JP5744298B1 - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent a player's gaming motivation from being lowered due to a long period of error notification while strictly controlling fraud. When a first type error is detected, control is performed to a first error notification state for notifying the first type error, and when a second type error is detected, the second type error is notified. The second error notification state is controlled, and in the first error notification state, the first error notification state is canceled immediately after an operation for canceling the first error notification state is detected. In the second error notification state, the second error notification state is continued for at least a predetermined minimum duration regardless of whether or not there is an operation for canceling the second error notification state. [Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to means for canceling an error notification executed by a gaming machine when an error occurs.

  When a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine detects an error, it suspends the game and enters an error notification state in which an error is notified to the outside via an image display, a speaker, or the like. Such an error notification state can be canceled by performing a predetermined operation for canceling the error notification state (hereinafter referred to as an error cancellation operation). This is performed by opening the front frame of the pachinko machine, and the player cannot release the error notification state by himself. Recently, however, it has been reported that a fraudulent person inserts a foreign object from the outside of the gaming machine, operates a switch that should be operated by an error release operation, and releases the error notification state before a game attendant comes Has been. As described above, when the fraudulent person cancels the error notification state, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect an error detected by the fraudulent act. In order to deal with such a problem, a gaming machine is proposed that is configured not to cancel the error notification unless at least a predetermined error time has elapsed since the start of the error notification even if an error cancellation operation is performed. (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-345940 A

  In the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, if the error time is set to be sufficiently long, the error notification state can be continued until an attendant of the game hall comes even if the fraudster performs an error canceling operation. , Can strictly crack down on fraud. However, since many of the errors are not due to fraud, but due to malfunctions of the gaming machine or accidental, if the error time is set long, it always takes time to cancel the error notification state, There is a possibility that the game interruption time may be prolonged and the player's willingness to play may be reduced. Conversely, if the error time is set to be short, the game interruption time due to a normal error will be shortened, but the staff in the game hall will not be able to notice the fraud.

  The present invention has been made in view of the present situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of suppressing a decrease in a player's gaming motivation when an error occurs while strictly controlling fraud.

  The present invention is a gaming machine comprising error detection means for detecting an error, and error control means for controlling an error notification state for notifying an error when the error detection means detects an error, wherein the error control means When the error detection means detects a first type error, it controls to a first error notification state for notifying the first type error and detects an operation for canceling the first error notification state. Then, when the first error control means for canceling the first error notification state and the error detection means detect the second type of error, control is performed to the second error notification state for notifying the second type of error. And detecting an operation for canceling the second error notification state, second error control means for canceling the second error notification state, wherein the first error control means includes the first error control means. Immediately after detecting an operation for canceling the error notification state, the first error notification state is canceled, and the second error control means relates to whether or not there is an operation for canceling the second error notification state. The gaming machine is characterized in that the second error notification state is continued for at least a predetermined minimum duration.

  In such a configuration, if a mild error with a weak suspicion of fraud is classified as a first type error and a severe error with a strong suspicion of fraud is classified as a second type of error, an early Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from deteriorating the gaming motivation when an error occurs, and to prevent a fraudulent person from releasing the error notification in a short time for a serious error. Therefore, according to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress as much as possible a decrease in the player's willingness to play the game when an error occurs while strictly cracking fraud.

  In the present invention, the second error control means includes an error notification timer for measuring a set time, and operates in the second error notification state by setting the minimum duration in the error notification timer. The second error notification state is continued at least until the error notification timer expires, and every time an operation for releasing the second error notification state is detected before the error notification timer expires, A configuration for executing a process of increasing the remaining time of the error notification timer is proposed.

  As described above, it has been reported that the fraudster inserts a foreign object from the outside of the gaming machine and operates a switch necessary for canceling the error state, but the second error notification state according to the present invention is reported. With regard to the above, it is considered that the fraudster repeats the switch operation related to the error cancellation many times until the error notification is stopped. In the second error notification state, the minimum duration continues regardless of whether or not an error is released, but an unauthorized person who tries to operate with the tip of a foreign object without visually observing the switch may succeed. This is because at that time, it is not known that the switch operation was successful. In such a configuration, when the operation for canceling the second error notification state is repeated by an unauthorized person before the error notification timer expires, the remaining time of the error notification timer is set for each operation. Since the error notification continues for a long time, it becomes more difficult for the fraudster to cancel the error notification before the attendant of the game hall rushes. Therefore, according to such a configuration, fraudulent acts can be controlled more strictly. On the other hand, regarding the attendant at the game hall, open the front door of the gaming machine, etc., operate by visually checking the switch related to the error release operation, and know that the second error notification state continues for the minimum duration. Therefore, the switch is not operated many times, and the error notification timer expires in a relatively short time. For this reason, in this structure, although the fraudulent person requires a long time to cancel the second error notification state, the attendant at the game hall can cancel the second error notification state in a short time.

