JP5390271B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  In a pachislot machine, which is a slot machine used in pachinko parlors, when a start lever is pressed after a medal is inserted, one of multiple types of winning combinations or a winning combination lottery determined by a loser is performed and a plurality of reels rotate. To do. Whether or not the winning combination has been won is displayed based on whether or not the combination of symbols displayed from the display window when the reels are stopped by pressing the stop button matches a predetermined combination (Patent Literature). 1-8). Winners can win if they win in the lottery. For example, if a bonus combination such as BB (Big Bonus), RB (Regular Bonus), AT (Assist Time) wins, a lot of medals can be obtained in a short period of time, so the player expects to win the bonus combination It is common to play games.

  For this reason, at the pachinko parlor, at the time of opening or at the time of business events, etc., by placing several of the installed pachislot machines in advance in a state that is advantageous to the player who won the bonus role, Intentionally attracts the player's interest. By doing this, many players will come to the store for the purpose of playing games with pachislot machines that are in an advantageous state, and the operating rate of each pachislot machine will also increase, including those that have not won the bonus role , Can increase the operating profit of pachinko parlors.

JP 2002-248204 A JP 2006-192070 A JP 2006-263239 A JP 2007-307285 A JP 2006-187529 A JP 2007-125077 A JP 2008-005947 A JP 2008-173382 A

  If you are in a state where you have won the bonus role as described above, the clerk at the pachinko parlor will actually operate the pachislot machine, or use a special device that can automatically play games. He played games repeatedly until winning a role.

  However, since the probability of winning a bonus combination is low, when a store clerk at a pachinko parlor actually plays a game, it must be repeated many times, which is very troublesome. In addition, when using a special device, there is no need to operate the start lever, stop button, etc., but it may be necessary to wait for a long time before winning the bonus role. There is also a problem that the special device has to be attached and detached, and this attachment and removal takes time. This problem becomes more conspicuous when a plurality of pachislot machines are successively subjected to the process of winning a bonus combination using one special device. However, if a plurality of special devices are prepared in order to simultaneously process a plurality of pachislot machines, the equipment cost of the pachinko parlor will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it easier for the game hall side to make the slot machine in a state advantageous to the player in advance without using a special device or the like. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery, and determines one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss in response to a game start operation. the reel is rotated together with the winning symbol combination lottery is performed in the slot machine of the presence of the winning is notified by the combination of the displayed symbols through the display window when the the spinning reel is stopped, before symbol display window determination means for determining whether a specific symbol combination is displayed, selecting means for determining by lot whether to favor favorable conditions to the player than the normal state in obtaining the benefits Yu technique with the door, in the situation where artificial specific operation is rotated to stop the reel so that a particular symbol combination is displayed is performed, said determining means, said specific symbol set It determines that Align is displayed, the selecting means, characterized in that performing the lottery.

  Here, the specific operation includes, for example, a power-on operation, a setting change operation for changing the set value of the winning probability of the winning combination, and a setting reference operation for referring to the set value. Further, the specific operation is an operation that can be performed only by a store clerk or the like like these operations (operation that cannot be performed by a general player).

  In the present invention, a lottery is performed as to whether or not to make an advantageous state by performing a specific operation after manually rotating the reels to a specific symbol combination, and winning the lottery makes an advantageous state. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an advantageous state simply by manually rotating the reel and performing a specific operation, and it is not necessary for the store clerk to play games or to attach / detach special devices. Thus, the process of keeping the advantageous state can be performed more easily. In addition, since there is no need to use a special device, there is no worry of increasing the equipment cost of the game hall.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. It is the perspective view which showed the front surface of the setting change apparatus. It is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows roughly the flow of the process which makes BB internal winning state previously.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 11 includes a slot machine main body 12 and a front door 13. The slot machine body 12 includes a storage box 12a. The storage box 12a stores various devices such as a reel and a control board for executing a game. The front door 13 is vertically divided into two and includes an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The inside of the slot machine body 12 is opened and closed by an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b.

  A display window 14 is provided on the upper door 13a. A first reel 15a, a second reel 15b, and a third reel 15c are provided in the back of the display window 14. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and when the reels stop, three symbols per reel, a total of nine symbols, are displayed through the display window 14. In the slot machine 11, a total of five winning active lines 16, which are three horizontal and two diagonal, are set for the symbols displayed from the display window 14. Then, it is notified whether or not the winning combination has won a prize depending on whether or not the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 16 when the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped matches a preset combination. Is done.

