JP5040298B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine using a gaming ball, which is controlled by a control device configured using an electronic processing device.

  In recent years, in gaming machines that can win a large number of prize balls in a big win situation, game preferences tend to be diversified and complicated, and control configured using electronic processing equipment to realize diverse and complex game preferences An apparatus is indispensable (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-736 A

  In a game machine with such a big hit, when a game ball enters a specific winning opening, a big hit lottery will be performed, and if the lottery is won, a specific accessory will be open and a game ball can be entered Become. Since the probability of such a jackpot lottery is set low due to the property that a large amount of prize balls can be obtained, there are many cases where it falls out of the jackpot lottery. If the winning of the jackpot lottery continues, or if there is no game ball entering a specific winning opening that provides the opportunity for the jackpot lottery, the ball of the game ball will be lost, leading to the loss of the player's willingness to play. Therefore, in order to continue the player's willingness to play, even if the game ball enters a winning port other than a specific winning port that causes a jackpot lottery, the probability of changing the jackpot probability to a high (so-called probability change) It has also been proposed to draw a normal lottery. In addition, when winning a normal lottery (ordinary hit), the bonus release time will be lengthened in the same way as a jackpot bonus, but replenishment of game balls to avoid extreme ball loss is normal Since it is the purpose, the number of prize balls per game ball entered into the game is about several, which is distinguished from jackpot.

  The above-mentioned lottery or regular winning lottery is performed by a control device configured using an electronic processing device such as a CPU. It is done after comparison. As a result of such a lottery, if a winning (winning) is achieved, a long-time release of an accessory is usually performed for several seconds to 30 seconds. And in the normal lottery, the winning probability is determined so that the winning probability is high, so even if the number of prize balls per hit (ordinary hit) is small, it is effective for suppressing the decrease in game balls during the big hit game And the player's willingness to play continues.

  However, even if there is a game ball entering the winning opening that brings the winning lottery, the winning winnings with high probability of winning normally occur relatively frequently, releasing the feature, and entering the game ball into the feature during that time The award ball is supposed to be paid out by the player, but there is a concern that the award ball will not be paid out in accordance with the normal hit and that the player will feel uncomfortable or that the willingness to play will be reduced due to the loss of the ball. The reason why such a phenomenon occurs is that the counter value (winning counter value) used for the determination of the winning lottery is determined when the electronic processing device is activated because the control device is configured using an electronic processing device such as a CPU. For example, the noise may be overwritten by the noise superimposition. Such a phenomenon can occur not only in the normal lottery but also in the big win lottery, the lottery during probability change, and the so-called short-term lottery in which the accessory release time is set short.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a lottery that accompanies a game ball entering a winning opening when maintaining the game motivation of a player.

  In order to solve at least a part of this problem, the gaming machine of the present invention includes a winning opening through which a game ball can enter and a variable winning winning opening that is a winning opening other than the winning opening. The winning variable winning opening can take either the first situation where the game ball is easily entered, or the second situation where it is more difficult to enter than the first situation. When there is no game ball entering the mouth, the second situation is set. In other words, since this variable winning game entrance is in the second situation in which it is difficult to enter the ball during normal games where there is no gaming ball entering the winning entry, By changing from to the first situation, it is easy to enter the game ball.

  The control device configured using the electronic processing device has a winning determination parameter to be determined for winning / winning to be performed when a game ball enters the winning opening by the winning determination parameter setting means. The update setting is repeated over the operating period of the gaming machine. Then, when a game ball enters the winning opening while performing the setting update of the winning determination parameter, the winning winning lottery is performed by the winning processing means when the winning ball enters the winning opening. The winning processing means performs winning winning lottery by comparing the winning determination parameter set by the winning determination parameter setting means with a winning parameter included in a predetermined winning parameter range. Is determined to be equal to a predetermined winning parameter, it is determined that the winning is determined, and the onset time of the first situation in the case where the winning variable winning opening is switched from the second situation to the first situation is determined as a predetermined winning time. And the pitch variable winning opening is controlled from the second situation to the first situation over the predetermined winning time. Therefore, it becomes easy to enter the game ball into the variable ball winning opening during the predetermined winning time, and it is possible to pay out the prize ball according to the game ball entry.

  In this way, the winning determination parameter when the winning processing means determines winning and controls the winning variable winning prize opening is repeatedly updated and set by the winning determination parameter setting means. The winning determination parameter range in which the determination parameter can be updated and set is the same range as the predetermined winning parameter range or a range narrower than the corresponding selected parameter range. Therefore, in the gaming machine of the present invention having the above-described configuration, even if the winning determination parameter is rewritten due to noise superposition or the like, the winning determination parameter after the rewriting is the value of the winning determination parameter range that can be updated. Therefore, it is determined that the winning lottery will be won (winning). Therefore, the reliability of the paying out of the winning ball accompanying the entering of the winning ball into the winning port will be improved, Ball loss can be suppressed, and the player's willingness to play can be continued.

  When the winning determination parameter setting means of the control device repeatedly updates and sets the winning determination parameter over the operation period of the gaming machine, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the control device is configured to transmit the game over the operating period. A counter value is generated as the winning determination parameter by the counter generating unit for each process repeatedly executed when controlling the machine, and this counter value is generated so as to be included in the counter value generating range corresponding to the winning determination parameter range. Let In this way, when the game ball enters the winning opening, the generated counter value becomes the winning determination parameter, so the counter value used in the existing gaming machine is used. In addition, it is possible to easily set the onset time of the first situation at the winning variable winning award at the time of the lottery winning as described above.

  In addition, in the present invention, the electronic processing device that performs data transmission / reception of a plurality of bits via a data bus is provided, and when the counter generation unit generates the counter value, n times the number of buses of the data bus ( n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1), and a range determined by a decimal number representing a binary number is used as the counter value generation range, and a counter value included in the counter value generation range can be generated. . For example, if the number of data buses is 8, the counter value is generated in the range of 0 to 256, which is determined by the decimal number of 8-digit binary numbers where n is the natural number 1 and the number 8 is the number of digits. It becomes a range. Further, a range determined by a numerical value obtained by decimally displaying a binary number having a numerical value that is, for example, twice or three times the number of buses 8 is a counter value generation range. Of course, the number of data buses is not limited to eight.

  This has the following advantages. Noise superposition or the like usually occurs when data is transmitted / received via a data bus or when an operation result is input / output for each bit in an electronic processing device, and affects data on each bus line of the data bus. Since the numbers 0 and 1 which are binary values are transmitted on each bus line, the original binary value 0 is rewritten to 1 or vice versa by the noise superposition. This can cause the counter value to be rewritten. However, even if the counter value is rewritten in this way, the counter value remains the counter value included in the above-described counter value generation range. Therefore, the counter value after rewriting is used as a winning determination parameter. In the lottery performed, it will be a win. Therefore, even with a simple counter value setting method, it is possible to bring about a more reliable winning (winning) determination of winning lottery, and to improve the reliability of paying out winning balls accompanying the game ball entering the winning opening. This is beneficial for the continuation of the player's willingness to play through the curb reduction of the game balls that are inadvertently being played.

  Further, according to the present invention, the winning lottery is deviated from the winning lottery according to the winning lottery performed by the control device when the game ball enters the winning opening under the control of the control device. When a game is started by a player of the gaming machine, a display device for displaying a symbol is provided, and the display symbol is displayed on the display device, and then it is determined that the lottery is won. In the display device, the winning symbol is displayed at the same time, and the variable display time for variably displaying the winning symbol and the off symbol before the winning symbol is displayed is set as a predetermined winning display time. The display device may be controlled so as to display a variation display of the winning symbol and the off symbol in time. In this way, the player who starts the game is made aware of the symbol display that is out of the lottery, so that he / she can be given a winning sensation after the start of the game, and the game willingness can be maintained.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a game board 13 of the pachinko gaming machine 100. The outline of the external configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described with reference to these drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko gaming machine 100 includes an outer frame 11 in which an outer shell is formed by a wooden frame combined in a substantially rectangular shape, and an inner frame 12 formed in substantially the same outer shape as the outer frame 11. With. The inner and outer frames are connected by two metal hinges 18 at the upper and lower positions on the left side of the outer frame 11 when viewed from the front. Therefore, the inner frame 12 opens and closes in front of the outer frame 11 with the side on which the hinge 18 is provided as an opening / closing axis. In normal times, the inner frame 12 is in a closed state, and the inner frame 12 is opened during equipment maintenance (not shown) on the back of the gaming machine.

  A game board 13 (see FIG. 2) having a large number of nails, winning holes, and the like is detachably mounted on the inner frame 12 from the back side. In the present embodiment, a general winning port 63, a first winning port 64, and a second winning port 67 are provided as winning ports. Then, the ball ball game is performed when the ball flows down the front surface of the game board 13. In the inner frame 12, a ball launch unit 112a (see FIG. 3) that launches a ball to the front area of the game board 13 and a ball fired from the ball launch unit 112a are guided to the front area of the game board 13. An unillustrated launch rail or the like is attached.

  The inner frame 12 includes a front frame 14 that covers the upper front side of the inner frame 12 and a lower dish unit 15 that covers the lower side of the inner frame 12. The front frame 14 and the lower plate unit 15 are supported by the inner frame 12 so as to be openable and closable to the front front side. In normal times, the front frame 14 is closed, and the inner frame 12 is opened when the game board 13 is jammed.

  The front frame 14 is assembled with decorative resin parts, electrical part crystals, and the like, and a window part 14 </ b> C that is formed in an approximately elliptical shape is provided at a substantially central part thereof. A glass unit 16 having two sheet glasses is disposed on the back side of the front frame 14, and the front surface of the game board 13 can be seen on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 100 through the glass unit 16. On the front frame 14, an upper plate 17 that stores balls is formed in a substantially box shape that protrudes forward and the upper surface is opened, and prize balls and rental balls are discharged to the upper plate 17. The upper plate 17 supplies these award balls and rental balls to the ball launch unit 112a. The frame button 22 on the upper surface of the upper plate 17 changes, for example, the effect pattern of the variable display displayed on the third symbol display device 81 (see FIG. 2) or the effect content at the reach effect. For example, it is operated by a player.

  In addition, the front frame 14 is provided with light emitting means such as various lamps around the periphery (for example, a corner portion). These light-emitting means play a role of enhancing the effect of the game during the game by changing or controlling the light-emitting mode by turning on or flashing according to the change in the gaming state at the time of big hit or predetermined reach. On the peripheral edge of the window portion 14C, there are provided electric decoration portions 29 to 33 incorporating light emitting means such as LEDs. In the pachinko gaming machine 100, these lighting units 29 to 33 function as effect lamps such as jackpot lamps, and when the jackpot or reach effects, etc., the lighting units 29 to 33 are turned on and blinked by the built-in LEDs. Illuminates or flashes to notify that the jackpot is being hit or that the reach is one step before the jackpot.

