JP5779197B2 - Amusement stand - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game table represented by a ball game machine (pachinko machine) and a spinning machine (slot machine).

  Conventionally, for example, a slot machine is known as one of game machines. This slot machine uses a specified number of medals, rotates a plurality of reels by operating a start lever, and stops these reels by operating a stop button. The number of medals according to the stop mode is awarded.

  Some of these slot machines preserve the game state when the supply voltage falls below a predetermined voltage, and return the saved game state when the supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-273725 A

  A conventional game machine is composed of a main control unit in charge of game progress and a sub-control unit in charge of production. In order to improve security, only one-way communication from the main control unit to the sub-control unit is possible. In this configuration, when it is attempted to return the game state, it is difficult to return the effect during the game because the control unit has a different configuration. However, it is desirable to restore important effects as early as possible.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a game machine capable of quickly returning the performance.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem,
Operation means operated by a player;
Main control means for executing control relating to the progress of the game;
An effect control means for executing effect control of the effect means,
The main control means includes
Progress control means for executing freeze control that does not advance the game and executing progress control that advances the game based on the operation of the operation means during a period when the freeze control is not executed;
A restoration information storage means for saving restoration information for restoring the control state of the progress control means when the supply voltage is changed from an energized state that is a predetermined operating voltage to a power interruption state that is lower than the operating voltage; ,
The control state when the restoration information is saved by using the restoration information saved by the restoration information saving means when the restoration information is saved from the power interruption state. Recovery means to restore to,
Information transmitting means for transmitting information related to the game to the effect control means,
The production control means includes
Based on the reception of the freeze start information transmitted from the information transmitting means, the effect control of the effecting means is executed so as to start the first effect, and the freeze end information transmitted from the information transmitting means is Based on the reception, the effect control of the effect means is executed to start the second effect,
The information transmitting means includes
The freeze start information corresponding to the start of execution of the freeze control is transmitted to execute the first effect in accordance with the start of the execution period of the freeze control, and the freeze corresponding to the end of execution of the freeze control End information is transmitted to execute the second effect in accordance with the end of the execution period of the freeze control,
The production control means includes
The control state in which the freeze control is executed is restored by the restoration means, and the second effect is started by transmitting the freeze end information corresponding to the end of the execution period of the freeze control. der what can be is,
The progress control means includes
If the operation means is operated in accordance with a predetermined operation condition within the execution period of the freeze control, the freeze is performed in order to make the period during which the game does not proceed regardless of the operation of the operation means longer than the execution period. the der Rukoto what extend the execution period of the control features.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the game stand which can return the effect after freezing at an early stage can be provided.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the slot machine 100 as viewed from the front side (player side). It is a figure which shows an example of a winning line. It is a circuit block diagram of a control part. It is a figure which expands and shows the arrangement of the design given to each reel in plane. It is a figure which shows the kind of winning combination (including an operating combination), the symbol combination corresponding to each winning combination, and the operation or payout of each winning combination. FIG. 3 is a transition diagram of the gaming state of the slot machine 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows the lottery table of the winning combination in each game state. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part main process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the freeze lottery process (step S113) in the main process of the main control part of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the freeze setting process (step S117) in the main control part main process of FIG. (A) is a flowchart of the main process which CPU404 of the 1st sub control part 400 performs, (b) is a flowchart of the process at the time of command reception of (a), (c) is 1st sub control. 4 is a flowchart of timer interrupt processing of the unit 400, and (d) is a flowchart of initial setting processing of the first sub-control unit 400. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the presentation control process (step S309) in the 1st sub control part main process of Fig.12 (a). (A) is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub-control unit 500, (b) is a flowchart of command reception interrupt processing of the second sub-control unit 500, and (c) is 5 is a flowchart of timer interrupt processing of the second sub-control unit 500, and (d) is a flowchart of image control processing of the second sub-control unit 500. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement at the time of becoming a freeze state during a game. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement when a power failure occurs during freezing. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement when a freeze is reset. The operation when power interruption occurs during the first freeze will be described. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement when a power failure occurs during the reset freeze. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement when a power failure occurs during the game in which freezing is not performed.

  Hereinafter, a slot machine according to an embodiment (first embodiment) of a gaming machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The slot machine of this embodiment described below starts rotating when a predetermined number of game media are inserted and a plurality of reels each having a plurality of types of symbols receive a predetermined rotation start instruction operation. At the same time, it is determined by lottery whether or not the internal winning of a plurality of types of roles is won based on receiving the rotation start instruction operation, and each of the reels individually rotates by receiving a predetermined rotation stop instruction operation. If the conditions determined by the combination based on the result of the lottery and the combination of symbols when the reels stop meet the predetermined payout conditions, the game medium is paid out and the game ends. This is a game machine that advances a series of games that are completed without paying out game media.

  First, the basic configuration of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the slot machine 100 as viewed from the front side (player side). FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a winning line.

  A slot machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to an example of a game machine according to the present invention, and includes a main body 101 and a front door 102 that is attached to the front surface of the main body 101 and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 101. . Inside the center of the main body 101 (not shown), three reels (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface are stored and rotated inside the slot machine 100. It is configured to be able to. These reels 110 to 112 are rotationally driven by a driving device such as a stepping motor.

  In the present embodiment, an appropriate number of symbols are printed on the belt-like member at equal intervals, and the reels 110 to 112 are configured by affixing the belt-like member to a predetermined circular cylindrical frame member. When viewed from the player, the symbols on the reels 110 to 112 are generally displayed three in the vertical direction from the symbol display window 113 so that a total of nine symbols can be seen. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2, the symbols displayed on the upper stage of the left reel 110 (position 1 shown in the figure) are displayed on the upper stage of the left reel 110 and the middle stage of the left reel 110 (position 2 shown in the figure). The symbol to be displayed is displayed in the middle stage of the left reel, the symbol displayed in the lower stage of the left reel 110 (position 3 in the figure), the symbol displayed in the lower stage of the left reel, and the upper stage of the middle reel 111 (position 4 in the figure). The symbol displayed on the middle reel upper symbol, the symbol displayed on the middle of the left reel 111 (position 5 in the figure) is the middle reel middle symbol, and the symbol displayed on the lower part of the middle reel 111 (position 6 in the figure). The symbol displayed on the lower stage of the middle reel, the upper stage of the right reel 112 (position 7 in the figure) is the upper stage of the right reel, and the picture displayed on the middle stage of the right reel 112 (position 8 in the figure) is the right reel. Middle design, bottom of right reel 112 (in the figure The symbol displayed at the position 9) is called the right reel lower symbol, and the symbols of the reels 110 to 112 are three in the vertical direction on the reels 110 to 112 through the symbol display window 113, for a total of nine symbols. Is displayed. Then, by rotating the reels 110 to 112, the combination of symbols that can be seen by the player varies. That is, each of the reels 110 to 112 functions as a display device that displays a combination of a plurality of types of symbols in a variable manner. In addition to the reel, an electronic image display device such as a liquid crystal display device can also be used as such a display device. In this embodiment, three reels are provided in the center of the slot machine 100. However, the number of reels and the installation position of the reels are not limited to this. In addition, the area | region inside this display window 113 is corresponded to an example of the visually recognizable area | region in the game stand of this invention.