  In the present invention, the second error control means detects that an operation for canceling the second error notification state has been performed two or more times in the second error notification state. There is proposed a configuration that includes a release operation number detecting means for performing a predetermined release operation abnormality process when the release operation number detecting means detects the predetermined number of operations.

  As described above, in the second error notification state according to the present invention, the minimum duration continues regardless of whether or not the error cancellation operation is performed. Therefore, the fraudster performs the error cancellation operation until the error notification stops. It is thought that it repeats many times. For this reason, if it is detected in the second error notification state that two or more predetermined number of error canceling operations have been executed in the second error notification state, an error canceling operation with a strong suspicion that is caused by a fraudster is performed. It can be detected separately from an error canceling operation by a game hall clerk, and if an appropriate canceling operation abnormality process is executed based on the detection, fraud can be cracked down more strictly. The canceling operation abnormality process is not uniquely determined. For example, the canceling operation abnormality process is a process for notifying that an abnormality that has a higher risk of fraud than the second type of error (the predetermined number of error canceling operations) has been detected. Proposed to do. In addition, the release operation abnormality process is changed to a process for changing the error notification execution mode to a volume or light amount larger than usual, or a process for changing the message displayed on the image display to a more conspicuous mode, or the second error If processing for extending the duration of the notification state is performed, it is possible to make sure that an occurrence of an error is noticed to an attendant at the game hall. In addition, it is also proposed that the cancellation operation abnormality process is a process of changing an operation for canceling the second error notification state so that an unauthorized person cannot cancel the error notification by a normal method.

  Further, in the present invention, comprising a first control device and a second control device for transmitting a signal in one direction from the first control device via a cable, A configuration is proposed in which the second type of error is an error detected by the second control device by the error detection means without going through the first control device.

  Regarding errors detected by the second control device without going through the first control device, there are many serious errors such as missing data related to lottery results and the use of illegal medals, and there is a high possibility of being involved in fraudulent activities. . In such a configuration, by making an error that is likely to be related to a fraudster as a second type of error in this way, the occurrence of the error is surely notified to the staff of the game hall, and the fraudulent act is more appropriately performed. It becomes possible to crack down.

  In the above configuration, a configuration is proposed in which the second type of error is a communication abnormality between the first control device and the second control device.

  The cable is exposed between the first control device and the second control device, and the signal is transmitted in one direction from the first control device to the second control device. There is a high risk that the communication between the two control devices will be altered or dropped due to fraud, and the communication abnormality between the first control device and the second control device is likely to have occurred due to fraud. . For example, by replacing the cable between the first control device and the second control device with a cable with an unauthorized substrate or irradiating the cable part with electromagnetic waves, the first control device can perform the second control. There have been reports of fraudulent acts that alter or drop signals transmitted to the device. Therefore, with such a configuration, it is possible to more appropriately control fraud by setting a second type of error as a communication error between the first control device and the second control device that is likely to be caused by fraud. It becomes.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the player's gaming motivation when an error occurs while strictly controlling fraud.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 with a front door 3 opened. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine 1. FIG. 10 is a chart showing errors detected by the slot machine 1. It is a graph which shows the increase / decrease mode of an error notification timer in a severe error notification state. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the main side error process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the sub side error process. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of sub-side error processing according to the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention are described according to the following examples.
In the following embodiments, the error detection means and error control means according to the present invention are realized by the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21. The first error control means corresponds to the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21, and the second error control means corresponds to the sub control device 21. The first control device according to the present invention corresponds to the main control device 20, and the second control device corresponds to the sub-control device 21. The first type of error according to the present invention corresponds to a minor error (insertion error, payout error, reel error), the first error notification state corresponds to a minor error notification state, and the first error The operation for canceling the notification state corresponds to the operation of the main reset switch 26. The second type error according to the present invention corresponds to a severe error (sub-communication error), the second error notification state corresponds to a severe error notification state, and the second error notification state is canceled. This operation corresponds to the operation of the sub-reset switch 27.

  In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a slot machine. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 2 of the slot machine 1 is opened forward and is covered by the front door 3 from the front. As shown in FIG. 1, a visual recognition window 4 for visually recognizing three reels 9 arranged inside the housing 2 is provided at the center of the front door 3. A horizontally long image display 10 is disposed above the viewing window 4. Further, on the front side of the front door 3, various switches such as bet switches 5 a and 5 b, a start switch 6, a stop switch 7, and an effect selection switch 8 that are used for game operations are disposed below the viewing window 4. The front door 3 is provided with a plurality of speakers 11 and effect lamps 12 at appropriate positions.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the back side of the front door 3, an image control device 22 that controls the image display 10 is arranged on the back side of the image display 10, and below the viewing window 4, A medal selector 13 is provided. Further, inside the housing 2, the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21 are installed in the case above the reel 9. The main control device 20 and the sub control device 21 are connected by a cable 23, and a control signal is transmitted from the main control device 20 to the sub control device 21 in one direction. Further, a power supply box 14 and a hopper unit 15 are disposed inside the housing 2 below the reel 9. In addition to the power switch 24, the power box 14 is provided with a setting key switch 25, a main reset switch 26, and a sub-reset switch 27. A door opening / closing sensor 17 that optically detects the opening / closing state of the front door 3 is disposed on the right side of the housing 2.