  A ball rental operation section 40 is disposed below the window section 14C. The ball lending operation unit 40 is provided with a frequency display unit 41, a ball lending button 42, and a return button 43. When the lending operation unit 40 is operated with a bill or a card inserted in a card unit (ball lending unit) (not shown) arranged on the side of the pachinko gaming machine 100, lending of a ball is performed according to the operation. Done. Specifically, the frequency display unit 41 is an area in which the remaining amount information such as a card is displayed, and the built-in LED is lit to display the remaining amount as the remaining amount information. The ball lending button 42 is operated to obtain a lending ball based on information recorded on a card or the like (recording medium), and the lending ball is supplied to the upper plate 17 as long as there is a remaining amount on the card or the like. Is done. The return button 43 is operated when requesting the return of a card or the like inserted into the card unit. In addition, in a pachinko machine in which a ball is lent directly to the upper plate 17 from a ball lending device or the like without using a card unit, a so-called cash machine does not require the ball lending operation unit 40. In this case, the ball lending operation unit 40 It is also possible to add a decorative seal or the like to the installation portion of the parts so that the component configuration is common. If it carries out like this, the common use of the pachinko machine using a card unit and a cash machine can be aimed at.

  In the lower plate unit 15 located on the lower side of the upper plate 17, a lower plate 50 for storing a ball that could not be stored in the upper plate 17 is formed in a substantially box shape having an open upper surface. Yes. On the right side of the lower plate 50, an operation handle 51 that is operated by a player to drive a ball into the front surface of the game board 13 is disposed. Inside the operation handle 51, a ball launch unit 112a (see FIG. 3). And a variable resistor (not shown) for detecting the amount of rotation of the operation handle 51 based on a change in electrical resistance. When the operation handle 51 is rotated clockwise by the player, the touch sensor is turned on and the resistance value of the variable resistor changes corresponding to the operation amount, and according to the rotation operation amount of the operation handle 51. A ball is fired with a strength corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor that changes, and the ball is driven into the front surface of the game board 13 with a jump amount corresponding to the player's operation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 13 includes a wooden base plate 60 cut into a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, a large number of ball nails, windmills and rails 61 and 62, a general winning opening 63, The winning opening 64, the variable winning device 65, the variable display device unit 80, and the like are assembled, and the peripheral edge thereof is attached to the back side of the inner frame 12. The general winning port 63, the first winning port 64, the variable winning device 65, and the variable display device unit 80 are arranged in a through hole formed in the base plate 60 by router processing, and a wood screw or the like from the front side of the game board 13 It is fixed by. Further, the front center portion of the game board 13 can be viewed from the front side of the inner frame 12 through the window portion 14 </ b> C of the front frame 14. Below, the structure of the game board 13 is demonstrated.

  An outer rail 62 formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate into a substantially arc shape is planted on the front surface of the game board 13, and the strip-shaped metal plate is located on the inner side of the outer rail 62 in the same manner as the outer rail 62. The arc-shaped inner rail 61 formed by the above is planted. The inner circumference 61 and the outer rail 62 surround the outer periphery of the front surface of the game board 13, and the game board 13 and the glass unit 16 surround the front and rear. A game area to be played is formed. The game area is a substantially circular area that is formed on the front surface of the game board 13 and defined by the two rails 61 and 62 and the arc member 70.

  The two rails 61 and 62 are provided to guide the ball fired from the ball launching unit 112a to the upper part of the game board 13. A return ball preventing member 68 is attached to the front end portion of the inner rail 61 (upper left portion in FIG. 2) to prevent the ball once guided to the upper portion of the game board 13 from returning to the ball guide path again. Is done. A return rubber 69 is attached to the tip of the outer rail 62 (upper right part in FIG. 2) at a position corresponding to the maximum flying portion of the sphere. Is bounced back to the center while being attenuated. A resin arc member 70 formed by providing an arc connecting the rails on the inner surface side between the lower right end of the inner rail 61 and the upper right end of the outer rail 62 is a base. The plate 60 is driven and fixed.

  A first symbol display device 37 provided with a plurality of light-emitting devices 37a and segment indicators 37b, which are light-emitting means, is disposed in the upper right portion of the game area when viewed from the front (upper right portion in FIG. 2). The 1st symbol display device 37 is displayed according to each control performed by the main control device 110, and the display of the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is mainly performed.

  The plurality of light-emitting devices 37a indicate whether the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a probable change, in a short time, or in a normal state by a lighting state, and indicates whether it is changing or not by a lighting state. Or whether the stop symbol is a symbol corresponding to a probable jackpot, a symbol corresponding to a normal jackpot, or an out symbol, by a lighting state, or indicates the number of reserved balls by a lighting state. The segment indicator 37b is composed of seven segments, and blinks each segment to display the number of rounds that are a big hit and an error display. The light emitting device 37a is configured using light emitting diodes (LEDs) of different light emission colors (for example, red, green, and blue), and the pachinko gaming machine 100 can be configured with a small number of LEDs by combining the light emission colors of the LEDs. Various gaming states can be suggested.

  It should be noted that the fact that the pachinko gaming machine 100 described above is in a probabilistic state is a state in which the jackpot probability is increased and it is easy to shift to the special gaming state. During the probability change of the present embodiment, the game is in a state in which the winning probability of the second symbol (ordinary symbol) is further increased and the first winning opening 64 is opened so that the ball can easily enter the winning opening. In other words, the first winning opening 64 has an electric accessory at the top of the winning opening, and the opening of the accessory facilitates the entry of a ball into the winning opening. In the non-open state where the electric accessory is closed, Only a ball guided to drop by the nail above the mouth can enter, that is, it is difficult to enter. In addition, when the pachinko gaming machine 100 is short-running, it means that the jackpot probability remains as it is, only the hit probability of the second symbol is increased, the first winning opening 64 is opened, and the ball can easily enter the winning opening. The pachinko gaming machine 100 is in the normal state and is in a game that is not in the midst of probability change and time reduction (a state where neither the big hit probability nor the second symbol hit probability has been increased). During this normal time, the first winning opening 64 becomes difficult to enter in the above-described non-open state. Further, according to the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100, it is possible to change the time that the electric accessory (not shown) attached to the first winning opening 64 is released and the number of times that the electric winning thing is released per time. .

  The game area is provided with a plurality of general winning ports 63 through which 5 to 15 balls are paid out as winning balls when the balls win. In addition, a variable display device unit 80 is disposed in the central portion of the game area. The variable display device unit 80 includes a third symbol display device 81 composed of a liquid crystal display (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”) that displays the third symbol in a variable manner with a winning at the first winning opening 64 as a trigger, There is provided a second symbol display device 82 composed of LEDs that variably display the second symbol with the passage of the ball of the two winning holes 67 as a trigger.

  The display content of the third symbol display device 81 is controlled by a display control device 114, which will be described later, and for example, three symbol sequences of left, middle, and right are displayed. Each symbol row is composed of a plurality of symbols, and these symbols are vertically scrolled for each symbol row so that the third symbol is variably displayed on the display screen of the third symbol display device 81. Further, in the present embodiment, the third symbol display device 81 is constituted by a large 8-inch LCD, and the variable display device unit 80 surrounds the outer periphery of the third symbol display device 81 so as to surround the center frame 86. Is arranged. In the third symbol display device 81 of the present embodiment, the display of the gaming state accompanying the control of the main control device 110 is performed by the first symbol display device 37, whereas the display of the first symbol display device 37 is performed. The decorative display according to is performed. Note that the third symbol display device 81 may be configured using, for example, a reel instead of the LCD.

  If the ball enters the first winning opening 64 before the stop symbol (any one of the probable jackpot symbol, the normal jackpot symbol, or the off symbol) is displayed on the first symbol display device 37, The number of balls is held up to a maximum of 4 times, and the number of times of holding is indicated by the first symbol display device 37 and the number of lighting of the holding lamp 85. Four hold lamps 85 are provided corresponding to the maximum number of holds, and are arranged symmetrically above the third symbol display device 81. In the present embodiment, the first winning opening 64 is configured to be held up to a maximum of 4 times, but the maximum number of holds is not limited to 4 times, or 3 times or less, or You may set to 5 times or more (for example, 8 times). Further, the hold lamp 85 is deleted, and the number of times of the variable display hold based on the winning to the first winning opening 64 is numerically displayed in a part of the third symbol display device 81, or the area divided into four areas is held. You may make it display in the aspect (for example, a color and a lighting pattern) which changes only by the part. In addition, since the number of times of holding is indicated by the first symbol display device 37, the lighting display by the holding lamp 85 may not be performed.

  The second symbol display device 82 has a second symbol display unit 83 and a holding lamp 84, and each time the ball passes through the second winning port 67, the display unit 83 displays a symbol (second symbol). , The symbol of “maru”, that is, the symbol of “○” and the symbol of “x” are alternately lit and the variable display is performed, and the variable display is a predetermined symbol (in this embodiment, the stop symbol of “O”) ), The first winning opening 64 is configured to be activated (opened) for a predetermined time. The symbol “○” and the symbol “×” represent the lottery results, and the symbol with the symbol “○” at the end of the variable display at the time of lottery performed for each ball entering the second winning port 67 means a win. The symbol “x” means disengagement. The opening time of the first winning opening 64 is determined by a lottery when the variable display on the display unit 83 stops at the above stop symbol, details of which will be described later. The first winning port 64 has a situation where it is easy to enter the ball by opening the accessory above the winning port, and a situation where it is difficult to enter only the ball guided by the nail above the winning port by not opening the accessory. Therefore, the first winning port 64 functions as a variable ball winning port in the present invention. The second winning port 67 that opens the first winning port 64 functions as a winning port in the present invention. Note that the lottery performed for each ball entering the second winning port 67 is appropriately referred to as a normal lottery, as distinguished from the jackpot lottery performed for each ball entering the first winning port 64.

  The number of passes of the ball to the second winning prize port 67 is held up to a maximum of 4 times, and the number of times of holding is displayed on the first symbol display device 37 described above and also displayed on the holding lamp 84. The second symbol variation display is performed by switching on and off of a plurality of lamps in the display unit 83 as in the present embodiment, as well as the first symbol display device 37 and the third symbol display device. A part of 81 may be used. Similarly, the hold lamp 84 may be turned on by a part of the third symbol display device 81. Similarly to the first prize opening 64, the second prize opening 67 is not limited to the maximum number of reservations of four times, but is three times or less, or five times or more (for example, eight times). ) May be set. Further, since the number of times of holding is indicated by the first symbol display device 37, the lighting display by the holding lamp 84 may not be performed.