  A backlight (not shown) for illuminating the individual symbols displayed on the symbol display window 113 is disposed on the back of each of the reels 110 to 112. It is desirable that the backlight is shielded for each symbol so that the individual symbols can be illuminated evenly. In the slot machine 100, an optical sensor (not shown) including a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit is provided in the vicinity of each of the reels 110 to 112. The light projecting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor are provided. A light shielding piece of a certain length provided on the reel passes between the two. Based on the detection result of the sensor, the position of the symbol on the reel in the rotation direction is determined, and the reels 110 to 112 are stopped so that the target symbol is displayed on the winning line.

  The winning line display lamp 120 is a lamp indicating the winning line 114 that is valid. The winning line is a line for determining whether or not a symbol combination corresponding to a winning combination described in FIG. 4 to be described later is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the middle reel winning line L1 composed of the left reel middle symbol, the middle reel middle symbol and the right reel middle symbol, the left reel upper symbol, the middle reel middle symbol and the right reel lower symbol line L2 comprised of the right reel lower symbol. , A left reel lower symbol, a middle reel middle symbol, and a right reel upper symbol L3. A left reel upper symbol, a left reel upper symbol, a middle reel upper symbol, and a right reel upper symbol L4. There are two winning lines. FIG. 2 shows these winning lines. A valid pay line (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “valid line”) is determined in advance by the number of medals bet as a game medium. The slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment is a three-wager dedicated machine, and any winning line is not effective when the number of inserted medals is less than three, and all winning lines L1 when three medals are bet. ~ L4 becomes effective. When the winning line becomes valid, the game can be started by operating the start lever 135. The number of winning lines is not limited to 4 lines. For example, three middle winning lines L1, right falling winning lines L2, and right rising winning lines L3 may be set as valid winning lines, or the number of winning lines corresponding to the number of bets is set as effective winning lines. May be.

  For example, the notification lamp 123 indicates that a specific winning combination (specifically, a special combination 1 and a special combination 2) is won internally in an internal lottery described later, or is in a special gaming state described later. It is a lamp to inform the person. The game medal insertable lamp 124 is a lamp for notifying that the player can insert a game medal. The replay lamp 122 indicates that the current game can be replayed when a replaying role (details will be described later), which is one of the winning combinations in the previous game, can be replayed (no medal insertion is required). This is a lamp that informs the player. The reel panel lamp 128 is an effect lamp.

  The bet buttons 130 to 132 are buttons for inserting a predetermined number of medals (referred to as credits) stored electronically in the slot machine 100. In the present embodiment, each time the bet button 130 is pressed, one sheet is inserted. When the bet button 131 is pressed, two sheets are inserted. When the bet button 132 is pressed, three sheets are inserted. ing. Hereinafter, the bet button 132 is also referred to as a MAX bet button. The game medal insertion lamp 129 lights up the number of lamps corresponding to the number of inserted medals, and when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the game start is informed that the game can be started. The lamp 121 is turned on. These bet buttons 130 to 132 correspond to an example of operation means in the game table of the present invention.

  The medal slot 141 is an slot for a player to insert a medal when starting a game. That is, the medal can be inserted electronically by the bet buttons 130 to 132, or an actual medal can be inserted (insertion operation) from the medal insertion slot 141. is there.

  The stored number display 125 is a display for displaying the number of medals stored electronically in the slot machine 100. The game information display 126 is a display for displaying various types of internal information (for example, the number of medals paid out during a bonus game) as numerical values. The payout number display 127 is a display for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to the player as a result of winning a winning combination. The stored number display 125, the game information display 126, and the payout number display 127 are 7-segment (SEG) displays.

  The start lever 135 is a lever type switch for starting the rotation of the reels 110 to 112. That is, when a desired medal number is inserted into the medal insertion slot 141 or when the bet buttons 130 to 132 are operated and the start lever 135 is operated, the reels 110 to 112 start to rotate. The operation on the start lever 135 is referred to as a game start operation. The start lever 135 corresponds to an example of operation means in the game table of the present invention.

  The stop button unit 136 is provided with stop buttons 137 to 139 including a left stop button 137, a middle stop button 138, and a right stop button 139. The stop buttons 137 to 139 are button-type switches for individually stopping the reels 110 to 112 that have started rotating by operating the start lever 135, and are associated with the reels 110 to 112. More specifically, the left reel 110 can be stopped by operating the left stop button 137, the middle reel 111 can be stopped by operating the middle stop button 138, and the right stop button 139 can be The right reel 112 can be stopped by operating. Hereinafter, the operation on the stop buttons 137 to 139 is referred to as a stop operation, the first stop operation is referred to as a first stop operation, the next stop operation is referred to as a second stop operation, and the last stop operation is referred to as a third stop operation. In addition, reels that are stopped in response to these stop operations are sequentially referred to as a first stop reel, a second stop reel, and a third stop reel. Further, the order of stopping the stop buttons 137 to 139 in order to stop all the reels 110 to 112 that are rotating is called an operation order or a pressing order. Furthermore, the operation sequence in which the first stop operation is the stop operation of the left reel 110 is called “forward press operation sequence” or simply “forward press”, and the stop operation in which the first stop operation is the stop operation of the right reel 112 is “ This is called “reverse pressing operation sequence” or simply “reverse pressing”. Note that a light emitter may be provided inside each stop button 137 to 139, and when the stop button 137 to 139 can be operated, the light emitter may be turned on to notify the player. In addition, these stop buttons 137 to 139 correspond to an example of operation means in the game table of the present invention.

  The medal return button 133 is a button that is pressed to remove a medal when the inserted medal is jammed. The payment button 134 is a button for adjusting the medals electronically stored in the slot machine 100 and the bet medals and discharging them from the medal payout exit 155. The door key hole 140 is a hole into which a key for unlocking the front door 102 of the slot machine 100 is inserted.

  Below the stop button unit 136 is provided a title panel 162 for displaying the model name and pasting various types of certificate. At the lower part of the title panel 162, a medal payout opening 155 and a medal tray 161 are provided.

  The sound hole 145 is a hole for outputting the sound of a speaker provided inside the slot machine 100 to the outside. The side lamps 144 provided on the left and right portions of the front door 102 are decorative lamps for exciting games. An effect device 160 is disposed above the front door 102, and a sound hole 143 is provided above the effect device 160. The effect device 160 includes a shutter (shielding device) 163 including two right shutters 163a and a left shutter 163b that can be opened and closed in a horizontal direction, and a liquid crystal display device 157 (effect image) disposed on the back side of the shutter 163. And a display screen of the liquid crystal display device 157 appears on the front side (player side) of the slot machine 100 when the right shutter 163a and the left shutter 163b are opened horizontally outward in front of the liquid crystal display device 157. It has become. It should be noted that the display device is not limited to a liquid crystal display device, but may be any display device capable of displaying various effect images and various game information. For example, a multi-segment display (7-segment display), a dot matrix display, an organic EL display, a plasma display , A reel (drum), or a display device including a projector and a screen. Further, the display screen has a rectangular shape and is configured so that the player can visually recognize the entire display screen. In the case of this embodiment, the display screen is rectangular, but may be square. In addition, a decorative object (not shown) may be provided on the periphery of the display screen, and a part of the peripheral edge of the display screen may be hidden by the decorative object, so that the display screen looks irregular. In the present embodiment, the display screen is a flat surface, but may be a curved surface. The liquid crystal display device 157 corresponds to an example of the rendering means of the present invention.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the control unit of the control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This figure shows a circuit block diagram of the control unit.

