and the prize ball control unit 303, and outputs various commands to the respective control units. For example, the main control unit 301 outputs a change start command, a jackpot start command, and the like to the effect control unit 302. Here, the change start command includes information indicating a gaming state, information indicating a time for variably displaying a special symbol (hereinafter referred to as “change time”), and the like. Further, the main control unit 301 outputs a prize ball command to the prize ball control unit 303. Here, the prize ball command includes information indicating the number of prize balls to be paid out.

  The main control unit 301 outputs information indicating the game state being executed to the effect control unit 302 as a command. In this case, the effect control unit 302 provides an effect according to the game state being executed (for example, control of symbol variation or movable accessory). In addition, when there is one winning for the first starting port 105 or the second starting port 106, the main control unit 301 outputs information indicating the variation time required for one symbol variation to the effect control unit 302. To do.

(2. Production control unit)
The production control unit 302 includes a production control unit 302a, an image / sound control unit 302b, and a lamp control unit 302c, and has a function of controlling the production content of the pachinko gaming machine 100.

  The effect control unit 302a has a function of controlling the entire effect control unit 302 based on various commands (for example, change start commands) received from the main control unit 301. In addition, when the production control unit 302a receives a specific production request from the main control unit 301, the production request for the movable production actor 130 corresponding to the specific production (hereinafter, referred to as a production request for the movable production agent 130). Is output to the lamp controller 302c as a command. Details will be described later.

  Here, the specific effect refers to an effect of displaying an image on the image display unit 104 in synchronization with the effect of the movable effect character 130, for example. In addition, the effect request for the movable effect actor 130 is a request for stopping the movable effect agent 130 at a predetermined position. The position at which the movable effect actor 130 is stopped is determined in advance.

  In addition, the production supervision unit 302a may make a production request for the movable production agent 130 to the lamp control unit 302c in response to the production button 119 being pressed by the player. At this time, regardless of whether or not the effect button 119 is pressed by the player, the effect content requested by the effect control unit 302a to the lamp control unit 302c is the effect content set in advance.

  When the player operates the effect button 119, the effect supervision unit 302a outputs a command to the image / sound control unit 302b as a command to display a guide image for accepting the operation of the effect button 119 on the image display unit 104. May be. In this way, by causing the player to operate the effect button 119, for example, the player is given a sense of expectation as if the player is performing a lottery of effect symbols provided on the movable effect actor 130. Can do.

  In addition, the information supervising unit 302a receives, for example, a command from the lamp control unit 302c as information indicating that the effect requested to the lamp control unit 302c has been completed. Specifically, the effect supervising unit 302a is notified by the lamp control unit 302c that the movable effect actor 130 has been stopped at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the production control unit 302a performs a request to display an image corresponding to the specific production (hereinafter referred to as a production image) on the image display unit 104 (hereinafter referred to as a production image display request) by image / audio control. A command is output to the unit 302b.

  The image / sound control unit 302b has a function of controlling the image and sound based on the instruction content from the production control unit 302a. Further, the image / sound control unit 302b displays the effect image on the image display unit 104 when a display request for the effect image corresponding to the specific effect is input as a command by the effect control unit 302a. The image / sound controller 302b corresponds to the image controller of the present invention.

  The lamp control unit 302c controls lighting of a lamp provided on the frame member 115, lighting of a lamp (not shown) of a movable effect character 130 provided on the game board 101, operation of the movable effect character 130, and the like. It has a function to do. Moreover, the lamp control part 302c controls the drive motor 201, and stops the movable effect actor 130, when the effect request of the movable effect agent 130 is input as a command.

(2-1. Director of Production)
First, the configuration of the production control unit 302a will be described. The production control unit 302a includes a CPU 341, a ROM 342, a RAM 343, a real time clock (hereinafter referred to as “RTC”) 344, an input / output interface (I / O) (not shown), and the like.

  The CPU 341 executes an effect pattern selection process for selecting an effect to be executed. The ROM 342 stores various programs necessary for the CPU 341 to execute the above processing. The RAM 343 functions as a work area for the CPU 341. The data set in the RAM 343 when the CPU 341 executes various programs is output to the image / sound control unit 302b and the lamp control unit 302c at a predetermined timing.

  The CPU 341 executes processing relating to the contents of effects based on various programs stored in the ROM 342 in advance. The ROM 342 stores a production supervision program, a status notification program, a production control program, and the like. Based on the change start command, the effect supervision program determines the effect content to be executed in accordance with the change display of the special symbol, and outputs an instruction to execute predetermined processing to the image / sound control unit 302b and the lamp control unit 302c. Thus, the program controls the entire production control unit 302.

  The state notification program is a program that causes the drive motor 201 to perform an initial operation by controlling the lamp control unit 302c and also notifies a state related to the movable effect actor 130 during the initial operation. In addition, the state notification program may notify the state relating to the movable effect actor 130 during the game.

  The effect control program is a program for performing an effect using the combined effect effect data in which the screen effect by the image / sound control unit 302b and the lamp effect and the operation effect of the movable effect accessory 130 by the lamp control unit 302c are synchronized. is there. The effect control program includes a program for generating a control signal for operating the movable effect actor 130 and a program for stopping the drive motor 201.

  The RTC 344 counts and outputs the actual time. The RTC 344 continues the clocking operation with a backup power source (not shown) even when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is cut off. Note that the RTC 344 is not limited to the example in which the RTC 344 is arranged in the production control unit 302 such as the production control unit 302a, but may be arranged in the main control unit 301. Further, the RTC 344 may be arranged alone.

  In addition, an effect button 119 is connected to the effect control unit 302a. For example, when the production button 119 receives an operation from the player, the production button 119 inputs corresponding data to the production control unit 302a. Moreover, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted in FIG. 3, the cross key 120 is also connected to the production control part 302a. The cross key 120 inputs data corresponding to the key selected by the player to the production control unit 302a.

