JP5643995B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

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

  In the slot machine, medals are used as game media. After betting (inserting) the medals, the game is started by operating the start lever. When the game is started, a winning combination lottery is performed, and one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss is determined, and a reel having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery starts rotating. The spinning reel can be stopped by operating the stop button.

  In the slot machine, when a symbol corresponding to the winning combination determined by the winning combination lottery (the winning combination selected in the winning combination lottery) is displayed when the reels stop, that is, the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery. When a winning combination is won, a process associated with the winning winning combination is executed, and one game is completed. On the other hand, if the winning combination does not win when the reels are stopped, one game is completed as the reels are stopped.

  In general, in a slot machine, a game is produced by displaying an effect image on a liquid crystal display or outputting an effect sound from a speaker. Some slot machines perform a series of effects (continuous effects) over a plurality of games (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). For example, the hero character confronts an enemy character and transitions to a game state advantageous to the player when winning, and the current game state is maintained when defeated. It has been.

JP2008-114088

  By the way, in the conventional slot machine, when the power is cut off during continuous production due to circumstances such as returning from an error and the continuous production is interrupted, the continuous production is resumed from the interruption point when the power is turned on. . However, it is difficult to completely link the image and the sound that are being continuously produced, and there has been a problem that when the continuous effect is resumed, there may be a problem that the image and the sound are shifted.

  That is, in the continuous production, when outputting sound in accordance with continuous display of a plurality of images (for example, when playing back a moving image), output of sound is started when the first image is displayed. However, if the continuous production is interrupted after the first image is displayed, it is determined that the sound has already been output before the interruption, and only images that are not displayed before the interruption are displayed after the continuous production is resumed. Phenomenon occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can prevent a problem that sound and video shift even if the power is shut off during continuous performance.

In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine of the present invention performs a winning combination lottery to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or loses, and in a gaming machine that performs a plurality of types of effects, Includes a first effect executed over a plurality of games and a second effect executed following the first effect, and includes an effect control means for controlling the execution of the effect, When the power is turned off during the second production and the power is turned on after that, the production control means is interrupted by the power interruption regardless of whether or not a special winning combination is determined in the winning combination lottery. The second production is executed, the power is cut off during the first production, and the power is turned on after that, and when the special winning combination is determined in the winning combination lottery. It is characterized by performing the production of To have.

  In the present invention, when the continuous production is interrupted by shutting off the power during the continuous production, the continuous production is ended, and when the production is performed when the power is turned on, the predetermined production is executed from the beginning. . For this reason, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem that the sound and the video are shifted as in the case of resuming the continuous effect from the point where the power was interrupted.

  In addition, if the power is shut off after branching to the production content corresponding to the result of the winning combination lottery, that is, the result of the winning combination lottery can be determined from the production content, The result was reported. For this reason, it can be prevented that a predetermined effect is executed from the beginning when the power is turned on after the result of the winning combination lottery is determined, and the progress of the game is hindered. In addition, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling dissatisfied because the winning lottery result is suddenly notified when the power is turned on even when the power is shut off in a state where the winning lottery result cannot be determined. .

  Furthermore, if a predetermined effect to be executed when the power is turned on is selected by lottery from a plurality of types of effects or each time the power is turned off, it is possible to change to a player's favorite effect by turning off the power. can get.

It is an external perspective view of the slot machine. It is an external appearance perspective view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the lower door. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of an electrical structure of a slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow from which a notification effect is performed from a continuous effect. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the production | presentation at the time of power activation. It is a flowchart which shows the flow from which a notification effect is performed from a continuous effect. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the production | presentation at the time of power activation. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding the production | presentation at the time of power activation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine (game machine) 11 is provided with a front door 13 on the front surface of a slot machine main body 12. The front door 13 is divided into an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The upper door 13a and the lower door 13b are pivotally attached to the slot machine main body 12, and are opened and closed between an open position and a closed position. It is supported freely. The upper door 13a and the lower door 13b are normally locked in the closed position and are moved to the open position when performing maintenance such as returning from an error.

  A display window 14 is provided on the upper door 13a, and a rotatable first reel 15a, second reel 15b, and third reel 15c are disposed in the back of the display window 14. The lower door 13b has a medal slot 20, a start lever 21 for starting rotation of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and first to third stop buttons 22a to 22 for stopping the rotating reel. 22c, a bet button 23 for betting a credited medal, a payout port 24 for paying out a medal, a medal tray 25 for receiving a medal paid out from the payout port 24, and the like.