  Next, the control circuit of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slot machine 1 includes three control devices: a main control device 20, a sub control device 21, and an image control device 22.
The main control device 20 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and performs control related to the progress of the game. The main control device 20 is connected to the power supply box 14, the closing sensor 16, the bet switches 5a and 5b, the start switch 6, the stop switch 7, the reel 9, the hopper unit 15, the sub control device 21, and the like.

  The insertion sensor 16 detects a medal inserted into the slot machine 1. The insertion sensor 16 is disposed in a medal passage in the medal selector 13 provided on the back side of the front door 3, detects one medal passing through the medal passage one by one, and outputs a insertion signal every time a medal is detected. .

  The bet switches 5a and 5b are for inserting credited medals. As the bet switches 5a and 5b, a single bet switch 5a and a max bet switch 5b are provided. The single bet switch 5a inserts credited medals one by one. The maximum bet switch 5b inserts the maximum number of medals per game.

  The power supply box 14 is for supplying power to each device of the slot machine 1. The power supply box includes a power switch 24 for switching the power ON / OFF, a setting key switch 25 for changing the winning probability for each role (so-called setting change), a main reset switch 26, and a sub-reset switch 27. And. The main reset switch 26 and the sub-reset switch 27 constitute operation means used for operation to cancel the error notification state according to the present invention. When the main reset switch 26 is pressed, the main reset switch 26 When an operation signal is output to the main control device 20 and the sub-reset switch 27 is pressed, an operation signal is output from the sub-reset switch 27 to the main control device 20 and the sub-control device 21.

  The start switch 6 is for starting the rotation of the reel 9. In this embodiment, a lever type switch is used, and the three reels 9 start to rotate by tilting the lever.

  The three stop switches 7 are for stopping the rotation of the reel 9. Each stop switch 7 is associated with an individual reel 9 and is configured such that when the stop switch 7 is pressed, the corresponding reel 9 stops within a predetermined delay time.

  Each reel 9 has a cylindrical shape, and a total of 21 symbols such as “red 7”, “BAR”, “cherry”, “bell”, “watermelon”, and “replay” are arranged on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Each reel 9 is provided with a stepping motor 29 and a rotation angle sensor 30 that detects the rotation angle of the reel 9. The three reels 9 are rotated by the stepping motors 29 and stopped at an arbitrary angle so as to be visually recognized. The window 4 is configured to selectively display the design of the outer peripheral surface. Note that a winning line is set in advance in the viewing window 4, and, as will be described later, when the reel 9 is stopped, it is determined whether or not a winning combination is made according to a combination of symbols displayed on the winning line. The

  The hopper unit 15 is for paying out medals, a tank for storing medals, a motor 32 for sending out the medals in the tank toward the payout port, and a payout sensor 33 for detecting the medals to be sent out. It has.

  The door opening / closing sensor 17 is an optical sensor disposed so as to face a reflection plate (not shown) provided on the back side of the front door 3 in a closed state of the front door 3, and light reflected by the reflection plate. Is detected, and the opening / closing state of the front door 3 is detected, and a signal indicating the opening / closing state is output to the main control device 20.

  The sub-control device 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls effects related to games. The ROM of the sub-control device 21 stores a control program, various lottery data, fixed data related to a wide variety of effect patterns, and the like. The main control device 20 and the effect selection switch 8 are connected to the input port of the sub control device 21, and the sub control device 21 receives a control signal input from the main control device 20, a signal from the effect selection switch 8, and the like. In order to select an effect pattern based on the selected effect pattern, a control signal is transmitted to the effect lamp 12 and the speaker 11, and image control is performed to display a required image on the image display 10. A control signal is transmitted to the device 22. In addition, an operation signal from a sub-reset switch 27 disposed in the power supply box 14 is also input to the input port of the sub-control device 21. As described above, the control signal is transmitted from the main control device 20 to the sub control device 21 in one direction, and the signal is not transmitted from the sub control device 21 to the main control device 20.

  The image control device 22 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and performs display control of the image display device 10. A large amount of data for generating an effect image to be displayed on the image display 10 is stored in the ROM of the image control device 22. When receiving the control signal from the sub-control device 21, the image control device 22 performs arithmetic processing in the CPU, writes the data for the effect image in the RAM and outputs it to the image display 10, and the effect selected by the sub-control device 21. The effect image according to the pattern is displayed on the display screen of the image display 10.

  In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, after the reel 9 is rotated to display the symbols in a variable manner, the reel 9 is stopped and the game for stopping and displaying the symbols on the winning line is repeatedly executed. Specifically, one game consists of (1) inserting the required number of medals, (2) start switch operation, (3) reel rotation, (4) stop switch operation, (5) reel stop, (6) A winning process based on the symbol combination stopped on the winning line is performed in the order. Since the content of such a game is well known, detailed description is omitted.

