JP5017294B2 - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object to appropriately obtain an effect aimed at by changing the amount of payout objects to be paid out through specific control according to the bet amount of a game play that has produced a predetermined progress result regarding a start condition for specific control. A specific control start condition count value is counted according to a progress result of a game controlled by a game progress control unit, an accumulated amount of bet objects bet in a game when the count value was counted is stored, specific control is started based on the count value satisfying a predetermined specific control start condition, and payout objects of an amount according to the stored accumulated amount of bet objects are paid out in accordance with the specific control.

Description

  The present invention relates to a so-called betting game apparatus installed in a game facility such as a game center or a casino.

  Patent Document 1 describes a slot machine that stops rotation of a plurality of reels (symbol display units) each having a plurality of types of symbols and aligns symbols related to predetermined roles on a winning line. . In this slot machine, every time a stock symbol (specific symbol) related to a stock prize is arranged on the winning line in a repeated slot game, the count value of the counter is incremented by 1, and the number corresponding to the count value The process of lighting the lamp is performed. In this slot machine, when the count value is the same as the number of lamps and all the lamps are lit, the game progresses so that the player can earn more medals than in the normal game mode. Transition. Therefore, the player plays the game with the expectation that all the lamps are turned on in order to shift to the special game mode that is more advantageous than the normal game mode. Also, in such a configuration, even if the player intends to stop playing, if the situation is such that the game moves to the special game mode if one or two more lamps light, The speculation that play in the game mode is possible works, and there is an effect that keeps the player trying to finish the play.

  In addition, there are some betting game devices that use tokens such as money, medals, coins, and pachinko balls as betting objects or payout objects, such as slot machines, that can change the amount of betting objects for each game. In the case of this configuration, normally, the game is designed so that the larger the amount of bet objects, the larger the amount of payout objects. According to such a configuration (hereinafter referred to as “variable bet configuration”), it is possible to satisfy both the demands of a player who desires a high risk and a high return and a player who desires a low risk and a low return with a single game device.

  As in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a predetermined progress result in a plurality of games (in the case of the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, the result that stock symbols (specific symbols) are aligned on the winning line) In the betting game device that is the start condition of the specific control (in the case of the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, the control in the special game mode), a predetermined progress result related to the start condition of the specific control is generated. A configuration is desired in which the payout amount to be paid out by the specific control is changed according to the bet amount of the game. According to this configuration, as described above for the variable bet configuration, a single game device satisfies the needs of both a player who desires high risk and high return by specific control and a player who desires low risk and low return by specific control. It is because the effect that it becomes possible is acquired.

  When attempting to realize such a configuration, for example, based on the bet amount of the game when the start condition of the specific control is satisfied, for example, the higher the bet target amount, the higher the bet target amount. Design the game to increase the amount of However, in the above configuration, in order to satisfy the start condition for the specific control, it is necessary to generate a predetermined progress result in a plurality of games. The bet amount of the game when the start condition for the specific control is satisfied That is, if the bet amount of the last game among a plurality of games that has produced a predetermined progress result is used as a reference, the last game among the plurality of games for satisfying the start condition of the specific control The bet amount for the previous game does not affect the amount to be paid out by the specific control. Therefore, for the player, playing with the minimum bet amount until the last game and playing with the maximum bet amount in the last game can most efficiently acquire the payout target. In this case, since any player adopts such a play system, the amount to be paid out by the specific control always corresponds to the maximum bet amount. Therefore, the effect of aiming by adopting a configuration in which the amount of the payout target to be paid out by the specific control according to the bet amount is not substantially obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to set the start condition for the specific control in a betting game apparatus that uses a predetermined progress result in a plurality of games as a start condition for the specific control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game apparatus capable of obtaining a target effect by changing the amount of a payout target to be paid out by the specific control in accordance with the bet amount of a game that has caused a predetermined progress result.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an operation accepting means for accepting a player's operation, and a bet accepting process for accepting an amount of bet object that can be changed according to the bet amount operation accepted by the operation accepting means. A betting object receiving means for executing a game progress control means for controlling the progress of a game repeatedly executed by executing a predetermined game progress program, with the betting object receiving means performing a bet receiving process as a game start condition; A game apparatus comprising: a payout processing means for performing a payout process for paying out a predetermined amount of payout object to a player according to a progress result of the game controlled by the game progress control means. in accordance with the progress result, a counting means for counting the specific control start condition count value cumulatively, the counter Accumulated bet amount storage means and, the specific control start condition count value predetermined specific control start condition is satisfied for storing the cumulative amount of betting object which is bet on each game when the unit has counted the specific control start condition count value by having a specific control execution means starting the specific control for drawing to determine whether to win the predetermined prize, the payout processing means, in particular control of the specific control execution means When a result of winning the predetermined prize is obtained in the lottery, a payout process for paying out an amount of payout object corresponding to the accumulated amount of the bet object stored in the accumulated bet amount storage unit is performed. Is.
In this game apparatus, the specific control start condition count value related to the specific control start condition is counted according to the progress result of the game controlled by the game progress control means. Then, when the specific control is started by satisfying the specific control start condition, the specific control start condition count value for satisfying the specific control start condition is counted according to the cumulative amount of bets to bet in the game. The amount to be paid out is paid out. Thereby, for example, by playing the game while betting more betting objects, the amount of payout objects to be paid out by the specific control increases, and a high risk and high return by the specific control can be realized. Further, for example, by playing the game while betting fewer betting targets, the player can reduce the amount of payout targets to be paid out by specific control, and can realize low risk low return by specific control. Thus, according to the present game device, it is possible to satisfy both the demands of a player who desires a high risk and high return by specific control and a player who desires a low risk and low return by specific control with a single game device.
Furthermore, it is possible to cause the player to play the game by thinking about the bet amount strategically by combining the low risk low return and the high risk high return in each game.

In addition, since this game device is a so-called betting game device, the payout amount to be paid out when a predetermined prize is won in a lottery started satisfying the specific control start condition so as to satisfy the specific control start condition When determining the specific control start condition count value according to the accumulated amount of the betting object betted in the game, the expected value of the payout rate of the paying object is substantially constant even if the accumulated amount is different. It is desirable. This is because if there is a large difference in the expected value of the payout rate depending on the accumulated amount of the betting object, the betting object will be betted only in the amount with the highest expected value of the payout rate. According to the present game device, even if the cumulative amount of bet objects is different, the expected value of the payout rate of the payout object to be paid out when winning a predetermined prize in a lottery based on specific control does not vary greatly. It becomes possible.

Further, the invention of claim 2, the game apparatus according to claim 1, said drawing is characterized in that a mechanical drawing using lottery object.
In this game apparatus, since the lottery by the specific control can be performed by the physical lottery in which the player can easily obtain the trust rather than the computer lottery, the reliability of the lottery by the specific control can be improved.

The invention according to claim 3 is the game device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the game progress control means causes a predetermined display means to variably display a plurality of types of symbols and thereafter stops the variability display. In addition, when a predetermined symbol combination is stopped and displayed on the winning line, the amount of the betting object accepted by the betting object accepting means for the progress of the slot game in which the payout amount corresponding to the symbol combination is paid to the player. The number of winning lines is controlled so that the number of winning lines increases, and the above-mentioned counting means determines the specific control start condition according to the progress result of the slot game that a special symbol combination is stopped and displayed on the winning line. The count value is counted.
Usually, the player feels that it becomes easier to win if the number of winning lines is large. Therefore, according to this game device, it is possible to make the player feel that the specific control is easily started when the amount of the betting target is increased, and the payout of the payout target by the specific control is easily received. Therefore, it can be expected that the player bets more bets.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second specific control start condition count value is determined according to a progress result of the game controlled by the game progress control means. Second count means for counting the number of bets, and second bet cumulative quantity storage means for storing the cumulative quantity of bets to bet in the game when the second count means counts the second specific control start condition count value And the specific control execution means starts the specific control when either the specific control start condition count value or the second specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition, When the specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition, the specific control start condition count is maintained while maintaining the second specific control start condition count value. When the second specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition, the second specific control start condition is maintained while maintaining the specific control start condition count value. A process of resetting the count value is performed.
When there is only one type of specific control start condition count value related to the specific control start condition, when the specific control start condition count value is reset after satisfying the specific control start condition, the specific control start condition count value is satisfied again from the beginning. The specific control start condition count value needs to be counted. For this reason, the player guesses that it is necessary to repeat the game many times until the specific control start condition is satisfied again, so that the game play often ends at the timing when the specific control start condition is satisfied. On the other hand, in this game device, even if a predetermined specific control start condition is satisfied for one of the specific control start condition count value and the second specific control start condition count value, the other count value is maintained. . Thereby, it can be expected that a player who finishes the game play at the timing when the specific control start condition is satisfied is retained.