  Below the variable display device unit 80, a first winning port 64 through which a ball can enter is disposed. When a ball enters the first winning opening 64, a first ball switch (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 13 is turned on, which is mainly caused by the first ball switch being turned on. A jackpot lottery is made by the control device 110, and a display corresponding to the lottery result is shown by the light emitting device 37a of the first symbol display device 37. Further, the first winning port 64 is also one of the winning ports through which five balls are paid out as winning balls when a ball enters.

  A variable winning device 65 is disposed below the first winning port 64, and a horizontally-long rectangular specific winning port (large opening) 65a is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. In the pachinko gaming machine 100, when the lottery in the main control device 110 is a big win, the light emitting device 37a of the first symbol display device 37 is turned on so as to become a big hit stop symbol after a predetermined time (fluctuation time) has elapsed. At the same time, a stop symbol corresponding to the jackpot is displayed on the third symbol display device 81 to indicate the occurrence of the jackpot. Thereafter, the gaming state shifts to a special gaming state (big hit) where the ball is easy to win. As this special gaming state, the special winning opening 65a which is normally closed is opened for a predetermined time (for example, until 30 seconds elapse or 10 balls are awarded).

  The specific winning opening 65a is closed when a predetermined time elapses, and after the closing, the specific winning opening 65a is opened again for a predetermined time. The opening / closing operation of the specific winning opening 65a can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), for example. The state in which the opening / closing operation is performed is a form of a special gaming state advantageous to the player, and the player is given out a larger amount of prize balls than usual in order to give a gaming value (game value). Is done.

  Specifically, the variable winning device 65 includes a horizontally-long rectangular opening / closing plate that covers the specific winning opening 65a, and a solenoid that is opened and closed forward with the lower side of the opening / closing plate as an axis. The special winning opening 65a is normally closed so that the ball cannot win or is difficult to win. In the case of a big hit, the solenoid is driven to tilt the opening / closing plate downward, and an open state in which the ball is likely to win the specific prize opening 65a is temporarily formed. The open state and the normal closed state Operates to alternate states. Therefore, this variable winning device 65 can also function as a winning variable winning port in the present invention, and in the system between this variable winning device 65, the first winning port 64 functions as the winning port of the present application. It can also be done. This point will be described later.

  The form of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is not limited to the special gaming state described above. When the game area is provided with a large opening that is opened and closed separately from the specific winning opening 65a, and the light emitting device 37a corresponding to the jackpot is turned on in the first symbol display device 37, the specific winning opening 65a is opened for a predetermined time, A special game in which a large opening provided separately from the specific winning port 65a is opened for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times when the ball wins into the specific winning port 65a while the specific winning port 65a is opened. You may make it form as a state. The back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is provided with various electrical units and equipment units that are involved in paying out / conveying balls, etc. The arrangement of these units is directly related to the gist of the present invention. The explanation is omitted because it is not related.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 100.

  The main control device 110 is equipped with an MPU 201 as a one-chip microcomputer that is an electronic processing device that executes logical operations. The MPU 201 temporarily stores various control programs executed by the MPU 201 and an electronic processing device that stores fixed value data, a ROM 202, and various data when the control program stored in the ROM 202 is executed. In addition to the RAM 203, which is an electronic processing device as a memory, and an input / output port 205 for performing input / output with the outside, various circuits such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit are provided. They are connected by a bus line 204 composed of an address bus and a data bus. Since the MPU 201 is composed of a one-chip microcomputer capable of processing data in units of 8 bits, the bus line 204 is data of the number of 8 buses that copes with data transmission in units of 8 bits with the RAM 203 and ROM 202 described above. Provide a bus. That is, the bus line 204 included in the MPU 201 corresponds to the data bus according to the present invention, and noise superimposition occurs when data is transmitted / received via the bus line 204 or when an operation result is input / output for each bit in the MPU 201. It is feared that. Various commands are sent from the main control device 110 to the sub control device by the data transmission / reception circuit in order to instruct the operation to a peripheral control device (sub control device) such as the payout control device 111 or the sound lamp control device 113. However, such a command is transmitted from the main controller 110 to the sub controller only in one direction.

  The RAM 203 stores the contents of the internal register of the MPU 201, the return address of the control program executed by the MPU 201, and the work area (work area for storing various flags and counters, I / 0 values, etc. Area). The RAM 203 is configured to hold (backup) data by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 115 even after the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is cut off, and all data stored in the RAM 203 is backed up.

  The input / output port 205 is connected to the MPU 201 of the main controller 110 via the bus line 204 described above. The input / output port 205 is connected to the payout control device 111 via the connectors 207 and 217 and the sound lamp control device 113 via the connectors 208 and 228, respectively. In addition, the input / output port 205 is connected to various switches 206 including a first symbol display device 37, a second symbol display device 82, an external output terminal plate 261, a switch group and a sensor group not shown. A hall computer 262 can be connected to the external output terminal plate 261, and data or the like can be output from the main controller 110 to the hall computer 262 via the external output terminal plate 261.

  The payout control device 111 drives the payout motor 216 to perform payout control of prize balls and lending balls. The payout control is performed by the MPU 211 that is an arithmetic device, and a ROM 212 that stores a control program, fixed value data, and the like. And the RAM 213 used as a work memory or the like. The RAM 213 is configured as a backup memory, and includes a total prize ball number memory 213a, an upper command storage buffer 213b, a payout error flag 213C, and a payout permission flag 213d in the work area. The payout control device 111 performs a payout of the winning ball according to the winning of the ball to the winning opening 63 or the like described above, but since it is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, in order to perform payout control by the payout control device 111, the main control device 110 transmits a command for specifying the control content to the payout control device 111. The command type, in other words, the content of the payout control, Since it is not directly related to the gist of the invention, the description thereof is omitted.

  An input / output port 215 is connected to the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 via a bus line 214 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110 is connected to the input / output port 215 via connectors 207 and 217, and a 7-segment LED 121, a payout motor 216, a firing control device 112, an external output terminal plate 261, and the like are connected to each other. . Although not shown, the payout control device 111 is connected to a prize ball detection switch for detecting a prize ball that has been paid out. The prize ball detection switch is connected to the payout control device 111 but is not connected to the main control device 110.

  The launch control device 112 controls the ball launch unit 112a so that the launch strength of the ball according to the rotational operation amount of the operation handle 51 is obtained when the main control device 110 gives an instruction to launch a ball. The ball launching unit 112a includes a launching solenoid and an electromagnet (not shown), and the firing solenoid and the electromagnet are permitted to be driven when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, it corresponds to the amount of rotation of the operation handle 51 on the condition that the touch sensor detects that the player is touching the operation handle 51 and the firing stop switch for stopping the firing is not operated. Then, the launch solenoid is excited, and the ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the operation amount of the operation handle 51.

  The voice lamp control device 113 is a voice output in a voice output device (such as a speaker not shown) 226, an output of lighting and extinguishing in a lamp display device (such as the illumination units 29 to 33 and the display lamp 34), and the display control device 114. The setting of the display mode of the 3rd symbol display apparatus 81 performed etc. is controlled. The MPU 221 that is an arithmetic unit includes a ROM 222 that stores a control program executed by the MPU 221, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 223 that is used as a work memory or the like.

  An input / output port 225 is connected to the MPU 221 of the sound lamp control device 113 via a bus line 224 including an address bus and a data bus. The main control device 110 is connected to the input / output port 225 via connectors 208 and 228, and the display control device 114, the audio output device 226, the lamp display device 227, and the like are connected to the input / output port 225, respectively.

  The display control device 114 controls the change display of the third symbol on the third symbol display device (LCD) 81. The display control device 114 includes an MPU 231, a ROM (program ROM) 232, a work RAM 233, a video RAM 234, a character ROM 235, an image controller 236, an input port 237, an output port 238, and bus lines 239 and 240. It has. The input side of the input port 237 is connected to the output side of the sound lamp control device 113, and the output side of the input port 237 is connected to the MPU 231, ROM 232, work RAM 233, and image controller 236. A video RAM 234 and a character ROM 235 are connected to the image controller 236, and an output port 238 is connected via a bus line 240. A third symbol display device 81 is connected to the output side of the output port 238. Note that the pachinko gaming machine 100 is a model having the same specifications as the symbol structure displayed on the third symbol display device 81, even if it is a different model having a different jackpot lottery probability or different number of prize balls to be paid out in one jackpot. Therefore, the display control device 114 is made into a common part to reduce the cost.

  The MPU 231 of the display control device 114 controls the display content of the third symbol display device 81 based on the symbol display command input from the sound lamp control device 113. The ROM 232 is a memory for storing various control programs executed by the MPU 231 and fixed value data. The work RAM 233 is a memory for temporarily storing work data and flags used when the MPU 231 executes various programs. The character ROM 235 is a memory that stores data for effects such as symbols (background symbols and third symbols) displayed on the third symbol display device 81. The video RAM 234 is a memory for storing effect data displayed on the third symbol display device 81, and the display content of the third symbol display device 81 is changed by rewriting the contents of the video RAM 234.

  The image controller 236 adjusts the timing of the MPU 231, the video RAM 234, and the output port 238 to intervene in reading and writing data, and reads display data stored in the video RAM 234 at a predetermined timing to read the third symbol display device 81. Is displayed.

  The third symbol display device 81 whose display content is controlled by the display control device 114 having the above configuration performs variable display in which the same main symbols are aligned when the lottery result by the main control device 110 is a big win. The pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment is configured so that a jackpot is generated after the change display is finished. When shifting to a high-probability state (probability variation state) after the jackpot is finished, a variable display in which specific symbols indicating the high-probability state (probability variation state) are arranged is performed. On the other hand, when shifting to the low probability state after the big hit, the variable display in which specific symbols indicating the low probability state are arranged is performed. Here, the high probability state refers to a state in which the subsequent jackpot probability is increased as an added value after the jackpot ends, that is, a so-called probability fluctuation (probability change). Further, the normal state (low probability state) refers to a time when the probability of hitting is not probable, and refers to a state where the probability of jackpot is normal, that is, a state where the probability of jackpot is lower than that during probability change. Since the display contents (display mode) of such symbols are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.