  The lower door 13b has a medal slot 17 for inserting medals prior to the start of the game, a start lever 18 for rotating the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and stop buttons 19a to 19c for stopping the rotating reels. Is provided. In the slot machine 11, when one medal is inserted, one winning effective line in the center is activated, and when two medals are inserted, three winning effective lines including two upper and lower are activated in the center. When three medals are inserted, five winning active lines including two more diagonals are activated. Thus, when 1 to 3 medals are inserted, the operation of the start lever 18 is validated. Thereafter, when the start lever 18 is pressed (game start operation), a winning combination lottery for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing is performed, and the first to third reels 15a to 15c rotate.

  The winning combination determined by the winning combination lottery includes BB (Big Bonus), multiple types of small roles (Bell, Watermelon, Cherry), and replay. When Replay wins, the next game can be played without inserting medals. When the small role is won, a prescribed number of medals corresponding to the type are paid out from the payout opening 20 to the tray 21. Once BB wins, the winning right is carried over until winning. The BB is awarded when three BB symbols corresponding to the BB are arranged on the winning effective line 16. When BB wins, it shifts to BB mode. In the BB mode, the probability of winning a small role is higher than in the normal mode. As a result, the BB mode is more advantageous to the player than the normal mode. The BB mode ends when the number of medals paid out reaches a predetermined upper limit number. Hereinafter, a state from winning BB until winning BB (including both a game won in BB and a game carrying over BB) will be referred to as “internal winning”.

  A liquid crystal display 22 for displaying various effect images is provided on the side of the display window 14. A 7-segment display 23 is provided below the display window 14. The slot machine 11 has six setting values of settings 1 to 6 having different BB winning probabilities. These setting values are configured such that the winning probability of BB increases in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6. Each set value can be arbitrarily changed by performing a predetermined operation. The display device 23 displays the currently selected set value when changing the set value or referring to the set value.

  A cylinder 24 is provided on the front side of the lower door 13b. When a dedicated door key is inserted into the cylinder 24 and rotated, the locking of the lower door 13b is released. Thereby, the inside of the slot machine body 12 can be opened by rotating the lower door 13b. Further, when the engagement between the slot machine main body 12 and the upper door 13a is released while the lower door 13b is rotated, the upper door 13a can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the slot machine main body 12 is partitioned into upper and lower parts, and a power supply box 30 is provided at the lower part thereof. The power supply box 30 is used not only for powering on the slot machine 11 but also for changing the set value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply box 30 is formed in a box shape. On the front face of the power supply box 30, a setting key switch 30a for switching whether or not to change the setting value, a power switch 30b for switching on / off the power supply, and an arbitrary setting value are selected. A setting change button 30c is provided.

  To change the setting value, the lower door 13b is opened and the setting change key 31 is inserted into the setting key switch 30a. Then, the setting change key 31 is rotated to turn on the setting key switch 30a. In this state, the power switch 30b is turned on. As a result, the mode shifts to the setting change mode, and medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 17 are not accepted, making it impossible to play a game.

  When the setting change button 30c is pressed during the setting change mode, the setting values in six stages are set in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6 → setting 1. It is selected sequentially while making a round. When the start lever 18 is pressed after selecting a setting value with the setting change button 30c, the selected setting value is confirmed. When the setting change key 31 is turned to the off position after the set value is confirmed, the setting change mode is changed to the normal mode, and the change of the set value is completed. When transitioning to the normal mode, medals inserted from the medal slot 17 are accepted and a game can be played.

  When the setting change key 31 is inserted into the setting key switch 30a and the setting change key 31 is turned from the off position to the on position in the game mode such as the normal mode or the BB mode, the slot machine 11 is moved from the game mode. Move to the setting reference mode. When the setting change key 31 is returned from the on position to the off position, the slot machine 11 returns to the game mode again. In the setting reference mode, the currently selected setting value is displayed on the display 23, but the setting value is not changed even when the setting change button 30c is pressed. In order to shift from the game mode state to the setting change mode, it is necessary to turn off the power of the slot machine 11 once. However, it is troublesome to turn off the power one by one when it is only necessary to refer to the set value. On the other hand, in the setting reference mode, it is possible to refer to the setting value without turning off the power.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the basic operation of the slot machine 11 is controlled by the main board 60. The main board 60 includes a main CPU 61 and a main memory 62. The ROM area of the main memory 62 stores a game execution program, a setting change program for executing a process associated with the change of the setting value, and the like. The main CPU 61 performs a game execution process and a setting change execution process by reading a game execution program and a setting change program from the main memory 62. The RAM area of the main memory 62 temporarily stores a winning flag (a flag indicating the type of the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery) and data used for each game, and a setting value used in the game. Used for and rewriting.