  The control unit of the slot machine 100 can be broadly divided into main effects according to a main control unit 300 that controls the progress of the game and a command signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “command”) transmitted by the main control unit 300. And a second sub-control unit 500 that controls various devices based on a command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400. The main control unit 300 described below corresponds to an example of the main control unit of the present invention. The combination of the first sub control unit 400 and the second sub control unit 500 corresponds to an example of the effect control means of the present invention.

<Main control unit>
First, the main control unit 300 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The main control unit 300 includes a basic circuit 302 that controls the entire main control unit 300. The basic circuit 302 includes a CPU 304, control program data, lottery data used in the internal lottery of a winning combination, and reel symbols. ROM 306 storing an array, RAM 308 for temporarily storing data, I / O 310 for controlling input / output of various devices, counter timer 312 for measuring time, frequency, etc., WDT (Watchdog timer) 314 is mounted. Note that other storage devices may be used for the ROM 306 and the RAM 308, and this is the same for the first sub-control unit 400 and the second sub-control unit 500 described later. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 315b as a system clock. Further, when the power is turned on, the CPU 304 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 306 to the counter timer 312. The counter timer 312 sets the interrupt time based on the received frequency division data. An interrupt request is transmitted to the CPU 304 at every interrupt time. In response to this interrupt request, the CPU 304 monitors each sensor and transmits a drive pulse. For example, when the clock signal output from the crystal oscillator 315b is set to 8 MHz, the frequency division value of the counter timer 312 is set to 1/256, and the data for frequency division of the ROM 306 is set to 47, the interrupt reference time is 256 × 47 ÷ 8 MHz. = 1.504 ms.

  The main control unit 300 includes a random number generation circuit 316 used as a hardware random number counter that changes a numerical value in a range of 0 to 65535 based on a clock signal input from the crystal oscillator 315a, and a start signal ( The CPU 304 includes a start signal output circuit 338 that outputs a reset signal. When the start signal is input from the start signal output circuit 338, the CPU 304 starts game control (starts main processing main processing described later) To do).

  Further, the main control unit 300 includes a sensor circuit 320, and the CPU 304 inserts various sensors 318 (a bet button 130 sensor, a bet button 131 sensor, a bet button 132 sensor, and a medal insertion slot 141 every interruption time). Medal acceptance sensor, start lever 135 sensor, left stop button 137 sensor, middle stop button 138 sensor, right stop button 139 sensor, checkout button 134 sensor, medal payout sensor for medals paid out from the medal payout device 180, left reel 110 The index sensor of the middle reel 111, the index sensor of the right reel 112, etc.).

  When the sensor circuit 320 detects the H level of the start lever sensor, a signal indicating this detection is output to the random number generation circuit 316. Receiving this signal, the random number generation circuit 316 latches the value at that timing and stores it in a register that stores the random value used for the lottery.

  Two medal acceptance sensors are installed in the internal passage of the medal insertion slot 141 and detect whether or not a medal has passed. Two start lever 135 sensors are installed inside the start lever 135 and detect a start operation by the player. The left stop button 137 sensor, the middle stop button 138 sensor, and the right stop button 139 sensor are installed in the corresponding stop buttons 137 to 139, respectively, and detect the operation of the stop button by the player.

  The bet button 130 sensor, the bet button 131 sensor, and the bet button 132 sensor are installed in the corresponding medal insertion buttons 130 to 132, respectively, and the medal stored electronically in the RAM 308 is inserted into the game. Detecting a throwing operation when throwing as. The settlement button 134 sensor is provided on the settlement button 134. When the settlement button 134 is pressed once, the medals stored electronically are settled. The medal payout sensor is a sensor for detecting a medal paid out by the medal payout device 180. Each of the above sensors may be a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor.

  The index sensor of the left reel 110, the index sensor of the middle reel 111, and the index sensor of the right reel 112 are installed at predetermined positions on the mounting bases of the reels 110 to 112, and light shielding pieces provided on the reel frame pass therethrough. Each time you do it, it goes to L level. Rotational position information indicating how much the reel is rotating from the reference position from once to the L level is calculated based on the value obtained by counting the clock signals output from the crystal oscillator 315b. Is done. When the CPU 304 detects the L level signal, the CPU 304 determines that the reel has made one rotation and resets the rotational position information of the reel to zero. This rotational position information is stored in the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300.

  The main control unit 300 is provided in a drive circuit 322 for driving a stepping motor provided in the reel devices 110 to 112, a drive circuit 324 for driving a solenoid provided in a medal selector 170 for selecting inserted medals, and a medal payout device 180. A driving circuit 326 for driving the motor, various lamps 339 (a winning line display lamp 120, a notification lamp 123, a game medal insertion possible lamp 124, a re-game lamp 122, a game medal insertion lamp 129, a game start lamp 121, and a stored number display. A driving circuit 328 for driving the device 125, the game information display 126, and the payout number display 127).

  In addition, an information output circuit 334 is connected to the basic circuit 302, and the main control unit 300 is slotted into an information input circuit 652 provided in an external hall computer (not shown) or the like via the information output circuit 334. The game information of the machine 100 (for example, information indicating the game state) is output.

  Further, the main control unit 300 includes a voltage monitoring circuit 330 that monitors the voltage value of the power source supplied from the power management unit (not shown) to the main control unit 300. The voltage monitoring circuit 330 is a voltage of the power source. When the value is less than a predetermined value (9 v in this embodiment), a low voltage signal indicating that the voltage has decreased is output to the basic circuit 302.

  In addition, the main control unit 300 includes an output interface for transmitting a command to the first sub control unit 400 and enables communication with the first sub control unit 400. Note that information communication between the main control unit 300 and the first sub control unit 400 is one-way communication, and the main control unit 300 is configured to be able to transmit signals such as commands to the first sub control unit 400. However, the first sub-control unit 400 is configured not to transmit a signal such as a command to the main control unit 300.

<Sub control unit>
Next, the first sub control unit 400 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The first sub control unit 400 receives the control command transmitted from the main control unit 300 via the input interface. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a basic circuit 402 that controls the entire first sub-control unit 400 based on the control command. The basic circuit 402 stores data temporarily with the CPU 404. RAM 408, I / O 410 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer 412 for measuring time and number of times are mounted. The CPU 404 of the basic circuit 402 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 414 as a system clock. The ROM 406 stores a control program and data for controlling the entire first sub-control unit 400, a backlight lighting pattern, data for controlling various displays, and the like.

  The CPU 404 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 406 to the counter timer 412 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The counter timer 412 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency dividing data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 404 at each interrupt time. The CPU 404 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a sound source IC 418, and the sound source IC 418 is provided with speakers 272 and 277 via an output interface. The sound source IC 418 controls sound output from the amplifiers and speakers 272 and 277 in accordance with a command from the CPU 404. The sound source IC 418 is connected to an S-ROM (sound ROM) in which audio data is stored. The audio data acquired from the ROM is amplified by an amplifier and output from the speakers 272 and 277. The speakers 272 and 277 correspond to an example of the rendering means of the present invention.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a drive circuit 422, and various kinds of lamps 420 (upper lamp, lower lamp, side lamp 144, title panel 162 lamp, bet button lamp, etc.) are connected to the drive circuit 422 via an input / output interface. 200, reel backlight, etc.) are connected. The various lamps 420 correspond to an example of the rendering means of the present invention.