Below, the principal part of this invention is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 4, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to detect four errors, that is, an insertion error, a payout error, a reel error, and a sub-communication error. Among these, the insertion error, the payout error, and the reel error are errors detected by the main control device 20, and are classified as minor errors with a weak suspicion of fraud. On the other hand, the sub-communication error is an error detected by the sub-control device 21 and is classified as a severe error with a strong suspicion of fraud.

  The insertion error is an error relating to a medal insertion abnormality. Specifically, when the medal stays in the medal selector 13 and the insertion signal from the insertion sensor 16 becomes abnormal, the main control device 20 detects the insertion error.

  The payout error is an error relating to an abnormal payout of medals from the hopper unit 15. Specifically, the medal detection signal from the payout sensor 33 when the medal detection signal from the payout sensor 33 continues for a predetermined time or more when the payout outlet of the hopper unit 15 is jammed or when the motor 32 is driven. The main control device 20 detects as a payout error, for example, when the medal detection signal is received from the payout sensor 33 although the motor 32 is not driven.

  The reel error is an error related to an abnormal rotation of the reel 9. Specifically, when the stepping motor 29 of the reel 9 is driven, the main control device 20 detects a case where a signal is not received from the rotation angle sensor 30 for a predetermined time or more as a reel error.

  The sub communication error is an error related to communication abnormality between the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21. Specifically, the sub-control device 21 determines that the control signal received from the main control device 20 is in an abnormal format or does not receive a signal to be input from the main control device 20 as a sub-communication error. To detect.

  When the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment detects the above error during the game, the slot machine 1 enters an error notification state in which the detected error is notified to the outside, and interrupts the processing related to the game to cancel the error notification state. The error notification is continued until (error canceling operation) is performed. Here, in this embodiment, when a minor error (insertion error, payout error, reel error) is detected, a minor error notification state is entered. When a severe error (sub-communication error) is detected, a severe error is detected. The notification state is set.

  In the minor error notification state, a minor error detected by the main control device 20 is notified to the outside via the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12. Specifically, when the main control device 20 detects any one of the insertion error, the payout error, and the reel error, the main control device 20 interrupts the process related to the execution of the game and notifies the occurrence of the detected error (error notification signal). ) Is transmitted to the sub-control device 21. When the sub control device 21 receives the error notification signal, the sub control device 21 interrupts the processing related to the game effect, and notifies the occurrence of the notified error to the outside via the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12. Repeatedly notify. For example, if a closing error is detected, the sub-control device 21 causes the image display 10 to display a “loading error” message and output a sound “loading error” from the speaker 11. The lighting lamp 12 is turned on in an error-specific manner.

  The error canceling operation for canceling the mild error notification state is a pressing operation of the main reset switch 26. Specifically, the main control device 20 can detect the pressing operation of the main reset switch 26 by an operation signal from the main reset switch 26, and immediately receives the operation signal in a mild error notification state. The processing relating to the execution of the game is resumed, and a control signal (error notification cancellation signal) for notifying the operation of the main reset switch 26 is transmitted to the sub-control device 21. Then, when receiving the error notification release signal, the sub-control device 21 stops the notification of the minor error and restarts the process related to the game effect at the time when the error notification release signal is received. As described above, the light error notification state is canceled immediately after the error cancellation operation is performed, and after the cancellation, the mild error notification state is restored to the state before the game interruption.

  In the severe error notification state, the sub communication error (severe error) detected by the sub control device 21 is notified to the outside via the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12. Specifically, when the sub-control device 21 detects a sub-communication error, the sub-control device 21 interrupts the processing related to the game effect, and generates a sub-communication error via the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12. Repeatedly notify outside. Specifically, the sub-control device 21 displays a message “sub-communication error” on the image display 10 and outputs a voice “sub-communication error” from the speaker 11. The lighting lamp 12 is turned on. Note that the sub communication error is detected directly by the sub control device 21 without going through the main control device 20. Therefore, in a severe error notification state, the detection of the sub communication error is not notified to the main control device 20, and the sub control error is not detected. Only the control device 21 interrupts the process related to the game effect, and the main control device 20 continues the process related to the game execution as usual.

  The error canceling operation for canceling the severe error notification state is a pressing operation of the sub-reset switch 27. Specifically, the sub-control device 21 can detect the pressing operation of the sub-reset switch 27 by an operation signal from the main reset switch 27, and the operation signal from the sub-reset switch 27 in a severe error notification state. Is received, the sub-communication error notification is stopped, and the process related to the game effect is resumed. The main control device 20 is also configured to return to the state before the game interruption in accordance with the sub control device 21 when an operation signal is received from the sub reset switch 27.