  Furthermore, an opening / closing door SW345 is connected to the production control section 302a. The open / close door SW345 is a switch for detecting the open state of the open / close door on the front surface of the game board 101, and is turned ON when the open / close door is opened. When the opening / closing door SW345 is turned on, the production supervision unit 302a notifies the image / sound control unit 302b that the door is open from the speaker 354.

(2-2. Image / Audio Control Unit)
Next, the configuration of the image / sound controller 302b will be described. The image / audio control unit 302b includes a CPU 351, a ROM 352, a RAM 353, an input / output interface (I / O) (not shown), and the like.

  The CPU 351 executes image and sound generation and output processing. The ROM 352 stores a program for image and sound generation and output processing, various image data such as background images, design images, and character images necessary for the processing, various sound data, and the like. The RAM 353 functions as a work area for the CPU 351 and temporarily stores image data to be displayed on the image display unit 104 and audio data to be output from the speaker 354.

  That is, the image / sound control unit 302b controls images and sounds based on instructions from the production control unit 302a by executing various programs stored in the ROM 352 while the CPU 351 uses the RAM 353 as a work area. Works like doing.

  For example, the CPU 351 executes various image processing and sound processing such as background image display processing, effect design variation / stop display processing, and character image display processing based on the instruction content instructed from the effect supervising unit 302a. At this time, the CPU 351 reads image data and audio data necessary for processing from the ROM 352 and writes them in the RAM 353.

  Image data such as background images and effect design images written in the RAM 353 is output to the image display unit 104 connected to the image / sound control unit 302b, and is superimposed on the display screen of the image display unit 104. . That is, the effect design image is displayed so as to be seen in front of the background image. When the background image and the design image overlap at the same position, the design image is prioritized in the RAM 353 by referring to the Z value of the Z buffer of each image data by a known hidden surface removal method such as the Z buffer method. Remember.

  The audio data written in the RAM 353 is output to the speaker 354 connected to the image / audio control unit 302b, and audio based on the audio data is output from the speaker 354.

(2-3. Lamp control unit)
Next, the configuration of the lamp control unit 302c will be described. The lamp control unit 302c includes a CPU 361, a ROM 362, a RAM 363, an input / output interface (I / O) (not shown), and the like. The CPU 361 executes processing for lighting the lamp and the like. The ROM 362 stores various programs necessary for executing the above processing, control data used for lamp lighting necessary for the processing, and the like. The RAM 363 functions as a work area for the CPU 361.

  The lamp controller 302c is connected to the effect light unit (frame lamp) 116, the panel lamp 364, and the effect agent lamp 365, and outputs data for lighting control. Thereby, the lamp control unit 302c functions to control the lighting of the lamps provided on the game board 101, the frame member 115, and the like, and the lighting and operation of the stage effect lamp 365.

  The lamp controller 302c is connected to the drive motor 201 and the photo sensor 214, rotates the drive motor 201, and causes the photo sensor 214 to start detecting the origin position. In addition, the lamp control unit 302c determines the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 based on the origin position detected by the photosensor 214 based on the rendering request of the movable rendering actor 130 by the rendering supervision unit 302a. And the drive motor 201 is stopped.

  Further, the lamp control unit 302c stops the movable effect actor 130 by stopping the drive motor 201. In addition, the lamp control unit 302c notifies the effect supervision unit 302a that the movable effect actor 130 has been stopped at the timing when the movable effect agent 130 has stopped. Details will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, the production control unit 302 includes a production control unit 302a, an image / sound control unit 302b, and a lamp control unit 302c that are provided as different board functions, but these are configured on the same printed board. May be. However, each function is independent even when they are incorporated on the same printed circuit board.

(3. Prize ball control unit)
Next, the configuration of the winning ball control unit 303 will be described. The winning ball control unit 303 includes a CPU 371, a ROM 372, a RAM 373, an input / output interface (I / O) (not shown), and the like. The CPU 371 executes a prize ball control process for controlling a prize ball to be paid out. The ROM 372 stores a prize ball program and the like necessary for the processing. The RAM 373 functions as a work area for the CPU 371.

  The prize ball control unit 303 is connected to a payout unit (payout drive motor) 381, a launch unit 382, a fixed position detection SW 383, a payout ball detection SW 384, a ball presence detection SW 385, and a full tank detection SW 386. .

  The winning ball control unit 303 controls the paying unit 381 to pay out the number of winning balls at the time of winning. The payout unit 381 includes a motor for paying out a predetermined number from the game ball storage unit. Specifically, the prize ball control unit 303 applies the game balls won to the payout unit 381 to each prize opening (the first start opening 105, the second start opening 106, the big prize opening 109, the normal winning opening 110). Control to pay out the corresponding number of prize balls.

  Further, the prize ball control unit 303 detects the operation of launching the game ball with respect to the launch unit 382 and controls the launch of the game ball. The launcher 382 launches a game ball for gaming, and includes a sensor that detects a game operation by the player, a solenoid that launches the game ball, and the like. When the prize ball control unit 303 detects a game operation by the sensor of the launch unit 382, the game ball 103 is intermittently fired by driving a solenoid or the like in response to the detected game operation, and the game area 103 of the game board 101 is played. A game ball is sent out.

  The prize ball control unit 303 is connected to various detection units for detecting the state of the game ball to be paid out, and detects the payout state for the prize ball. These detection units include a fixed position detection SW 383, a payout ball detection SW 384, a ball presence detection SW 385, a full tank detection SW 386, and the like. For example, the prize ball control unit 303 realizes its function by a prize ball control board.

  In addition, a panel external information terminal board 387 is connected to the main control unit 301, and various information executed by the main control unit 301 can be output to the outside. The prize ball control unit 303 is also connected to the frame external information terminal board 388, and can output various information executed by the prize ball control unit 303 to the outside.