  In addition, the CPU 404 transmits and receives signals to the second sub control unit 500 via the output interface. Second sub-control unit 500 performs various controls of effect device 160 including display control of effect image display device 157. Note that the second sub-control unit 500 is, for example, a control unit that controls display of the liquid crystal display device 157 and a control unit that controls various drive devices for presentation (for example, a control unit that controls motor driving of the shutter 163). For example, it may be configured by a plurality of control units.

  The second sub-control unit 500 includes a basic circuit 502 that receives the control command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400 via the input interface and controls the entire second sub-control unit 500 based on the control command. The basic circuit 502 includes a CPU 504, a RAM 508 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 510 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer for measuring time and frequency 512. The CPU 504 of the basic circuit 502 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 514 as a system clock. The ROM 506 stores a control program and data for controlling the entire second sub-control unit 500, data for image display, and the like.

  The CPU 504 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 506 to the counter timer 512 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The counter timer 512 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency division data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 404 at each interrupt time. The CPU 504 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a drive circuit 530 that drives a motor of the shutter 163, and the drive circuit 530 is provided with a shutter 163 via an output interface. The drive circuit 530 outputs a drive signal to a stepping motor (not shown) provided in the shutter 163 in response to a command from the CPU 504.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a sensor circuit 532, and a shutter sensor 538 is connected to the sensor circuit 532 via an input interface. The CPU 504 monitors the state of the shutter sensor 538 every interruption time.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a VDP 534 (video display processor), and a ROM 506 and a VRAM 536 are connected to the VDP 534 via a bus. The VDP 534 reads out image data and the like stored in the ROM 506 based on a signal from the CPU 504, generates a display image using the work area of the VRAM 536, and displays the image on the effect image display device 157.

<Pattern arrangement>
Next, the symbol arrangement applied to each of the reels 110 to 112 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same figure is a figure which expand | deploys and shows the arrangement | sequence of the symbol given to each reel (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) planarly.

  In each reel 110 to 112, a plurality of types (10 types in this embodiment) of symbols shown on the right side of the figure are arranged in a predetermined number of frames (21 frames of numbers 0 to 20 in this embodiment). Also, numbers 0 to 20 shown at the left end of the figure are numbers indicating the arrangement positions of symbols on the reels 110 to 112. For example, in the present embodiment, “watermelon design” is assigned to the number 1 frame of the left reel 110, “bell design” is assigned to the number 0 frame of the middle reel 111, and “seven 1” is assigned to the number 2 frame of the right reel 112. The “design” is arranged.

<Type of winning prize>
Next, the types of winning combinations of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure shows the types of winning combinations (including actuating combinations), symbol combinations corresponding to each winning combination, and the operation or payout of each winning combination.

  The winning combination of the slot machine 100 includes a special combination (special combination 1, special combination 2) and a general combination (replay combination, small combination 1 to small combination 3). The types of winning combinations are not limited to these combinations and can be arbitrarily adopted.

  Among the winning combinations in this embodiment, the special combination 1 and the special combination 2 are combinations that shift to a special gaming state in which a predetermined profit is given to the player. In addition, the re-playing role is a role that enables re-playing without newly inserting medals. These winning combinations may be referred to as “acting combinations”. In addition, “winning” in the present embodiment includes a case where a symbol combination of an operating combination that does not accompany a medal payout (ie, does not accompany a medal payout) is displayed on the active line. Includes a special role 2 and a prize for replaying.

  The special combination 1 and the special combination 2 are combinations (operating combinations) that shift to a special gaming state by winning. However, medals will not be paid out for winning this role. As for the corresponding symbol combinations, special role 1 is “Seven 1-Seven 1-Seven 1 (BB)” and “Seven 2-Seven 2-Seven 2 (BB)”, and special role 2 is “BAR-BAR-BAR”. (RB) ".

  When the special combination 1 or special combination 2 is won internally, a special combination internal winning flag corresponding to the internal winning combination is set to ON (stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 308 of the main control unit 300). When this flag is set to ON, the main control unit 300 shifts the gaming state to the special combination internal winning state (hereinafter, this state may be referred to as RT1). This flag is kept on until winning the internal winning combination, and it becomes easy to win the internal winning combination in subsequent games. In other words, even if the special winning combination 1 or special winning combination 2 is not won, the special combination will be selected in the next and subsequent games, and the symbol combination corresponding to the special combination (for example, the special combination) In the case of winning an internal winning 1, the symbol combination of “Seven 1-Seven 1-Seven 1 (BB)” and “Seven 2-Seven 2-Seven 2 (BB)” will be in a state where it is easy to win. This special combination internal winning state (RT1) will be described later.

  The main control unit 300 shifts the gaming state to the special gaming state (hereinafter, this state may be referred to as RT2) based on the display of the symbol combination corresponding to the special combination 1 or special combination 2. Further, in this special game state, when a predetermined number of payouts are made, the normal game state (hereinafter, this state may be referred to as RT0) is shifted. The special game state (RT2) and the normal game state (RT0) will be described later.

  The re-gamer is a winning player (operator) who can play a game without inserting medals (game media) in the next game by winning, and no medals are paid out. The corresponding symbol combination is “replay-replay-replay (normal replay)”.

  The re-game player may be any player who can play the next game without the player inserting medals. Therefore, for example, when a re-game is won, a medal may be automatically inserted in the next game (the medal insertion number is reset in a medal insertion number storage area described later), or a re-game is won. It is also possible to use a medal that has been thrown into the next game as it is in the next game.

  A “small role (small role 1 to small role 3)” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “small role 1”, “small role 2”, and “small role 3” respectively), a predetermined number of medals are paid out by winning a prize. In the winning combination, the small combination 1 is “watermelon-watermelon-watermelon (watermelon)”, the small role 2 is “ANY-cherry-ANY”, and the small role 3 is “bell-bell-”. "Bell". The corresponding payout number is as shown in FIG. In the case of “ANY-Cherry-ANY”, the symbol of the middle reel 111 may be “Cherry”, and the symbol of the left reel 110 and the right reel 112 may be any symbol.

<Type of gaming state>
Next, the type and transition of the gaming state of the slot machine 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a transition diagram of the gaming state of the slot machine 100.