  The power supply device 115 includes a power supply unit 251 for supplying power to each unit of the pachinko gaming machine 100, a power failure monitoring circuit 252 that monitors power interruption due to a power failure, and a RAM erase switch circuit 253 having a RAM erase switch 123. I have. The power supply unit 251 supplies a necessary operating voltage to each of the main control devices 110 to 114 through a power supply path (not shown). As its outline, the power supply unit 251 takes in a voltage of AC 24 volts supplied from the outside, and drives various switches, solenoids, motors, etc. 12 volts, logic 5 volts, RAM A backup voltage or the like for backup is generated, and necessary voltages are supplied to the main control devices 110 to 114 and the like using the 12 volt voltage, the 5 volt voltage, and the backup voltage.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 252 is a circuit for outputting a power failure signal SGI to each NMI terminal of the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 and the MPU 211 of the payout control device 111 when the power is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. The power failure monitoring circuit 252 monitors the voltage of 24 VDC, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 251, and determines that a power failure (power shutdown) occurs when this voltage is less than 22 volts, The power failure signal SGI is output to the main controller 110 and the payout controller 111. Based on the output of the power failure signal SGI, the main controller 110 and the payout controller 111 recognize the occurrence of a power failure and execute an NMI interrupt process. Note that the power supply unit 251 outputs a voltage of 5 volts, which is a drive voltage of the control system, for a time sufficient to execute the NMI interrupt processing even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts becomes less than 22 volts. Is maintained at a normal value. Therefore, the main control device 110 and the payout control device 111 can normally execute and complete the NMI interrupt processing.

  The RAM erase switch circuit 253 is a circuit that outputs a RAM erase signal SG2 for clearing backup data to the main controller 110 when the RAM erase switch 123 is pressed. When the RAM control signal SG2 is input when the pachinko gaming machine 100 is turned on, the main controller 110 clears the backup data (contents of the RAM 203).

  Next, a counter and the like provided in the RAM 203 of the main controller 110 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the type of counter. These counters and the like are used by the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 to perform jackpot lottery, display setting of the first symbol display device 37, lottery of display results of the second symbol display device 82, and the like.

  For the jackpot lottery or display setting of the first symbol display device 37, the first hit random number counter C1 used for the jackpot lottery, the first hit type symbol counter C2 used for the jackpot symbol selection, and the stop pattern selection counter C3, a first initial value random number counter CINI1 used for setting the initial value of the first random number counter C1, and variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 used for variation pattern selection are used. The second symbol random number counter C4 is used for the lottery of the second symbol display device 82, and the second initial random number counter CINI2 is used for setting the initial value of the second random number counter C4. Each of these counters is a loop counter that adds 1 to the previous value every time it is updated and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value.

  Each counter is updated at an interval of 4 ms, which is an execution interval of main processing described later, or at an interval of 2 ms, an execution interval of timer interrupt processing, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a counter buffer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 203. Is done. The RAM 203 is provided with a holding ball storage area including one execution area and four holding areas (holding first to fourth areas). Each of these areas has a ball to the first winning port 64. Each value of the first random number counter C1, the first type counter C2 and the stop pattern selection counter C3 is stored in accordance with the winning timing.

  Each counter will be described in detail. The first random number counter C1 is configured so that, for example, 1 is added in order within a range of 0 to 738, and after reaching the maximum value (that is, 738), it returns to 0. In particular, when the first random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 at that time is read as the initial value of the first random number counter C1. The first initial value random number counter CINI1 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the first per-random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 738), and is updated once every time the timer interrupt process is executed. At the same time, it is repeatedly updated within the remaining time of the main process. The value of the first random number counter C1 is updated, for example, regularly (in this embodiment, once for each timer interrupt process), and the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203 at the timing when the ball wins the first winning port 64. Stored in The number of random number values that are jackpots is set at low probability and high probability, and the number of random numbers that are jackpots at low probability is 2, and the value is “373, 727” Yes, the number of random numbers that will be a big hit at a high probability is 14, for example, periodically (in this embodiment, once for each timer interrupt process) and updated at the timing when the ball wins the first winning opening 64 It is stored in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203. In addition, the value of the random number that becomes a high probability state after the jackpot is “1, 2, 3”, the value of the random number that becomes the low probability state after the jackpot is “0, 4”, and two types of hits are determined. The Therefore, the display mode corresponding to the stop symbol displayed on the first symbol display device 37 is a display mode corresponding to two types of jackpots of a high probability state and a low probability state, and one type of display mode corresponding to a deviation. Any one of the three display modes is selected.

  The stop pattern selection counter C3 is, for example, incremented by 1 in the range of 0 to 238, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 238). In the present embodiment, the stop pattern selection counter C3 selects the effect pattern displayed on the third symbol display device 81, and after reaching, the final stop symbol is shifted by one before and after the reach symbol. “Stop before and after detachment reach” (for example, a range of 0 to 8), and “Leach other than detachment before and after detachment” (for example, a range of 9 to 38) after the reach has occurred and the final stop symbol stops other than before and after the reach design. The three stop (effect) patterns are selected as “completely out” (for example, a range of 39 to 238) that does not cause reach. The value of the stop pattern selection counter C3 is updated, for example, periodically (in this embodiment, once for each timer interrupt process), and is stored in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203 at the timing when the ball wins the first winning port 64. Stored.

  The stop pattern selection counter C3 is provided with a plurality of tables having different ranges of random number values from which stop patterns are selected. This depends on whether the current state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is a high probability state or a low probability state, in which area of the reserved ball storage area each random number value is stored (that is, the number of held). This is for changing the selection ratio of the stop pattern.

  For example, in a high probability state, a table with a wide random value range of 10 to 238 corresponding to the stop pattern “completely out” is selected so that a reach effect is not selected more than necessary because a big hit is likely to occur. It becomes easy to select “completely off”. In this table, “front / rear out of reach” is narrowed to 0-5, and “reach other than front / rear out of reach” is also narrowed to 6-9, making it difficult to select “rear out of front / rear out of reach” or “reach out of front / rear out of reach”. Further, if each random number value is not stored in the holding ball storage area in a low probability state, a random number value corresponding to a stop pattern of “completely missed” in order to secure a ball entry time to the first winning opening 64 A table with a narrow range of 51 to 238 is selected, and “completely out” is difficult to select. In this table, the range of random numbers corresponding to the stop pattern of “reach other than front / rear deviation” is as wide as 9 to 50, and “reach other than front / rear deviation” is easily selected. Therefore, in the low probability state, the ball entry time to the first winning opening 64 can be secured, so that the variable display by the third symbol display device 81 is easily performed continuously.

  Of the two variation type counters CS1 and CS2, one variation type counter CS1 is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 198, for example, and reaches a maximum value (that is, 198) and then returns to 0. On the other hand, the other variation type counter CS2 is, for example, incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 240, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 240). In the following description, CS1 is also referred to as “first variation type counter”, and CS2 is also referred to as “second variation type counter”.

  Rough display modes such as so-called normal reach, super reach, and premium reach are determined by the first variation type counter CS1. Specifically, the display mode is determined by determining the variation time of the symbol variation. Further, the second variation type counter CS2 determines a variation time (in other words, the number of variation symbols) until the last stop symbol stops after the reach occurs. Based on the variation time determined by the variation type counters CS1 and CS2, the display control device 114 determines the reach type of the third symbol displayed on the third symbol display device 81 and the detailed symbol variation mode. Therefore, a variety of variation patterns can be easily realized by combining these variation type counters CS1 and CS2. It is also possible to determine the symbol variation mode only by the first variation type counter CS1, or to determine the symbol variation mode similarly by combining the first variation type counter CS1 and the stop symbol. The values of the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 are updated once every time a main process described later is executed once, and are repeatedly updated within the remaining time in the main process.

  For example, the value of the variation type counter CS3 is sequentially incremented by 1 within a range of 0 to 162, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 162). In the following description, CS3 is also referred to as a “third variation type counter”. The 3rd symbol display device 81 of this Embodiment performs the decorative production according to the display mode of the 1st symbol display device 37, and can slide the symbol which is changing in addition to the variation of a symbol. A notice effect such as passing a notice character for notifying the occurrence of the reach effect is performed. The effect pattern of the notice effect is selected by the variation type counter CS3. Specifically, the time required for the notice effect is added to the change time, or on the contrary, the change time is subtracted to shorten the change display time, or the effect pattern that does not add or subtract the change time is selected. The As with the stop pattern selection counter C3, the variation type counter CS3 is provided with a plurality of tables having different random value ranges from which the effect pattern is selected, and the current state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a high probability state. Depending on whether the random probability value is stored in the reserved ball storage area, the selection ratio of each effect pattern is different.

  As described above, the variation time of the symbol variation is determined by the variation type counters CS1 and CS2, and the time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time is determined by the variation type counter CS3. Therefore, the final fluctuation time until the final stop symbol stops is determined by the fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3.

  The second random number counter C4 is configured as a loop counter that is incremented one by one within a range of 0 to 255, for example, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value (that is, 255). In the present embodiment, the value of the second per-random number counter C4 is periodically updated, for example, every timer interruption process, and it is detected that the ball has passed through the second winning opening (through gate) 67 on either the left or right side. Get when it is done. The number of random number values to be won is 256, and the range thereof is the same as the counter value range “0 to 255” that the second random number counter C4 can take. The second initial value random number counter CINI2 is configured as a loop counter that is updated in the same range as the second random number counter C4 (value = 0 to 255), and is updated once for each timer interrupt process. Updated repeatedly within the remaining time of the main process. In this embodiment, the second per-random number counter C4 is a winning parameter set by the MPU 211 as a winning-winning determination target to be performed in association with the second winning opening 67, and the second per-random number counter C4 The counter value is included in the range of 0 to 255 described above.

  The values of the counters described above are set in a process to be described later and accumulated in a predetermined counter buffer (see FIG. 4). During the data transfer, data rewriting can occur due to the noise superposition as described above.

  Next, each control process executed by the MPU 201 in the main controller 110 will be described with reference to flowcharts and drawings in FIGS. The processing of the MPU 201 includes a start-up process that is started when the power is turned on, a main process that is executed after the start-up process, and a timer interrupt process that is started periodically (in a 2 ms cycle in this embodiment). And NMI interrupt processing activated by the input of the power failure signal SGI to the NMI terminal. Since the start-up process and the main process include processes according to the processing results of the timer interrupt process and the NMI interrupt process, the timer interrupt process and the NMI interrupt process are described first for convenience of explanation, and then The raising process and the main process will be described. In parallel with the processing in the main control device 110, the payout control device 111, the sound lamp control device 113, and the display control device 114 receive control commands from the main control device 110, respectively, and control related to ball payout. The voice / lamp notification / display control is performed but is not directly related to the gist of the present invention.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt process. The timer interrupt process is executed by the MPU 201 of the main control device 110, for example, every 2 ms. In the timer interrupt process, first, a process for reading various winning switches is executed (S501). That is, the state of various switches connected to the main controller 110 is read, and the state of the switch is determined and the detection information (winning detection information) is stored. Next, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are updated (S502). Specifically, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (738 in the present embodiment). Then, the updated value of the first initial value random number counter CINI 1 is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203. Similarly, the second initial value random number counter CINI2 is incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (250 in the present embodiment), and the updated value of the second initial value random number counter CINI2 Is stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203. Speaking of the second initial value random number counter CINI2 involved in the present invention, when a ball entering the left and right second winning holes 67 of the game board 13 is detected in step S501 in this timer interruption process, in the following step S502. As described above, the counter value of the second initial value random number counter CINI2 is set (update setting).