  The main control unit 301, the effect control unit 302, and the prize ball control unit 303 having the above-described configuration are provided on different printed boards (main control board, effect control board, and prize ball control board). For example, the prize ball control unit 303 can be provided on the same printed circuit board as the main control unit 301.

(Basic operation of pachinko machines)
An example of the basic operation of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. Control during the game is performed by the CPU 311 of the main control unit 301, and the winning situation of the game balls for each winning opening is output to the winning ball control unit 303. Then, the winning ball control unit 303 pays out the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning situation.

  Each time a game ball wins at the start openings 105 and 106, a corresponding control signal is output to the effect control unit 302, and the effect control unit 302 displays the symbols on the image display unit 104 in a variable manner and stops the game. repeat. When the big hit occurrence has been determined, a corresponding control signal is output to the effect control unit 302, and the effect control unit 302 stops with a predetermined design. At this time, control for opening the special winning opening 109 is further performed.

  The effect control unit 302 performs various effects corresponding to the selected event. Here, the events include, for example, jackpots (15 rounds probable jackpots (so-called probabilistic jackpots), 15 rounds regular jackpots (so-called normal jackpots), probable jackpots with two rounds shortened (so-called sudden surprises), two rounds no probabilities A big hit (so-called latent probability), a round hit with a normal short hit with a short time (so-called a sudden hit), a small hit, etc. are included. Here, the small hit is an event that causes the same behavior (production) as the two-round short-term probability change big hit, although it is one of the losers.

  For example, the effect control unit 302 performs various effects in addition to the effect symbol change display on the image display unit 104 during the reach of the jackpot occurrence period and during the reach until the jackpot occurrence, or at the time of reach notice. Display. In addition, a specific drive is performed with respect to the movable effect agent 130, and an effect of changing the lighting state of the effect light unit 116, the panel lamp 364, and the movable effect agent 130 is performed.

  For example, when a big hit (15 round probability change / normal big hit) occurs, the big winning opening 109 is opened a plurality of times. Fifteen rounds are repeatedly executed with one release as one round. The period of one round is set, for example, when nine game balls are won or for a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds).

  At this time, the winning ball control unit 303 pays out, for example, 15 winning balls per winning game ball to the big winning opening 109. After the jackpot is over, the jackpot state is released, and if it is a 15-round probable jackpot, the game state returns to a high probability state, and if it is a 15-round normal jackpot, the game state returns to a low probability state. .

(Functional configuration of pachinko machine)
Next, the functional configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, the pachinko gaming machine 100 includes an image display unit 104, a movable effect actor 130, a drive motor 201, an effect control unit 302a, an image / sound control unit 302b, a drive control unit 400, and a detection unit. 405. The movable effect actor 130 is movably provided on the game board 101 and performs a predetermined effect by emitting light or rotating. The drive motor 201 is driven to rotate the movable effect actor 130.

  The drive control unit 400 includes an input unit 401, an output control unit 402, an oscillator 403, and an output unit 404. The input unit 401 is input with a command or the like for an effect request of the movable effect actor 130 corresponding to a specific effect by the effect supervising unit 302a. This command is output to the output control unit 402.

  The output control unit 402 controls the output of a control signal that is oscillated from the oscillator 403 and output from the output unit 404 to the drive motor 201 based on the effect request command of the movable effect actor 130, and stops the drive motor 201. Specifically, the output control unit 402 counts the number of steps of a control signal having a single rotation number oscillated from the oscillator 403 to the output unit 404 with the slit 213 as a reference. Then, the output control unit 402 determines the number of steps of the control signal to be output to the drive motor 201 so that the movable effect actor 130 stops at a predetermined position from the time when the command is input from the input unit 401. The output unit 404 is controlled so as to output control signals for the number of steps to the drive motor 201.

  In addition, the output control unit 402 notifies the effect control unit 302a that the drive motor 201 has been stopped after the drive motor 201 has been stopped. This notification is output as a command, for example. Here, the stop of the drive motor 201 may be that the drive motor 201 is actually stopped, or that the control signal output from the output unit 404 to the drive motor 201 is controlled as described above. It may be. That is, the stop of the drive motor 201 indicates that the drive motor 201 has stopped or will stop soon.

  Further, the output control unit 402 stops the control signal output to the drive motor 201 when the command is input from the input unit 401 when the movable effect actor 130 is already in a predetermined position, and the movable effect actor 130 The object 130 may be stopped as it is.

  The detection unit 405 detects the origin position of the movable effect actor 130. The detection unit 405 is realized by the photo sensor 214, for example. Specifically, the detection unit 405 detects the slit 213 as the origin position when the slit 213 provided in the movable effect actor 130 passes a predetermined position. In addition, the detection unit 405 always detects the origin position of the movable effect combination 130 while the movable effect combination 130 is rotating.

  The origin position of the movable effect actor 130 detected by the detection unit 405 is referred to by the output control unit 402. The output control unit 402 counts the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 with reference to the slit 213 detected by the detection unit 405.

  Accordingly, the output control unit 402 outputs to the drive motor 201 in order to stop the movable effect actor 130 at a predetermined position only by detecting the origin position of the movable effect agent 130 using one photosensor 214. The number of control signal steps to be determined can be determined.

  The effect supervising unit 302a receives, for example, a command from the output control unit 402 that the drive motor 201 has been stopped by the output control unit 402. The effect supervising unit 302a outputs a command to display the effect image to the image / sound control unit 302b at a timing when the output control unit 402 is notified that the drive motor 201 is stopped.

  The image / sound controller 302b causes the image display unit 104 to display an effect image based on the display request command. Therefore, the image / sound control unit 302b can display the effect image on the image display unit 104 after knowing that the drive motor 201 has stopped. That is, the image / sound controller 302b can indirectly know that the drive motor 201 has stopped at the timing when the drive motor 201 has stopped. Accordingly, the image / sound control unit 302b can display the effect image on the image display unit 104 in synchronization with the stop of the movable effect actor 130.