  The medal sensor 63 detects an appropriate medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 17 and inputs a medal detection signal to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 counts the number of inserted medals based on a detection signal from the medal sensor 63, and sets the number of winning effective lines 16 according to the number of inserted medals.

  The start signal sensor 64 detects that the start lever 18 has been pressed. When pressing of the start lever 18 is detected, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 64 to the main CPU 61. When 1 to 3 medals are inserted, the main CPU 61 receives a game start signal and rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c.

  The first to third reels 15a to 15c rotate by driving a stepping motor 65 connected thereto. An encoder plate 66 is integrally attached to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 65. The encoder plate 66 is formed in a disc shape. The outer circumferences of the first to third reels 15a to 15c are divided into 21 frames, and one symbol is arranged for each frame. The encoder plate 66 is formed with 21 slits 66a penetrating both sides. The slits 66a are arranged along the circumferential direction of the encoder plate 66, and correspond to the frames of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The passage of the slit 66a is detected by a known photosensor 67 including a light projecting element and a light receiving element. A pulse signal when the slit 66a is detected is input to the main CPU 61.

  The main CPU 61 includes three pulse counters 68a to 68c corresponding to the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and increases each count value each time a pulse signal is input. The pulse counter 68a corresponds to the first reel 15a, the pulse counter 68b corresponds to the second reel 15b, and the pulse counter 68c corresponds to the third reel 15c.

  Reflected signal pieces 69 are formed at the reference positions of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The reflected signal piece 69 is detected by the photosensor 70. When the photo sensor 70 detects the reflection signal piece 69, the detection signal is input to the main CPU 61 as a reset signal. The main CPU 61 resets the count value of the pulse counter corresponding to the reel in which the reflection signal piece 69 is detected in response to the reset signal.

  In the ROM area of the main memory 62, a symbol table in which the number of pulses of the pulse counters 68a to 68c is associated with the symbol on the winning effective line 16 is stored. The main CPU 61 compares the count values of the pulse counters 68a to 68c with the symbol table to identify the symbol type of each reel positioned on the winning winning line 16.

  The main CPU 61 validates the operation of the stop buttons 19a to 19c when the reel rotation speed reaches a steady speed. The stop signal sensor 71 detects that the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. When the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, stop signals on the first to third reels 15a to 15c are individually input to the main CPU 61.

  When the stop signal is input, the main CPU 61 performs stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c corresponding to the pressed stop buttons 19a to 19c. As the stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, known pull-in control is performed. In the pull-in control, the number of pull-in frames required until the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped by pressing the stop buttons 19a to 19c is 0 to 4 frames corresponding to 5 symbols including the symbols on the winning winning line 16. That is, a range of 5 frames (hereinafter referred to as “retraction range”) is set as an upper limit. The number of drawn-in frames is set according to the type of symbols on the winning winning line 16 when the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. If the winning symbol (the symbol corresponding to the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery) is included in the drawing range of 5 frames when the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, the winning symbol pull-in control is performed. The winning symbol is stopped on the winning winning line 16.

  The types of symbols that stop on the winning line 16 are written into the RAM area of the main memory 62 when the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. When all of the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, it is determined whether or not the combination of the stopped symbols on the winning effective line 16 matches the winning symbol combination, and whether or not the winning combination has won a prize. Is determined (hereinafter, “winning determination”).

  Further, the main CPU 61 operates the winning combination determining unit 72 in response to the game start signal. In the winning combination determination unit 72, a winning combination lottery using random numbers is performed, and any of BB, small combination, replay, or loss is determined. When any winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, a winning flag indicating the type is written in the RAM area of the main memory 62. The BB flag is cleared when the BB wins, and the other flags are cleared when the winning game ends. Thereby, when BB is won, the right to win is carried over until BB wins.

  The winning combination determining unit 72 includes first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f. In the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f, BB, small role, replay, or lose is assigned to all random numbers generated in the winning combination lottery. Then, the winning combination determination unit 72 identifies from the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f whether the random value extracted at the time of the winning combination lottery is assigned to BB, a small combination, a replay, or a loss. Then, any of BB, small role, replay, or loss is determined. In addition, small roles are divided and assigned to each type.

  The first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f are associated with the set values described above. In the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f, the first lottery table 73a has the lowest BB winning probability (low payout rate), and the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth lottery tables are in this order. The number of random values to which BB is assigned is set so that the winning probability of BB is high (the payout rate is high). The first lottery table 73a is selected when setting 1 is selected, the second lottery table 73b is selected when setting 2 is selected, the third lottery table 73c is selected when setting 3 is selected, and the fourth lottery table 73c is selected when setting 4 is selected. When the lottery table 73d and setting 5 are selected, the fifth lottery table 73e is used, and when the setting 6 is selected, the sixth lottery table 73f is used. Note that the number of random values assigned BB is adjusted by increasing / decreasing the lost random number.