  According to the present invention, in a betting game apparatus in which a predetermined progress result in a plurality of games is used as a start condition for specific control, according to the bet amount of the game that has caused the predetermined progress result related to the start condition for the specific control. When changing the amount of payout target to be paid out by the specific control, a single game device satisfies the needs of both a player who desires high risk and high return by specific control and a player who desires low risk and low return by specific control. The effect that it becomes possible is acquired.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the overall configuration of the medal game machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the station portion in the medal game machine. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a dual play mode game screen displayed on the touch panel of the station unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a station control device that controls the station unit. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the station unit and the center lottery device. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game screen in single play mode displayed on the touch panel of the station unit. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of one slot game executed in the station unit. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a center lottery device in the medal game machine. FIG. 9 is a perspective view when the center lottery apparatus is viewed from an angle different from that of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the shutter provided in the ball insertion standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery unit in the center lottery apparatus has released the lottery ball. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the central control device that controls the center lottery device. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ball transfer device in the center lottery device. FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the ball transport device and its peripheral configuration. FIG. 14 is a side view for explaining the ball conveying device and its peripheral configuration. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the shutter provided in the first ball discharge unit of the vertical ring lottery unit is located at the ball passing position. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the shutter is located at the ball discharge position. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the shutter provided at the dropping port in the middle of the first transport rail is located at the closed position. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the shutter is positioned at the opening position. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a transport path switching device in a standby state in the ball transport apparatus. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent to the first outlet. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a transport path switching device when a lottery ball is sent out to the second outlet. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second pattern sensor provided in the inclined ring lottery machine. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of one first center lottery. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of one second center lottery. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game screen in another example of the game that can be executed in the station unit.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a medal game machine as an arcade game machine as an arcade game machine as a game apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.
Each figure only schematically shows the shape, size, and positional relationship to the extent that the contents of the present invention can be understood. Therefore, the present invention shows the shape, size, and position illustrated in each figure. It is not limited to relationships only. Moreover, in each figure, a part of hatching in a cross section is abbreviate | omitted for clarification of a structure. Furthermore, the numerical values exemplified below are merely preferred examples of the present invention, and therefore the present invention is not limited to the illustrated numerical values.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the overall configuration of the medal game machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
The medal game machine 1 includes eight station units 2 so as to surround a center lottery device 3 which is a physical lottery device as a lottery means. In the present embodiment, one station unit 2 is configured to be able to execute two independent games that proceed independently of each other, and a maximum of 16 players can play simultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the station unit 2 in the medal game machine 1.
The station unit 2 is provided with a touch panel 11 as a display unit and an operation receiving unit, two start buttons 12 and a bet mode selection button 13 as an operation receiving unit, a medal slot 14 and the like on the upper part of the housing. . As shown in FIG. 3, the touch screen 11 displays game screens of two independent games that are progressing independently from each other side by side, and the two players see the touch screen 11 and the display of the respective game screens. The game is played by operating the various buttons 12 and 13. In this embodiment, the case where the two independent games executed in the station unit 2 are slot games (symbol matching games) will be described as an example. However, the types of independent games executed in the station unit 2 are described here. Not limited. Note that the slot game refers to a symbol that is displayed in a variable manner when a plurality of types of symbols (designs) are variably displayed and then the variable display is stopped, or a combination of a plurality of symbols that are stopped and displayed. A game that gives a predetermined privilege to a player when it corresponds to a given prize.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of two game screens displayed on the touch panel 11 of the station unit 2.
On the two game screens displayed on the touch panel 11, two or more types of symbols arranged in a predetermined order are displayed in the three symbol display areas 11a to 11c and 11d to 11f, respectively. In addition to this, the touch panel 11 also displays various information necessary for the game, such as a credit display section that displays a credit amount corresponding to the number of medals inserted by the player from the medal slot 5a at the bottom of the game screen. The display part 11g to display is also displayed. In this embodiment, as will be described later, two players who play in one station unit 2 play using a common credit to each other, so there is one credit display unit displayed on the display unit 11g. There is only. However, since the slot game itself played by each player is an independent game that progresses independently, a bet amount display unit that displays a bet (BET) amount, a credit acquisition amount display unit that displays a payout amount at the time of winning, etc. Are individually provided.

  In the present embodiment, some or all of the operations other than the operations on the mechanical buttons 12 and 13 are performed by touching various operation images displayed on the touch panel 11. Alternatively, a mechanical button may be provided, or conversely, an operation image on the touch panel 11 may be used instead of the mechanical buttons 12 and 13.

  In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the station unit 2 is a station control device composed of an electronic circuit formed by a CPU, a ROM, and other various electronic components, and an inspection for confirming whether the received medal is an illegal medal. A device, a medal payout device that can accommodate a large number of medals and discharges the number of medals instructed from the station control device to the outside, and a speaker as sound output means are also incorporated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the station control device 20 that controls the station unit 2.
The station control device 20 includes a CPU 21, an input / output port 21a, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a random number generation circuit 24, a display control unit 25, an acoustic control unit 26, a payout control unit 27, and the like. The input / output port 21a is used for data communication with a central control device 30 described later. The ROM 22 stores data such as various programs used by the CPU 21 and various databases, and outputs these to the CPU 21. The RAM 23 temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 21 and stores various fluctuation data such as credit data. The random number generation circuit 24 generates a random number at a predetermined timing and outputs the data to the CPU 21. The display control unit 25 constitutes display means together with the touch panel 11, and performs display control of the touch panel 11 that displays a game screen and the like under the control of the CPU 21. The sound control unit 26 controls announcements, production sounds, and the like by sound output from the speaker 15 under the control of the CPU 21. The payout control unit 27 controls the medal payout device 16 to pay back medals under the control of the CPU 21. The CPU 21 is also connected to a medal counter (not shown) that counts the number of medals inserted into the medal slot, an illumination control unit that controls illumination such as an LED, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the station unit 2 and the center lottery apparatus 3 related to the characteristic part of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, one station unit 2 includes a game unit A and a game unit B that respectively execute two independent games that proceed independently of each other. These game units A and B include game progress control units 101A and 101B as game progress control means for controlling the progress of each independent game. These two game progress control units 101A and 101B may be configured by physically different hardware such as game boards, or virtually by two software that operates independently on the same hardware. It may be configured as follows. Alternatively, the two game progress control units 101A and 101B may be configured virtually by a single software operating on the same hardware. The configurations of the game units A and B are the same.

  The game units A and B mainly have game progress control units 101A and 101B as game progress control units, operation reception units 102A and 102B as operation reception units, and bet reception units 103A and 103 as bet target reception units. 103B and payout processing units 104A and 104B as payout means. Also, a common credit data storage unit 105 serving as a common credit data storage unit that stores credit data indicating the amount of credit used as a bet object and a payout object in each of the game units A and B, and a display for displaying a game screen The common display unit 106 as a means is configured to be shared by the two game units A and B.

The game progress control units 101A and 101B are configured by the CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, random number generation circuit 24, and the like. When the CPU 21 executes the game program in the ROM 22, the game operation control units 101A and 101B perform game operations received by the operation reception units 102A and 102B. Accordingly, the game progress control is performed independently so as to change the progress of the game based on the game program being executed. Further, the game progress control units 101A and 101B also perform control to display a game screen corresponding to the progress of each game on the touch panel 11 of the common display unit 106 or to output a sound such as a production sound from the speaker 15. Do.
The independent games that are controlled by the game progress control units 101A and 101B according to the present embodiment are slot games. Specifically, when the operation accepting units 102A and 102B accept a bet operation, the bet accepting units 103A and 103B store the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105 according to the bet operation. The slot game is started by subtracting from the credit amount indicated by. Then, the progress control of the slot game including the control for deciding to pay out the credit according to the result of the slot game is performed. In addition, the game progress control units 101A and 101B in the present embodiment provide a plurality of specific control start condition count values (this embodiment) to the first lottery condition count unit 108 and the second lottery condition count unit 110 according to the game progress. In the embodiment, the game progress is controlled so that five lottery condition flags are sequentially counted one by one.

  In this embodiment, a configuration is used in which the count value of the specific control start condition is counted by recording five lottery condition flags, but a configuration in which one count value data is simply counted up. It is good. However, if a configuration in which five lottery condition flags are recorded as in the present embodiment is adopted, the arrangement or combination of the flags can be included in the first center lottery start condition described later. For example, in a configuration in which five lottery condition flags are randomly recorded according to the progress of the game, the condition that three adjacent flags are recorded can be set as the first center lottery start condition. .

The operation receiving units 102A and 102B are configured by a touch panel 11, two start buttons 12, a bet mode selection button 13, and the like. When an operation is performed by each player, an operation signal is sent to the CPU 21 of the station control device 20.
The bet receiving units 103A and 103B are constituted by the CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and the like, and when the corresponding operation receiving units 102A and 102B receive a bet operation (bet amount operation), the bet amount corresponding to the bet operation is shared credits. A bet acceptance process for subtracting the credit amount indicated by the common credit data stored in the data storage unit 105 is performed.
The payout processing units 104A and 104B are constituted by the CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and the like, and the amount of credit received by the corresponding bet receiving units 103A and 103B according to the progress result of the game controlled by the corresponding game progress control unit 101A and 101B. A payout process is performed in which the credit corresponding to the credit amount is added to the credit amount indicated by the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105.

The common credit data storage unit 105 includes a RAM 23 and the like, and stores credit data indicating the amount of credits commonly used by players playing in the game units A and B in the common credit storage area of the RAM 23.
The common display unit 106 includes the display control unit 25, the touch panel 11, and the like, and displays two game screens corresponding to the progress of each independent game controlled by each game progress control unit 101A, 101B. The two game screens are displayed on the respective screen areas by dividing the screen area on the touch panel 11 into left and right parts. Further, when the mode is switched to the single play mode by the mode switching unit 107 described later, as shown in FIG. 6, one of the game progress control units 101A and 101B controlled by the independent game progress is controlled. Display only the game screen. In this case, this game screen is displayed on the entire screen area on the touch panel 11.

  The station unit 2 of the present embodiment includes a mode switching unit 107 as a mode switching unit, a first lottery condition counting unit 108 as a counting unit, a first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 as a bet cumulative amount storage unit, A second lottery condition count unit 110 serving as a two-count means and a second bet cumulative amount storage unit 111 serving as a second bet cumulative amount storage unit are provided. These are configured to be shared by the two game units A and B.

  The mode switching unit 107 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and the like. When the operation receiving units 102A and 102B of any of the game units A and B receive a predetermined game screen switching operation, the mode switching unit 107 is set to 2 in the common display unit 106. Two game screens are displayed and each game progress control unit 101A, 101B controls the progress of the independent game, so that two players can play simultaneously, and one game screen is displayed on the common display unit 106. Only one of the game units A and B controls the progress of the independent game to switch the single play mode to be played by only one player. To give a specific example, for example, when a single game progress program operating on the same hardware is used to control the progress of each independent game progressed independently in each of the game units A and B, either When the operation receiving units 102A and 102B receive a predetermined game screen switching operation, the operation mode of the single game progress program is switched. In this case, when the operation mode of the single game progress program operates in the dual play mode, the progress control of the two independent games is performed to display two game screens on the common display unit 106, so that 2 A player can play at the same time. On the other hand, when the operation mode of the single game progress program is to operate in the single play mode, one independent game is controlled to display one game screen on the common display unit 106. Only the players of can play.

  Although it is possible to play with one player even in the dual play mode, in this case, the other game screen that is not the player's game screen occupies the screen area of the touch panel 11 without being used. Since the screen area of the touch panel 11 is limited, in the dual play mode using the game screen obtained by dividing the limited screen area into two, the game screen is too narrow, and there is a problem such as lack of dynamic of the display by the image display. is there. On the other hand, by providing the single play mode as described above, a game screen that is not used when playing alone is excluded from the screen area of the touch panel 11, and the limited screen area is effectively used to The game screen used by the player can be displayed. As a result, a more dynamic performance is possible.