  The slot machine 100 is roughly divided into three game states, namely, a normal game state (RT0), a special role internal winning state (RT1), and a special game state (RT2). These game states are controlled by the main control unit 300. Has been. FIG. 6A shows these three gaming states. FIG. 6B shows the transition conditions for each gaming state, and FIG. 6A shows the symbols corresponding to the transition conditions shown in FIG. 6B on the arrows connecting the gaming states. Has been. When the transition condition corresponding to the symbol described in each arrow is established, the gaming state transitions in the direction of the arrow. Conditions for this game state to transition include, for example, winning a predetermined combination, winning a predetermined combination internally, and a predetermined number of payouts.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a lottery table for winning combinations in each gaming state. The horizontal axis represents each gaming state, and the vertical axis represents the lottery value for each winning combination. The internal winning probability of the winning combination in each gaming state described below is a random value obtained from the lottery data prepared in the ROM 306 corresponding to the range of the lottery data associated with each winning combination at the time of the internal lottery. Is obtained by dividing by numerical data in the range of (for example, 65535). For example, in the normal gaming state (RT0), the lottery value of the small combination 1 is 256, and the winning probability of the small combination 1 is 256 / 65536≈0.4%. The lottery data is divided into several numerical ranges in advance, and each combination and lose is associated with each numerical range. It is determined whether the random number value obtained as a result of executing the internal lottery is a value corresponding to the lottery data corresponding to which combination, and the internal lottery combination is determined. This lottery data is provided with settings 1 to 6 in which the winning probabilities of at least one combination are different, and a game shop clerk can arbitrarily select and set any set value.

  Hereinafter, the gaming state of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

<Normal gaming state (RT0)>
The normal gaming state is a gaming state that is disadvantageous to the player. In the normal gaming state, a winning combination to be internally won is drawn by referring to the lottery table in the column “RT0” on the horizontal axis shown in FIG.

  In the normal gaming state, the winning combination that is won internally includes a special combination 1, a special combination 2, a re-playing combination, a small combination 1, a small combination 2, and a small combination 3. If the winning combination is not won, the game is lost, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is not displayed. The fact that the symbol combination related to winning in the winning line is not stopped may be referred to as “losing”. In addition, the fact that the winning combination has not been won may be expressed as “winning”.

  FIG. 6 shows that when the special combination 1 or special combination 2 is won internally in the normal gaming state (RT0), the state shifts to a special combination internal winning state (RT1) described later. Further, when a symbol combination corresponding to special role 1 or special role 2 is displayed (when winning special role 1 or special role 2), it is indicated that the state shifts to a special gaming state (RT2) described later. ing.

<Special role internal winning state (RT1)>
The special combination internal winning state (RT1) is a state in which the internal winning flag corresponding to the special combination 1 or special combination 2 is set to ON, and when the player performs a stop operation at a predetermined timing, This is a gaming state in which a symbol combination corresponding to the corresponding special combination can be displayed. In the special combination internal winning state, a winning combination to be internally won is drawn by referring to the lottery table in the column “RT1” on the horizontal axis shown in FIG. The winning combination that is won internally in the special combination internal winning state includes a re-playing combination, a small combination 1, a small combination 2, and a small combination 3. If the winning combination is not won, the game is lost, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is not displayed.

  In addition, FIG. 6 shows that when a symbol combination corresponding to special role 1 or special role 2 is displayed in the special role internal winning state (RT1), the state shifts to a special game state (RT2) described later. Has been.

<Special gaming state (RT2)>
The special game state (RT2) is a game state that is most advantageous to the player among all the game states. In the special game state, the winning combination to be won internally is drawn by referring to the lottery table in the column “RT2” on the horizontal axis shown in FIG. In the special game state, the winning combination for winning internally is only the small combination 3. If the winning combination is not won, the game is lost, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is not displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows that in the special game state (RT2), when the specified number is paid out, the game state shifts to the normal game state (RT0). Specifically, in the case of shifting to the special gaming state based on the display of the symbol combination corresponding to the special combination 1, the transition to the normal gaming state (RT0) is made when the payout of 360 or more medals is completed. . Further, when the game state is shifted to the special game state based on the display of the symbol combination corresponding to the special combination 2, the game state is shifted to the normal game state (RT0) when the payout of 120 or more medals is completed.

  In this embodiment, the special game state ends when a specified number of payouts are executed. For example, the special game state ends when a predetermined combination (for example, a single bonus) is won, or a predetermined number of times ( For example, the game may be ended when there are 8 winnings or when a predetermined number of games (for example, 6 times) are played.

<Outline of processing>
Hereinafter, processing in the main control unit 300, the first sub control unit 400, and the second sub control unit 500 described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Main control unit main processing>
First, a main control unit main process executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing of the main control unit.

  As described above, the main control unit 300 is provided with the start signal output circuit (reset signal output circuit) 338 that outputs the start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 to which this activation signal has been input resets by a reset interrupt and executes the main process of the main control unit shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with a control program stored in advance in the ROM 306.

  When the power is turned on, first, various initial setting processes are performed in step S101. In this initial setting, setting of a stack initial value to the stack pointer (SP) of the CPU 304, setting of interrupt prohibition, initial setting of the I / O 310, initial setting of various variables stored in the RAM 308, operation permission to the WDT 314, and initial setting Set the value. In addition, when there is return data saved by a power interruption process described later, a specific variable or stack pointer is set based on the return data. As a result, the state of the main control unit 300 returns to the state when the return data is saved. Although details will be described later, the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to execute a process (freeze) in which a game is not progressed by a player's operation. When the above-described power interruption process is executed during the execution of the freeze, the return data includes data of a freeze execution timer (remaining time) described later.

  In step S103, medal insertion / start operation acceptance processing is executed. Here, it is checked whether or not a medal has been inserted, and the winning line display lamp 120 is turned on in response to the insertion of the medal. In addition, it prepares to send an insertion command indicating that a medal has been inserted. When a re-game player is won in the previous game, the same number of medals as the number of medals inserted in the previous game are processed, so that it is not necessary for the player to insert medals. Further, it is checked whether or not the start lever 135 has been operated. If there is an operation of the start lever 135, the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S105, the number of inserted medals is determined and an effective winning line is determined.

  In step S107, the random number generated by the random number generation circuit 316 is acquired.

  In step S109, the winning combination lottery table stored in the ROM 306 is read according to the current gaming state, and an internal lottery is performed using this and the random value acquired in step S107, and the result of the internal lottery is shown. Preparation for transmitting the internal winning command to the first sub-control unit 400 is performed. As a result of the internal lottery, when any winning combination (including an operating combination) is won internally, the flag of the winning combination is turned on.

  In step S111, reel stop data is selected based on the internal lottery result. The reel stop data is stored in the ROM 306 of the main control unit 300.

  In step S113, freeze lottery processing is performed. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S115, it is determined whether or not the freeze execution setting flag is set to ON. If this flag is set on, the process proceeds to step S117, and if it is set off, the process proceeds to step S119.

  In step S117, freeze setting processing is performed. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. When this process ends, the process proceeds to step S119.

  In step S119, a reel rotation start process is executed to start rotation of all the reels 110 to 112.

  In step S121, a reel stop control process is executed. In this process, the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be received, and when any one of the stop buttons is pressed, the reel stop data selected to stop the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is referred to. Any of the reels 110 to 112 is stopped according to the number of drawn symbols set in the reel stop data. When all the reels 110 to 112 are stopped by this reel stop control process, the process proceeds to step S123.

  In step S123, a winning determination process is performed. Here, it is determined that the winning combination is won when a pattern combination corresponding to some winning combination is displayed on the activated winning line 114. For example, if “bell-bell-bell” is aligned on the activated winning line, it is determined that the winning combination 3 has been won.

  In step S125, if any winning combination with payout is won, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out according to the number of winning lines.