  Specifically, the image / sound control unit 302b, for example, an image adjacent to the movable effect actor 130 so as to emphasize that the movable effect agent 130 has stopped at the timing when the movable effect agent 130 has stopped. The background color of the display unit 104 can be changed, or a predetermined image that produces a visual special effect (hereinafter referred to as an effect image) can be displayed. At this time, an effect image is displayed on the image display unit 104, and the drive control unit 400 may perform an effect of causing the movable effect agent 130 to emit light.

  The drive control unit 400 is realized by the CPU 361 of the lamp control unit 302c. That is, the function of the drive control unit 400 is realized by the CPU 361 executing an instruction of the effect control program.

(Summary of operation of movable director)
Next, an outline of the operation of the movable effect actor 130 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the rotation state of the movable effect actor 130. In FIG. 5, the drum 130 a that is a part of the configuration of the movable effect actor 130 will be described. The configuration of the drums 130b and 130c is the same as that of the drum 130a. In addition, in FIG. 5, the illustration provided in the side symbol part is abbreviate | omitted illustration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the drum 130a rotates normally in a direction that rotates toward the player, for example. The position at which the drum 130a is stopped is set in advance, for example, the position shown in FIG. 5, the position rotated forward 120 ° from the position shown in FIG. 5, or the position rotated forward 240 ° from the position shown in FIG. The drum 130a is controlled to stop at the predetermined position as described above after the drive control unit 400 receives a request to stop the drum 130a.

  The slit 213 of the drum 130a is detected as the origin position of the drum 130a by the photo sensor 214 when passing through the position O, for example. Then, the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 is counted by the drive control unit 400 from the time when the slit 213 is detected at the position O.

  Specifically, for example, when the basic step angle of one cycle of the drive motor 201 is 0.60 °, a control signal of 200 steps is output to the drive motor 201 from when the slit 213 is detected at the position O. Then, the drum 130a rotates forward 120 ° from the position shown in FIG. Here, when the drum 130a is stopped, the symbol on the side symbol portion 212c moves to a position on the player side of the drum 130a.

  Similarly, when a control signal of 400 steps is output to the drive motor 201 from when the slit 213 is detected at the position O, the drum 130a rotates forward by 240 °. Here, when the drum 130a is stopped, the symbol on the side symbol portion 212b moves to a position on the player side of the drum 130a. As described above, the drum 130a moves to a predetermined position by controlling the number of steps of the control signal output to the drive motor 201 with the slit 213 as a reference.

  In the drum 130a as described above, when the drive control unit 400 receives a request to stop the design of the side design unit 212c at a position on the player side of the drum 130a, for example, the drum 130a operates as follows. To do.

  For example, it is assumed that the drive control unit 400 receives a request to stop the drum 130a when a control signal of 50 steps is output to the drive motor 201 from when the slit 213 is detected at the position O. At this time, the drum 130a is in a position rotated forward 30 ° from the position O. In this case, the drive control unit 400 outputs a control signal to the drive motor 201 for only 150 steps. As a result, the drum 130a is stopped at a position rotated forward 120 ° from the position O.

  Here, the position on the player side of the drum 130a is a position facing the player in front of the pachinko gaming machine 100. The symbol to be stopped at the position on the player side has already been determined when a request to stop the drum 130a is made. For example, the symbols in the drums 130a to 130c are determined so as to be aligned with a predetermined symbol corresponding to the selected event.

  Further, in the drum 130a shown in FIG. 5, when the symbol of the side symbol portion 212a is positioned on the player side, the drum 130a may be stopped without rotating, or the origin position of the drum 130a may be set to the position O. May be stopped by rotating 360 ° forward.

(Main processing executed by the main control unit)
Next, the main process executed by the main control unit 301 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the main process executed by the main control unit 301. For example, this main process is started when the main control unit 301 is turned on, and is continuously executed while the main control unit 301 is activated.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the main process, the main control unit 301 first waits for 1000 ms (step S601), and then permits access to the RAM 313 (step S602). When permitting access to the RAM 313, the main control unit 301 determines whether or not the RAM clear switch is ON (step S603).

  If the RAM clear switch is ON (step S603: Yes), the main control unit 301 clears the RAM (step S604). Here, “RAM clear” means that various information (for example, information indicating a gaming state) stored in the RAM 313 is set to a predetermined initial state although a detailed description is omitted because it is a known technique.

  When the RAM is cleared, the main control unit 301 sets the work area at the time of clearing (step S605), and performs the initial setting of the peripheral part (step S606). Here, the peripheral portions are the effect control unit 302, the prize ball control unit 303, and the like. Initial setting of the peripheral part is performed by transmitting an initial setting command for instructing execution of the initial setting to each control unit.

  On the other hand, if the RAM clear switch is not ON (step S603: No), the main control unit 301 determines whether the backup flag is ON (step S607). If the backup flag is ON (step S607: Yes), the main control unit 301 determines whether the checksum is normal (step S608).

  If the checksum is normal (step S608: Yes), the main control unit 301 executes a recovery process (step S609). If the backup flag is not ON (step S607: No) or the checksum is not normal (step S608: No), the process proceeds to step S604 to clear the RAM.

  Next, the main control unit 301 sets a cycle (for example, 4 ms) of a built-in CTC (timer counter) (step S610). The main control unit 301 executes a timer interrupt process using the period set here. When the CTC cycle is set in step S610, the main control unit 301 executes power-off monitoring processing for monitoring power-off (step S611).

  When the power-off monitoring process is executed, the main control unit 301 updates the fluctuation pattern random number (step S612), and sets an interrupt prohibition setting for the timer interrupt process (step S613). Then, the main control unit 301 updates the initial value random number (step S614), performs the interrupt permission setting of the timer interrupt process (step S615), and proceeds to step S611. Thereafter, the main control unit 301 repeatedly executes the processing from step S611 to step S615.