  The first lottery condition count unit 108 and the second lottery condition count unit 110 are configured by the CPU 21, the ROM 22, the RAM 23, and the like. Depending on the progress results of both independent games controlled by the game progress control units 101A and 101B, 5 The first lottery condition flag which is one specific control start condition flag is sequentially recorded one by one. In other words, the first lottery condition counting unit 108 sets five first lottery condition flags for any independent game if a predetermined game progress result for counting up the first lottery condition counting unit 108 is obtained. Record one by one sequentially. The same applies to the second lottery condition count unit 110. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, an example in which five lottery condition flags are sequentially recorded one by one will be described. However, the counting method of the specific control start condition count value (five lottery condition flag recording methods) is Not limited to this, a plurality of lottery condition flags may be recorded at a time according to one game progress result, or the lottery condition flags may be erased depending on the game progress result.

  The lottery condition flag is maintained without being reset even when the mode switching unit 107 described above switches from the dual play mode to the single play mode or from the single play mode to the dual play mode. Thereby, the effect of prompting the second player to participate while one player is playing in the single play mode can be expected. In addition, for example, even if one player finishes the game play and switches to the single play mode while two players are playing in the dual play mode, there is no disadvantage to the remaining players. Can be expected to promote the use of dual play mode.

  The first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 and the second bet cumulative amount storage unit 111 are constituted by the RAM 23 and the like, and credits betted in the independent game when the corresponding lottery condition count units 108 and 110 record the lottery condition flag. Is stored. However, in the present embodiment, a bet history indicating the credit amount betted in the independent game when the lottery condition flag is recorded is stored in association with each lottery condition flag. Even if stored in such a format, the cumulative amount can be obtained by accumulating the bet history associated with each lottery condition flag, so that the corresponding lottery condition counting units 108 and 110 can display the lottery condition flag. It can be said that the cumulative amount of credits betted in the independent game when the record is recorded is stored.

  Next, the operation of each unit will be described along the flow of a slot game which is an independent game executed in each game unit A, B of the station unit 2. Since the contents of the slot games executed in the game units A and B are the same, the slot game of the game unit A will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of one slot game.
When a medal (not shown) is inserted into the medal insertion slot 5a by one of the two players playing in the station unit 2, the medal is counted by the medal counter. Then, the medal counter outputs inserted medal data to the CPU 21 of the station control device 20. The CPU 21 that has received the inserted medal data performs a process of adding the credit amount corresponding to the inserted medal data to the common credit data in the common credit data storage unit 105. Note that when the credits deposited in advance in the game facility are withdrawn and used by performing a credit withdrawal process, the common credit data for the amount of withdrawal is stored in the common credit data storage unit 105.

  Once the player has determined the desired number of winning lines and the amount of credit to bet (BET), he touches his game screen of the two game screens displayed on the touch panel 11 and selects the winning line, and also selects the mode. A bet mode is selected by pressing any of the buttons 13 and it is determined how much credit is paid for each winning line (S1). This operation content is sent to the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 as a bet operation signal. The CPU 21 that has received the bet operation signal is in a state where it can accept the operation signal from the start button 12. Thereby, the operation with respect to the start button 12 by the player becomes effective.

  When the player operates the start button 12 (S2), the bet receiving unit 103A of the game unit A played by the player selects the credit amount corresponding to the bet operation signal, that is, the credit amount corresponding to the selected bet mode. A bet acceptance process is performed in which the credit amount obtained by multiplying the number of winning lines is reduced from the common credit data in the common credit data storage unit 105 (S3). Thereafter, the CPU 21 constituting the game progress control unit 101A functions as a start signal generation unit, generates a start signal, and sends the start signal to the display control unit 25 of the common display unit 106. Upon receiving this start signal, the display control unit 25 performs variable display control for sequentially switching the symbols displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11c of the game screen of the game unit A displayed on the touch panel 11 (S4).

  The CPU 21 constituting the game progress control unit 101A also sends the generated start signal to the random number generation circuit 24. Upon receiving this start signal, the random number generation circuit 24 generates three random numbers (S5), and sequentially sends these random numbers to the CPU 21. Each random number corresponds to each symbol display area 11 a to 11 c displayed on the touch panel 11. The CPU 21 functions as a stop symbol determination unit together with the random number generation circuit 24. When the CPU 21 receives three random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24, the CPU 21 compares each random number against a stop position table stored in the ROM 22. This stop position table is prepared individually for each of the symbol display areas 11a to 11c. The random display and the stop position table determine the variable display stop positions in the symbol display areas 11a to 11c. Therefore, the symbols to be stopped and displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11c are determined by the three random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24.

  The CPU 21 constituting the game progress control unit 101A functions as a winning determination unit together with the random number generation circuit 24. When the CPU 21 receives three random numbers sent from the random number generation circuit 24, a combination of these random numbers is stored in the ROM 22. A lottery process for determining whether or not a predetermined award has been won is also performed in light of the winning determination table stored in (S6). In the present embodiment, the awards are roughly classified into a payout award (dividend payout award) for paying out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and a first center lottery in the center lottery device 3 described later. There are a first count-up award and a second count-up award for the purpose, and a second center lottery award for performing a second center lottery in the center lottery apparatus 3 to be described later. Then, the CPU 21 determines a prize to be won in the current game or a loser that does not win any prize, based on the combination of random numbers and the prize determination table. The ROM 22 stores at least two types of winning determination tables, that is, a winning determination table used in the normal game and a winning determination table used in the free game described later. For the former winning determination table, an individual winning determination table is prepared for each number of winning lines that can be selected.

  After finishing the lottery process, the CPU 21 controls the display control unit 25 so that the variable display of the symbol display areas 11a to 11c is stopped at the determined stop position (S7). Thereby, the variable display is stopped at the determined stop positions in the symbol display areas 11a to 11c of the touch panel 11, and the symbols corresponding to the three random numbers are stopped and displayed in the symbol display areas 11a to 11c.

  When the payout of the dividend payout is determined in the lottery process (Yes in S8, Yes in S9), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 performs the lighting control after the variable display of each symbol display area 11a to 11c is stopped. A predetermined effect signal is output to the sound control unit 26 and the sound control unit 26, respectively. Thereby, an illumination control part performs control which light-emits illuminations, such as LED, with the pattern according to the effect signal. In addition, the sound control unit 26 performs control to output a sound effect corresponding to the effect signal from the speaker 15. Then, the CPU 21 constituting the payout processing unit 104A performs payout processing for adding the credit amount corresponding to the winning prize to the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105 (S10).

  When the first count-up prize is determined in the lottery process (Yes in S11), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 stops the variable display in each symbol display area 11a to 11c, and then performs illumination control. A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the unit and the sound control unit 26 to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 21 constituting the first lottery condition count unit 108 records one of the five first lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 (S12). At this time, the CPU 21 uses the first slot game as the bet history associated with the first lottery condition flag recorded this time among the five bet histories stored in the first accumulated bet amount storage unit 109. The credit amount bet on the winning line where the 1-count up prize is won is also stored. Thereafter, the CPU 21 sends the fact that the first lottery condition flag has been recorded and the bet history thereof to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 accordingly responds to the first chip corresponding to the first lottery condition flag. The display on the image display unit 11h (see FIG. 3) is updated. Specifically, if the first lottery condition flag recorded this time corresponds to the third chip image from the left of the first chip image display unit 11h shown in FIG. 3, the third chip that was blank A chip image is displayed in the image area. At this time, the credit amount indicated by the corresponding bet history is displayed on the displayed chip image. That is, the credit amount (bet history) bet on the winning line when winning the first count-up prize corresponding to the chip image is displayed in the chip image. Therefore, for example, the bet history is 5 for the third chip image from the left of the first chip image display unit 11h in FIG.

  Further, the CPU 21 determines whether or not all the five first lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 have been recorded (S13). When it is determined in this determination that all have been recorded, the CPU 21 outputs a predetermined effect signal to the illumination control unit and the sound control unit 26, respectively, and performs a predetermined effect. The CPU 21 constituting the first lottery condition counting unit 108 resets part or all of the five first lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 (in the present embodiment, all the first lottery conditions are counted). The condition flag is reset.), The fact is sent to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 accordingly responds to all the five chip images corresponding to the first lottery condition flag in the first chip image display unit 11h. The display is updated so that these chip image areas are blanked out. Then, the CPU 21 transmits a first center lottery start request from the input / output port 21a to the central controller (S14). Thereby, in the center lottery apparatus 3, a first center lottery described later is executed.

  In addition, when the winning of the second count-up prize is determined in the lottery process (Yes in S15), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 performs the lighting control after the variable display of each symbol display area 11a to 11c is stopped and displayed. A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the unit and the sound control unit 26 to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 21 constituting the second lottery condition count unit 110 records one of the five second lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 (S16). At this time, the CPU 21 selects the first bet history associated with the second lottery condition flag recorded this time from among the five bet histories stored in the second accumulated bet amount storage unit 111 in the current slot game. The credit amount bet on the winning line where the two count-up prize is won is also stored. Thereafter, the CPU 21 sends the fact that the second lottery condition flag has been recorded and the bet history thereof to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 accordingly responds to the second chip corresponding to the second lottery condition flag. The display of the image display unit 11i (see FIG. 3) is updated. Specifically, if the second lottery condition flag recorded this time corresponds to the second chip image from the right of the second chip image display unit 11i shown in FIG. 3, the second chip that was blank A chip image is displayed in the image area. At this time, the credit amount indicated by the corresponding bet history is displayed on the displayed chip image. That is, the credit amount (bet history) bet on the winning line when winning the second count-up prize corresponding to the chip image is displayed in the chip image. Therefore, for example, the bet history is 2 for the second chip image from the right of the second chip image display unit 11i in FIG.