  Here, regarding the severe error notification state, a minimum duration of 30 seconds is set, and it is configured to continue for at least 30 seconds regardless of whether or not an error release operation is performed. More specifically, the sub-control device 21 includes an error notification timer that is a software timer in order to measure the minimum duration of the severe error notification state, and detects a sub-communication error to enter the severe error notification state. Then, the error notification timer is set to 30 seconds and measurement of the minimum duration is started. Then, until the error notification timer expires (measurement expiration of the set time), the severe error notification state is continued even when an error release operation is performed.

  In this embodiment, when an error canceling operation is performed before the error notification timer expires, the sub-control device 21 resets the error notification timer to the initial value of 30 seconds at the time of the operation, Redo the measurement from the beginning. For example, if the error canceling operation is performed when the remaining time until the error notification timer expires is 10 seconds, the remaining time becomes 30 seconds, and the time until the error notification timer expires is increased by 20 seconds. The Thus, in this embodiment, if an error canceling operation is performed before the error notification timer expires, the remaining time until the error notification timer expires increases, and the duration of the severe error notification state is extended.

  Further, in this embodiment, the sub-control device 21 determines that the error notification operation is performed before the cancellation of the severe error notification state (before the error notification timer expires), and the error cancellation operation is performed for the second time, the third time, the fourth time, .. Is repeated each time the error notification timer is reset. For this reason, in this embodiment, if the error release operation is repeated before the error notification timer expires, the remaining time of the error notification timer increases every time the error release operation is performed, and the severe error notification state is gradually increased. Will continue.

  Further, in this embodiment, the sub control device 21 changes the error notification mode to a mode that makes it easier to draw attention of the game staff when the error canceling operation is executed three times in the severe error notification state. To do. Specifically, the sub-control device 21 includes an operation number counter that counts the number of times the operation signal is received from the sub-reset switch 27, and the value of the operation number counter is set to 3 in a severe error detection state. When it reaches, the volume of the speaker 11 that notifies the occurrence of the error is increased, and the blinking frequency of the effect lamp 12 is increased. Furthermore, the image display 10 displays a message “There is a possibility of fraud” in addition to the message “Sub-communication error”.

The release timing of the severe error notification state will be described with a specific example.
FIG. 5A is a timing chart when an error release operation is performed after the error notification timer expires. In such an example, a severe error notification state is started at timing t0, and 30 seconds is set in the error notification timer. Then, the error release operation is not performed for 30 seconds thereafter, and the error notification timer expires at the timing of t1 when 30 seconds have elapsed. When an error cancel operation is performed at the timing t2 after the error notification timer expires, the severe error notification state is canceled at that time. In this way, the severe error notification state is canceled when the error cancellation operation is performed if the error notification timer has expired.

  FIG. 5B is a timing chart when an error release operation is performed before the error notification timer expires. In such an example, a severe error notification state is started at timing t0, and 30 seconds is set in the error notification timer. After that, before 30 seconds elapses, an error release operation is performed at the timing t1. At this timing, since the error notification timer has not expired, the severe error notification state is not canceled at that time, and the error notification timer is reset to 30 seconds. Then, the error canceling operation is not performed for 30 seconds thereafter, and the error notification timer expires at the timing of t2 when 30 seconds have elapsed from t1. At this timing, since the error cancellation operation has already been performed at the timing t1, the severe error notification state is canceled as the error notification timer expires. As described above, even if an error canceling operation is performed before the error notification timer expires, the severe error notification state is not canceled until the error notification timer expires, and the notification of the severe error (sub-communication error) continues. Is done.

  FIG. 5C is a timing chart when the error release operation is executed a plurality of times before the error notification timer expires. In such an example, a severe error notification state is started at timing t0, and 30 seconds is set in the error notification timer. Thereafter, the error release operation is repeated four times at the timings t1, t2, t3, and t4. Since the four error release operations are executed at intervals of less than 30 seconds before the error notification timer expires, in this example, the error notification timer is reset each time the error release operation is performed, and the error notification is performed. The severe error notification state will continue for a long time without the timer expiring. In this way, the severe error notification state continues for a longer time as the error release operation is repeated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the minor error notification state for notifying a minor error with a weak suspicion of fraud is canceled immediately after the error canceling operation (pressing operation of the main reset switch 26) is performed. The severe error notification state for notifying a severe error with a strong suspicion of fraud is configured to continue for a minimum duration of at least 30 seconds regardless of the presence or absence of an error release operation (pressing operation of the sub-reset switch 27). Has been. For this reason, in this embodiment, a minor error can be recovered at an early stage, and it is possible to prevent a player's gaming motivation from being lowered due to a long-time error notification. On the other hand, regarding a serious error, it is possible to prevent the fraudster from releasing the error in a short time before the attendant at the game hall notices the error. Therefore, according to the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress as much as possible a decrease in the player's gaming motivation when an error occurs, while strictly controlling fraud.