  In step S127, game state control processing is performed. In the game state control process, a process related to the transition of each game state of the normal game state (RT0), the special role internal winning state (RT1), and the special game state (RT2) is performed, and when the start condition or the end condition is satisfied, Transition game state. In addition, preparation for transmission of a game state update command indicating the current game state is made. Thus, one game is finished. Thereafter, the process proceeds by returning to step S103 and repeating the above-described processing.

<Main controller 300 timer interrupt processing>
Next, a main control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the main control unit timer interrupt process.

  The main control unit 300 includes a counter timer 312 that generates a timer interrupt signal at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, about once every 2 ms), and the main control unit timer interrupt is triggered by this timer interrupt signal. The process is started at a predetermined cycle.

  In step S201, a timer interrupt start process is performed. In this timer interrupt start process, a process of temporarily saving each register value of the CPU 304 to the stack area is performed.

  In step S203, the WDT 314 is periodically changed to the initial value (32.8 ms in this embodiment) so that no WDT interruption occurs (so as not to detect a processing abnormality). In the embodiment, the restart is performed once every about 2 ms, which is the period of the main control unit timer interrupt.

  In step S205, input port state update processing is performed. In this input port status update process, the detection signals of the sensor circuits 320 of the various sensors 318 are input via the input ports of the I / O 310 to monitor the presence or absence of the detection signals, and each of the various sensors 318 is partitioned in the RAM 308. Store in the provided signal state storage area. In this process, a process of confirming the status of the index sensor of each reel 110 to 112 is also executed.

  In step S207, various game processes are executed, and processes according to the interrupt status are executed. Details of the various game processes will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S209, timer update processing is performed. More specifically, various timers are updated for each time unit.

  In step S211, command setting transmission processing is performed, and various commands prepared for transmission are transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400. Note that the output schedule information transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 is composed of 16 bits in the present embodiment, bit 15 is strobe information (indicating that data is set when ON), bit 11 -14 are command types (in this embodiment, basic command, input command, start lever reception command, internal winning command, effect command accompanying effect lottery processing, reel rotation start command accompanying the start of rotation of reels 110 to 112, stop Stop button reception command accompanying reception of the operation of buttons 137 to 139, stop position information command accompanying stop processing of reels 110 to 112, winning determination command, payout number command and payout end command accompanying medal payout processing, reel stop command, Game state update command), bits 0 to 10 are command data It is composed of (a predetermined information corresponding to the command type).

  In the first sub-control unit 400, it is possible to determine the production control according to the change of the game control in the main control unit 300 by the command type included in the received output schedule information, and it is included in the output schedule information. Based on the information of the command data, the contents of effect control can be determined.

  In step S213, an external output signal setting process is performed. In this external output signal setting process, game information stored in the RAM 308 is output to an information input circuit 652 separate from the slot machine 100 via the information output circuit 334.

  In step S215, device monitoring processing is performed. In this device monitoring process, first, the signal states of the various sensors 318 stored in the signal state storage area in step S205 are read, and the presence / absence of errors relating to medal insertion abnormality and medal payout abnormality is monitored. (Not shown) Error processing is executed. Further, the medal selector 170 (medal blocker in which a solenoid provided in the medal selector 170 operates), various lamps 339, and various 7-segment (SEG) indicators are set according to the current gaming state.

  In step S217, it is monitored whether the low voltage signal is on. Then, when the low voltage signal is on (when power supply shutoff is detected), the process proceeds to step S221. When the low voltage signal is off (power supply shutoff is not detected), the process proceeds to step S219.

  In step S219, various processes for ending the timer interrupt end process are performed. In this timer interrupt end process, the value of each register temporarily saved in step S201 is set in each original register. Thereafter, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, in step S221, a specific variable or stack pointer for returning to the power-off state at the time of power recovery is saved as a return data in a predetermined area of the RAM 308, and power-off processing such as initialization of input / output ports is performed. After that, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit shown in FIG.

  Next, details of the freeze lottery process (step S113) in the main process of the main control unit in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the freeze lottery process (step S113) in the main process of the main control unit of FIG.

  First, in the first step S1001, it is determined whether or not the special combination 1 (BB) has been won internally in the winning combination internal lottery process (step S109). If BB is won internally, the process proceeds to step S1003, and if not, the freeze lottery process is terminated.

  In step S1003, a lottery for determining whether or not to perform freeze is executed, and the process proceeds to step S1005. In the present embodiment, a lottery table configured to win the lottery with a probability of 1/2 is used.

  In step S1005, it is determined whether or not the freeze lottery in step S1003 has been won. If it is won, the process proceeds to step S1007. If not, the freeze lottery process is terminated.

  In step S1007, the freeze execution setting flag is set to ON (freeze execution setting), and the process proceeds to step S1009. In this process, the timer extendable flag for extending the freeze execution period is also set to on.

  In step S1009, preparation for transmitting a freeze start command to the first sub-control unit 400 is executed (freeze start command transmission setting), and this freeze lottery process is terminated. The freeze start command prepared here is transmitted to the first sub control unit 400 by the main control unit timer interrupt process of FIG. 9 (step S211).

  Next, details of the freeze setting process (step S117) in the main process of the main control unit in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the freeze setting process (step S117) in the main process of the main control unit of FIG.

  First, in the first step S1101, a value is set in a freeze timer (hereinafter referred to as a freeze execution timer), and the process proceeds to step S1105. In the present embodiment, a value corresponding to 10 seconds is set, and this value is counted down to 0 in the timer update process (step S209 in FIG. 9) of the main control unit timer interrupt process.

  In step S1105, it is determined whether or not the bet button 132 has been operated. If the bet button 132 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S1107. If the bet button 132 has not been operated, the process proceeds to step S1115.

  In step S1107, it is determined whether the timer extension possible flag is set to ON. If this flag is set to ON, the process proceeds to step S1109, and if it is set to OFF, the process proceeds to step S1115.

  In step S1109, a value is set in the freeze execution timer, and the flow proceeds to step S1111. In the present embodiment, a value corresponding to 10 seconds is set (updated).

  In step S1111, the timer extension possible flag is set to OFF, and the process proceeds to step S1113.

  In step S1113, preparation for transmitting the freeze period update command to the first sub-control unit 400 is executed (freeze period update command transmission setting), and the process proceeds to step S1115. The freeze period update command prepared here is transmitted to the first sub control unit 400 by the main control unit timer interrupt process of FIG. 9 (step S211).

  In step S1115, it is determined whether or not the value of the freeze execution timer is zero. That is, it is determined whether or not the time corresponding to the value set in the timer has elapsed. If the value of this timer is 0, the process proceeds to step S1117; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1105. This process is a standby process until the freeze execution timer reaches 0, and during this time, the game cannot be advanced by the player's operation (the main control part main process in FIG. 8 does not proceed to a new process). . Hereinafter, the fact that the game cannot be advanced by the player's operation is referred to as “freeze”.

  In the present embodiment, a configuration using a freeze execution timer is employed in order to prevent the game from proceeding by the player's operation. As a configuration by such a direct timer setting, for example, a timer setting for delaying the start of button reception may be performed. Also, in the case where the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be operated after the rotation of the reel reaches a constant speed, by setting a timer for increasing the time until the rotation of the reel reaches the constant speed, As a result, the period from when the start lever 135 is operated to when the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be operated can be lengthened. A configuration using such an indirect timer setting (a timer setting that increases the execution time of a process that causes a button reception to start) may be referred to as freeze.