  Next, processing contents during normal game play of the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the timer interruption process of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described.

(Timer interrupt processing)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the timer interrupt process executed by the main control unit 301. For example, the timer interrupt process is executed by interrupting the main process at the period set in the CTC period setting in step S610 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, in the timer interrupt process, the main control unit 301 first executes a random number update process (step S701). Although detailed description and illustration are omitted because of a known technique, for example, in the random number update process, a big hit random number used for the first big hit lottery or the second big hit lottery is updated.

  Next, the main control unit 301 executes a switch process (step S702). Although detailed description and illustration are omitted because of a known technique, for example, in the switch process, a winning of a game ball to the first starting port 105 and the second starting port 106 is detected, and a random number at the time of winning is obtained. . In addition, the winning of game balls to the big winning opening 109 and the normal winning opening 110 is detected, and a winning ball command corresponding to the winning winning opening is set.

  Next, the main control unit 301 executes symbol processing (step S703). Here, the symbol process includes a special symbol process related to the special symbol and a normal symbol process related to the normal symbol. In the special symbol process, the special symbol is changed / stopped and a jackpot lottery is performed (see FIG. 8). In the normal symbol processing, the normal symbol is changed / stopped and the normal symbol lottery is performed (detailed explanation is omitted).

  When the symbol process is executed, the main control unit 301 executes an electric accessory process (step S704). Although detailed description and illustration are omitted because of a known technique, in the electric character processing, various electric characters connected to the main control unit 301 such as the movable effect character 130, the electric tulip solenoid 331, the big prize opening solenoid 332, and the like. Control the movement of objects.

  Next, the main control unit 301 executes a prize ball process related to the prize ball (step S705), and executes an output process for outputting the command set in the RAM 313 to the effect control unit 302 and the like by the above process. (Step S706), the timer interrupt process is terminated. When the timer interrupt process ends, the main control unit 301 returns to the main process.

(Special symbol processing)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the special symbol processing. This special symbol process is a process content included in step S703 of FIG. If the special symbol process is a big hit state (step S801: Yes), the process is terminated without changing the special symbol. If it is not the big hit state (step S801: No), it is determined whether the special symbol is changing (step S802), and if not changing (step S802: No), the game ball won in the second starting port 106 is determined. It is determined whether there is at least one hold number U2 (step S803).

  If the number of holdings U2 is one or more (step S803: Yes), a value obtained by subtracting one holding number U2 by one is set as a new holding number (step S804), and the second jackpot determination process is performed (step S805). In the second jackpot determination process, whether or not a big hit is made and whether or not a probable big hit is selected is selected based on the random number acquired in the second start port SW process.

  On the other hand, if there is no holding number U2 in step S803 (U2 = 0) (step S803: No), it is determined whether there is at least one holding number U1 of game balls won in the first starting port 105 (step S806). ). If there is no pending number U1 (U1 = 0) (step S806: No), the process is terminated without changing the symbol.

  If the number of holdings U1 is 1 or more (step S806: Yes), a value obtained by subtracting one holding number U1 by one is set as a new holding number (step S807), and the first jackpot determination process is performed (step S808). In the first jackpot determination process, whether or not a big hit is made and whether or not a probable big hit is selected based on the random number acquired in the first start port SW process is selected. As shown in steps S803 to S808, the winning at the second starting port 106 is given priority over the winning at the first starting port 105.

  After performing the second jackpot determination process in step S805 or the first jackpot determination process in step S808, a variation pattern selection process is performed (step S809). This variation pattern selection processing is processing for selecting each variation pattern such as jackpot or reach according to the determination result of the jackpot determination processing. Next, a change start command is set in the RAM 313 (step S810), and the special symbol change display is started (step S811). Then, the measurement starts and ends the variation time during which the special symbol is varied (step S812).

  In step S802, when the special symbol is changing (step S802: Yes), it is determined whether or not the changing time has elapsed (step S813). If the fluctuation time has not elapsed (step S813: No), the process is terminated. If the fluctuation time has elapsed (step S813: Yes), a special symbol fluctuation stop command is set (step S814), and the special symbol fluctuation is stopped (step S815). At this time, the variation time of the special symbol is reset (step S816), a predetermined stop process is performed (step S817), and the process ends.

(Processing procedure of production control unit)
Next, the content of the effect display process executed by the effect control unit 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The effect display process is performed at a predetermined interval (for example, 4 ms) with respect to the main effect process (detailed description is omitted) that is continuously executed by the effect control unit 302a of the effect control unit 302 while the effect control unit 302 is activated. This is a process of executing an interrupt every time. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the effect display process performed by the effect supervising unit 302a.

  In the effect display process, first, it is determined whether or not an effect of variably displaying the effect symbol is being performed (step S901). If the effect is not being generated (step S901: No), it is determined whether or not a change start command has been received from the main control unit 301. (Step S902). When the change start command has not been received (step S902: No), the processing is ended as it is. When the variation start command is received (step S902: Yes), stop symbol selection processing for selecting a symbol to be stopped is performed (step S903). Note that the stop symbol selection process is a process of performing a lottery of effect symbols to be stopped for each probability variation big hit, normal big hit, and lost, which are lottery results of the big hit determination process (see step S805 and step S808 in FIG. 8).

  Thereafter, based on the change start command, an effect pattern selection process for selecting the type of effect to be executed is executed (step S904). The effect pattern selection process is a process of selecting one of a plurality of kinds of effects prepared in advance. Specifically, the change start command includes information indicating the change time of the special symbol, and in the effect pattern selection process, an effect having the same reproduction time as the change time is selected. As a result, the effect symbol can be variably displayed in accordance with the variation display of the special symbol, and the effect symbol can be stopped and displayed in accordance with the stop display of the special symbol.

