JP5180327B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine that prevents the same symbol effect from being repeated on a liquid crystal display.

  A ball and ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a symbol start port provided on the game board, a symbol display unit for displaying a series of symbol variation modes such as stopping a plurality of display symbols after varying a predetermined time, and an opening / closing plate It is configured with a grand prize opening that opens and closes. When the detection switch provided at the symbol start port detects the passing of the game ball, the game ball is in a winning state and the symbol display unit changes the display symbol for a predetermined time. After that, when the symbols are aligned and stopped, a big hit state is established, and the big prize opening is repeatedly opened to generate a profit state advantageous to the player.

  The symbol display unit is usually composed of a liquid crystal display and executes various symbol effect operations including a reach effect and a notice effect. Reach production is a design production that continues to be a big hit state in one step and excites the player. It is a design effect that warns of a big hit.

  Then, the content of the effect is determined by a lottery process using a random value so that such a design effect is not biased to the same content. Note that, as a random value, a counter value updated by software every predetermined time is acquired and used when necessary.

  However, in such a ball game machine, when the game ball wins continuously at the symbol start opening and the symbol display unit continuously executes the symbol effect, the symbol effect may be biased.

  In other words, most of the symbol effects are effects that end in a losing state, and there are many effects that have the same effect time, so it may happen that the same effect time that occurs continuously is synchronized with the counter update cycle. In such a case, the same symbol production was repeated. If the same production content is repeated, the player will be whitened, and the reach production at the corner will be spoiled.

  The present invention has been made in view of this problem, and an object thereof is to provide a ball game machine that prevents the same symbol effect from being repeated.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines whether or not a game state advantageous to the player is generated by a winning lottery resulting from the occurrence of a predetermined winning state related to the operation of the game ball. Then, an effect control command for specifying the result of lottery determination and the total effect time is output, and after the display content is changed for a predetermined time by the changing operation by own control, the result of the lottery display is displayed on the first display unit. The main control unit having the first one-chip microcomputer and the effect lottery based on the effect control command received from the main control unit, and the contents of the effect synchronized with the changing operation of the first display unit in the second display unit A sub-control unit having a second one-chip microcomputer that realizes the symbol effect operation on the second display unit in synchronization with the sound effect operation and the lamp effect operation by its own control. Configured Te, the sub-controller receives a first means for storing sequentially in the buffer area detection switch disposed on the game board is to identify the effect random number in response to the operation ON, the effect control command perform a second means for reading the oldest effect random values, the effect random in relation to the effect control command received from the performance random number values and the main control unit readout of the second means in unused buffer region for each, And a third means for starting a symbol effect operation on the second display unit.

  In the main control unit of the present invention, in response to the transmission of the effect control command to the sub-control unit, the symbol variation operation directly controlled by itself is started. In the effect control command, it is preferable to specify the result of the success / failure lottery and the total effect time in the effect display unit, and only the result of the success / failure lottery process and the total effect time in the effect display unit are specified. The specified configuration is simple and more suitable.

  According to the present invention, the transmission timing of the winning occurrence command is randomly generated regardless of the transmission timing of the effect control command. In addition, the content of the effect in the effect display unit is determined based on the effect random number value specified corresponding to the transmission timing of the winning occurrence command. Therefore, even if the same effect control command is transmitted continuously, the effect contents in the effect display unit are random, and the same symbol effect is prevented from being repeated.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine shown in an example. It is the front view which illustrated in detail the game board of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a main control part. It is a flowchart explaining the control operation of a main control part. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of FIG. 5 in detail. 6 is a flowchart showing another part of FIG. 5 in detail. It is a flowchart explaining the control operation of the effect control unit. It is a time chart explaining operation | movement of the pachinko machine of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the ball game machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The illustrated pachinko machine 1 includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 2 that is detachably mounted on an island structure, and a front frame 4 that is pivotably mounted via a hinge 3 fixed to the outer frame 2. It consists of A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 4 from the back side, and a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be freely opened and closed.

  An upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launch is mounted on the front plate 7, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing from or extracted from the upper plate 8 and a launch handle 10 are mounted at the bottom of the front frame 4. And are provided. The launch handle 10 is interlocked with the launch motor 2, and a game ball is launched by a striking rod that operates according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 10.

  An elliptical chance button 11 with a built-in lamp is provided in the approximate center of the upper plate 8. The chance button 11 is provided at a position where it can be operated with the left hand of the player, and the player can operate the chance button 11 without releasing the right hand from the firing handle 10. The chance button 11 does not function normally, but when the game state becomes the button chance state, the built-in lamp is turned on and can be operated. The button chance state is a game state provided as necessary.