  Further, the CPU 21 determines whether or not all the five second lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 have been recorded (S17). When it is determined in this determination that all have been recorded, the CPU 21 outputs a predetermined effect signal to the illumination control unit and the sound control unit 26, respectively, and performs a predetermined effect. The CPU 21 constituting the second lottery condition counting unit 110 resets some or all of the five second lottery condition flags stored in the RAM 23 (in the present embodiment, all the second lottery conditions are counted). The condition flag is reset.), To that effect, is sent to the display control unit 25, and the display control unit 25 accordingly responds to all the five chip images corresponding to the second lottery condition flag in the second chip image display unit 11i. The display is updated so that these chip image areas are blanked out. Then, the CPU 21 transmits a first center lottery start request from the input / output port 21a to the central controller (S18). Thereby, in the center lottery apparatus 3, a first center lottery described later is executed.

  In the present embodiment, there are two types of flags that are the first center lottery start conditions as described above. For example, after all the first lottery condition flags are recorded and the first center lottery is performed, The first lottery condition flag is reset, but the second lottery condition flag is held without being reset. If there is only one type of flag that is the starting condition for the first center lottery, the flag is reset after the first center lottery is performed. Since it is necessary to save the flag, the player tends to end the play at the timing when the first center lottery is performed. However, according to the present embodiment, even after the first center lottery is performed, one flag is held as it is without being reset, so that the player can be retained.

  In addition, when the winning of the second center lottery is determined in the lottery process (Yes in S19), the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 performs the lighting control after the variable display of each symbol display area 11a to 11c is stopped and displayed. A predetermined effect signal is output to each of the unit and the sound control unit 26 to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 21 transmits a second center lottery start request from the input / output port 21a to the central control device (S20). Thereby, in the center lottery apparatus 3, the second center lottery described later is executed.

Next, the configuration of the center lottery apparatus 3 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the center lottery apparatus 3.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view when the center lottery apparatus 3 is viewed from an angle different from that in FIG.
The center lottery apparatus 3 of the present embodiment mainly includes a vertical ring lottery device 40 that is a first lottery mechanism, an inclined ring lottery device 50 that is a second lottery mechanism, and these lottery devices 40 and 50 vertically below. Ball support for loading a device support base 60 supported from the side, two display devices 71 and 72, and lottery balls 73 as rolling elements for lottery into the lottery devices 40 and 50, and recovering from the lottery devices 40 and 50 The apparatus 80 is comprised. The first display device 71 is arranged so that the player can see through the hollow region of the vertical ring lottery device 40, and the second display device 72 is partially arranged in the hollow region of the inclined ring lottery device 50. ing.

  A rotary table 64 on which the vertical ring lottery device 40, the inclined ring lottery device 50, the two display devices 71 and 72, the ball transport device 80 and the like are mounted is provided on the upper part of the device support 60. The rotary table 64 can be rotated around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction by a table driving device (not shown). Accordingly, the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 can face each station unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the vertical ring lottery device 40 has a donut-shaped main body structure portion configured to surround the hollow region with a part of the hollow region exposed to the outside, The rotation axis is arranged so as to be parallel to the horizontal direction. On the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery machine 40, a plurality of lottery pockets 41 having an internal space that can accommodate only one lottery ball 73 is formed in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, ten lottery pockets 41 are provided at equal intervals on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. In the vertical ring lotter 40, an inner peripheral surface member 43 in which an opening serving as an entrance of each lottery pocket 41 is formed on the ring inner peripheral surface side of the skeleton base material 42. Further, on the outer peripheral surface side of the ring of the skeleton base material 42, an outer peripheral surface member 44 fixed to the device support base 60 is disposed to face. The frame base material 42 and the inner peripheral surface member 43 of the vertical ring lottery device 40 are rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8 by a drive device 61 provided on the device support base 60. Thereby, the lottery pocket 41 of the vertical ring lottery device 40 moves around. When the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 of the vertical ring lottery device 40, the lottery ball 73 moves together with the lottery pocket 41 while being accommodated in the lottery pocket 41.

  When the physical lottery is performed by the vertical ring lottery machine 40, the lottery balls 73 are thrown onto the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 from the ball insertion slot 86a. In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 can be roughly divided into two regions in the rotation axis direction. That is, a pocket area where the lottery pocket 41 is provided (an area on the front side in FIG. 8) and a non-pocket area where no lottery pocket 41 is provided (an area on the back side in FIG. 8). The pocket region and the non-pocket region are divided by a plurality of protruding walls 43a that are intermittently arranged over the entire circumference. The gap formed between the projection walls 43a has a width that allows about one lottery ball 73 to pass therethrough.

  The lottery balls 73 are thrown into the non-pocket area on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from the ball slot 86a. The non-pocket region is formed to be inclined toward the pocket region at a position below the vertical ring lottery device 40. Thereby, the lottery balls 73 on the non-pocket region receive a force that moves toward the pocket region due to gravity. The lottery balls 73 immediately after being thrown have a high relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a, so that the lottery balls 73 are restricted by the projection walls 43a and cannot pass through the gaps between the projection walls 43a along the circumferential direction of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. It reciprocates like a pendulum over the non-pocket area. Thereafter, when the momentum of the lottery balls 73 gradually decreases and the relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a decreases, the lottery balls 73 can pass through the gaps between the projection walls 43a due to the inclination of the non-pocket regions. Move to the pocket area side. On the pocket area, a plurality of protrusions 43b are provided for preventing the lottery ball 73 from entering the lottery pocket 41. The lottery ball 73 moved to the pocket area side drifts on the pocket area while being hit by the plurality of protrusions 43b, and finally enters one of the lottery pockets 41.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral portion of each lottery pocket 41 in the pocket area is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the respective lottery pocket 41. This makes it easier for the lottery balls 73 rolling on the pocket area to enter the lottery pocket 41, so the physical lottery time by the vertical ring lottery device 40 (the time from when the lottery balls are inserted until the lottery pocket is entered). And the physical lottery time can be easily controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40.

  The lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 at the lower part of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 are transported upward of the vertical ring lottery machine 40 as the lottery pocket 41 rotates around by rotation. Above the vertical ring lottery machine 40, the inner peripheral surface provided with the lottery pocket 41 faces downward in the vertical direction, so that the lottery ball 73 spills out of the lottery pocket 41 due to its own weight. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, in order to prevent this spill-off, the spill-off prevention rails 47a and 47b (FIG. 8) as support members are provided so as to face the inner peripheral surface in the upper part of the vertical ring lottery unit 40. 13). As a result, the lottery balls 73 conveyed above the vertical ring lottery device 40 can rotate around the vertical ring lottery device 40 by rotational driving while being supported by the spill-off prevention rails 47a and 47b. It has a configuration. Specifically, the conveyance direction rear edge of the opening of the lottery pocket functions as an extruding member and pushes the rear of the lottery ball 73 in the conveyance direction, so that the conveyance direction is controlled by both side edges in the conveyance direction of the opening that functions as a regulating member. The lottery balls 73 are conveyed while rolling or sliding on the spill-off preventing rails 47a and 47b while restricting the movement of the lottery balls 73 in a direction (lateral direction) perpendicular to the rails.

  On the other hand, the structure of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is that the rotation axis thereof is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the entrance of the lottery pocket 51 is open to the outer peripheral surface side. However, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the donut shape is configured to surround the hollow region with a part of the hollow region exposed to the outside as shown in FIGS. The configuration is the same as that of the vertical ring lottery device 40 in that it has the main body structure portion. More specifically, a plurality of lottery pockets 51 having an internal space that can accommodate about one lottery ball 73 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, 20 lottery pockets 51 are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. The inclined ring lottery machine 50 is provided with a partition member 52 for partitioning the lottery pockets 51 from each other on a base 54 fixed to the apparatus support base 60. The partition member 52 of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is rotationally driven on the base 54 in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by a drive device (not shown) provided on the device support base 60. Thereby, the lottery pocket 51 of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 moves around.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the lottery ball 73 is blocked by the shutter 83a in the ball insertion standby unit 83 and temporarily stored, and the shutter 83a moves as shown in FIG. On the slope 54a. The slope 54 a is disposed adjacent to the partition member 52 at a position below the inclined ring lottery device 50, and is formed to be inclined toward the partition member 52. Thereby, the lottery balls 73 on the slope 54a receive a force that moves toward the partition member 52 due to gravity. The lottery ball 73 immediately after being thrown has a relatively high moving speed of the partition member 52 with respect to the lottery pocket 51, so that the lottery ball 73 cannot enter the lottery pocket 51 and moves on the slope 54 a along the circumferential direction of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. Reciprocates like a pendulum. Thereafter, when the momentum of the lottery ball 73 gradually decreases and the relative movement speed with respect to the lottery pocket 51 becomes small, the lottery ball 73 can enter the lottery pocket 51, and finally, either Into the lottery pocket 51.

In the present embodiment, the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 are arranged so that a part of the other lottery device is located in the hollow area of each other. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the lottery units 40 and 50 are arranged so that the two lottery units 40 and 50 are connected to each other in a chain shape. In general, in a configuration having a hollow area such as the vertical ring lottery machine 40 and the inclined ring lottery machine 50, the hollow area tends to become a dead space, and the physical lottery apparatus having such a configuration is likely to be enlarged. In particular, when there are two or more lottery machines having a hollow area as in the present embodiment, a plurality of dead spaces may exist, so that the physical lottery apparatus is likely to be larger. In the present embodiment, the dead space of each lottery device 40, 50 is canceled by inserting each other's main body structure portion into the dead space. Thereby, even when there are two or more lottery machines having a hollow region, the physical lottery device (center lottery device 3) is prevented from being unnecessarily increased in size, and the physical structure having a compact structure. A lottery apparatus can be realized.
The vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50 in this embodiment are both donut-shaped with the loop of the main body structure portion closed, but a part of the loop of the main body structure portion is opened. It may be U-shaped or C-shaped.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the central control device 30 that controls the center lottery device 3.
The central controller 30 includes a CPU 31, an input / output port 31a, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a first rotation control unit 34a, a second rotation control unit 34b, a table drive control unit 35, a display control unit 36, a transport control unit 37, and a first sensor. A control unit 38a, a second sensor control unit 38b, and the like are included. The input / output port 31a is used for data communication with each station control device 20. The ROM 32 stores various programs used by the CPU 31 and data such as various databases, and outputs them to the CPU 31. The RAM 33 temporarily stores variable data calculated by the CPU 31, and stores various fluctuation data such as the number of jackpots stored. The first rotation control unit 34 a controls the first driving device 61 that rotates the vertical ring lottery device 40 under the control of the CPU 31. The second rotation control unit 34 b controls the second driving device 62 that rotates the inclined ring lottery device 50 under the control of the CPU 31. The table drive control unit 35 controls the table drive device 63 that rotationally drives the rotary table 64 under the control of the CPU 31. The display control unit 36 constitutes display means together with the first display device 71 for the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the second display device 72 for the inclined ring lottery device 50. Under the control of the CPU 31, explanation and effects of the lottery Display control of these display devices 71 and 72 for displaying a display screen or the like is performed. The conveyance control unit 37 controls various driving devices such as a conveyance path switching device existing in the ball conveyance device 80 under the control of the CPU 31. The first sensor control unit 38a corresponds to a lottery pocket 41 containing a lottery ball 73 in accordance with output signals from a first ball sensor 45 and a first pattern sensor 46, which will be described later, provided in the vertical ring lottery unit 40. The winning pocket signal is output to the CPU 31. The second sensor control unit 38b corresponds to the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery balls 73 in accordance with output signals from a second ball sensor 55 and a second pattern sensor 56, which will be described later, provided in the inclined ring lottery machine 50. The winning pocket signal is output to the CPU 31.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the ball transport device 80 connected to the ball discharge portion provided in each of the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the ball transport device 80 and its peripheral configuration.
FIG. 14 is a side view for explaining the ball transport device 80 and its peripheral configuration.