  After execution of the effect pattern selection process, a background selection process to be the background of the symbol is executed (step S905). After executing the background selection process in step S905, the effect control unit 302 starts the effect using the effect pattern selected in step S904 and the background image selected in step S905 (step S906). Specifically, the effect supervising unit 302a instructs the image / sound control unit 302b to output the information indicating the selected effect pattern and the information indicating the selected background image, and starts the effect. After the effect is started in step S906, the process is terminated.

  If the effect is being produced in step S901 (step S901: Yes), it is determined whether a change stop command has been received from the main control unit 301 (step S907). When the change stop command is received (step S907: Yes), the effect is ended (step S908). Specifically, the production supervising unit 302a outputs an instruction to the image / sound control unit 302b so as to stop and display the combination of the production symbols selected before the production starts, and ends the production. After this, if it is a big hit (step S909: Yes), the big hit effect is started (step S910).

  In step S907, when the change stop command is not received (step S907: No), the processing is ended as it is. In step S909, if it is not a big hit (step S909: No), the process is terminated as it is.

(Example of production data)
Next, an example of effect data stored in the RAM 343 of the effect control unit 302a will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of effect data stored in the RAM 343 of the effect control unit 302a. The effect data is data used in the process shown in step S904 of FIG.

  In FIG. 10, the lamp control unit 302 c uses effect data composed of the combined use effect data 1000 and the normal effect data 1010 based on the effect request (command) from the effect control unit 302 a. The combined use effect data 1000 includes effect screen data 1001 for screen effects by the image display unit 104 and accessory operation data 1002 for operation effects by the movable effect accessory 130. Use of either the combination effect effect data 1000 or the normal effect data 1010 is selected when the effect control unit 302a receives the change start command.

  The accessory action data 1002 includes information such as the number of rotations output to the drive motor 201 when the action effect by the movable effect accessory 130 is requested. The normal effect data 1010 includes effect screen data 1001 for screen effects by the image display unit 104. Note that the combined use effect data 1000 and the normal effect data 1010 include lighting data for performing a lamp effect by lighting the movable effect character 130 and the panel lamp 364, respectively.

(Specific example of command transmission / reception processing of production control unit)
Next, a specific example of command transmission processing of the effect control unit 302 will be described. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a data flow in the effect control unit 302. The process shown in FIG. 11 is a process performed in the process shown in step S906 of FIG. Here, the movable production | presentation actor 130 is taken as the structure which consists of the drums 130a-130c which carried out the column shape.

  In FIG. 11, first, the production supervision unit 302a receives a change start command from the main control unit 301 (step S1101). Upon receiving the change start command from the main control unit 301, the production control unit 302a transmits data related to the lamp control to the lamp control unit 302c based on the change start command, and to the image / sound control unit 302b. Data relating to the control of effect display on the image display unit 104 is transmitted (step S1102). The data related to the effect display control includes an effect image in a specific effect process.

  When the lamp control unit 302c receives data related to lamp control, the lamp control unit 302c starts control to turn on the lamp or the like (step S1103). In addition, when receiving data related to the effect display control, the image / sound control unit 302b starts controlling the effect display on the image display unit 104 (step S1104), and uses the data related to the effect display control to display the effect image. Create (step S1105).

  Hereinafter, an example in which the production supervision unit 302a selects the combination effect production data 1000 and performs synchronous control of the production display of the image display unit 104 and the movable production combination 130 (drums 130a to 130c) will be described. The image / sound control unit 302b receives data related to the liquid crystal display, refers to the timing information of a timer (not shown) from the start of the control of the liquid crystal display, and performs lamp control via the effect control unit 302a after a predetermined time has elapsed. A command requesting an effect of rotating the movable effect actor 130 (hereinafter referred to as a rotation request command) is transmitted to the unit 302c (steps S1106 and S1107). The predetermined time until the processing of step S1106 is performed may be set in advance in the image / sound control unit 302b or may be calculated at a predetermined timing.

  After the processing in steps S1106 and S1107 is performed, the lamp control unit 302c receives a rotation request command via the effect supervision unit 302a (step S1108), and the drive motor 201 provided in each of the drums 130a to 130c receives the rotation request command. A control signal is output (step S1109), and the drive motor 201 is rotated (step S1110). Thereby, all 130a-130c which comprises the movable production | presentation thing 130 rotate.

  In addition, after the processing of steps S1106 and S1107 is performed, the image / sound control unit 302b refers to the timing information of the timer that is timing, and guides the user to operate the effect button 119 when a predetermined time has elapsed. Is displayed on the image display unit 104 at the top of the drum 130a (step S1111). As a result, the player is guided to determine the timing for stopping the drum 130a. The predetermined time that the image / sound control unit 302b waits until the process of step S1111 is performed may be set in advance in the image / sound control unit 302b or may be calculated at a predetermined timing.

  Next, when the player presses the effect button 119 according to the guidance image displayed by the process of step S1111, the effect control unit 302a receives information that the effect button 119 has been pressed (step S1112). A command requesting that the display of the guidance image prompting the operation of the effect button 119 to be erased is transmitted to the image / sound control unit 302b (hereinafter referred to as a guidance image deletion request command) (step S1113). When receiving the guide image deletion request command (step S1114), the image / sound control unit 302b deletes the display of the guide image prompting the operation of the effect button 119 from the image display unit 104 (step S1115).

  In addition, when the production control unit 302a receives information that the production button 119 has been pressed (step S1112), the lamp control unit 302c requests, for example, a production request to stop the drum 130a (hereinafter referred to as stop). A request command is transmitted (step S1116). The process of step S1116 may be performed before the process of step S1113, or may be performed simultaneously with the process of step S1113.

  When the lamp control unit 302c receives a stop request command from the production control unit 302a (step S1117), the lamp control unit 302c stops the control signal output to the drive motor 201 provided in the drum 130a (step S1118), and the drive motor 201 is turned off. Stop (step S1119). In step S1118, the ramp control unit 302c detects the origin position of the drum 130a, and outputs only a control signal of a predetermined number of steps to the drive motor 201 so that the drum 130a is moved to a predetermined position and stopped. Stop signal output.