  On the right side of the upper plate 8, an operation panel 12 for lending the ball to the card-type ball lending machine is provided, a frequency display unit 12a for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number, and a game ball for a predetermined amount of money. A ball lending switch 12b for instructing ball lending and a return switch 12c for instructing the return of the card at the end of the game are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 5 is provided with a guide rail 13 formed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in an annular shape, and a liquid crystal color display DISP is provided at the approximate center of the game area 5a inside. Has been placed. In addition, at appropriate positions in the game area 5a, two symbol start ports 15, a big winning port 16, four normal winning ports 17, and gates 18 which are left and right passing ports are arranged. Each of these winning openings 15 to 18 has a detection switch inside, and can detect the passage of a game ball.

  Under the liquid crystal display DISP, a special symbol display unit 14 composed of a 7-segment LED, a dot matrix, or the like is provided. The special symbol display unit 14 is a portion that displays a lottery result of a big hit lottery executed on condition that a game ball wins at the symbol start port 15. As the operation content, when the game ball wins the symbol start opening 15, the display content changing operation is started, and thereafter, the lottery result indicating whether or not the big hit state is displayed and stopped. When the special symbol display unit 14 is composed of 7-segment LEDs, a special symbol (for example, “1” to “9”) is displayed when the big hit state is displayed, and “−” is displayed when the loss state is detected. .

  At the bottom of the special symbol display unit 14, a variable hold number display unit 19 composed of four LED lamps is provided. This variable hold number display unit 19 indicates that a game ball has been won at the symbol start port 15 during the variable operation of the special symbol display unit 14, and a maximum of four game balls are stored. The subsequent big hit lottery is put on hold.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display DISP functions as the effect symbol display unit 20 and executes an effect operation synchronized with the special symbol display unit 14. Specifically, the effect symbols (for example, “1” to “9”) related to the big hit state are variably displayed and background images, various characters, and the like are animatedly displayed.

  A normal symbol display unit 21 is provided in the upper right part of the liquid crystal display DISP. The normal symbol display unit 21 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 18 is detected, the displayed normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time and is extracted when the game ball passes through the gate 18. The stop symbol determined by the random number for lottery is displayed and stopped. If the game ball passes through the gate 18 during the normal symbol variation operation, the start of the variation operation is suspended up to four.

  The symbol start opening 15 is opened and closed by an electric tulip having a pair of opening and closing claws, and when the stop symbol after fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 21 is displayed and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claws are opened for a predetermined time. It is like that. When a game ball wins the symbol starting port 15, the display symbols of the special symbol display unit 14 and the production symbol display unit 20 fluctuate for a predetermined time, resulting in a lottery result corresponding to the winning timing of the game ball to the symbol starting port 15. It stops at the stop symbol determined based on it.

  The special winning opening 16 is opened and closed by an opening / closing plate 16a that can be opened forward, but the symbols after the change stop of the special symbol display unit 14 and the production symbol display unit 20 are "7", "7-7.7", etc. In the case of the special symbol, a special game called “big hit” is started, and the opening / closing plate 16a is opened. Further, a predetermined number, for example, one winning detector for detecting a winning game ball is provided inside the special winning opening 16.

  After the opening / closing plate 16a of the big prize opening 16 is opened, the opening / closing plate 16a is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls wins. At this time, the special game is continued up to, for example, 16 times at maximum, and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player.

  In addition, when the stop symbol after the change of the special symbol display unit 14 is a specific symbol of the special symbols, a privilege that the game after the end of the special game is in a high probability state is given. The big hit by this specific symbol may be called “probable big hit”, but in this embodiment, for example, among the special symbols “1” to “9”, odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) Is used for a probable big hit as a specific design.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, this pachinko machine 1 receives a main control board 30 that mainly controls game operations and a control command (PTi, Di, etc.) from the main control board 30 via a command relay board 31. An effect control board 32 that executes an effect operation, a payout control board 33 that pays out a game ball by controlling the payout motor M1, and a launch control board 34 that launches a game ball by the launch motor M2. Yes.

  As shown in the figure, a normal symbol display unit 21 and a special symbol display unit 14 are connected to the main control board 30, and a symbol variation operation is realized by direct control by the main control board 30. Also, the main control board 30 receives switch signals from detection switches such as the prize winning holes 15 to 18, and the main control board 30 controls the solenoid SLN to control the electric tulips and the big prize winning holes 16a. Open and close.