  Here, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, regarding the severe error notification state, it is considered that the fraudster repeats the error canceling operation many times until the notification of the severe error stops. In the severe error notification state, the minimum duration continues regardless of whether or not an error canceling operation is performed, but the fraudulent person inserts a foreign object such as a wire from the gap of the front door 3 and presses the sub-reset switch 27. This is because even if the error canceling operation is successful, it is not known whether or not the error canceling operation is successful until the notification of the severe error is stopped. On the other hand, as for the attendant of the game hall, since the front door 3 is opened and the sub-reset switch 27 is visually operated to know that the severe error notification state continues for the minimum duration, The reset switch 27 is not operated many times. In this embodiment, it is configured to detect that the error canceling operation has been executed three times in a severe error notification state. When the error canceling operation has been executed three times, an error notification mode is set. Since it is configured to change the attention of the attendant at the game hall to a mode that is easier to draw, if an error canceling operation is performed by a fraudster, the severe error notification state is more noticeable to the attendant at the playground. It will be easy. It should be noted that since the error notification mode is not changed if the error canceling operation is performed by an attendant at the game hall, the error notification is not excessively troublesome.

  Further, in this embodiment, in a severe error notification state, the error notification timer is set to operate with a minimum duration, and even if an error release operation is performed, a severe error notification state is maintained until the error notification timer expires. The error notification timer is reset every time an error canceling operation is performed before the expiration of the error notification timer, and the remaining time of the error notification timer is increased. For this reason, the increase in the remaining time of the error notification timer is repeated and the severe error notification state continues steadily as the fraudster repeats the error release operation for the purpose of releasing the severe error notification state. It becomes. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is extremely difficult for the fraudulent person to cancel the error notification before the attendant of the game hall rushes, and the game hall can crack down on the fraudulent act. On the other hand, if an error canceling operation is performed by a game attendant, a severe error notification state can be canceled in a relatively short time.

  In this embodiment, the sub communication error detected by the sub control device 21 without using the main control device 20 is set as a severe error. The errors directly detected by the sub-control device 21 are often serious errors such as missing data related to the lottery results and the use of illegal medals, and are likely to be related to illegal acts. In particular, since communication between the main control device 20 and the sub-control device 21 is performed in one direction via the exposed cable 23, data from the main control device 20 to the sub-control device 21 is altered / dropped by an illegal act. There is a high possibility that an abnormality in communication between the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21 is caused by an illegal act. In this embodiment, such a sub-communication error is regarded as a serious error, and the sub-communication error can be reliably notified to the staff in the game hall, so that the illegal act can be properly controlled.

  FIG. 6 shows main-side error processing related to error notification state control, which is executed at regular intervals in the CPU of the main control device 20.

  In the main-side error process, the CPU of the main control device 20 first sequentially determines whether any one of an insertion error, a payout error, and a reel error has been detected (S1 to S3). If it is determined that no error has been detected, the main-side error process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in steps S1 to S3 that any one of the insertion error, the payout error, and the reel error has been detected, an error notification signal is transmitted to notify the sub-control device 21 of the occurrence of the error. (S4), and waits until an operation signal (ON signal) is received from the main reset switch 26 (S5). When the operation signal for the main reset switch 26 is received, an error notification release signal is transmitted to the sub-control device 21 (S6), and the main-side error process is terminated.

  FIG. 7 shows sub-side error processing related to control of the error notification state, which is executed at regular intervals in the CPU of the sub-control device 21.

  In the sub error processing, the CPU of the sub control device 21 first determines whether or not a sub communication error has been detected (S101). If it is determined that no sub-communication error has been detected, it is determined whether an error notification signal has been received from the main controller 20 (S102). If no error notification signal is received from the main control device 20, no main-side error has occurred, so the sub-side error processing is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S102 that an error notification signal has been received, notification of an error notified by the received error notification signal is started (S103), and a standby state is received until an error notification release signal is received from the main control device 20. (S104). When the error notification cancellation signal is received, the minor error notification state is canceled at that time (S105), and the sub-side error processing is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S101 that a sub-communication error has occurred, notification of the sub-communication error is started via the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12 (S106). Then, a minimum duration of 30 seconds is set in the error notification timer (S107), measurement is started (S108), and the process waits until an operation signal (ON signal) for the sub-reset switch 27 is received (S109). When the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received, at that time, “1” is set in the operation number counter (S110), and it is determined whether or not the error notification timer has expired (timer value = 0). Determination is made (S111). If it is determined that the error notification timer has expired, the severe error notification state is canceled (S105), and the sub-side error processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S111 that the error notification timer has not expired, the value of the error notification timer is reset to 30 seconds (S112) and the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received, or Wait until the error notification timer expires (S113, S114). If the error notification timer expires before receiving the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27, the severe error notification state is canceled (S105), and the sub-side error processing is ended. On the other hand, when the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received before the error notification timer expires in steps S113 and S114, “1” is added to the value of the operation number counter (S115), and the value of the operation number counter is obtained. Is "3" or not (S116). If it is determined that the operation number counter is not “3”, the process proceeds to step S112, the value of the error notification timer is reset to 30 seconds, and the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received. Alternatively, it waits until the error notification timer expires (S113, S114). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S116 that the operation number counter is "3", the error notification mode executed by the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12 is changed (S117). The process proceeds to step S112.