  Here, the stop of the drive motor 201 is not limited to the case where the drive motor 201 is actually stopped, but is stopped after driving a predetermined number of steps by stopping the control signal output to the drive motor 201. This includes cases where it is decided to do so.

  Next, the lamp control unit 302c transmits a command (hereinafter referred to as a stop command) for notifying that the drive motor 201 provided in the drum 130a has been stopped to the effect control unit 302a (step S1120). .

  Next, at the timing when the stop command from the lamp control unit 302c is received (step S1121), the production control unit 302a requests the image display unit 104 to display an effect image such as an effect image on the image / sound control unit 302b. Is transmitted (hereinafter referred to as a display request command for effect images) (step S1122).

  Next, when receiving the effect image display request command from the effect supervising unit 302a (step S1123), the image / sound control unit 302b causes the image display unit 104 to display, for example, an effect image (step S1124). Thereby, the specific effect process in one drum 130a constituting the movable effect character 130 is completed. The lamp control unit 302c stops all the drums 130a to 130c constituting the movable effect accessory 130 by repeating the above-described process and performing the same effect process on the drums 130b and 130c. The order in which the drums 130a to 130c are stopped is arbitrary.

  Also, in step S1112, if the player does not press the effect button 119 even after a predetermined time has passed, the effect supervising unit 302a performs steps S1116 to S1116, regardless of whether or not the player presses the effect button 119. The process of S1119 may be executed, or the process of steps S1118 and S1119 may be executed in the lamp control unit 302c after a predetermined time has elapsed since the drive motor 201 started to rotate in step S1110. At this time, the production control unit 302a or the lamp control unit 302c refers to the timer timing information and determines that a predetermined time has elapsed. In any case, the drive motor 201 (drums 130a to 130c) is controlled to stop within one fluctuation time indicated by the fluctuation start command.

  At this time, the positions where the drums 130a to 130c are stopped are determined in advance regardless of whether or not the effect button 119 is pressed by the player. That is, it is determined in advance which symbol on the drum is stopped at the position on the player side.

  In addition, as described above, by using the effect button 119 for the effect process, the player decides himself / herself, for example, which symbol on the drum is to be stopped, and participates in the effect to stop the movable effect actor 130. A sense of unity can be given. Even if the player forgets to press or fails to press the effect button 119, the drum of the movable effector 130 is smoothly stopped in accordance with the game content of the pachinko gaming machine 100 without impairing the sense of excitement of the player. Can be made.

(Example of screen displayed on the image display)
Next, an example of a display screen displayed on the image display unit 104 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 to FIG. 15 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of display screens displayed on the movable effect actor and the image display unit. 12 to 15, the game area 103 and the effect button 119 are illustrated in a simplified manner. The other basic configuration of the game board 101 (see FIG. 1) is not shown. The example illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15 is realized in the process illustrated in FIG. 11.

  In FIG. 12, the image display unit 104 displays a guide image 1201 a that prompts the player to operate the effect button 119. This process is performed in the process shown in step S1111 of FIG. 11 (hereinafter, the same applies to FIG. 14). By causing the guide image 1201a to be displayed on the upper part of the drum 130a which is a part of the configuration of the movable effect actor 130, the effect supervising unit 302a requests the player to operate the effect button 119 for stopping the drum 130a. . The player can request to stop the drum 130a by pressing the effect button 119 (step S1116).

  In FIG. 13, the image display unit 104 displays an effect image 1301a on the top of the drum 130a. This process is performed in the process shown in step S1124 of FIG. 11 (hereinafter, the same applies to FIG. 15). By displaying the effect image 1301a in this way, the production supervision unit 302a visually emphasizes that the drum 130a has stopped, and an effect that cannot be expressed by the drum 130a alone is not delayed by the stop of the drum 130a. Can be done.

  For example, by displaying the effect image 1301a expressing the flame adjacent to the drum 130a, the production control unit 302a is integrated with the drum 130a and the effect image 1301a, and the drum 130a seems to be gradually burning up. Various productions such as production can be freely combined.

  Further, at this time, the lamp controller 302c may produce an effect as if the drum 130a is burning more intensely by causing the drum 130a or a symbol on the drum 130a to emit light. Even if the effect supervising unit 302a displays various images different from the effect image 1301a on the image display unit 104 and produces an effect that leads to the next event, for example, an effect that seems to develop as a big hit. Good.

  In FIG. 14, the image display unit 104 displays a guidance image 1201 b that prompts the player to operate the effect button 119. In FIG. 14, by displaying the guidance image 1201b on the upper part of the drum 130b, the player performs an operation on the effect button 119 for stopping the drum 130b that is stopped lastly among the drums constituting the movable effect agent 130. Looking for.

  Thus, by repeating the process shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to stop the drum constituting the movable effect actor 130 continuously. For example, the process shown in FIG. 14 is the process shown in step S1111 in the third iteration of the process shown in FIG. The contents of the effects are the same as those of the movable effect actor 130 and the image display unit 104 shown in FIG.

  Here, the already stopped drum 130a may blink the symbol on the drum 130a, for example, while waiting for the next drum stop. In FIG. 14, in the drum 130c, an effect such as display of a guide image and an effect image (not shown) is performed as in the drum 130a, and an effect indicating that the stop process has already been performed is performed.

  In FIG. 15, an effect image 1301 b is displayed on the image display unit 104. In FIG. 15, an effect that cannot be expressed by the drum 130b alone is performed by displaying the effect image 1301b. The process shown in FIG. 15 is the process shown in step S1329 in the third iteration of the process shown in FIG. The contents of the effects are the same as those of the movable effect actor 130 and the image display unit 104 shown in FIG.