  The effect control board 32 is connected to the LED lamp group, the liquid crystal display DISP, and the speaker SP to control the effect operation of each part. That is, when the symbol effect operation is executed in the effect symbol display unit 20 of the liquid crystal display DISP, the lamp effect operation by the LED lamp group and the voice effect operation by the speaker SP are realized in accordance with this. Note that the LED lamp group includes a variable hold number display unit 19, and the number of winning prizes in the hold state is specified by the number of lighting of the LED lamps. Further, the chance button 11 is connected to the effect control board 32.

  The main control board 30, the effect control board 32, and the payout control board 33 are each equipped with a computer circuit having a one-chip microcomputer, and the effect control board 32 and the payout control board 33 are control commands from the main control board 30. In response, individual control operations are realized. Accordingly, the circuits mounted on the main control board 30 and the effect control board 32 and the operations realized by the circuits are collectively referred to as functions, and hereinafter, the main control unit 30, the effect control unit 32, and the payout control unit 33 will be described. Sometimes called. Further, the payout control unit 33 and the effect control unit 32 may be referred to as a sub control unit.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the main control unit 30. As shown in the figure, the main control unit 30 includes a CPU circuit 30a composed of a one-chip microcomputer, a system clock generation unit 30b that generates a clock signal Φ0 that is an integer multiple of the CPU operation clock CLK, and an address signal from the CPU. Based on the decoding circuit 30c for generating the chip select signal of each part, the output port circuit 30d for outputting data from the CPU, the input port circuit 30e for the CPU to take in external data, and the sub-control parts 31, 32 , 33, and an output drive circuit 30f for outputting a control command and a switch input circuit 30g for inputting ON / OFF states of switches of each part of the game board. The CPU circuit 30a incorporates a CPU core equivalent to Z80CPU (Zilog).

  The main control unit 30 configured as shown in FIG. 3 performs overall control of the operation of the pachinko machine 1 by executing the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 5 every predetermined time (2 mS). In the following, referring to FIG. 5, when a timer interrupt occurs, the contents of each register are saved in the stack area (ST10), and then random number generation processing is performed (ST11). The random number generation process includes an update process of the winning counter RG and the big hit counter CT used in the lottery process in the normal symbol process ST19 and the special symbol process ST24.

In step ST11, the winning counter RG and the big hit counter CT are updated by increment (+1) processing within a predetermined numerical value range, respectively, and the updated counter values are the hit determination random number value and the big hit determination random number, respectively. It is used as a numerical value in the lottery process. Specifically, the value of the winning counter RG is used in the winning lottery process in the normal symbol process (ST19) when the game ball passes through the gate 18, and the value of the big hit counter CT is determined by the game ball. When it passes through the start port 15, it is used for the big hit lottery process in the special symbol process (ST24). The random number generating process (ST11) includes a winning symbol random number generating process and a big hit symbol random number generating process for determining a stop symbol in the normal symbol displaying unit 21 and the special symbol displaying unit 14.

  When the random number generation process (ST11) as described above is completed, a timer subtraction process is performed for the timer that manages the time of each gaming operation (ST12). The subtracted timer manages the opening time of the electric tulip and the special winning opening 16 and other game effect times. Therefore, the process of step ST12 includes a subtraction process of the symbol variation timer TM for managing the symbol variation operation in the special symbol display unit 14 (see FIG. 6A).

  When the timer subtraction process (ST12) is completed, switch signals of various switches including the symbol start port 15 and the detection switch of the gate 18 are inputted and stored (ST13). FIG. 6B illustrates the symbol start opening check process which is a part of the switch input management process. As shown in FIG. 6B, first, the symbol starting port 15 is checked (ST30), and if the detection switch of the symbol starting port 15 is in the ON state, the symbol variation holding number D at this stage is determined ( ST31).

  If the variable hold number D is less than 4, after the variable hold number D is incremented (ST32), the determination random number value RND in the big hit lottery process is acquired and stored (ST33). Specifically, the value of the big hit counter CT updated in step ST11 is acquired at the timing of step ST33 and becomes the determination random number value RND. Further, the random number value ZU for the jackpot symbol is similarly acquired and stored (ST34). Then, the variable pending number D is stored in the pending number command buffer, and the process is finished (ST35).

  Returning to FIG. 5, the subsequent processing will be described. In step ST14, the command generated at this stage is transmitted to the sub-control units 32 and 33 (ST14). Therefore, the variable hold command Di prepared in the process of step ST35 is transmitted to the effect control unit 32 at the timing of step ST14.

  Thereafter, an error management process is performed (ST15). The error management process means a determination as to whether an abnormality has occurred inside the device, such as whether or not the supply of game balls is stopped or the game balls are clogged. To do. Next, after creating a control command for the payout control unit 33 (ST16), the control command generated at this stage is transmitted to the corresponding sub-control unit (ST17).