  Further, the first per-random number counter C1, the first per-type counter C2, the stop pattern selection counter C3, and the second per-random number counter C4 are updated (S503). Specifically, 1 is added to each of the first per-random number counter C1, the first per-type counter C2, the stop pattern selection counter C3, and the second per-random number counter C4, and these counter values are the maximum values (this embodiment) Then, when 738, 4, 238, 250) are reached, they are cleared to 0. Then, the updated values of the counters C1 to C4 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203.

  Thereafter, a start winning process (see FIG. 17) associated with winning in the first winning port 64 is executed (S504), a firing control process is executed (S505), and the timer interrupt process is terminated. In the firing control process, it is detected that the player is touching the operation handle 51 by the touch sensor, and the firing of the ball is turned on / off on the condition that the firing stop switch for stopping the firing is not operated. It is a process to decide. When the launch of the sphere is on, the launch control device 112 is instructed to launch the sphere.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the start winning process executed in the process of S504. As shown in the drawing, in the start winning process, first, it is determined whether or not the ball has won a first winning opening 64 (start winning) (S601). If it is determined that the ball has won the first winning opening 64 (S601: Yes), whether or not the number N of active reserved balls of the first symbol display device 37 is less than the upper limit (4 in the present embodiment). Is discriminated (S602). If there is a winning at the first winning opening 64 and the number of reserved balls for operation N <4 (S602: Yes), the number of reserved balls for operation N is incremented by 1 (S603), and further updated in step S503. Each value of the per-random number counter C 1, the first per-type counter C 2, the stop pattern selection counter C 3, and the second per-random number counter C 4 is stored in the first area among the free reserved areas in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203 ( S604). On the other hand, if there is no winning at the first winning opening 64 (S601: No), or even if there is a winning at the first winning opening 64, if the number N of operation reservation balls is not N <4 (S602: No), S603 And each process of S604 is skipped, a start winning process is complete | finished, and it returns to a timer interruption process.

  This start winning process is not limited to the case where the first winning port 64 for winning the big win is entered, but also because the normal lottery associated with entering the left and right second winning ports 67 of the game board 13 It is also executed for each ball entered into the winning port 67. In the start process for entering the second winning opening 67 for the normal lottery, the processing of S601 to S603 is executed according to the state of entering the second winning opening 67, and in S604, the normal lottery is involved. The counter value (second random number counter C4) to be stored is stored in the first area among the free reserved areas in the reserved ball storage area of the RAM 203.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the NMI interrupt process. The NMI interruption process is a process executed by the MPU 201 of the main control device 110 when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. By this NMI interrupt processing, the information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203. That is, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, the power failure signal SGI is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 to the NMI terminal of the MPU 201 in the main controller 110. Then, the MPU 201 interrupts the control being executed and starts the NMI interrupt process, stores the power-off occurrence information in the RAM 203 as a setting of the power-off occurrence information (S701), and ends the NMI interrupt process. To do.

  The NMI interrupt process is also executed in the payout control device 111 in the same manner, and the occurrence information of the power interruption is stored in the RAM 213 by the NMI interrupt process. That is, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure, the power failure signal SGI is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252 to the NMI terminal of the MPU 211 in the payout control device 111, and the MPU 211 interrupts the control being executed. Then, the NMI interrupt process is started.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing start-up processing executed by the MPU 201 in the main controller 110. This start-up process is activated by a reset interrupt process at power-on. In the start-up process, first, an initial setting process associated with power-on is executed (S101). Specifically, a predetermined value set in advance in the stack pointer is set, and the sub-side control devices (peripheral control devices such as the sound lamp control device 113 and the payout control device 111) become operable. In order to wait, a wait process (1 second in this embodiment) is executed. Next, access to the RAM 203 is permitted (S103).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the RAM erase switch 123 provided in the power supply device 115 is turned on (S104). If it is turned on (S104: Yes), the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, if the RAM erasure switch 123 is not turned on (S104: No), it is further determined whether or not the information on occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203 (S105), and if not stored (S105: No). Since the backup data is not stored, in this case as well, the process proceeds to S110.

  If power failure occurrence information is stored in the RAM 203 (S105: Yes), a RAM determination value is calculated (S106). If the calculated RAM determination value is not normal (S107: No), that is, the calculated RAM determination is performed. If the value does not match the RAM determination value stored when the power is shut off, the backed up data has been destroyed, and the process proceeds to S110 even in such a case. Note that, as will be described later in the processing of S213 in FIG. Instead of the RAM determination value, the validity of the backup may be determined based on whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM 203 is correctly stored.

  In the process of S110, a payout initialization command is transmitted in order to initialize the payout control device 111 serving as the sub-side control device (peripheral control device) (S110). Upon receiving this payout initialization command, the payout control device 111 clears an area (work area) other than the stack area of the RAM 213, sets an initial value, and enters a state in which game ball payout control can be started. After transmitting the payout initialization command, main controller 110 executes initialization processing (S111, S112) of RAM 203, and then displays the initial winning result display as the initial display of the symbols on second symbol display device 82. The winning symbol “x” is displayed (S113). When displaying the off symbol “x”, the main controller 110 displays the off symbol “X” on the second symbol display device 82 based on a display command for displaying the off symbol “x”. In addition, the off symbol display as the initial display can also be performed by the display control device 114. In this case, the second symbol display device 82 is connected to be controlled by the display control device 114, and then the display is performed. The control device 114 receives the display command for displaying the detached symbol “×” from the main controller 110 side, and displays the detached symbol “X” on the second symbol display device 82.

  As described above, in the pachinko gaming machine 100, when the RAM data is initialized when the power is turned on, for example, when the hall starts business, the power is turned on while the RAM erase switch 123 is pressed. Therefore, if the RAM erasing switch 123 is pressed during the start-up process, the RAM initialization process (S111, S112) and the initial display process (S113) of the second symbol display device 82 are performed as the initialization process after S110. ). Similarly, the initialization process (S111, S112) of the RAM 203 and the second case are also performed when the information on occurrence of power interruption is not set, or when a backup abnormality is confirmed by the RAM determination value (checksum value, etc.). The initial display process (S113) of the symbol display device 82 is executed. In the RAM initialization process (S111, S112), the used area of the RAM 203 is cleared to 0 (S111), and then the initial value of the RAM 203 is set (S112). After the initialization process of the RAM 203 and the initial display process of the second symbol display device 82 are executed, the process proceeds to S114.

  On the other hand, if the RAM erasure switch 123 is not turned on (S104: No), information on occurrence of power shutdown is stored (S105: Yes), and if the RAM judgment value (checksum value etc.) is normal ( S107: Yes), the information on the occurrence of power interruption is cleared while the backed up data is held in the RAM 203 (S108). Next, a payout return command at the time of power recovery for returning the control device (peripheral control device) on the sub side to the gaming state when the drive power supply is cut off is transmitted (S109), and the process proceeds to S114. When the payout control device 111 receives this payout return command, the payout control device 111 is in a state where the payout control of the game ball can be started while holding the data stored in the RAM 213.

  In the process of S114, an interrupt is permitted and the process proceeds to a main process described later.

  Next, the main process will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the main process. In this main process, the main process of the game is executed. As an outline, each process of S201 to S206 is executed as a periodic process with a period of 4 ms, and the counter update process of S209 and S210 is executed in the remaining time.

  In the main process, first, output data such as a command updated in the previous process is transmitted to each control device (peripheral control device) on the sub side (S201). Specifically, the presence / absence of winning detection information detected in the switch reading process of S501 is determined, and if there is winning detection information, a winning ball command corresponding to the number of acquired balls is transmitted to the payout control device 111. In addition, by this external output process, a variation pattern command, a stop symbol command, a stop command, an effect time addition command, etc. required for the variation display of the third symbol by the third symbol display device 81 are transmitted via the connectors 208 and 228. It is transmitted (output) to the sound lamp control device 113. Furthermore, when launching a sphere, a sphere launch signal is transmitted (output) to the launch control device 112.

  Next, each value of the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 is updated (S202). Specifically, 1 is added to the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3, and when the counter values reach the maximum values (198, 240, and 162 in this embodiment), they are cleared to 0, respectively. Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS 1, CS 2, and CS 3 are stored in the corresponding buffer area of the RAM 203.

  When the update of the variation type counters CS1, CS2 and CS3 is completed, the winning ball counting signal and the payout abnormality signal received from the payout control device 111 are read (S203), and the process for displaying on the first symbol display device 37 is performed. A variation process for setting a variation pattern of the third symbol and the like by the three symbol display device 81 is executed (S204). Details of the variation process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After the end of the variation process, a large opening opening / closing process for opening or closing the specific winning opening (large opening) 65a of the variable winning device 65 is executed in the case of the big win state (S205). That is, the specific winning opening 65a is opened for each round of the big hit state, and it is determined whether the maximum opening time of the specific winning opening 65a has elapsed or whether a specified number of balls have won the specific winning opening 65a. When any of these conditions is met, the specific winning opening 65a is closed. The opening and closing of the specific winning opening 65a is repeated for a predetermined number of rounds.