  In addition, after the above-described effects of FIGS. 12 to 15 are performed, the effect supervising unit 302 a is further displayed on the image display unit 104 in accordance with the lottery results indicated by all symbols on the player side on the drum. An image may be displayed, each lamp of the effect light unit 116 may be irradiated to the player, or a sound effect may be produced by the speaker 354.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the production control unit makes a display request for the production image to the image / sound control unit at the timing when the movable production actor is stopped. For this reason, even if the image / sound control unit and the lamp control unit perform different effects in order to disperse the burden of the effect processing, the image / sound control unit stops the movable effect agent. You can know indirectly what you did.

  As a result, the process of synchronizing the operation of the movable director and the image display on the image display unit, which was conventionally possible only when the movable director is operating, is shown in this embodiment. The gaming machine can also be performed when stopping the movable effect actor. Therefore, the pachinko gaming machine shown in the present embodiment can perform a plurality of different effects by a plurality of processing units, synchronize these effects, and can further enhance the effect.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the origin position of the movable effect actor is detected by one photosensor, and the control signal output to the drive motor is counted to determine the position where the movable effect actor is stopped. To do. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gaming machine having a simple configuration as compared to the case where the encoder is always used to detect the displacement of the rotation amount of the movable effect actor.

  The production control method described in the embodiment can be realized by executing a production control program prepared in advance by a computer such as a CPU provided in the production control unit. The effect control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. Further, the effect control program may be a medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  In addition, although the production control method described in the embodiment describes production control performed when rotating a movable production actor combining a plurality of cylindrical drums, the present invention is not limited to this, and movable production of various shapes. It may be performed when moving or rotating the accessory.

100 Pachinko machines (game machines)
103 gaming area 104 image display unit (image display means)
119 Production button 130 Movable production actor 200 Drive system 201 Drive motor (drive means)
203 Drive gear 204 Driven gear 301 Main control unit 302 Production control unit 302a Production control unit (production control unit)
302b Image / sound control unit (image control means)
302c Lamp control unit 354 Speaker 400 Drive control unit (drive control means)
401 Input unit 402 Output control unit 403 Oscillator 404 Output unit 405 Detection unit (detection means)

Claims (10)

A movable director that is provided on the game board and performs a predetermined performance;
Drive means for rotationally driving to move the movable effect actor;
Drive control means for controlling the rotational drive of the drive means by outputting a control signal to the drive means;
An image display means provided on the game board and displaying the image during the game in a variable manner;
Image control means for performing display control of the image to be displayed on the image display means;
An effect image corresponding to the specific effect request is made in synchronism with the effect of the movable effect agent by making an effect request of the movable effect character corresponding to the specific effect request at the time of the predetermined effect request Production supervision means for making a display request,
The drive control means informs the effect control means that the drive means has been stopped after controlling the output of the control signal to stop the drive means at the time of an effect request of the movable effect actor. ,
The production control unit makes a display request for the production image to the image control unit after being notified from the drive control unit that the drive unit has been stopped.
The image control means displays the effect image on the image display means when the display of the effect image is requested. The drive control means includes a detection means for detecting an origin position of the drive means,
The said drive control means stops the said drive means based on the origin position of the said movable production | presentation thing detected by the said detection means at the time of the production request of the said movable production | presentation thing. Game machines.   The game according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive control means outputs the control signal to the drive means from an origin position of the movable effect actor to a position where the movable effect actor is stopped. Machine.   The drive control means causes the movable effect actor to emit light when the image control means causes the image display means to display the effect image. The gaming machine described. An effect button provided in the game area and receiving the specific effect request is further provided,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the production control unit receives the specific production request when the production button is pressed. The production control unit requests the image control unit to display a guide image that accepts the operation of the production button, and when the production button is pressed by the display of the guidance image, the drive control unit Make a production request for the movable production actor,
6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the image control unit displays the guide image on the image display unit when the display of the guide image is requested. The movable effect actor is provided at a lower portion of the image display means, and includes a plurality of rotary actors that are provided with one each of the driving means and are independently rotated.
The image control means displays the guide image on the image display means on the upper part of any one of the plurality of rotating combinations,
The drive control means, when the effect button is pressed, after stopping only the predetermined rotating combination, to notify the effect control unit that the predetermined rotating combination has been stopped,
The production control unit makes a display request for the production image to the image control unit after being notified from the drive control unit that the predetermined rotating combination has been stopped.
The gaming machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the image control means displays the effect image on the image display means on the upper part of the predetermined rotating character when the display of the effect image is requested. A plurality of symbols are provided on the side surface of the rotating accessory,
The drive control means includes
At the time of the request for the production of the movable effect character, the rotating character is stopped so that any one of the plurality of symbols is located at a position facing the player in front of the game board. ,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the effect image is displayed on the image display means and the predetermined symbol is caused to emit light. An effect control method for rotationally driving a drive unit to move a movable effect agent that is provided on a game board and performs a predetermined effect,
An output step of outputting a control signal to the drive unit;
A drive control step of controlling the rotational drive of the drive unit according to the output of the control signal in the output step;
An image control step for controlling the display of the image on an image display unit that is provided on the game board and displays the image during the game in a variable manner;
An effect image corresponding to the specific effect request is made in synchronism with the effect of the movable effect agent by making an effect request of the movable effect character corresponding to the specific effect request at the time of the predetermined effect request And a production supervision process that makes a display request.
The drive control step includes
An input process for receiving a request for the production of the movable production character,
An output control step for notifying that the drive unit has been stopped after the drive unit is stopped by controlling the output of the control signal when requested by the input step;
The production control step makes a display request for the production image after being notified that the drive unit has been stopped by the output control step.
The said image control process performs display control of the said effect image at the time of the display request | requirement of the said effect image by the said production control process.   An effect control program for causing a computer to execute the effect control method according to claim 9.

Images