  Subsequently, the normal symbol processing is performed on the condition that the current operation mode is not the hit mode (ST19). The normal symbol processing means determination as to whether or not to operate an ordinary electric accessory such as an electric tulip. Specifically, when it is determined that the game ball is passing the gate based on the switch input result in step ST13, the winning counter RG updated in the random number generation process (ST11) is compared with the winning winning value. Done. If the comparison result is a winning state, the operation mode is changed to the winning operation mode. Also, if it is hit, processing for the operation of the ordinary electric accessory such as an electric tulip is performed (ST21).

  Next, a necessary control command is transmitted to the corresponding sub-control unit (ST22), and special symbol processing is performed on the condition that the current operation mode is not a big hit (ST24). The special symbol process is a determination as to whether or not to operate the first type special electric accessory such as the big prize opening 16, and is a process including a big hit lottery process. The schematic operation is as shown in FIG. 7A. In accordance with the value of the operation status, the start process (ST42) for starting the variation operation of the special symbol → the special symbol variation determination process (ST43) → the special symbol The operation contents are changed in the order of the end process (ST44) for ending the fluctuation.

  FIG. 7B shows the details of the variation start process (ST42) in more detail. First, on the condition that the current operation mode is not a big hit (ST50), the value of the variable suspension number D is checked (ST51). As described with reference to FIG. 6B, when a game ball wins the symbol start opening 15, the variable suspension number D is incremented to a value other than zero (ST32). Therefore, if D ≠ 0 at this stage, it means that a winning at the symbol start port 15 has occurred, and therefore the big hit random number RND and the big hit symbol random value stored in the processing of steps ST33 and ST34. The numerical value ZU is read from the storage area (ST53, ST54).

  Then, a big hit lottery process is performed based on the read random number value RND, and it is determined whether or not the big hit state is set (ST55). Further, the stop symbol after the changing operation is also determined by the lottery process (ST56). When the big hit lottery is won, the special symbol in the winning state is determined based on the random number value ZU.

  Next, the variation pattern command PTi corresponding to the result of the big hit lottery is determined and stored in the buffer area (ST57), the operation status is changed from 00H to 01H, and the process is terminated (ST58). The variation pattern command PTi defines not only the success / failure result of the big hit lottery but also the total time of the symbol variation operation including the reach effect. Then, the total time of the symbol variation is set in the symbol variation timer TM (see FIG. 6A), and the determined variation pattern command is transmitted to the effect control unit 32 at the timing of the subsequent step ST27.

  When the special symbol variation start process (ST42) is executed in this way, the special symbol variation confirmation process (ST43) is performed at the next timer interruption according to the value of the operation status (= 01H). . In the variation confirmation process (ST43), the symbol variation operation of the special symbol display unit 14 is started. This symbol variation operation is continued until the symbol variation timer TM becomes zero.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the symbol variation timer TM is decremented at every timer interrupt. However, when the symbol variation timer TM becomes TM = 0, the operation status is changed from 01H to 02H and the variation determination process is finished. . Therefore, at the subsequent timer interruption, the variation end process (ST44) is executed. In the variation end process (ST44), the symbol variation operation of the special symbol display unit 14 is terminated, and a variation stop command is transmitted to the effect control unit 32.

  The special symbol process (ST24) is roughly as shown in FIG. 7. If the winning state is achieved by the big hit lottery process (ST55), the change end process (ST44) changes to the operation mode during the big hit. Also, if it is a big hit, processing for the operation of the first type special electric accessory such as a big prize opening is performed (ST26).

  Next, after the variation pattern command PTi generated in the process of step ST57 is transmitted to the sub-control unit (ST27 in FIG. 5), the register saved in the process of step ST10 is restored and timer interrupt processing is performed. (ST28). As a result, the process returns to the main routine. However, when the predetermined time (2 mS) has elapsed, the process of step ST10 is started again, so that the processes of steps ST10 to ST28 are repeated every 2 mS.

When the control command transmission process is confirmed with respect to the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, when a game ball wins the symbol start port 15, the hold number command Di is transmitted to the effect control unit 32 at the timing of step ST14. Further, the variation pattern command PTi determined according to the result of the big hit lottery process is the production control unit 32 at the timing of step ST27.
Is transmitted.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control command reception process in the effect control unit 32. When a control command is received, it is first determined whether or not it is a pending number command Di (ST60). If the hold number command Di, the variable hold number is stored (ST61), and the counter value ENi of the effect counter EN at that stage is acquired and stored in the ring buffer storage area indicated by the write pointer WR. Stored (ST62). Then, the value of the write pointer WR is incremented (ST63). Note that the value of the effect counter EN acquired in the process of step ST62 is periodically updated by a timer interruption in the effect control unit 32. However, since the interrupt timing of this timer interrupt and the reception timing of the pending number command Di are not synchronized, the production random number ENi that is the counter value acquired from the production counter EN is completely random.