  Next, a normal lottery and a display / release process associated therewith are executed (S206). In this normal lottery display / release process, the second symbol display device 82 changes display control of the second symbol (for example, “◯” or “x”) and the entry situation of the first winning opening 64 based on the lottery result. Switching control (that is, opening control of an accessory at the upper part of the first winning opening 64) is performed. Although details of these processes will be described later, in this normal lottery display / release process, the second per random number counter C4 is set at the passing timing on condition that the ball has passed through the second winning opening (through gate) 67. While the value is acquired, the display of the second symbol (ordinary symbol) is performed on the display unit 83 of the second symbol display device 82. At the time of this variable display, the lottery of the second symbol (ordinary lottery) is carried out by the value of the second random number counter C4, and when the winning state of the second symbol (per ordinary lottery) is reached, it is attached to the first winning port 64. The electric winning combination is opened for a predetermined time (about several seconds), and the first winning opening 64 changes from a situation where it is difficult to enter because the accessory is closed to a situation where it is easy to enter due to the opening of the accessory. On the other hand, if the normal lottery is missed, the electric accessory attached to the first prize opening 64 is opened for a much shorter time than the above winning case, for example, about 0.5 seconds. It changes for a very short time in a situation where it is easy to enter. As will be described later, the counter value range of the second per-random number counter C4 that defines the winning of the normal lottery is equal to the range of counter values that can be taken by the second per-random number counter C4 (0 to 255 described above). Therefore, the short-time opening control of the first winning port 64 in the case of a failure of the normal lottery is not substantially performed. It should be noted that the release control when the normal lottery is out of control can be prevented from being performed from the program.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the information on the occurrence of power interruption is stored in the RAM 203 (S207). If the information on the occurrence of power interruption is not stored in the RAM 203 (S207: No), a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 252. SGI is not output and the power supply is not shut off. Therefore, in such a case, it is determined whether or not the execution timing of the next main process has been reached, that is, whether or not a predetermined time (4 ms in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the previous main process (S208). If the predetermined time has already passed (S208: Yes), the process proceeds to S201, and the processes after S201 described above are repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not yet elapsed since the start of the previous main process (S208: No), the first time is within the remaining time until the predetermined time is reached, that is, until the next main process is executed. The initial value random number counter CINI1, the second initial value random number counter CINI2, and the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 are repeatedly updated (S209, S210).

  First, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are updated (S209). Specifically, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are incremented by 1 and cleared to 0 when the counter value reaches the maximum value (738, 250 in this embodiment). . Then, the updated values of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 are stored in the corresponding buffer areas of the RAM 203, respectively. In updating the counter value, data transmission is performed via the bus line 204, so that data rewriting due to noise superimposition may occur.

  Next, the fluctuation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 are updated (S210). Specifically, the variation type counters CS1, CS2, CS3 are incremented by 1, and are cleared to 0 when the counter values reach the maximum values (198, 240, 162 in the present embodiment). Then, the update values of the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 are stored in the corresponding buffer areas of the RAM 203, respectively.

  Here, since the execution time of each process of S201-S206 changes according to the state of the game, the remaining time until the next main process execution timing is not constant and varies. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the update of the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 using the remaining time, the first initial value random number counter CINI1 and the second initial value random number counter CINI2 (that is, , The initial value of the first per-random number counter C1 and the initial value of the second per-random number counter C4) can be updated at random. Similarly, the variation type counters CS1, CS2, and CS3 can be updated at random.

  In the process of S207, if the power failure occurrence information is stored in the RAM 203 (S207: Yes), the power failure is caused by the occurrence of a power failure or the power is turned off, and the power failure monitoring circuit 252 outputs the power failure signal SGI. As a result, since the NMI interrupt process of FIG. 18 has been executed, the power-off process after S211 is executed. First, the generation of each interrupt process is prohibited (S211), and a power-off notification command indicating that the power has been cut off is sent to other control devices (peripheral control devices such as the payout control device 111 and the sound lamp control device 113). It transmits to (S212). Then, the RAM determination value is calculated and stored (S213), access to the RAM 203 is prohibited (S214), and the infinite loop is continued until the power supply is completely shut down and the process cannot be executed. Here, the RAM determination value is, for example, a checksum value in the stack area and work area to be backed up in the RAM 203.

  It should be noted that the process of S207 is performed at the end of a series of processes corresponding to the game state change performed in S201 to S206, or at the end of one cycle of the processes of S209 and S210 performed within the remaining time. It is running. Therefore, in the main process of the main controller 110, the occurrence information of the power supply interruption is confirmed at the timing when each setting is completed. Therefore, when returning from the power supply interruption state, It can start from the process of S201. That is, the process can be started from the process of S201 as in the case where the process is initialized in the startup process. Therefore, in the process at power-off, the stack pointer is not stored in the initial setting process (S101) without saving the contents of each register used by the MPU 201 to the stack area or saving the value of the stack pointer. By setting to a predetermined value (initial value), it is possible to start from the process of S201. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the control burden on the main control device 110 and to perform accurate control without causing the main control device 110 to malfunction or run away.

  Next, the variation process (S204) will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the variation process, first, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is currently being hit (S301). The jackpot includes the jackpot game displayed on the third symbol display device 81 in the jackpot and the middle of a predetermined time after the jackpot game ends. As a result of the determination, if it is a big hit (S301: Yes), this processing is terminated as it is.

  If it is not a big hit (S301: No), it is determined whether or not the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is changing (S302), and if the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is not changing. (S302: No), it is determined whether or not the number N of active suspension balls is greater than 0 (S303). If the number N of active balls is 0 (S303: No), this process is terminated as it is. If the number of the operation hold balls N> 0 (S303: Yes), the operation hold ball number N is decremented by 1 (S304), and the data stored in the hold ball storage area is shifted (S305). This data shift process is a process of sequentially shifting the data stored in the reserved first to fourth areas of the reserved ball storage area to the execution area side, and the reserved first area → execution area, reserved second area → The data in each area is shifted such as the first hold area, the third hold area → the second hold area, the fourth hold area → the third hold area. After the data shift process, the fluctuation start process of the first symbol display device 37 is executed (S306). The variation start process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the process of S302, if it is determined that the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is changing (S302: Yes), it is determined whether or not the change time has elapsed (S307). The display time during the change of the first symbol display device 37 is determined according to the change pattern selected by the change type counters CS1 and CS2 and the addition time selected by the change type counter CS3. If it has not elapsed (S307: No), the display of the first symbol display device 37 is updated (S308). In the present embodiment, for example, if the currently lit LED is red from the light emitting device 37a of the first symbol display device 37 until the fluctuation time elapses after the fluctuation starts, that red Turn off the LED and turn on the green LED. If the green LED is on, turn off the green LED and turn on the blue LED. If the blue LED is on, turn on the blue LED. A display mode is set in which the LED is turned off and the red LED is turned on. The variation process is executed every 4 ms. However, if the LED lighting color is changed for each variation process, the player cannot confirm the change in the LED lighting color. Therefore, in order to make the player confirm the change in the LED lighting color, each time the change process is executed, a counter (not shown) is counted by 1 and when the counter reaches 100, the LED is turned on. The color is changed, and the lighting color of the LED is changed every 0.4S. The counter value is reset (cleared to 0) when the lighting color of the LED is changed.

  On the other hand, if the variation time of the first symbol display device 37 has elapsed (S307: Yes), a display mode corresponding to the stop symbol of the first symbol display device 37 is set (S309). Whether or not the stop symbol is set is determined according to the value of the first random number counter C1, and if it is a big hit, the symbol that becomes a high probability state after the big hit by the value of the first hit type counter C2 Or a symbol that is in a low probability state is determined. In this embodiment, a red LED is turned on when a high probability state is reached after a big hit, a green LED is turned on when a low probability state is reached, and a blue LED is turned on when it is out of place. . In addition, although the display of each LED is released when the next variable display is started, it may be turned on only for a few seconds after the variable upper stop.

  When the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 corresponding to the stop symbol is set in the processing of S309, the variation stop of the third symbol display device 81 is stopped to synchronize with the lighting of the LED in the first symbol display device 37. A command is set (S310). When the sound lamp control device 113 receives this stop command, it instructs the display control device 114 to stop. When the variation time elapses, the third symbol display device 81 stops the variation, and receives the stop command, whereby one variation effect in the third symbol display device 81 ends.

  Next, the variation start process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the variation start process (S306), first, it is determined whether or not a big hit is made based on the value of the first hit random number counter C1 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area (S401). Whether it is a big hit is determined based on the relationship between the first random number counter value and the mode at that time. As described above, “373,727” is a winning value among the numerical values 0 to 738 of the first per random number counter C1 at a normal low probability, and “59, 109, 163, 211, 263, 317, 367 at a high probability. , 421, 479, 523, 631, 683, 733 "is the winning value.

  When it is determined that it is a big hit (S401: Yes), the value of the first hit type counter C2 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area is confirmed, and the display mode for the big hit is set (S402). ). In the process of S402, based on the value of the first hit type counter C2, whether to shift to the high probability state or shift to the low probability state after the big hit is set. When the transition state after the big hit is set, the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 (the lighting state of the light emitting device 37a) is set. Further, based on the transition state after the jackpot, the jackpot stop symbol of the third symbol display device 81 is set by the display control device 114. That is, the stop symbol in the third symbol display device 81 can be set by setting the transition state after the big hit in the process of S402. Of the numerical values 0 to 4 of the first hit type counter C2, when “0, 4”, the state shifts to the low probability state, and when “1, 2, 3”, the state shifts to the high probability state.

  Next, a variation pattern at the time of jackpot is determined (S403). When the variation pattern is set in the process of S403, the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set, and the variation time of the third symbol until the third symbol display device 81 stops at the jackpot symbol is determined. The At this time, the values of the fluctuation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203 are confirmed, and rough symbol fluctuations such as normal reach, super reach, premium reach, etc. based on the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1. In addition to determining the fluctuation time, the fluctuation time (in other words, the number of fluctuation symbols) until the last stop symbol stops after the occurrence of reach is determined based on the value of the second variation type counter CS2.

  The relationship between the numerical value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the variation time, and the relationship between the numerical value of the second variation type counter CS2 and the variation time are respectively defined in advance by a table or the like. However, the fluctuation time can be set using only the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1 without using the value of the second fluctuation type counter CS2, and can be set only with the value of the first fluctuation type counter CS1. Whether or not to set with both values of both variation type counters CS1 and CS2 is appropriately determined according to the value of the first variation type counter CS1 and the game conditions each time.

  If it is determined in the process of S401 that it is not a big hit (S401: No), the display mode at the time of disconnection is set (S404). In the process of S404, the display mode of the first symbol display device 37 is set to the display mode corresponding to the off symbol, and based on the value of the stop pattern selection counter C3 stored in the execution area of the reserved ball storage area, An effect to be displayed on the third symbol display device 81 is set to indicate whether the reach is front / rear out of reach, reach other than front / rear out, or complete out. In the present embodiment, as described above, the range of values corresponding to each stop pattern of the stop pattern selection counter C3 depends on whether the state is a high probability state, a low probability state, and the operation suspension number N. Different tables are set up.

  Next, the variation pattern at the time of detachment is determined (S405), the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set, and the variation time of the third symbol until the third symbol display device 81 stops at the detachment symbol. Is determined. At this time, as in the process of S403, the values of the variation type counters CS1 and CS2 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203 are confirmed, and the normal reach, super reach, and premium reach are determined based on the value of the first variation type counter CS1. In addition to determining the fluctuation time of the rough symbol variation such as, the variation time until the final stop symbol (the middle symbol Z2 in the present embodiment) stops after the reach occurs based on the value of the second variation type counter CS2 (in other words, paraphrase) For example, the number of fluctuating symbols) is determined.