  In step S1117, preparation for transmitting a freeze end command to the first sub-control unit 400 is executed (freeze end command transmission setting), and this freeze setting process is ended. The freeze end command prepared here is transmitted to the first sub control unit 400 by the main control unit timer interrupt process of FIG. 9 (step S211).

<Processing of First Sub-Control Unit 400>
Next, processing of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub-control unit 400. FIG. 12B is a flowchart of the command reception interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 12C is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 12D is a flowchart of the initial setting process of the first sub-control unit 400.

  First, in step S301 in FIG. 12A, various initial settings are performed. When the power is turned on, an initialization process is first executed in step S301. In this initialization processing, initialization of input / output ports, initialization processing of a storage area in the RAM 408, and the like are performed.

  In the above description of the operation of the main control unit 300, the processing at the time of power interruption and power recovery has been described, but the same processing can be executed in the first sub control unit 400 and the second sub control unit 500. (Not shown). This step S301 also serves as a process corresponding to the process at the time of power recovery. Specifically, this initialization process adopts a configuration that can be executed after power-on (power recovery) for effects scheduled to be executed before power interruption. However, if the presentation is resumed immediately after the power is turned on, the timing and content of the presentation may not match the progress of the game. In this embodiment, the plan is immediately after the power is turned on. A configuration is adopted in which a demonstration effect, which will be described later, is executed without executing the effect, and the effect is returned from the next game. Although details will be described later, this is not the case with respect to the return of performance in the event of a power interruption during freeze. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more. This process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10, and when the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305, 0 is substituted into the timer variable.

  In step S307, command processing that is processing corresponding to each command received from the main control unit 300 is executed.

  In step S309, effect control processing is performed. Here, the preparation for the production is performed according to the production reservation information in the production reservation area provided in the RAM 408. This preparation includes, for example, performing a process such as reading the effect data from the ROM 406 and performing an effect data update process when the effect data needs to be updated. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S311, sound control processing is performed based on the processing result of step S309. For example, if there is a command to the sound source IC 418 in the effect data read in step S309, this command is output to the sound source IC 418.

  In step S313, lamp control processing is performed based on the processing result of step S309. For example, if there is a command to the various lamps 420 in the effect data read out in step S309, this command is output to the drive circuit 422.

  In step S315, an information output process is performed for setting to transmit a control command to the second sub-control unit 500 based on the processing result of step S309. For example, if there is a control command to be transmitted to the second sub-control unit 500 in the effect data read out in step S309, the control command is set to be output, and the process returns to step S303.

  Next, a command reception interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the first sub-control unit 400 detects a strobe signal output from the main control unit 300. In step S321 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the main control unit 300 is stored as an unprocessed command in a command storage area provided in the RAM 408.

  Next, the first sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms), and the timer interrupt process is performed by using the timer interrupt as a trigger. Execute in the cycle.

  In step S331, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 408 described in step S303 in the first sub control unit main process shown in FIG. 12A, and the result is stored in the original timer variable storage area. Therefore, in step S303, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10).

  In step S333, transmission of a control command to the second sub-control unit 500 set in step S315, an effect random number update process, and the like are performed.

  Next, the initial setting process of step S301 in the main process of the first sub-control unit 400 will be described using FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the initial setting process.

  In step S341, various settings for executing a demonstration effect are executed. More specifically, effect data for executing a demonstration effect is set in the above-described effect control process (step S309). The demonstration effect is an effect in which an image relating to a game or an image relating to an effect is displayed on the display device 157 and the various lamps 420 are caused to emit light corresponding thereto. During the period in which this effect is executed, game history display and character selection display may be enabled by player operation, and such image display is also included in the demonstration effect. Since the demonstration effect is an effect that is not related to the progress of the game and the progress of the effect, the player cannot obtain information about the game operation during the period in which the demonstration effect is executed.

  In step S343, the initialization flag is set to on.

  In step S345, other initial settings are executed.

  Next, details of the effect control process (step S309) in the first sub control unit main process of FIG. 12A will be described using FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the effect control process (step S309) in the first sub control unit main process of FIG.

  First, in first step S3001, it is determined whether a freeze start command is received from the main control unit 300 or not. If this command is received, the process proceeds to step S3003. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3005.

  In step S3003, processing for setting effect data for the first period effect A, the first period effect B, and the second period effect is executed. The first period effect A is set to be executed immediately, while the production data is prepared for the first period effect B and the second period effect. The effect data prepared here is executed in the process described later (steps S3007 and S3011).

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of effect sets are prepared in advance, which include effect data for the first period effect A, effect data for the first period effect B, and effect data for the second period effect. One of these is decided by lottery. In addition, some of the effect sets that do not have effect data for the second period effect are prepared, and when this effect set is selected, a new effect is produced in the second period (details will be described later). It is configured not to run. In addition, it is not restricted to the structure using an effect set like this embodiment, The effect data for 1st period effects A, The effect data for 1st period effects B, The effect data for 2nd period effects May be adopted in such a manner that each of them is drawn independently.

  In addition, as described above, when a value is set in the freeze execution timer in step S1101 in FIG. 11, the freeze state is set. However, the effect data set here matches the start timing and end timing with the freeze period. It is for performing the production. When this effect data is set, the process proceeds to step S3023.

  In step S3005, it is determined whether or not a freeze period update command has been received from main controller 300. If this command is received, the process proceeds to step S3007, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3009.

  In step S3007, processing for executing the first period effect B is performed using the effect data of the first period effect B prepared in step S3003, and the process proceeds to step S3023. In addition, in this embodiment, the structure which the production | presentation content before power interruption resets at the time of power activation is employ | adopted (refer description of step S301 of Fig.12 (a)). For this reason, even after the return from the power interruption, the process for executing the first period effect B is executed using the effect data that has been set (prepared) as in the case where there is no power interruption. In addition, the process which sets not only the structure of this embodiment but effect data newly may be sufficient.

  In step S3009, it is determined whether a freeze end command has been received from the main control unit 300 or not. If this command is received, the process proceeds to step S3011. If not, the process proceeds to step S3013.

  In step S3011, processing for executing the first period effect B is performed using the second period effect effect data prepared in step S3003, and the process proceeds to step S3023. In addition, in this embodiment, the structure which the production | presentation content before power interruption resets at the time of power activation is employ | adopted (refer description of step S301 of Fig.12 (a)). For this reason, even after the return from the power interruption, the process for executing the second period effect is executed using the set (prepared) effect data as in the case where there is no power interruption. In addition, the process which sets not only the structure of this embodiment but effect data newly may be sufficient.

  In step S3013, it is determined whether or not a game end command is received from the main control unit 300. If this command is received, the process proceeds to step S3015; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3019.

  In step S3015, effect data for performing an effect (game effect) in accordance with the gaming state is set, and the process proceeds to step S3017.

  In step S3017, the initialization flag is set to OFF, and the process proceeds to step S3023.