  The slot machine 11 bets three medals and plays a game once. When three medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 20, the three medals are bet simultaneously with the insertion. Further, when a medal is inserted after three medals are bet, this medal is credited. When there are three or more medal credits, when the bet button 23 is pressed prior to the start of the game, three medals are bet at a time.

  When the start lever 21 is pressed after betting medals, the game is started. Then, with the start of the game, a winning combination lottery is performed to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss, and the first to third reels 15a to 15c start to rotate all at once. When the rotation speed of the first to third reels 15a to 15c reaches a constant speed, the operation of the first to third stop buttons 22a to 22c is validated. Thereafter, when the first to third stop buttons 22a to 22c are pressed, the reels corresponding to the pressed stop buttons are individually stopped.

  A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. When the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped, three symbols are displayed per reel through the display window 14. The In the slot machine 11, a total of five winning effective lines 16 consisting of three horizontal lines and two diagonal lines are set. The winning combination is based on the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 16 when all reels are stopped. Whether or not the winning combination has been won is displayed.

  If the winning combination does not win when all the reels are stopped, one game is completed when all the reels are stopped. If the winning combination is won when all the reels are stopped, processing corresponding to the winning combination won is executed and one game is completed. As the winning combination, a small combination, replay, and BB (special winning combination) are provided. When the small combination wins, the number of medals corresponding to the winning small combination is paid out to the medal tray 25. When the replay is won, the next game can be executed without inserting medals. Further, when BB wins, the mode shifts to the BB mode (advantageous mode) in which the payout rate (the ratio of medals paid out with respect to the insertion of one medal) is higher than in the normal mode. In addition, when BB wins (when it is determined by the winning combination lottery), the right to win is carried over until winning. The BB mode ends when a preset upper limit number of medals are paid out.

  Further, the upper door 13a is provided with a liquid crystal display (notification unit) 30 for displaying various effect images and a speaker (notification unit) 31 for outputting various effect sounds. In the slot machine 11, a game is produced by controlling these. As the effects, a plurality of kinds of effects such as effect images to be displayed and effect sounds to be output are set. Then, whether or not to produce an effect and which of multiple types of effect to execute when producing an effect is determined by the effect lottery.

  Furthermore, in the slot machine 11, as a production, in addition to a normal production that ends in one game, a series of productions are executed across a plurality of games (a series of games while a plurality of consecutive games are being performed). The production effect is set, and the production content branches from the middle to the content corresponding to the result of the winning combination lottery. In addition, although various aspects can be considered as a specific effect aspect of a continuous effect, in this embodiment, it demonstrates by the example in which a continuous effect is performed over 5 games. Further, in the present embodiment, an example of branching to an effect content corresponding to the winning combination lottery result during the fourth game, specifically, a game when the continuous effect is started (first game) The first round of battle with the enemy character is performed, the second round is played in the second game, the third round is played in the third game, and the final round is battled in the fourth game. If you have won the battle during the 4th game and congratulate you won the battle in the 5th game, if you have not won BB, you will lose the battle during the 4th game An example in which an effect that comforts the defeat in the fifth game is performed, that is, an example in which the content of the effect branches when the victory or defeat of the battle with the enemy character is found (notified) will be described. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a plurality of types of continuous effects are set as the continuous effects, which are different from each other in the types of enemy characters, places where battles are performed, weapons used in battles, and the like. In addition, the specific content of a continuous production is not limited to this, It can set suitably. For example, during the fourth game, without diverting the content of the production (without notifying the battle result with the enemy character), even if the content of the production is branched from the fifth game (the enemy at the beginning of the fifth game) The result of the battle with the character may be notified).

  Further, in the slot machine 11, a notification effect is performed in a game (sixth game) after the game for which the continuous effect has ended. There are two types of notification effects: hit patterns and lost patterns. The winning pattern is an effect for notifying that BB has been won, and is executed when a battle is won in a continuous effect. On the other hand, the loss pattern is an effect for notifying that BB has not been won, and is executed when a battle is defeated by a continuous effect. Thus, the result of the winning combination lottery is notified by performing the notification effect.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the main body 12 of the slot machine 11, a medal tank 40 for storing medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 20 behind the lower door 13b and a payout of medals stored in the medal tank 40 are performed. A hopper device 42 including a payout device 41 and a power switch 43 for powering on and off the slot machine 11 are provided. The power switch 43 is operated when changing the setting of the slot machine 11 or when recovering from an error such as the remaining amount of medals stored in the medal tank 40 being reduced or exceeding a predetermined amount.