  When the process of S403 or the process of S405 is completed, the effect time to be added to or subtracted from the variation time determined by the first and second type counters CS1 and CS2 is determined (S406). At this time, the addition / subtraction of the production time is determined based on the value of the third variation type counter CS3 stored in the counter buffer of the RAM 203, the display time of the first symbol display device 37 is set, and the third symbol The variation time of the display device 81 is set. In the present embodiment, the effect time addition / subtraction is determined according to the value of the third variation type counter CS3 when the variation display time is not changed and when the variation display time is added for one second, the variation display time is set to 2. In the case of adding seconds, four types of addition values are determined for the case of subtracting 1 second from the variable display time.

  When the variable display time is added or subtracted, a notice effect that increases the expected value of the jackpot on the third symbol display device 81 (for example, a speco effect in which the variable symbol has a longer variation time than usual and is accompanied by a speco, An effect of displaying a notice character, an effect of making the change time of one change symbol shorter than usual, and stopping immediately) are performed. If the value of the first random number counter C1 is a big hit, the probability that an added value of 2 seconds is selected is set high, so that the player expects a big hit by confirming the notice effect. Can do.

  Next, a variation pattern command is set according to the variation pattern (variation time) determined in S403 or S405 (S407), and a stop symbol command is set according to the stop symbol set in S402 or S404. (S408). Then, an effect time addition command is set according to the added value of the effect time determined in the process of S406 (S409), and the process returns to the variation process.

  Next, the control process of the second symbol (ordinary symbol) of S206 in the main process of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the normal lottery display / release process in the main process. As shown in the figure, this process is performed in the same manner as described above. The winning lottery (ordinary lottery) associated with entering the second winning port 67 and the entering situation of the first winning port 64 according to the result. The setting and the fluctuation display of the symbol “◯” or “x” (second symbol) by the second symbol display device 82 are performed. In contrast to the jackpot display in the third symbol display device 81, the second symbol displayed by the second symbol display device 82 is referred to as a normal symbol (common symbol).

  In this normal symbol control process, first, update of the general symbol control timer (S501) and general symbol display switching control (S502) are executed. Since the control timer value used according to the result of the winning lottery described later is set at any time in the normal control timer, the control timer value is updated in consideration of the elapsed time associated with the repeated execution of the main process including this process. Since “O” or “X”, which is a normal symbol, is also set by the processing described later, each time the main processing including this processing is repeatedly executed, switching to the set normal drawing is controlled.

  Next, it is determined whether there is a normal change start request (S503). This determination is made based on whether or not there is a ball entering the second winning port 67 on the left and right sides of the game board 13, and if there is a ball entering the second winning port 67 (S503: Yes), it is normal. The process proceeds to the fluctuation start process (S510), and if there is no entry, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol is changing (S504). Here, if it is changing (S504: Yes), it will transfer to a common symbol determination process (S530), and if it is not changing (S504: No), it will transfer to a normal symbol change end process (S540). After these processes, the process proceeds to S207 of the main process. As for the number of balls entered into the second winning port 67, as well as the number of balls entered into the first winning port 64 for jackpot lottery, up to 4 holds are made, so that the number of held balls reaches zero. The normal symbol control process (S206: S501 to S540) is executed.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the common map change start processing. In the normal variation start process that is performed when the player enters the second winning port 67, first, a process of sequentially forwarding the normal map is performed (S511). This normal order is made as follows. The main control device 110 acquires a random number from the second random number counter C4 every time the player enters the second winning port 67, and either the off symbol “X” or the winning symbol “O” corresponding to the acquired random number. Is displayed on the second symbol display device 82. The random number acquisition is suspended up to a maximum of four each time a ball is entered into the second winning port 67, and the two symbols corresponding to the random numbers in the acquisition order are sequentially sent (displayed). In this case, the random number used for the normal map forward is deleted each time and is used for the general map forward in the order of acquisition.

  Next, a normal hit determination (S512), and a normal fluctuation pattern determination (S519) according to the determination result are performed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the normal winning determination process, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the determination parameter (counter value) in the normal winning determination (normal lottery) and the symbol indicating the normal lottery result. The determination minimum value (value 0) and the determination maximum value (value 255) shown in FIG. 12 represent the upper and lower limits of the counter value corresponding to the hit, and the counter value is any value in the range of 0 to 255. Even so, the normal lottery means winning. The second per-random number counter C4 that provides this counter value is set to have a value (counter value) in the range of 0 to 255 in the main processing described above. The value range corresponds to the predetermined parameter range in the present invention, and the individual counter values in the range of 0 to 255 meaning normal hit correspond to the winning parameters in the present invention. As described above, in this embodiment, the counter value range meaning the normal lottery win and the range of counter values that can be taken by the second random number counter C4 are made to coincide.

  In the normal winning determination process shown in FIG. 11 based on such a regulation of the counter value, the winning counter value stored and stored in the start winning process associated with the ball entering the second winning port 67 described above (second winning value) The comparison (S513) between the random number counter C4) and the determination value per ordinary symbol (counter value) shown in FIG. 12, the winning counter value (second random number counter C4), and the maximum determination value per ordinary symbol shown in FIG. (S514) and the counter value are sequentially executed. If negative determination is made in both steps, the winning counter value (second winning random number counter C4) is a counter value included in the winning counter value range shown in FIG. Therefore, in this case, after setting the hit to the hit flag (S515), the normal drawing lottery code is set to 1 (S516), and the process proceeds to the next process. As described above, in this embodiment, the counter value range meaning the winning of the normal lottery matches the range of counter values that can be taken by the second random number counter C4. Therefore, the second random number counter C4 Even if the counter value is rewritten due to noise superimposition, the counter value in the counter value range that means the winning of the normal lottery is obtained even in the counter value after the rewriting. Therefore, the normal lottery that accompanies the ball entering the second winning port 67 is a win.

  On the other hand, the affirmative determination in step S513 and the determination following the affirmative determination in step S514 (S517: winning counter value (second random number counter C4) is the maximum determination value per ordinary symbol shown in FIG. 12 (counter value = 255)). If the second random number counter C4 is outside the winning counter value range, it is assumed that the normal lottery has been missed, and a value of 0 is set in the general symbol stop symbol code. (S518), the process proceeds to the next process. If an affirmative determination is made in step S517 (S517: Yes), it is determined that the normal lottery has been won, and the process proceeds to step S515 described above.

  As described above, according to the normal winning determination process shown in FIG. 11, a normal lottery is performed in association with a ball entering the second winning port 67, and a second numerical value counter (determined per normal symbol is determined by the second random number counter C4). If the counter value matches any of the counter values 0 to 255), it is determined that the normal lottery is a win, and the symbol “◯” that means a win is set (symbol code value 1) after the lottery period has elapsed. On the other hand, if the second random number counter C4 is different from the counter value outside the winning numerical value range (0 to 255), it is determined that the counter value is out, and the stop symbol after the lottery period elapses is set as a symbol “X”. (Design code value 0). In this case, the counter value range meaning the winning of the normal lottery matches the range of the counter value that can be taken by the second random number counter C4. Therefore, during the game of the pachinko gaming machine 100, it is out of the normal lottery. It can be said that it is not determined to have occurred.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the common figure variation pattern determination process (S519) following the normal hit determination process. As shown in the figure, in this normal pattern variation pattern determination process, first, it is determined whether or not the normal code stop symbol code is a symbol code value 0 when it is out of the normal lottery (S520). If the determination is affirmative (S520: Yes), the normal variation pattern data is set in the setting table 2 (S521), and the process proceeds to the next process. This normal pattern variation pattern data setting table 2 is a progressive display of winning symbols “◯” and missed symbols “×” started at the second symbol display device 82 in accordance with the entrance to the second winning prize port 67 (S502). This is data for setting the fluctuation time of 0.5 seconds. Therefore, when it is out of the normal lottery performed with the ball entering the second winning hole 67, that is, the second random number counter C4 does not coincide with the counter value in the range (0 to 255) indicating the normal symbol. When the second random number counter C4 deviates from the possible range (0 to 255), the second symbol display device 82 takes 0.5 seconds as defined in the normal variation pattern data setting table 2. During this period, the winning symbol “◯” and the losing symbol “X” are displayed sequentially. However, as described above, since the above-described normal lottery does not fail, the processing (outgoing symbol display and fluctuation display) associated with the table setting in S521 is not executed.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S520 (S519: No), the process proceeds to a determination as to whether or not the function for shortening the normal figure change time determined by other processing is in operation (S522). The figure variation pattern data is set in the setting table 1 (S523), and the process proceeds to the next process. This normal pattern variation pattern data setting table 1 is a progressive display of winning symbols “◯” and missed symbols “×” started by the second symbol display device 82 in accordance with the entrance to the second winning prize port 67 (S502). This is data for setting the fluctuation time of 28.5 seconds. If it is affirmatively determined in step S522 that the normal time variation time shortening function is in operation, the function proceeds to the next process by reducing the variation time by that function.

  Since the negative determination in step S520 (S520: No) means that the normal lottery is won, and the normal time variation function shortening function operation determination (S522: No) means that the variation time is not shortened. Only when negative determinations are made in both step S520 and step S522, the normal variation pattern data setting table 1 having a long variation time is adopted (S523). In this case, it is assumed that the normal lottery performed in association with the entry to the second winning port 67 is taken, and it takes a long time of 28.5 seconds defined in the usual figure variation pattern data setting table 1. The winning symbol “◯” and the losing symbol “×” are displayed in order.

  If it is determined in step S503 shown in FIG. 9 that there is a normal change request, the normal hit determination process (S512) and the normal change pattern determination process (S518) shown in FIG. It is performed by executing each process shown in FIG. 13, and thereafter, the process proceeds to the main process described above.