First, the configuration of the ball transport device 80 will be described along the transport path of the lottery balls 73 discharged from the ball discharge unit of the vertical ring lottery device 40.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the spill-off prevention for preventing the lottery balls 73 moving around while being in the lottery pocket 41 in the upper portion of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from falling out of the lottery pocket 41. Rails 47a and 47b are provided. As shown in FIG. 13, the spill-off preventing rails 47a and 47b are divided into two in the circumferential direction, and a gap through which the lottery ball 73 can pass is formed between them. This gap functions as a ball discharge portion (hereinafter referred to as “first ball discharge portion”) 48 of the vertical ring lottery device 40. That is, the lottery balls 73 conveyed by the rotational drive of the vertical ring lottery device 40 fall downward through the first ball discharge unit 48 by their own weight when they reach the position facing the first ball discharge unit 48.

  Further, the first ball discharge unit 48 is provided with a shutter 47c as a discharge switching unit that is in a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the first ball discharge unit 48 or in a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. The shutter 47c is a view in which the driving device 47d controlled by the transport control unit 37 of the central controller 30 opens the first ball discharge unit 48 and the ball passing position shown in FIG. It can move to the ball discharge position shown in FIG. If the lottery balls 73 pass through the first ball discharge unit 48 when the shutter 47c is positioned at the ball passing position as shown in FIG. 15, the lottery balls 73 do not fall from the first ball discharge unit 48, and lottery The vertical ring lottery device 40 is moved around one more round while remaining in the pocket 41 for use. On the other hand, when the lottery balls 73 pass through the first ball discharge unit 48 when the shutter 47c is positioned at the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 16, the lottery balls 73 fall from the first ball discharge unit 48. As described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 47c, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 are discharged from the first ball discharge portion 48 or without being discharged. It is possible to selectively execute whether or not the vertical ring lottery device 40 is moved once more by passing 48.

  Below the first ball discharge unit 48, an upper end portion of the first transfer rail 82 of the ball transfer device 80 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 14, the first transport rail 82 is gently inclined and its lower end is opened. Below the lower end of the first transport rail 82, a ball throwing standby unit 83 is used to transport the lottery balls 73 from the transport path switching device 81 (described later) to the ball throwing standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50 by its own weight. The 2nd conveyance rail 84 which inclines toward is arrange | positioned. Therefore, when the lottery ball 73 transported on the first transport rail 82 falls from the lower end portion of the first transport rail 82, the lottery ball 73 is received by the second transport rail 84, and the inclined ring lottery machine 50 along the second transport rail 84. To the ball throwing-in waiting section 83.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a drop opening 82 a through which a lottery ball 73 can pass is formed in the middle of the first transport rail 82. The drop opening 82a is provided with a shutter 82b that is in a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the drop opening 82a or in a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. The shutter 82b is moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 17 where the drop opening 82a is closed by the driving device 82c controlled by the conveyance control unit 37 of the central control device 30, and the open position shown in FIG. 18 where the drop opening 82a is opened. It is movable. When the lottery ball 73 passes through the drop port 82a when the shutter 82b is located at the closed position as shown in FIG. 17, the lottery ball 73 does not fall from the drop port 82a and the lower end of the first transport rail 82 It is conveyed to the part. On the other hand, when the lottery ball 73 passes through the drop port 82a when the shutter 82b is located at the opening position as shown in FIG. 18, the lottery ball 73 falls from the drop port 82a.

Below the drop opening 82 a of the first transport rail 82, the upper end portion of the third transport rail 85 of the ball transport device 80 is disposed. The third transport rail 85 is gently inclined as shown in FIG. 14, and its lower end is connected to the entrance of the transport path switching device 81. Here, in the present embodiment, the lottery balls 73 are supplied to the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 by driving and controlling the transfer path switching device 81 as described later, and the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 is inclined. A physical lottery using the lottery balls 73 can be performed by the ring lottery machine 50. The lottery balls 73 to be supplied to the vertical ring lottery device 40 or the inclined ring lottery device 50 are stored in a state where they are aligned with the lower end side portion of the third transport rail 85 connected to the entrance side of the transport path switching device 81. Is done. That is, in the present embodiment, a ball storage section is configured by the lower end side portion of the third transport rail 85 and the transport path switching device 81.
Therefore, in this embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 82b, the lottery balls 73 discharged from the first ball discharge unit 48 are sent to the ball insertion standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50, or the ball storage unit Can be selectively executed.

Next, the configuration of the ball transport device 80 will be described along the transport path of the lottery balls 73 discharged from the ball discharge section of the inclined ring lottery device 50. FIG.
In the present embodiment, as described above, a notch portion through which the lottery ball 73 can pass is formed on the circumferential movement path of the lottery pocket 51 in the base 54 of the inclined ring lottery machine 50. This notch functions as a ball discharge portion (hereinafter referred to as “second ball discharge portion”) 58 of the inclined ring lottery device 50. That is, when the lottery balls 73 conveyed by the rotational drive of the inclined ring lottery device 50 reach the position facing the second ball discharge unit 58, the second ball discharge unit 58 is caused by its own weight as shown in FIG. It is discharged through.

  Similarly to the first ball discharge unit 48 of the vertical ring lottery device 40, the second ball discharge unit 58 has a discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are discharged from the second ball discharge unit 58 or a non-discharge state in which the lottery balls 73 are not discharged. A shutter 57 serving as a discharge switching means is provided. The shutter 57 is driven by a driving device 47d and operates integrally with the shutter 47c of the vertical ring lottery device 40, and closes the second ball discharge portion 58, and the second ball discharge portion 58 shown in FIG. Can be moved to the ball discharge position shown in FIG. When the lottery balls 73 pass through the second ball discharge unit 58 when the shutter 57 is positioned at the ball passing position as shown in FIG. 15, the lottery balls 73 do not fall from the second ball discharge unit 58. The inclined ring lottery device 50 is moved around the other round in the lottery pocket 51. On the other hand, when the lottery balls 73 pass through the second ball discharge portion 58 when the shutter 57 is positioned at the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 16, the lottery balls 73 fall from the second ball discharge portion 58. . As described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the operation of the shutter 57, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 51 are discharged from the second ball discharge portion 58 or without being discharged. It is possible to selectively execute whether or not the inclined ring lottery device 50 is moved once more by passing through 58.

  The lottery balls 73 discharged from the second ball discharge portion 58 of the second ball discharge portion 58 are guided to the upper end portion of the above-described third transfer rail 85 of the ball transfer device 80 by the discharge slope 58a. Therefore, the lottery balls 73 discharged from the second ball discharge unit 58 are transferred by the third transfer rail 85 to the entrance of the transfer path switching device 81, that is, the ball storage unit.

19, 20, and 21 are explanatory diagrams for describing the schematic configuration and operation of the transport path switching device 81.
The conveyance path switching device 81 mainly includes an eccentric rotating member 81a and a drive motor (not shown) that rotates the eccentric rotating member 81a. The eccentric rotating member 81a is a disk-shaped member, and a drive motor is connected to a rotating shaft provided at an eccentric position shifted from the center of the disk. The rotation direction and the rotation angle of the drive motor are controlled by the conveyance control unit 37 of the central controller 30. In the present embodiment, in the standby state, the eccentric rotating member 81a stops in a state in which the end portion on the long radius side farthest from the rotation axis of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly below in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. In this standby state, the lottery balls 73 located on the most downstream side among the plurality of lottery balls 73 stored side by side at the lower end portion of the third transport rail 85 connected to the entrance of the transport path switching device 81 are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. At this time, the lottery ball 73 on the most downstream side is positioned above the eccentric rotating member 81a in the vertical direction.

  The transfer path switching device 81 includes a first outlet connected to the upper end portion of the fourth transfer rail 86 inclined toward the ball insertion position of the vertical ring lottery device 40, and a ball insertion standby unit 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50. There are two outlets, a second outlet connected to the upper end of the second transport rail 84 inclined toward the front. Each bottom surface of these outlets is located at a position higher than the lower position of the lottery ball 73 positioned in the transport path switching device 81 in the standby state. Therefore, in the standby state, when the lottery ball 73 enters the transport path switching device 81, a member 81c that forms the bottom of the inlet, and members 81d and 81e that form the bottom surfaces of the first outlet and the second outlet, A wall surface member 81f provided on the side facing the entrance abuts on the four sides of the lottery ball 73, and the lottery ball 73 is placed in a state where rolling is restricted, and from the exit of the transport path switching device 81 Retained without leaving.

  Thereafter, when the drive motor is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, as shown in FIG. 20, the end portion on the long radius side of the eccentric rotating member 81a is rotated upward in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the lottery ball 73 is gradually moved from the lower part of the lottery ball 73 toward the first outlet connected to the upper end of the fourth transport rail 86 from the peripheral portion facing the rotation direction of the eccentric rotation member 81a. Push it up. Then, when the end portion on the long radius side of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly above the vertical direction, the lottery ball 73 is lifted to the height of the first outlet by the peripheral edge portion of the eccentric rotating member 81a and the fourth transport rail 86. The lottery balls 73 are pushed to the side and conveyed to the ball insertion position of the vertical ring lottery device 40 through the fourth conveyance rail 86 from the first outlet.