  As shown in FIG. 3, 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 main memory 62 stores game execution programs and execution data. The main memory 62 is used for temporary storage or rewriting of data such as a winning flag (a flag indicating the type of winning combination won in the winning combination lottery) used for each game. The main CPU 61 performs a game execution process based on the information stored in the main memory 62.

  The medal sensor 63 detects an appropriate medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 20 and inputs a medal detection signal to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 counts the number of inserted medals based on the detection signal from the medal sensor 63, and activates the five winning valid lines 16 when three medals are inserted to operate the start lever 21. Activate. When four or more medals are inserted, the main CPU 61 writes the number of credits in the main memory 62. When the bet button 23 is pressed, the winning line 16 is validated by subtracting the number of credits written in the main memory 62.

  The start signal sensor 64 detects that the start lever 21 has been pressed. When the depression of the start lever 21 is detected after the operation is validated, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 64 to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 performs a winning combination lottery using random numbers in response to the game start signal, and determines either a loss or a plurality of types of winning combinations. When any winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, a winning flag indicating the type is written in the main memory 62. The winning flag indicating that a small role or replay has been won is deleted every time a game is completed, and the winning flag indicating that BB has been won is carried over until BB wins.

  When the winning combination lottery is completed, the main CPU 61 starts rotation of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The stop signal sensor 65 detects that the first to third stop buttons 22a to 22c are pressed. When the first to third stop buttons 22a to 22c are pressed, stop signals for the first to third reels 15a to 15c are individually input to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 determines whether or not the first to third reels 15a to 15c are rotating when a stop signal is input. When the first to third reels 15a to 15c are rotating, the reel drive controller 66 is operated to perform reel stop control corresponding to the pressed stop button.

  The stop control is a well-known pull-in control. In the pull-in control, the number of frames required until the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped ranges from 0 to 4 frames for 5 symbols including the symbols on the winning winning line 16, that is, a range of 5 frames (hereinafter, “ (Referred to as “retraction range”). 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 first to third stop buttons 22a to 22c are pressed, The first to third reels 15 a to 15 c are stopped so that the symbols are arranged on the winning winning line 16.

  A sub board 70 is connected to the main board 60. The sub board 70 is provided with a sub CPU (notification means, effect end means, determination means, effect control means) 71, and the operation of the sub board 70 is controlled by the sub CPU 71. In addition to the liquid crystal display 30 and the speaker 31, the sub CPU 71 is connected to a sub memory (storage means) 72 that stores various data used for effects such as effect image data and effect sound data. The effect image and effect sound data stored in the sub memory 72 are read out and displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 or output from the speaker 31 to execute various effects.

  A command signal indicating the result of the winning combination lottery is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 71. The sub CPU 71 performs an effect lottery using random numbers based on this command signal, that is, the result of the winning combination lottery, and determines whether to execute the effect and the type of effect to be executed when the effect is executed. decide. Then, the sub CPU 71 executes the effect determined by driving and controlling the liquid crystal display 30 and the speaker 31 based on the result of the effect lottery. In the slot machine 11, when the BB is won, the type of effect to be executed is determined using a lottery table set with a higher probability that the continuous effect is selected than when the BB is not won. Thus, the expectation of winning the BB is increased when the continuous performance is executed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4, when the continuous effect is executed, the sub CPU 71 monitors whether or not the effect content has branched. Then, when the effect contents branch, a branch completed flag indicating this is written in the sub memory 72. In the present embodiment, the production content branches when the result of the battle with the enemy character wins or loses, so when the continuous production progresses until the result of the battle with the enemy character wins or loses. In addition, the branched flag is written in the sub memory 72.