  In the above main-side error processing and sub-side error processing, the control related to the minor error notification state (first error notification state) is performed in steps S4 to S6 in FIG. 6 and steps S103 to S105 in FIG. It is realized with. Further, the control related to the severe error notification state (second error notification state) is realized by a series of processes from step S106 to step S105 in FIG. Further, the process of setting and operating the error notification timer according to the present invention with the minimum duration is realized in steps S107 and S108, and the process of increasing the remaining time of the error notification timer is realized in step S112. Further, the processing related to the release operation number detecting means according to the present invention is mainly realized in steps S110, S115, and S116. In other words, in the present embodiment, the number of times of error canceling operation detected by the canceling operation number detecting means according to the present invention is “3 times”. And the cancellation | release operation abnormality process which concerns on this invention is implement | achieved by step S117.

  In the sub-side error processing, processing for determining the presence / absence of an operation signal from the sub-reset switch 27 is executed first (S109, S113), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the error notification timer has expired. Although the processing (S111, S114) is executed, it is determined first whether or not the error notification timer has expired, and then the presence or absence of an operation signal from the sub-reset switch 27 is determined. It doesn't matter.

  In the present embodiment, the mode for canceling the severe error notification state is changed from the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, common reference numerals are used in the text and the drawings, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  Specifically, in the first embodiment, the error canceling operation in the severe error notification state is enabled before the error notification timer expires, whereas in this embodiment, the error before the error notification timer expires. Disable the release operation. That is, in this embodiment, even when the sub-reset switch 27 is operated before the error notification timer expires, the severe error notification state remains until the sub-reset switch 27 is operated again after the error notification timer expires. Will continue. Thus, in the present invention, before the expiration of the error notification timer, the error canceling operation related to the severe error notification state (second error notification state) can be invalidated.

  FIG. 8 shows the contents of the sub-side error processing according to the present embodiment. Since the processing from step S101 to S108 is the same as the sub-side error processing (FIG. 7) of the first embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, in step S108, error notification is performed. After starting the measurement of the timer, the value of the operation number counter is set to “0” (109), and it waits until the operation signal (ON signal) of the sub-reset switch 27 is received (S110). When the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received, it is determined whether or not the error notification timer has expired (timer value = 0) (S111), and it is determined that the error notification timer has expired. In this case, since the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is valid, the severe error notification state is canceled (S105), and the sub-side error processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S111 that the error notification timer has not expired, since the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is invalid, the error notification timer value is reset to 30 seconds (S112), and thereafter Then, “1” is added to the value of the operation number counter (S113), and it is determined whether or not the value of the operation number counter is “3” (S114). If it is determined that the operation number counter is not “3”, the process proceeds to step S110 before receiving the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 and waits until the operation signal of the sub-reset switch 27 is received again. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation counter is “3”, the error notification mode executed by the image display 10, the speaker 11, and the effect lamp 12 is changed (S <b> 115), and then step S <b> 110 is performed. Transition to processing.

  Note that the gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a slot machine, but the present invention is also applicable to other gaming machines such as a pachinko machine.

  In the above-described embodiment, the four errors of the insertion error, the payout error, the reel error, and the sub-communication error are detected. However, the present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine that detects other errors. Other errors include an overflow error that fills up the auxiliary tank for storing medals, a ram error related to the RAM data backup failure of the main control device 20, and an image communication error related to a communication error between the sub control device 21 and the image control device 22. Etc. In the above embodiment, the three errors detected by the main control device 20 are defined as minor errors (first type error), and the sub-communication error detected by the sub control device 21 is defined as a severe error (second type error). However, among the errors detected by the gaming machine, which is set as a minor error and which is set as a severe error may be appropriately selected according to the specifications of the gaming machine. In the present invention, it is not necessary to classify all errors detected by the gaming machine into one of a minor error (first type error) and a severe error (second type error). These may be classified as third and fourth type errors.

  In the above embodiment, the error detection means and the error control means according to the present invention are realized by the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21, but the function sharing between the main control device 20 and the sub control device 21 is as follows. These can be changed as appropriate. Further, the error detection means and the error control means according to the present invention can be realized by a single control device, or can be realized by three or more control devices.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation of the main reset switch 26 corresponds to an error canceling operation in a minor error notification state (first error notification state), and the operation of the sub-reset switch 27 is performed in a severe error notification state ( This corresponds to the error canceling operation in the second error notification state), but the error canceling operation can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the present invention, the error canceling operation in the first error notification state and the second error notification state can be a common operation. Further, the error canceling operation in the first error notification state and the second error notification state can be defined by a multi-step operation. For example, (1) opening the front door, (2) operating the reset switch, and (3) closing the front door in order are defined as one error canceling operation.

  In the above embodiment, the error notification timer is configured by a software timer. However, the error notification timer according to the present invention may be a hardware timer as long as it can measure a set time. It may be realized by a combination of a plurality of timers.