  Similarly, when the drive motor is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in the drawing by the control from the conveyance control unit 37, as shown in FIG. 21, the end portion on the long radius side of the eccentric rotating member 81a is rotated upward in the vertical direction. Come. As a result, the lottery balls 73 are gradually moved from the lower part of the lottery balls 73 toward the second exit connected to the upper end of the second transport rail 84 from the lower edge of the lottery balls 73. Push it up. When the long radius side end of the eccentric rotating member 81a faces directly above in the vertical direction, the lottery ball 73 is lifted to the height of the second outlet by the peripheral portion of the eccentric rotating member 81a and the second transport rail 84. The lottery balls 73 are pushed out to the side, and are transported from the second outlet to the ball insertion standby portion 83 of the inclined ring lottery device 50 through the second transport rail 84.

Next, the configuration and operation for detecting which lottery pocket 41, 51 the lottery ball 73 has entered will be described.
In the present embodiment, the configuration and operation related to this detection are substantially the same in both the vertical ring lottery device 40 and the inclined ring lottery device 50. Therefore, in the following description, the inclined ring lottery device 50 is taken as an example. Description of the vertical ring lottery device 40 will be omitted.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second pattern sensor 56 provided in the inclined ring lottery machine 50.
In the present embodiment, as described above, in order to make the lottery pocket 51 go around, the partition member 52 forming the lottery pocket 51 is driven so as to go around. On the other hand, the central control device 30 is fixedly arranged inside the device support base 60. Therefore, if a sensor for detecting that a lottery ball 73 has entered each lottery pocket 51 is provided in the partition member 52 so as to move around together with the lottery pocket 51, the output signal of the sensor is stabilized. It is difficult to transmit to the central controller 30.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which only the sensors that are fixedly arranged are used to detect which lottery ball 73 has entered in the orbiting lottery pocket.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the second ball sensor 55 is fixedly disposed on a part of the base 54 below the inclined ring lottery machine 50 and through which the lottery pocket 51 passes. In the present embodiment, a total of seven second ball sensors 55, one at the bottom of the circulation path of the lottery pocket 51 and three on both sides in the circumferential direction, They are spaced apart by the same distance. Each of the seven second ball sensors 55 is a sensor constituted by a mechanical switch, and a switch piece of the second ball sensor 55 through which a lottery ball 73 entering one of the lottery pockets 51 passes first. The lottery balls 73 are detected by the second ball sensor 55 by pushing down with the own weight.

  Here, only the output signal (ball detection signal) of the second ball sensor 55 cannot identify which lottery pocket 73 has entered the lottery ball 73. Therefore, in this embodiment, not only the ball detection signal of the second ball sensor 55 but also the output signal (pattern signal) of the second pattern sensor 56 shown in FIG. It is decided that 73 is entered.

  The second pattern sensor 56 is fixedly disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the inclined ring lottery device 50 and at a location (a location indicated by a symbol A in FIG. 9) that faces the ball insertion standby portion 83. The second pattern sensor 56 reads the mark pattern of the mark plate 52 a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the partition member 52 so as to be equally spaced from each other by the same number as the lottery pockets 51. Each mark plate 52a includes one trigger piece 52b and a maximum of five mark pieces 52c, and different mark patterns are formed depending on the combination of the presence or absence of the mark pieces 52c. The second pattern sensor 56 includes five mark sensors 56a for detecting the mark pieces 52c of the mark plate 52a and one trigger sensor 56b for detecting the trigger pieces 52b of the mark plate 52a. Each of the mark sensor 56a and the trigger sensor 56b is a transmissive optical sensor, and detects whether or not the optical path is blocked by the mark piece 52c or the trigger piece 52b.

  Each time the second pattern sensor 56 detects the trigger piece 52b by the trigger sensor 56b, the second pattern sensor 56 outputs a pattern signal indicating a combination of output signals of the five mark sensors 56a at the time of the detection to the second sensor control unit 38b of the central controller 30. Is output to. Then, it is assumed that the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51 and is detected by, for example, the second ball sensor 55 (second ball sensor 55 at the center in the circumferential direction) located at the bottom of the seven second ball sensors 55. . In this case, a ball detection signal is output from the second ball sensor 55, and this ball detection signal is input to the second sensor control unit 38 b of the central controller 30. Upon receiving this ball detection signal, the second sensor control unit 38b receives the input of the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 at the same time or immediately after the reception of the ball detection signal, so that the lottery pocket 51 corresponding to the pattern signal is displayed. The lottery ball 73 is specified as a lottery pocket.

  That is, the positional relationship between the second pattern sensor 56 and the second ball sensor 55 located at the lowermost part is fixed. Specifically, when the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery ball is located at the position facing the lowermost second ball sensor 55, the lottery pocket 51 is located downstream in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket. The mark pattern of the mark plate 52 a provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the lottery pocket shifted by five is detected by the second pattern sensor 56. Therefore, when the lottery ball 73 is detected by the second ball sensor 55 located at the bottom, the mark pattern of the mark plate 52a detected by the second pattern sensor 56 is a lottery arranged at the position facing the mark plate 52a. The lottery pocket 51 corresponds to the lottery pockets that are shifted by five on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket. Therefore, the second sensor control unit 38b that has received the ball detection signal from the lowermost second ball sensor 55 receives the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 at the same time as or immediately after the reception, for example, With reference to the data table indicating the relationship, the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 can be specified. Then, the second sensor control unit 38b outputs a winning pocket signal indicating the specified lottery pocket to the CPU 31.

  Here, in the present embodiment, seven second ball sensors 55 are provided, and the positional relationship between each second ball sensor 55 and the second pattern sensor 56 is different from each other. Therefore, the correspondence between the pattern signal from the second pattern sensor 56 and the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 differs for each second ball sensor 55 that detects the lottery ball 73. Specifically, for example, the mark pattern read by the second pattern sensor 56 when the second ball sensor 55 arranged on the most upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket detects the lottery ball 73 is the mark plate 52a. This corresponds to the lottery pockets that are shifted by eight on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pockets with respect to the lottery pockets 51 arranged at the opposite positions. Further, for example, the mark pattern read by the second pattern sensor 56 when the second ball sensor 55 disposed on the most downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket detects the lottery ball 73 is the opposite position of the mark plate 52a. This corresponds to the lottery pockets shifted by two on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pockets with respect to the lottery pockets 51 arranged in FIG.

Note that at least one second ball sensor 55 may be provided, but the reason why a plurality of second ball sensors 55 are provided in the present embodiment is as follows.
Firstly, the lottery pocket 51 is specified as early as possible from the time when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51. In other words, in the present embodiment, the lottery ball 73 does not necessarily enter the bottom lottery pocket, and any of the lottery pockets in a range of five lottery pockets, two on each side of the bottom lottery pocket. There is a possibility of entering the lottery pocket 51. In this case, if one second ball sensor 55 is provided only in the vicinity of the most downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the lottery pocket within this range, the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 can be specified. However, in this case, after entering the lottery pocket 51 containing the lottery ball 73, the lottery pocket 51 is specified until the lottery pocket 51 moves to the position of the second ball sensor 55. I can't. Therefore, for a while after the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51, the lottery pocket 51 cannot be specified, and there is a case where the production is delayed. On the other hand, by providing a plurality of second ball sensors 55 as in the present embodiment, the maximum delay time from when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51 until it is detected can be reduced. Thereby, the lottery pocket 51 can be specified at an early stage from the time when the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 51, and adverse effects such as a delay in production can be reduced.
Second, even if the second ball sensor 55 fails or the detection of the second ball sensor 55 by the lottery ball 73 is destabilized due to changes over time, the downtime is reduced. This is to allow the game progress (physical lottery) to be continued without generating. That is, by providing a plurality of second ball sensors 55 as in the present embodiment, even if the second ball sensor 55 that arrives immediately after the lottery balls 73 enter the lottery pocket 51 cannot detect the balls. The next second ball sensor 55 can detect the ball, and the game progress (physical lottery) can be continued without causing downtime.

  In the present embodiment, the second sensor control unit 38b that has received the ball detection signal specifies the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 based on the pattern signal received simultaneously with or immediately after the reception. Although described, other methods may be employed. For example, the second sensor control unit 38b always stores the latest pattern signal, and the lottery pocket containing the lottery ball 73 based on the latest pattern signal stored when the ball detection signal is received. It is also possible to adopt a method for identifying This method is superior in that the lottery pocket 51 can be identified earlier.

Next, the flow of the 1st center lottery (physical lottery) using the vertical ring lottery device 40 performed with the center lottery apparatus 3 is demonstrated.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of one first center lottery.
When the CPU 31 of the central control device 30 as the specific control execution means receives a first center lottery start request from any one of the station units 2 through the input / output port 31a (S21), the CPU 31 waits for the lottery of the RAM 33. A station ID for specifying the station unit 2 is registered in the database (S22). Then, in the order in which the first center lottery start request is received, the first center lottery (specific control) for the two players of the station unit 2 is performed. When starting the first center lottery, first, the CPU 31 instructs the table drive control unit 35 to direct the front of the vertical ring lottery device 40 to the station unit 2 of the two players performing the first center lottery. Is output. Thereby, the table drive control unit 35 rotates the rotary table 64 so that the front of the vertical ring lottery unit 40 faces the station unit 2. Thereafter, the CPU 31 outputs a command for sending the lottery balls 73 to the ball insertion slot 86a to the transport control unit 37. In response to this command, the conveyance control unit 37 rotates the drive motor 81b of the conveyance path switching device 81 to rotate the eccentric cam 81a as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 are thrown into the non-pocket region on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical ring lottery device 40 from the ball slot 86a through the fourth transport rail 86 (S23).

  The lottery balls 73 thrown into the non-pocket area reciprocate like a pendulum on the non-pocket area along the circumferential direction of the vertical ring lottery device 40 while being regulated by the projection wall 43a, and the momentum gradually decreases. . When the relative movement speed with respect to the plurality of projection walls 43a is sufficiently reduced, the lottery balls 73 move to the pocket region side through the gap between the projection walls 43a due to the inclination of the non-pocket region. Thereafter, the lottery ball 73 moved onto the pocket area drifts on the pocket area while receiving a certain external force from the surface of the moving pocket area, and enters the lottery pocket 41 when passing through any one of the lottery pockets 41. It will be.