  Following the process of step ST63, it is determined whether or not the received control command is a variation pattern command PTi (ST64). If it is a variation pattern command PTi, this is stored in a predetermined storage area (ST65). Then, the effect random number ENi is read from the storage area of the ring buffer indicated by the read pointer RD, and the effect contents in the effect symbol display unit 20 are determined based on the variation pattern command PTi and the effect random number ENi. Thereafter, the value of the read pointer RD is incremented, and the process ends (ST67).

  To supplementally explain the effect lottery in step ST66, for example, when the variation pattern command PTi is received, any of E1, E2, and E3 having the same effect total time but different effect contents is based on the value of the effect random number ENi. Determined by production lottery. However, even if any of E1, E2, and E3 is selected, the total time required for the rendering operation is the same as defined by the variation pattern command PT1, and therefore, a special symbol display unit that is executed under the control of the main control unit 30 14 operation end timing can be correctly synchronized.

  FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the operation contents of the main control board 30 and the effect control board 32 with respect to the variation pattern command PTi and the hold number command Di. The game ball wins the symbol start opening 15 at the timing of A1 to A8. Then, at each timing of winning the game ball prize, the hold number command Di (D1 to D8) is transmitted to the effect control unit 32. On the other hand, every time the production control unit 32 receives the holding number command Di, the production lottery is performed to obtain the production random number ENi.

  In the case of the illustrated example, the winning times A1 and A2 to the symbol start opening 15 are not in the variable hold state, so the main control unit 30 transmits the hold number command Di to the effect control unit 32 and sets the variable hold number to 1. From 0 to 0, the symbol changing operation in the special symbol display unit 14 is started. On the other hand, the production control unit 32 also starts the production operation determined by the production lottery. As described above, this effect operation is determined by lottery based on the variation pattern command PTi and the effect random number ENi based on the hold number command Di.

  After that, since the game ball wins continuously at the symbol start opening 15 (A3 to A8), the transmission timing of the hold number command Di and the transmission timing of the variation pattern command PTi do not match. That is, while the number-of-holds commands D3 to D8 are transmitted at the time of each winning, the variation pattern commands P3 to P5... Is transmitted when Therefore, even if the same variation pattern command happens to be transmitted continuously and the symbol effect of the same effect time continues, the effect random number becomes random, so the effect contents do not become the same.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described concretely, the concrete description content does not specifically limit this invention. That is, in the effect symbol display unit, the specific configuration for realizing the symbol effect without regularity can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention, regardless of the example. In particular, the specific control method exemplified in the flowchart does not limit the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the holding random number command received by the effect control board 32 is used to make the effect random value for the effect lottery random, but it is not always necessary to use the control command. That is, the switch signal of the symbol start opening switch may be supplied to the main control board 30 and the effect control board 32. Further, an effect-dedicated gate or the like may be provided on the game board surface, and the gate output may be supplied to the effect control board 32. In this case, the effect random number value can be acquired directly on the effect control board.

30 Main control unit 32 Sub control unit PTi Production control command (variation pattern command)
Di winning command (holding number command)
ST11 First means ST65 Second means ST66 Third means ST66 Fourth means

Claims (2)

When a predetermined winning state is generated in relation to the operation of the game ball, it is determined whether or not a game state advantageous to the player is generated based on the result determination result lottery result, and the result determination result and the total production time are determined. A main control unit including a first one-chip microcomputer that outputs a specified effect control command and displays the result of lottery determination on the first display unit after the display content is changed for a predetermined time by a change operation by its own control. When,
An effect lottery is performed based on the effect control command received from the main control unit, and after the effect content synchronized with the changing operation of the first display unit in the second display unit is specifically determined, the symbol effect on the second display unit A sub-control unit having a second one-chip microcomputer that realizes the operation in synchronization with the sound effect operation and the lamp effect operation by its own control,
The sub-control unit specifies first random number values that are stored in order in the buffer area in response to the detection switch arranged on the game board being turned ON, and the buffer area every time an effect control command is received. and a second means for reading out the oldest of the effect random number value in the non-use, the effect lottery in relation to the effect control command received from the performance random number values and the main control unit, which was read out of the second means carried out from, the second display unit And a third means for starting a symbol effect operation in the ball ball game machine. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the buffer area has a ring buffer structure.

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