  In addition, as a specific method for the sub CPU 71 to detect whether or not the content of the effect has branched, that is, the timing to write the branch flag, for example, each continuous effect and each continuous effect starts (or the continuous effect branches) In addition to providing a look-up table that stores and stores a branch time from the start of the game of the first time (the fourth game starts in the present embodiment) to the branch of the continuous effect, a timer is provided, The elapsed time from the start of each continuous production (or the start of the game where the continuous production branches) is measured by a timer, and whether or not the production content has branched depending on whether or not the elapsed time has reached the branch time. A method for detecting this can be considered. Also, for example, when all the reels stop in the game where the continuous effect branches (the fourth game in the present embodiment) (or the last reel is stopped in the game where the continuous effect branches). The progress of the continuous performance is controlled so that the winning or losing of the battle with the enemy character is notified, and whether or not all the reels are stopped in the game where the continuous performance is branched (or the continuous performance is branched). Whether or not the content of the production has diverged by monitoring the progress of the continuous production, such as whether or not the content of the production has diverged, depending on whether or not the last reel has been stopped in each game. A method of detecting whether or not is possible is also conceivable. Furthermore, for example, the content of the continuous effect is set so that the content of the effect branches at the beginning of a predetermined number of games (for example, the fifth time), and the content of the effect branches depending on whether or not the predetermined number of games have started. A method of detecting whether or not it has been performed is also conceivable. In addition, incidental information indicating this is added to an effect image corresponding to a scene where the contents of the effect branch off (a scene in which the victory or defeat of the battle with the enemy character is notified), and the effect image to which the incidental information is added is added. A method of detecting whether or not the content of the effect has branched depending on whether or not it is displayed is also conceivable.

  In this way, the sub CPU 71 detects whether or not the content of the effect has branched, and writes the branched flag in the sub memory 72 when the content of the effect has branched. Further, when the continuous effect ends, the sub CPU 71 deletes the branched flag written in the sub memory 72 and then executes the notification effect to notify the winning combination lottery result. As a result, in the slot machine 11, the branched flag is stored in the sub memory 72 until the continuous effect ends after the effect content branches in the continuous effect. By doing so, for example, when the production is interrupted because the power is shut off during the production in order to recover from the error, the production content branches depending on whether or not the branched flag is written in the sub memory 72 It is possible to know whether or not the continuous production is interrupted later.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the power of the slot machine 11 is turned on, the sub CPU 71 determines that there is a residual process that is unprocessed due to power shutoff among the processes related to the effect. The residual process is forcibly terminated. Note that forcibly terminating the residual processing refers to, for example, deleting the effect image data that has been read into the VRAM or the like for display on the liquid crystal display but is not displayed, or related to the effect executed halfway. This shows that the program is forcibly terminated, for example, to return to the state before the performance execution.

  Thereafter, the sub CPU 71 refers to the sub memory 72 and determines whether or not a branch flag is written. When the branch flag is written, that is, when the effect is branched and the power is shut off and the continuous effect is interrupted, the sub CPU 71 executes the notification effect and notifies the winning lottery result. . Further, when the branch flag is not written, the sub CPU 71 performs the effect lottery and executes the effect determined by the effect lottery.

  The operation of the present invention having the above configuration will be described below. In the slot machine 11, a game is started by betting three medals and operating the start lever 21, and a winning combination lottery is executed to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss. The first to third reels 15a to 15c start to rotate all at once. Then, when the winning combination determined by the winning combination lottery wins when all reels are stopped, the process associated with the winning combination won is executed and one game is completed. Further, when the winning combination determined by the winning combination lottery is not won when all the reels are stopped, one game is finished when all the reels are stopped.

  Further, in the slot machine 11, when the winning combination lottery is executed, an effect lottery is performed based on the result of the winning combination lottery, and whether or not to produce an effect, and the effect to be executed when the effect is executed. The type is determined and the determined performance is executed. In the slot machine 11, if the power is shut off during the execution of the effect, the remaining processing of the effect interrupted by the power cutoff is forcibly terminated when the power is turned on for the first time. As described above, in the slot machine 11, even if the presentation is interrupted by power interruption, the interrupted presentation is forcibly terminated when the power is turned on, so that the presentation is resumed from the interruption point when the power is turned on. As described above, the effect image and the effect sound are not shifted.

  Further, in the slot machine 11, when the power is cut off after the content of the effect is branched and the continuous effect is interrupted, the notification effect is executed and the result of the winning combination lottery is notified when the power is turned on for the first time. Therefore, despite the fact that the result of the winning combination lottery can be inferred from the contents of the continuous performance executed before the power is shut off, a new performance is executed from the beginning when the power is turned on, and the game progresses. There will be no hindrance. Also, even though the winning lottery result cannot be inferred from the contents of the continuous performance performed before the power is shut off, the winning lottery result is suddenly notified when the power is turned on, and the player is dissatisfied. I don't feel it.