  Here, if the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is always constant, the surface movement speed of the pocket region is also constant, and the external force that the lottery ball 73 receives from the surface of the pocket region is also constant. For this reason, the lottery ball 73 on the pocket area continues to roll on a track that avoids the lottery pocket 41, and the lottery ball 73 may not enter the lottery pocket 41 no matter how long. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is provided in which the elapsed time after the lottery ball 73 is thrown into the vertical ring lottery unit 40 is counted by a timing unit (not shown). Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time determined in advance has elapsed based on the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means (S25). This specified time can be set arbitrarily. In the present embodiment, the specified time is as long as the lottery ball 73 on the pocket area does not fall into a situation where the lottery ball 73 keeps rolling on a track avoiding the lottery pocket 41 (in a normal case). The time period required for the lottery ball to sufficiently enter the lottery pocket 41 is set. Accordingly, in a normal case, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 before the specified time elapses, and a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 41 is output from the first sensor control unit 38a to the CPU 31. (S24).

  On the other hand, when the prescribed time has elapsed without the CPU 31 receiving the winning pocket signal (Yes in S25), the CPU 31 first performs a deceleration notice notification process (S26). The deceleration advance notice process is a process for displaying a countdown video on the first display device 71 and informing the player in advance when the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is decelerated. Specifically, the CPU 31 that has determined that the specified time has elapsed sends a countdown effect command to the display control unit 36. In response to the countdown effect command, the display control unit 36 performs display control for displaying the countdown video on the first display device 71. Then, almost simultaneously with the timing when the countdown image becomes an image indicating the deceleration timing, the first rotation control unit 34a performs a process of reducing the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 (S27).

If the specified time has elapsed and before the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is reduced, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 and the CPU 31 receives the winning pocket signal. In such a case, the countdown effect is canceled at that time, and the process of decelerating the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 (S27) is not performed.
In addition, it is assumed that even after the rotational speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is decelerated, the lottery ball 73 does not enter the lottery pocket 41, and a situation occurs where the lottery pocket 41 continues to avoid the lottery pocket 41. In this case, for example, the elapsed time after deceleration is measured by the time measuring means, and when the elapsed time has passed a specified time (which may be set to a period different from the specified time), the deceleration is performed. A configuration in which the rotation speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is further decelerated or conversely increased after the advance notice processing is performed can be employed.

  When the rotational speed of the vertical ring lottery device 40 is reduced as in the present embodiment, the surface movement speed of the pocket area changes, and therefore the external force received by the lottery ball 73 from the moving pocket area surface (rolling surface) is changed. be able to. As a result, even if the lottery ball 73 rolling on the pocket area is on a track that avoids the lottery pocket 41, the lottery ball 73 can be removed from the track. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the lottery ball 73 rolling on the pocket area does not enter the lottery pocket 41 for a long time.

  When the inserted lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 41 and receives a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 41 from the first sensor control unit 38a (Yes in S24), the CPU 31 stores it in the RAM 33. The prize corresponding to the winning pocket signal is determined with reference to the first prize determination table. In the present embodiment, the awards that can be won in the first center lottery are roughly divided into a payout award (dividend payout award) that pays out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and is executed by the station unit 2. In the slot game, there are a free game prize for starting a free game which is a special game, and a second center lottery prize for performing a second center lottery using the inclined ring lottery machine 50. Then, the CPU 31 specifies a prize won in the current first center lottery based on the winning pocket signal received from the first sensor control unit 38a and the first prize determination table.

  When the winning of the payout of the payout is determined (Yes in S28), the CPU 31 performs a predetermined effect by controlling the first display device 71 and other effect means (illumination means, sound output means, etc.). Then, the CPU 31 transmits a payout payout command according to the payout rate of the selected payout payout prize from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S29). That is, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of types of dividend payout prizes with different payout rates in the dividend payout prize. For example, there are a payout award with a payout ratio of 20 times, a payout award with a payout ratio of 30 times, and a payout award with a payout ratio of 50 times, which are assigned to individual lottery pockets 41, respectively. . When the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 41 for the payout payout prize, a payout payout command including the payout rate assigned to the lottery pocket 41 is transmitted to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2. Is done.

  When the station control device 20 receives such a payout payout command, the CPU 21 constituting the payout processing unit 104A satisfies the start condition because the current first center lottery has recorded all the first lottery condition flags, for example. If so, the five bet histories stored in the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 corresponding to the first lottery condition flag are read out. Then, a payout process is performed in which the credit amount obtained by multiplying the accumulated value of the bet history by the payout rate included in the current payout payout command is added to the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105. Thereafter, the CPU 21 resets the five bet histories stored in the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109.

  On the other hand, when the winning of the free game award is determined (Yes in S30), the CPU 31 controls the first display device 71 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 31 transmits a free game start command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S31). The CPU 21 of the station control device 20 that has received this free game start command executes a free game program and controls the progress of the free game until a predetermined free game end condition is satisfied. Note that the free game of the present embodiment is a slot game that can be played without betting credits, and the content of the slot game may be the same as or different from a normal slot game. Instead of the free game award, a bonus game award for starting a bonus game that is a special game (may be a game other than a slot game) may be employed.

  When the winning of the second center lottery prize is determined (No in S30), the CPU 31 controls the first display device 71 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. . And CPU31 transfers to the operation mode which performs a 2nd center lottery (S40).

Next, the flow of the second center lottery (physical lottery) using the inclined ring lottery machine 50 executed by the center lottery apparatus 3 will be described.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of one second center lottery.
Whether the CPU 31 of the central control device 30 receives a second center lottery start request from any one of the station units 2 via the input / output port 31a, or whether the winning of the second center lottery is determined in the first center lottery When the second center lottery start condition is satisfied (S41), the CPU 31 performs the second center lottery for the player of the station unit 2. When starting the second center lottery, the CPU 31 outputs, to the table drive control unit 35, a drive command for directing the front of the inclined ring lottery device 50 to the station unit 2 of the player who performs the second center lottery. Thereby, the table drive control unit 35 rotates the rotary table 64 so that the front side of the inclined ring lottery device 50 faces the station unit 2.

  Thereafter, the CPU 31 outputs a command for sending the lottery balls 73 to the ball throwing standby unit 83 to the transport control unit 37. Here, the conveyance control unit 37 performs different operations depending on the satisfied second center lottery start condition. Specifically, when the second center lottery start condition is satisfied by receiving the second center lottery start request from the station unit 2, the drive motor 81b of the transport path switching device 81 is driven to rotate, and the eccentric cam 81a. Is rotated as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 are transported to the ball throwing standby unit 83 through the second transport rail 84 (S42). On the other hand, when the second center lottery start condition is satisfied because the winning of the second center lottery is determined in the first center lottery, the shutter 47c provided in the first ball discharge unit 48 of the vertical ring lottery unit 40 is satisfied. 16 is moved to the ball discharge position as shown in FIG. 16, and the shutter 82b provided at the drop port 82a of the first transport rail 82 is moved to the closed position as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery balls 73 that have entered the lottery pocket 41 corresponding to the second center lottery of the first center lottery pass from the first ball discharge unit 48 to the ball insertion standby unit 83 through the first transport rail 82. It is conveyed (S42).

  Next, the CPU 31 outputs a lottery ball 73 insertion instruction to the transport control unit 37. Upon receiving this insertion command, the conveyance control unit 37 performs drive control to move the shutter 83a that has blocked the lottery balls 73 by the ball insertion standby unit 83 as shown in FIG. As a result, the lottery ball 73 that has been blocked by the shutter 83a is thrown onto the slope 54a of the inclined ring lottery device 50 (S43).

  Here, if the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is always constant, the relative movement speed of the lottery pocket 51 with respect to the slope 54a is also constant. For example, even when the momentum of the lottery ball 73 is sufficiently weakened, In some cases, the lottery ball 73 may be repelled by the opening edge portion (partition member 52) of the lottery pocket 51 in the same manner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is provided in which the elapsed time since the lottery ball 73 is thrown into the inclined ring lottery device 50 is measured by a timing unit (not shown). Then, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time determined in advance has elapsed based on the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means (S45). This specified time can be set arbitrarily. In the present embodiment, this specified time is sufficient for the lottery ball to enter the lottery pocket 51 unless the lottery ball 73 on the slope 54a falls into the above situation (normally). It is set to a period that can be secured. Therefore, in the normal case, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51 before the specified time elapses, and a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 51 is output from the second sensor control unit 38b to the CPU 31. (S44).

  On the other hand, when the specified time has elapsed without the CPU 31 receiving the winning pocket signal (Yes in S45), the CPU 31 first performs a deceleration notice notification process (S46). This deceleration advance notice process is a process for displaying a countdown video on the second display device 72 and notifying the player in advance when the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is decelerated. Specifically, the CPU 31 that has determined that the specified time has elapsed sends a countdown effect command to the display control unit 36. Upon receiving this countdown effect command, the display control unit 36 performs display control for displaying the countdown video on the second display device 72. Then, almost simultaneously with the timing when the countdown image becomes an image indicating the deceleration time, the second rotation control unit 34b performs a process of reducing the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 (S47).

If the specified time has elapsed and before the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is reduced, the lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51, and the CPU 31 receives the winning pocket signal. In such a case, the countdown effect is canceled at that time, and the process of decelerating the rotation speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 (S47) is not performed.
Further, when it is assumed that the lottery ball 73 does not enter the lottery pocket 51 even after the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is decelerated, for example, after decelerating, When the elapsed time exceeds the specified time (which may be set to a period different from the specified time), the deceleration ring notifying process is performed, and then the inclined ring lottery machine 50 is measured. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the rotational speed of the motor is further decelerated or conversely increased.

  When the rotational speed of the inclined ring lottery device 50 is reduced as in the present embodiment, the relative movement speed of the lottery pocket 51 with respect to the slope 54a varies, so that the above situation can be changed. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the lottery ball 73 rolling on the slope 54a does not enter the lottery pocket 51 indefinitely.