  The main CPU 61 receives operation signals from the setting key switch 30a, the power switch 30b, and the setting change button 30c. The main CPU 61 shifts to the setting change mode when both the ON signal output when the power switch 30b is turned ON and the ON signal output when the setting key switch 30a is turned ON are input. When the ON signal is not input to the setting key switch 30a, the setting change mode is terminated and the game mode is entered.

  When the setting change button 30c is pressed during the setting change mode and the operation signal is input, the main CPU 61 indicates that the character “-1−” is selected when the setting 1 is selected and the setting 2 is selected. Is the character “−2”, when the setting 3 is selected, the character “−3−3”, when the setting 4 is selected, the character “−4−” and the setting 5 are selected. The character “−5” is displayed on the display 23 when the setting 6 is selected. As a result, the set value is displayed from the display unit 23 in the form of “-(set value being selected)-”. Each time the setting change button 30c is pressed, the main CPU 61 displays these displays as “-1-” → “-2-” → “-3-” → “-4-” → “−5-” → “ Switch in the order of “−6” → “−1−” →. When the set value selected by pressing the start lever 18 is confirmed, the main CPU 61 causes the display 23 to display the confirmed set value in the form of “(set value)” (− is not displayed).

  Further, the main CPU 61 identifies the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f corresponding to the selected setting value in response to the operation signal of the setting change button 30c. When the start lever 18 is pressed, the types of the selected first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f are written in the RAM area of the main memory 62, and the set value is confirmed. Thereby, the change of the set value is completed. During the game, the winning combination lottery is performed using the determined lottery table.

  The main CPU 61 further includes a symbol determination unit (determination unit) 75 and a BB shift lottery unit (lottery unit) 76. The symbol determination unit 75 operates in response to a power-on operation for turning on the power switch 30b and an on signal input from the power switch 30b. The symbol determination unit 75 operates in response to the ON signal and then drives each stepping motor 65 to set the first to third reels 15a to 15c to 1 so that each symbol displayed from the display window 14 does not change. Rotate. Thereafter, the symbol determination unit 75 compares the count values of the pulse counters 68a to 68c with the symbol table to identify the symbol types of the first to third reels 15a to 15c located on the center winning effective line 16. To do.

  In this manner, the symbol determination unit 75 identifies a combination of symbols displayed on the center winning effective line 16 when the power-on operation is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the identified combination of symbols is a predetermined specific symbol combination (hereinafter referred to as “specific combination”).

  The specific combination is stored in the ROM area of the main memory 62 in advance. The specific combination is, for example, “bell symbol” − “BB symbol” − “replay symbol”, and these combinations are not limited to the combination during the game even when the winning combination is won. That is, during the game, the drawing-in control of the symbols is performed so that the specific combinations are not arranged.

  The BB shift lottery unit 76 operates in response to the determination by the symbol determining unit 75 that the combination is a specific combination, and performs a BB shift lottery that determines whether or not the BB is to be internally won by lottery. When the BB shift lottery is won, the BB flag is written in the RAM area of the main memory 62, and the BB is internally won.

  A sub board 80 is electrically connected to the main board 60. The sub board 80 includes a sub CPU 81 and a sub memory 82. The sub CPU 81 operates in response to a command from the main CPU 61. The sub CPU 81 controls the operation of the liquid crystal display 22 and displays an effect image from the liquid crystal display 22. The sub memory 82 stores image data for displaying effect images from the liquid crystal display 22.

  Next, the operation of the slot machine 11 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the pachinko parlor, when a store is opened or an event is in progress, several of the installed slot machines 11 are placed in an advantageous state for the player who has won the BB in advance. To attract players' interests. In this case, the clerk of the pachinko parlor first opens the front door 13 and manually rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c before turning on the power switch 30b, and the specific combination is set to the center winning effective line. 16, the specific combination is displayed from the display window 14. Thereafter, the power switch 30b is operated from OFF to ON, and the slot machine 11 is turned on.

  When the power switch 30b is turned on and a power-on signal is input from the power switch 30b to the main CPU 61, the symbol determination unit 75 is activated in response thereto. The activated symbol determination unit 75 identifies a combination of symbols displayed on the center winning effective line 16 and determines whether or not the combination of symbols is a predetermined specific combination.