  In the present invention, the switch for performing the error canceling operation is not limited to a dedicated switch but can also be used as a switch for changing settings or a power switch. When the error reset operation is the power switch operation (main power is turned on again), the remaining time of the error notification timer is backed up while the main power is turned off, and the error notification timer is measured after the main power is turned on again. Can be resumed. Further, the error notification timer may be configured by a hardware timer so that the measurement is continued with the backup power supply even when the main power supply is turned off.

  In the above embodiment, the error notification timer starts measuring the minimum duration at the start of the severe error notification state. However, the error notification timer according to the present invention starts the measurement of the minimum duration. It does not have to be at the start of the state. For example, the error notification timer may be started to measure the minimum duration when an error release operation is first detected after the start of a severe error notification state.

  In the above embodiment, if the sub reset switch 27 is operated before the expiration of the error notification timer, the remaining time until the timer expires is increased by resetting the error notification timer. The increase in the remaining time of the notification timer can be realized not only by resetting the error notification timer but also by adding a certain time or indefinite time to the value of the error notification timer or temporarily stopping the error notification timer. .

  In the above embodiment, when the third error canceling operation in the severe error notification state is detected, the error notification mode is changed to a mode in which attention is easily drawn. The number of error canceling operations to be detected is not limited to the third time, but may be a predetermined number of times equal to or more than the second time. Of course, the predetermined number of times may be plural (for example, second, fourth and sixth) or a range (for example, three or more times). Further, in the above embodiment, the change of the error notification mode corresponds to the release operation abnormality process according to the present invention, but the release operation abnormality process according to the present invention is not limited to the change of the error notification mode, Any process may be used as long as it can reliably control an illegal error canceling operation.

  Further, in the above embodiment, in a severe error notification state, it is not notified that the error notification timer has expired or that an error canceling operation has been accepted. You may make it alert | report expiration or acceptance of error cancellation operation. In particular, according to the present invention, the expiration of the error notification timer and the acceptance of the error canceling operation are visible only when the front door is opened for a slot machine, and only when the front frame is opened for a pachinko machine. It is suggested to specify where possible. With this configuration, it becomes easier for an operator in the amusement hall to open the front door of the slot machine or the front frame of the pachinko machine, and an error canceling operation is performed while the fraudster opens the front door or the front frame. Unreliable error clearing operations remain difficult.

1 slot machine (game machine)
2 Housing 3 Front door 4 Viewing window 10 Image display 11 Speaker 12 Production lamp 20 Main control device 21 Sub control device 22 Image control device 23 Cable 26 Main reset switch 27 Sub reset switch

Claims (5)

In a gaming machine comprising error detection means for detecting an error and error control means for controlling an error notification state for notifying the error when the error detection means detects an error,
The error control means includes
When the error detection means detects a first type error, the first error notification state for notifying the first type error is controlled, and an operation for canceling the first error notification state is detected. First error control means for releasing the first error notification state;
When the error detection means detects a second type error, it controls to a second error notification state that notifies the second type error, and detects an operation for canceling the second error notification state, A second error control means for releasing the second error notification state,
The first error control means cancels the first error notification state immediately after detecting an operation for canceling the first error notification state,
The second error control means includes
It has an error notification timer that measures the set time,
Regardless of the presence or absence of an operation for canceling the second error notification state, the second error notification state is continued for at least a predetermined minimum duration ,
Further, in the second error notification state, the error notification timer is set to operate with the minimum duration, and the second error notification state is continued at least until the error notification timer expires. A gaming machine that executes a process of increasing the remaining time of the error notification timer each time an operation for canceling the second error notification state is detected before the error notification timer expires . The second error control means is configured to activate the second error notification state by setting a predetermined minimum duration in the error notification timer to release the second error notification state. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein when an operation is detected after the error notification timer expires, the second error notification state is canceled when the operation is detected . An error detection means for detecting at least two types of errors , a first type error and a second type error , and an error control means for controlling the error notification state to notify the error when the error detection means detects an error; In a gaming machine equipped with
The error control means, when the pre-Symbol error detecting means detects an error of the second kind, and controls the second error notification state of notifying the error of the second kind, to release the error notification state of said second A second error control means for releasing the second error notification state when detecting an operation for
The second error control means includes
An error notification timer for measuring a set time is provided, the error notification timer is activated in the second error notification state, and an operation for releasing the second error notification state is detected before the error notification timer expires If so, the second error notification state is continued until the error notification timer expires, and when the error notification timer expires, the second error notification state is canceled,
In the second error notification state, there is provided release operation number detection means for detecting that an operation for canceling the second error notification state has been performed two or more times. wherein when detecting the operation of a predetermined number of times, Yu Technical machine you and executes a predetermined release operation abnormality processing. A first control device, and a second control device that transmits a signal in one direction from the first control device via a cable,
4. The second type of error according to claim 1, wherein the second type of error is an error detected by the second control device by the error detection means without going through the first control device. The gaming machine according to any one of the above.   5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the second type of error is an abnormality in communication between the first control device and the second control device.

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