  Further, in the slot machine 11, if the power is shut off before the contents of the effects branch and the continuous effects are interrupted, the effect lottery is executed when the power is turned on for the first time. This makes it possible for players who want to experience various types of productions because different types of productions may be executed during normal productions or by shutting off the power before the production content branches in continuous productions. It is.

  In the above embodiment, it is configured to check whether the branch flag is stored, so that it is possible to know whether the continuous effect is interrupted by turning off the power after the effect content branches, In the example of determining the processing related to the effect after turning on the power according to whether or not the branch flag is written at the time of power-on (whether the power is shut off and the continuous effect is interrupted after the effect content branches) Although described, the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 6, information indicating that a continuous effect has been selected (for example, a continuous effect selection flag) is stored in the sub-memory after the continuous effect is selected in the effect lottery until the end of the continuous effect. If it comprises, it can know whether the power supply was interrupted | blocked and the continuous production was interrupted by investigating whether the continuous production selection flag was written. For this reason, using this, when the power is turned on, whether or not the continuous production is interrupted (whether or not the continuous production selection flag is stored), and before and after the branch of the production content is branched It may be determined which is interrupted (whether or not the branch flag is stored), and based on the determination result, processing related to the effect after power-on may be determined.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, only when the continuous effect selection flag is written when the power is turned on (when the continuous effect is interrupted), the residual process of the effect is forcibly terminated, or the effect lottery or the notification effect is performed. If the continuous effect selection flag is not written when the power is turned on (for example, when the normal effect is interrupted), the process is resumed from the state when the power is shut off (for example, the interrupted normal effect) The production can be resumed from the point of interruption).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, when the continuous production selection flag is written at the time of power-on and the branch flag is not written (the continuous production is interrupted and this interruption is the content of the production content). It is also conceivable that when it is before branching, an effect to be executed is determined from the continuous effects and the determined continuous effect is executed. In this way, if the continuous production is interrupted due to the power being cut off, the continuous production will be executed again when the power is turned on for the first time, so the power is turned on even though the continuous production was interrupted. It is possible to prevent the player from being disappointed when the performance is not executed or the normal performance is executed.

  In addition, as a method of determining an effect to be executed from among the continuous effects, a method of determining a continuous effect to be executed by lottery and a continuous effect to be executed in order every time the power is turned off (or every time the power is turned on) are determined. It can be thought of as a way to do this. When the latter method is adopted, the power supply is shut off before the content of the production branches, and the continuous production is interrupted. Since it will be executed after being thrown in, it is suitable for a player who wants to experience various types of continuous effects.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the branch flag is written when the continuous effect branches, and the type of effect to be performed after power-on is determined according to whether or not the branch flag is written when the power is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, provide a normal effect where the content of the effect branches in the middle, write a branch flag when the normal effect branches, and depending on whether this branch flag is written when the power is turned on, the type of effect that is performed after the power is turned on May be determined. Of course, the branch flag when the continuous effect branches and the branch flag when the normal effect branches are distinguished and written to the memory, and the type of effect to be performed after power-on depends on which branch flag is written. You may decide.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the power is turned on, an example in which the effect lottery and the notification effect are executed during the game in which the power is turned on has been described. There is no risk of shutting down the game, so some players repeatedly ask the pachinko store clerk to turn off the power until the desired performance is performed, hindering the clerk's work. There is a risk of becoming. For this reason, for example, an effect lottery or a notification effect may be executed in the next game when the power is turned on. In this way, when it is desired to experience an effect different from that before the power is turned off, it is necessary to consume a medal and play a new game, so that the above-described problem can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a gaming machine other than a slot machine, such as a pachinko machine.

11 Slot machines (gaming machines)
30 Liquid crystal display (notification means)
31 Speaker (notification means)
43 Power switch 70 Sub board 71 Sub CPU (notification means, effect end means, determination means, effect control means)
72 Sub memory (storage means)

Claims (1)

In a gaming machine that performs a lottery of lottery and decides one or more types of winners or loses,
The production includes a first production executed over a plurality of games and a second production executed following the first production,
Production control means for controlling execution of the production,
The production control means includes
When the power is cut off during the second production and the power is turned on after that, the second production interrupted by the power interruption regardless of whether or not a special winning combination is determined in the winning combination lottery. Run
A predetermined effect is executed from the beginning when the power is turned off during the first effect and the power is turned on after that, and when the special winning combination is determined in the winning combination lottery. A gaming machine.

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