  When the symbol determination unit 75 determines that the combination is a specific combination, the BB shift lottery unit 76 operates in response to this, and a BB shift lottery is performed in which whether or not the BB is to be internally won is determined by lottery. When the main CPU 61 wins the BB transfer lottery, the main CPU 61 writes a BB flag in the RAM area of the main memory 62, and makes the BB possible to play in the state where the BB is internally won. On the other hand, if the specific combination is not aligned on the central winning line 16 when the power switch 30b is turned on, or if the main CPU 61 is out of the BB shift lottery, the main CPU 61 does not allow the BB to win the internal mode. Then, the game after that is made possible.

  In this way, after the first to third reels 15a to 15c are manually rotated and the specific combination is aligned, the BB advantageous to the player can be internally won simply by turning on the power switch 30b. Since it is not necessary for the clerk of the pachinko parlor to play a game one by one or to attach / remove a special device to / from the slot machine 11, it is possible to easily carry out the process of keeping the BB internal winning state. In addition, since there is no need to use a special device, there is no worry of increasing the equipment cost of the game hall.

  Furthermore, since it is determined by lottery whether the BB is to be won internally or not, even if a specific combination is known to the player, the player will know which slot machine 11 is in an advantageous state. There is no worry about being done. For example, if the process of winning all the slot machines 11 installed in the pachinko parlor is performed in the BB state, it is more difficult for the player to know which slot machine 11 is in an advantageous state. In addition, since the symbols displayed from the display window 14 are arranged in a specific combination in all the slot machines 11, it is possible to improve the appearance of the store when the store is opened.

  In addition, the combination that does not match during the game is designated as a specific combination, and the symbol determination unit 75 is activated in response to the operation of the power switch 30b that can be operated only by the store clerk of the pachinko store. It is possible to prevent the player from performing the process in a state that has been performed illegally.

  In the above-described embodiment, the power-on operation by turning on the power switch 30b is shown as the specific operation described in the claims. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The setting reference operation for referring to the above may be set as the specific operation. When the setting change operation is a specific operation, the symbol determination unit 75 may be activated in response to pressing the start lever 18 to confirm the set value, or the setting change key 31 is turned off. The symbol determination unit 75 may be operated in response to the rotation to the position and the transition from the setting change mode to the normal mode. When the setting reference operation is a specific operation, the symbol determination unit 75 may be activated in response to the transition from the game mode to the setting reference mode, or the setting reference mode is returned to the game mode. In response to this, the symbol determination unit 75 may be operated. Furthermore, a power-off operation for turning off the power switch 30b, an operation of a stop switch for switching whether or not to stop after a big hit (after the end of the BB mode), an operation of a reset switch for canceling an error, etc. It may be a specific operation.

  In the above embodiment, the state in which the BB is internally won is shown as an advantageous state for the player. However, the BB winning probability that shifts to the BB (Big Bonus) mode in which the winning probability of the small role is higher than the normal mode is increased. The winning probability of a small role is higher than that in the normal mode, but the RB (regular bonus) mode for shifting to the RB (regular bonus) mode with a smaller number of medals than the BB mode is increased. The winning probability of replay is higher than that in the normal mode. Increase the winning probability of the lottery whether or not to shift to the RT (replay time) mode, and increase the winning probability of the lottery whether or not to shift to the AT mode where the AT (assist time) image is displayed Whether or not to shift to ART (assist replay time) mode in which the winning probability of replay is higher than in normal mode and AT images are displayed Winning a lottery to determine whether or not to shift to CT (challenge time) mode in which the reels stop based only on the timing of pressing the stop button without the pull-in control being performed on some or all of the reels. If the AT mode, RT mode, or ART mode ends when winning a predetermined puncture winning combination, such as increasing the probability, reducing the winning probability of the puncture winning combination, the state that is advantageous to the player should be an appropriate state Good.

  In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a slot machine that uses medals, but the present invention may be applied to other slot machines such as a slot machine that uses a game ball as a game medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Slot machine 14 Display window 15a 1st reel 15b 2nd reel 15c 3rd reel 75 Symbol determination part (determination means)
76 BB transfer lottery section (lottery means)

Claims (1)

A plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery are provided, and in response to a game start operation, a winning combination lottery for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing is performed and the reels rotate. In the slot machine in which the presence or absence of a prize is notified by the combination of symbols displayed from the display window when the rotating reel is stopped,
Determining means for determining whether a specific symbol combination from the previous SL display window is displayed,
And a selecting means for determining on getting benefits Yu technique by lottery whether to favor favorable conditions to the player than the normal state,
Under a situation where an artificial specific operation is performed to rotate and stop the reel so that the specific symbol combination is displayed,
The slot machine , wherein the determining means determines that the specific symbol combination is displayed, and the lottery means performs the lottery .

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