  When the inserted lottery ball 73 enters one of the lottery pockets 51 and receives a winning pocket signal corresponding to the lottery pocket 51 from the second sensor control unit 38b (S44), the CPU 31 is stored in the RAM 33. The award corresponding to the winning pocket signal is determined with reference to the second award determination table. In this embodiment, the awards that can be won in the second center lottery are roughly divided into a payout award (dividend payout award) that pays out an amount of credit corresponding to the award to the player, and is executed by the station unit 2. There is a free game award for starting a free game which is a special game in the slot game. Then, the CPU 31 specifies a prize won in the current second center lottery based on the winning pocket signal received from the second sensor control unit 38b and the second prize determination table.

  When the winning of the payout of the payout is determined (Yes in S48), the CPU 31 performs a predetermined effect by controlling the second display device 72 and other effect means (illumination means, sound output means, etc.). Then, the CPU 31 transmits a payout payout command corresponding to the payout rate of the selected payout payout to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 from the input / output port 31a (S49). That is, in the present embodiment, the dividend payout awards in the second center lottery include a plurality of types of payout awards with different payout rates, as in the case of the first center lottery. However, it is desirable that the dividend payout rate in the second center lottery is set higher than the highest payout rate in the first center lottery even at the lowest payout rate. For example, a payout award with a payout ratio of 100, a payout award with a payout ratio of 500, and a payout award with a payout ratio of 1000 are provided and assigned to individual lottery pockets 41, respectively. When the lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 41 for the payout payout prize, a payout payout command including the payout rate assigned to the lottery pocket 41 is transmitted to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2. Is done.

  When the station controller 20 receives such a payout payout command, the CPU 21 constituting the payout processing unit 104A satisfies the start condition because the current second center lottery has recorded, for example, all the first lottery condition flags. If so, the five bet histories stored in the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 corresponding to the first lottery condition flag are read out. Then, a payout process is performed in which the credit amount obtained by multiplying the accumulated value of the bet history by the payout rate included in the current payout payout command is added to the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105. Thereafter, the CPU 21 resets the five bet histories stored in the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109.

  On the other hand, if the current second center lottery satisfies the start condition by winning the second center lottery prize by the slot game, the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 and the second bet All bet histories stored in both of the accumulated amount storage units 111 are read out. Then, a payout process is performed in which the credit amount obtained by multiplying the accumulated value of the bet history by the payout rate included in the current payout payout command is added to the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage unit 105. In this case, the CPU 21 does not reset the five bet histories stored in the first bet cumulative amount storage unit 109 and the second bet cumulative amount storage unit 111.

  If the winning of the free game award is determined (No in S48), the CPU 31 controls the second display device 72 and other effecting means (such as lighting means and sound output means) to perform a predetermined effect. Then, the CPU 31 transmits a free game start command from the input / output port 31a to the station control device 20 of the station unit 2 (S50). Upon receiving this free game start command, the CPU 21 of the station control device 20 executes the free game program, and until the predetermined free game end condition is satisfied, as in the case of the free game prize of the first center lottery, Control the progress of the free game. Of course, instead of the free game award, a bonus game award for starting a bonus game which may be a special game (may be a game other than a slot game) may be employed. Note that the free game executed by winning the free game prize in the second center lottery ends more than the free game executed by winning the free game prize in the first center lottery. It is preferable to set conditions that are advantageous to the player, such as relaxing the conditions.

  In the present embodiment, the case where each independent game executed in each game unit A, B of the station unit 2 is a slot game has been described, but other game content may be used. For example, a rescue game having a game screen as shown in FIG. 25 may be used. FIG. 25 shows a game screen in the single play mode. In the dual play mode, two individual game screens 11j shown in FIG. 25 are displayed. In this game, when the door image displayed on the individual game screen 11j is touched, a process of subtracting one credit from the common credit data is performed, and the type of character corresponding to the door image is selected. The selected characters are sequentially stored in a predetermined selected character storage area. The character image corresponding to the selected character is displayed on the character display unit 11k at the top of the screen. When there are three characters of the same type in the selected character storage area, the data for the three characters is deleted from the selected character storage area, and the images of the three characters are deleted from the character display unit 11k, Then, 3 which is the number of characters erased is added to the predetermined count value. In this game, when the number of characters stored in the selected character storage area exceeds 7, the game is over, the data in the selected character storage area is erased, and the predetermined count value is also reset to zero. When the predetermined count value reaches a specified value, one or more first lottery condition flags or second lottery condition flags are recorded as a clear bonus. When all of the first lottery condition flag and the second lottery condition flag are recorded, the center lottery apparatus 3 executes the first center lottery as in the case of the above embodiment.

  The independent games performed in the game units A and B of the station units 2 of the medal game machine 1 of the present embodiment are all the same game (slot game), but a plurality of types of games may be mixed. . For example, the slot game may be executed in each of the game units A and B of a certain station unit, and the above-described rescue game may be performed in the other station units. Further, a slot game may be executed in the game unit A of the station unit 2, and a rescue game may be executed in the game unit B of the station unit 2.

  In this embodiment, a medal game machine that controls the progress of a game on condition that a medal (betting object) is received from a player has been described as an example. However, a token other than a medal or money (money) is received. The present invention can be similarly applied to a game system installed in a casino or the like that controls the progress of the game according to conditions.

  In the present embodiment, the credit data used by the players who play in the game units A and B of the same station unit 2 is common credit data. However, individual credit data is used for each. Also good. However, when the credit data is used in common by a plurality of players as in the present embodiment, while playing independent games that proceed independently of each other between these players, A relationship is created where mutual credit data is increased in cooperation with each other. Generally, in a conventional betting game device such as a medal game machine or a casino game machine that uses credit data as a bet object or a payout object, each player plays an independent game using individual credit data. Therefore, there is no idea of cooperating with each other to increase common credit data. Therefore, the configuration of the present embodiment in which the common credit data is commonly used by a plurality of players can provide unprecedented game characteristics in the betting game apparatus.

  Note that the effect of being able to provide unprecedented game characteristics in such a betting game device is that the configuration of this embodiment, that is, a plurality of players, is used as long as the common credit data is shared by a plurality of players. It is not limited to a configuration in which a common lottery condition flag is recorded according to the result of each independent game played by each player. That is, each betting object accepting unit in a plurality of betting game devices that execute independent games that progress independently from each other using credit data as a betting object or a paying object is stored in the common credit data storage unit as a bet receiving process. A process of reducing the credit amount of the common credit data, and each payout processing means of the plurality of betting game devices increases the credit amount of the common credit data stored in the common credit data storage means as the payout process With this configuration, a relationship in which common credit data is increased in cooperation with each other among a plurality of players is born, and an unprecedented game characteristic can be provided in the betting game device.

  In the present embodiment, if the lottery balls 73 are thrown in multiple times while the shutter 47c provided in the first ball discharge portion 48 is moved to the ball passing position as shown in FIG. Since the lottery pocket 41 containing is closed by the lottery ball 73, the subsequent lottery balls will enter any of the remaining lottery pockets 41. With such a configuration, for example, when the game is set so that winning the second center lottery prize becomes the maximum goal, the lottery ball 73 that is first introduced is a prize other than the second center lottery prize. When entering the lottery pocket 41 to which is assigned, it is possible to provide a game characteristic that the probability that the next inserted lottery ball 73 enters the lottery pocket 41 to which the second center lottery prize is assigned is increased. Become. This explanation is for the case of the vertical ring lottery machine 40, but the same applies to the case of the inclined ring lottery machine 50.

1 medal game machine 2 station unit 3 center lottery device 11 touch panel 20 station control device 30 central control unit 101A, 101B game progress control unit 102A, 102B operation reception unit 103A, 103B bet reception unit 104A, 104B payout processing unit 105 common credit data Storage unit 106 Common display unit 107 Mode switching unit 108 First lottery condition count unit 109 First bet cumulative amount storage unit 110 Second lottery condition count unit 111 Second bet cumulative amount storage unit

JP-A-2005-472

Claims (4)

Operation accepting means for accepting a player's operation;
A bet object accepting unit for performing a bet accepting process for accepting an amount of bet object that can be changed according to the bet amount operation accepted by the operation accepting unit;
A game progress control means for controlling the progress of a game that is repeatedly performed by executing a predetermined game progress program as a game start condition by the betting object receiving means performing a bet receiving process;
In a game apparatus comprising: a payout processing means for performing a payout process for paying out a predetermined amount of payout object to a player according to a progress result of a game controlled by the game progress control means.
Counting means for cumulatively counting the specific control start condition count value according to the progress result of the game controlled by the game progress control means;
Bet cumulative amount storage means for storing the cumulative amount of betting objects bet in each game when the count means counts the specific control start condition count value;
By the specific control start condition count value that predetermined specific control start condition is satisfied, and a specific control execution means starting the specific control for drawing to determine whether to win a predetermined award,
The payout processing means responds to the accumulated amount of the betting object stored in the accumulated bet amount storage means when a result of winning the predetermined prize by the lottery in the specific control by the specific control execution means is obtained. A game apparatus that performs a payout process for paying out a payout amount . The game device according to claim 1 ,
The game apparatus, wherein the lottery is a physical lottery using a lottery object. The game device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
When the game progress control means displays a plurality of types of symbols on a predetermined display means and then stops the variable display, when the combination of the predetermined symbols is stopped and displayed on the winning line, the game progress control means The progress of the slot game in which the amount of payout object corresponding to the combination is paid out to the player is controlled so that the greater the amount of bet objects received by the betting object reception means, the greater the number of winning lines.
The game device characterized in that the counting means counts a specific control start condition count value in accordance with a progress result of a slot game in which a special symbol combination is stopped and displayed on a winning line. The game device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Second counting means for counting a second specific control start condition count value in accordance with a progress result of the game controlled by the game progress control means;
Second accumulated bet amount storage means for storing the accumulated amount of betting objects bet in the game when the second counting means counts the second specific control start condition count value;
The specific control execution means starts the specific control when either the specific control start condition count value or the second specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition,
When the specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition, a process of resetting the specific control start condition count value is performed while maintaining the second specific control start condition count value,
When the second specific control start condition count value satisfies a predetermined specific control start condition, a process of resetting the second specific control start condition count value is performed while maintaining the specific control start condition count value A game device characterized by that.