  In this way, the main process which has been transferred to the main process and newly repeated, that is, the normal symbol variation start process (S510) is performed through the presence / absence determination of the variation start request in step S503 along with the ball entering the second winning port 67. In the main processing after that, it is determined in step S503 in FIG. 9 that there is no normal change request (S503: No), and in the subsequent step S504, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol is changing. Since the main process in this case is after a change start request, it is determined in step S504 that it is changing (S504: Yes), and the process proceeds to the regular symbol determination process (S530). If the main processing is further repeated, the variation of the normal symbol is terminated when the time set in the normal variation pattern data setting table in steps S520 and S522 described above has elapsed. In this case, step S504 is performed. Then, it is determined that the state is not changing (end of change) (S504: No), and the process proceeds to the normal change end process (S540).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of the normal symbol determination process, and FIG. In the general symbol determination process shown in FIG. 14, first, the general symbol stop symbol code determined in the previous process is set in the general symbol display counter (S531). As a result, the MPU 202 of the main control device 110 hits the second symbol display device 82 at the timing of the end of the normal symbol variation determined by the processing described later while referring to the common symbol display counter set in step S531, and the symbol “◯”. Alternatively, the off symbol “x” is displayed. Following the setting of the general map display counter described above, a general map change determination time setting table for determining the end time of the normal map change (the elapsed time since the start of the change) is set (S532), and the process proceeds to the main process. To do.

  When the main process thus shifted is further repeated and the time elapses, there is no normal symbol change request in step S503 shown in FIG. 9 (S503: No), and the normal symbol change end in subsequent step S504 (S504: No). Therefore, when this happens, the normal symbol variation end process of step S540 shown in detail in FIG. 15 is executed, the normal symbol variation process is exited, and the process proceeds to the main process again. In the common map change end process, as shown in FIG. 15, first, it is determined whether or not the hit flag is set for the common map flag (S541). (S542). At this timing, the MPU 202 of the main control device 110 displays the off symbol “X” on the second symbol display device 82 as described above, and at the same time as or after the display of the symbol, the first winning port 64. Is controlled to be released for a short time (for example, about 0.5 seconds). In this case, in the present embodiment, the variation end process in step S542 is not executed because the above-described normal lottery does not fail as described above, but it is out of the normal lottery from the program. In such a case, it is possible not to open the electric accessory.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S541 that the hit flag is set for the normal figure hit flag (S541: Yes), the end of the normal figure fluctuation at the time of hit is set (S543). At this timing, the MPU 202 of the main control device 110 displays the symbol “O” on the second symbol display device 82 as described above, and at the same time after the symbol is displayed or after the symbol is displayed, The accompanying electric accessory is controlled to be opened for a relatively long time (for example, about 6 seconds). Therefore, the 1st winning opening 64 expresses the situation where an accessory is open and it is easy to enter a ball for a long time. If there is a ball in the first winning opening 64 during this period, several winning balls per ball are paid out by the payout control device 111 in accordance with the number of balls entered. By paying out the prize ball accompanying the subsequent entry to the first winning opening 64, the ball loss is suppressed with higher effectiveness. In addition to the above-described processing, the second random number counter C4 is cleared, the winning flag is cleared, and the symbol variation time measurement counter is cleared at the end of the normal variation at the time of hitting. After such a change end setting is made, the process returns to the main process. In the normal lottery display / release process (S206: FIGS. 9 to 15) in FIG. 6 described above, as described in the jackpot lottery, the number N of game balls to be held in the second winning port 67 is 0. It is done until it becomes.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment described above, in a state where there is no game ball entering the second winning port 67, the first winning port 64 is set in a state in which the upper electric accessory is closed, When there is a ball entering the second winning port 67, this electric ball is used as an opportunity to open the electric winning component of the first winning port 64 and make it easy to enter the first winning port 64. In addition, when switching the entry status of the first winning opening 64 triggered by entering the second winning opening 67, the counter value of the second per-random number counter C4 at the time of entering the second winning opening 67 is set. Based on the standard lottery. In this embodiment, the counter value range meaning the winning of the normal lottery is matched with the range of counter values that can be taken by the second per-random number counter C4, and the buffer area for storing the second per-random number counter C4. A bus line 204 for transmitting data to a RAM 203 having a memory is configured by an 8-bit unit corresponding to an MPU 201 configured by a one-chip microcomputer capable of data processing in an 8-bit unit while being configured by an address bus and a data bus. It was assumed that 8 data buses corresponding to the data transmission were provided. Therefore, even if noise superimposition occurs on each bus line of the bus line 204 and the second per-random number counter C4 is rewritten, the counter value of the second per-random number counter C4 after the rewriting The counter value included in the counter value range meaning the winning of the normal lottery. As a result, according to the pachinko gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to bring about a normal lottery with the ball entering the second winning port 67. Is opened for a predetermined time (for example, about 28 seconds), and the first winning port 64 is shifted to a state where it is easy to enter the ball. As a result, the winning ball is paid out in accordance with the entering into the first winning port 64 that has made it easy to enter the ball for a long time. As a result, it is possible to increase the reliability of payout of the winning ball accompanying the entering of the game ball into the second winning port 67, suppress the inadvertent decrease of the game ball during the game, and continue the player's willingness to play Can do.

  Further, in addition to facilitating the entry situation of the first winning opening 64 according to such a win in the normal lottery, in the pachinko gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment, when the player starts playing the pachinko gaming machine 100, the second symbol When the winning symbol “X” is displayed on the display device 82, and in the case of the normal lottery, the winning symbol “O” and the losing symbol “X” are displayed as the second winning slot 67 is entered. Two-variable display is performed on the symbol display device 82. Therefore, the player who starts the game is made to recognize the symbol display that is out of the lottery, so that it is possible to give a winning sensation after the start of the game and to maintain the game motivation.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. is there. For example, in the above embodiment, the first winning port 64 located below the third symbol display device 81 occupying the central area of the game board 13 is placed in an easy-to-enter situation by opening and closing the associated electric accessory. Although it is a winning opening that can express the difficult situation of the ball, it is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to the pachinko gaming machine 100 having a game board with various configurations such as a configuration in which a winning opening having an electric accessory is arranged at one end of the game board.

1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 100 that is an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a front view of a game board 13 of a pachinko gaming machine 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a pachinko gaming machine 100. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the classification of a counter notionally. 3 is a flowchart showing start-up processing executed by an MPU 201 in the main control device 110. It is a flowchart which shows a main process. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the fluctuation | variation process in a main process. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the change start process in the change process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the normal lottery display / release process in the main process. It is a flowchart showing the processing content of a common figure change start process. It is a flowchart showing the processing content of a normal hit determination process. It is explanatory drawing explaining the symbol showing the determination parameter (counter value) and the normal lottery result in the normal hit determination (normal lottery). It is a flowchart showing the processing content of the common figure fluctuation pattern determination process following a normal hit determination process. It is a flowchart showing the processing content of a general symbol confirmation process. It is a flowchart showing the processing content of a usual figure change completion process. It is the flowchart which showed the timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows a start winning process. It is the flowchart which showed NMI interruption processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Outer frame 12 ... Inner frame 13 ... Game board 14 ... Front frame 14C ... Window part 15 ... Lower plate unit 16 ... Glass unit 17 ... Upper plate 18 ... Hinge 22 ... Frame button 29 ... Electric decoration part 34 ... Display lamp 37 ... 1st symbol display device 37a ... Light emitting device 37b ... Segment display 40 ... Ball rental operation part 41 ... Frequency display part 42 ... Button 43 ... Return button 50 ... Lower plate 51 ... Operation handle 60 ... Base plate 61 ... Inner rail 62 ... Outer rail 63 ... General winning port 64 ... First winning port 65 ... Variable winning device 65a ... Specific winning port 67 ... Second winning port 68 ... Return ball prevention member 69 ... Rubber 70 ... Arc member 80 ... Variable display device unit 81 ... 3rd symbol display device 82 ... 2nd symbol display device 83 ... Display unit 84 ... Reservation lamp 85 ... Reservation lamp 86 ... Center frame 100 ... Pachinko machine 11 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 ... Main control apparatus 111 ... Discharge control apparatus 112 ... Launch control apparatus 112a ... Ball launch unit 113 ... Sound lamp control apparatus 114 ... Display control apparatus 115 ... Power supply apparatus 205 ... Input / output port 206 ... Various switches 207, 217 ... Connector 208 , 228... Connector 208... Connector 213 a. Total prize ball number memory 213 b. Output port 226 ... Audio output device 227 ... Lamp display device 236 ... Image controller 237 ... Input port 238 ... Output port 239, 240 ... Bus line 251 ... Power supply unit 252 ... Power failure monitoring circuit 261 ... External output terminal plate 262 ... Hall Computer

Claims (5)

A gaming machine controlled by a control device configured using electronic processing equipment,
A winning entrance where game balls can enter,
The game ball can enter either the first situation where the game ball is easily entered or the second situation where the game ball is more difficult to enter than the first situation. If there is not, it is provided with a pitch variable winning prize port that is the second situation,
The controller is
A winning determination parameter setting means for repeatedly updating and setting a winning determination parameter to be determined for winning winning when a game ball enters the winning opening, over an operating period of the gaming machine;
When a game ball enters the winning opening, the winning winning lottery associated with the winning opening entering is determined in advance by the winning determination parameter set by the winning determination parameter setting means and the predetermined winning parameter range. If the winning determination parameter matches the winning parameter one, it is determined that the lottery has been won, and the winning variable winning prize opening is determined from the second situation. The onset time of the first situation when switching to the first situation is set to a predetermined winning time, and the winning variable winning prize opening is controlled to the first situation during the set onset time. With winning processing means,
The winning determination parameter range of the winning determination parameter that can be updated by the winning determination parameter setting means is the same range as the defined winning parameter range or a range narrower than the corresponding selected parameter range.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the winning determination parameter setting means repeatedly updates and sets the winning determination parameter every predetermined time over the operation period. A gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The winning determination parameter setting means includes:
A counter generating unit that generates a counter value as the winning determination parameter for each process that is repeatedly executed when the control device controls the gaming machine over the operation period, and the counter generating unit includes the winning determination parameter; A gaming machine that generates the counter value so as to be included in a counter value generation range corresponding to the range. A claim 3 Symbol placement of the gaming machine,
The controller is
Comprising the electronic processing device for transmitting and receiving a plurality of bits of data via a data bus;
The counter generation unit sets a range determined by a numerical value in decimal notation of a binary number having a value of n times (n is a natural number of 1 or more) the number of buses of the data bus as the counter value generation range, A gaming machine that generates a counter value included in the counter value generation range. A claims 1 to 4 have shifted or gaming machine described,
A display device that displays a winning symbol and a winning symbol of the winning lottery in response to a winning lottery performed in the control device when a game ball enters the winning port under the control of the control device With
The controller is
An initial display means for displaying the off symbol on the display device at the start of a game by a player of the gaming machine;
The winning processing means of the control device is:
If it is determined that the lottery is won, the winning symbol is displayed on the display device, and the variable display time for variably displaying the winning symbol and the off symbol before the winning symbol is displayed is a predetermined winning display time. A gaming machine that sets and controls the display device to perform a variable display of the winning symbol and the off symbol in the set winning display time.

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