  In step S3019, it is determined whether or not the initialization flag is set to ON. If this flag is set to ON, the process proceeds to step S3021, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3023. This initialization flag is a flag that is set to ON in the initial setting process of the first sub-control unit 400 (step S343 in FIG. 12D).

  In step S3021, the command received from the main control unit 300 is cleared, and the process proceeds to step S3023.

  In step S3023, the effect data is set and updated according to other various commands and the effect control process is terminated.

<Processing of Second Sub-Control Unit 500>
Next, the process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub-control unit 500. FIG. 14B is a flowchart of command reception interrupt processing of the second sub control unit 500. FIG. 14C is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500. FIG. 14D is a flowchart of the image control process of the second sub control unit 500.

  First, in step S401 in FIG. 14A, various initial settings are performed. When the power is turned on, an initialization process is first executed in step S401. In this initialization process, input / output port initialization, storage area initialization in the RAM 508, and the like are performed.

  In step S403, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more. This process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10, and when the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S405.

  In step S405, 0 is assigned to the timer variable.

  In step S407, command processing is performed. In the command processing, the CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 determines whether a command is received from the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400.

  In step S409, effect control processing is performed. Specifically, if there is a new command in step S407, processing corresponding to this command is performed. For example, a process of reading effect data for performing image control relating to the background image and effect data relating to the shutter effect from the ROM 506 is executed. In addition, it includes a process of reading other effect data from the ROM 506 and performing an effect data update process when the effect data needs to be updated.

  In step S411, shutter control processing is performed based on the processing result in step S409. For example, if there is a shutter control command in the effect data read in step S409, shutter control corresponding to this command is performed.

  In step S413, image control processing is performed based on the processing result of step S409. For example, if there is an image control command in the effect data read in step S409, image control corresponding to this command is performed. For example, image control relating to a display image (notification image, background image) is executed. This image control process will be described later with reference to FIG. When this image control process ends, the process returns to step S403.

  Next, the command reception interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the second sub control unit 500 detects the strobe signal output from the first sub control unit 400. In step S415 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the first sub-control unit 400 is stored as an unprocessed command in a command storage area provided in the RAM 508.

  Next, the second sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. The second sub-control unit 500 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms), and the timer interrupt process is predetermined by using the timer interrupt as a trigger. Execute in the cycle.

  In step S417, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 508 described in step S403 in the second sub-control unit main process shown in FIG. 14A, and the result is stored in the original timer variable storage area. Therefore, in step S403, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10).

  In step S419, an effect random number update process is performed.

  Next, the image control process in step S413 in the main process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of image control processing.

  In step S421, an instruction to transfer image data is issued. Here, the CPU 504 first swaps the designation of the display areas A and B in the VRAM 536. As a result, an image of one frame stored in the display area not designated as the drawing area is displayed on the effect image display device 157. Next, the CPU 504 sets ROM coordinates (transfer source address of the ROM 506), VRAM coordinates (transfer destination address of the VRAM 536), and the like in the attribute register of the VDP 534 based on the position information table and the like, and then the image from the ROM 506 to the VRAM 536. Set an instruction to start data transfer. The VDP 534 transfers the image data from the ROM 506 to the VRAM 536 based on the command set in the attribute register. Thereafter, the VDP 534 outputs a transfer end interrupt signal to the CPU 504.

  In step S423, it is determined whether or not a transfer end interrupt signal is input from the VDP 534. If a transfer end interrupt signal is input, the process proceeds to step S425. If not, a transfer end interrupt signal is input. Wait for it.

  In step S425, parameters are set based on the production scenario configuration table and attribute data. Here, in order to form a display image in the display area A or B of the VRAM 536 based on the image data transferred to the VRAM 536 in step S421, the CPU 504 includes information on the image data constituting the display image (the coordinate axis and image size of the VRAM 536). , VRAM coordinates (placement coordinates), transparency, etc.) are instructed to the VDP 534. The VDP 534 performs parameter setting in accordance with the attribute based on the instruction stored in the attribute register.

  In step S427, a drawing instruction is performed. In this drawing instruction, the CPU 504 instructs the VDP 534 to start drawing an image. The VDP 534 starts drawing an image in the frame buffer in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 504.

  In step S429, it is determined whether or not a generation end interrupt signal from the VDP 534 based on the end of image drawing has been input. If a generation end interrupt signal has been input, the process proceeds to step S431; Wait for input.

  In step S431, a scene display counter that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 508 and counts how many scene images have been generated is incremented (+1), and the process ends.

<Details of operation>
The characteristic operation of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings based on the above-described content.

<Operation example 1>
First, with reference to FIG. 15, the operation when the game is in a frozen state will be described. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operations when the game enters a frozen state. In the bottom row of the figure, the operations performed by the player are described in order from left to right, and the flow of operation of the main control unit 300 for these operations is in the middle, and the first sub-control unit 400 and the first The operation flow of the second sub-control unit 500 is described in the upper part. In addition, an arrow is shown from the interruption to the upper stage, which indicates that there is a command transmitted from the main control unit 300.

  First, in the state before accepting the player's operation, the first sub-control unit 400 and the second sub-control unit 500 perform an effect (game effect) according to the game state. Here, when the bet buttons 130 to 132 and the start lever 135 are operated, the main control unit 300 executes a medal insertion process and a start operation reception process (step S103 in FIG. 8).

  When the start operation is performed, the main control unit 300 executes a winning combination internal lottery process (step S109 in FIG. 8). In this operation example, it is assumed that the result of the internal lottery is the special combination 1. Continue.

  Since the result of the internal lottery is special role 1, in the subsequent freeze lottery process (step S113 in FIG. 8, FIG. 10), a lottery for determining whether or not to perform the freeze is executed (step S1003 in FIG. 10). In this operation example, the description will be continued assuming that the lottery is won.

  When the freeze execution lottery is won, both the freeze execution setting flag and the timer extendable flag that allows extension of the freeze execution period are set to ON (step S1007 in FIG. 10). When the freeze execution setting flag is set to ON, a freeze setting process (step S117 in FIG. 8) is executed. Furthermore, a freeze process is performed by executing a standby process in which a game cannot be advanced in this process. In the middle part of FIG. 15, the period (freeze period) in which the freeze state is set is described as the first period.

  When the freeze period ends, the main controller 300 executes a reel rotation start process (step S119 in FIG. 8). Subsequently, the stop operation by the stop buttons 137 to 139 becomes possible, and the reel stop control process corresponding to the first stop operation to the third low operation is executed (step S121 in FIG. 8). When all the reels are stopped, a winning determination process (step S123 in FIG. 8), a medal payout (step S125 in FIG. 8), and a game state control process (step S127 in FIG. 8) are executed. finish. In the following description, the freeze period is treated as the first period, while the period other than the freeze period is treated as the second period. In FIG. 15, the period from the end of the freeze to the end of the gaming state control process is described as the second period.

  Here, at the start of the freeze state, a freeze start command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub control unit 400 (step S1009 in FIG. 10), and the first sub control unit 400 that has received this command receives the first Period effect A is executed (step S3003 in FIG. 13). In the upper part of FIG. 15, it is described that the first period effect A (freeze effect A) is executed over a period in which the main control unit 300 is in a freeze state. The first period effect A corresponds to an example of the first effect of the present invention.

  When the first period effect A ends, the second period effect is executed. In the present embodiment, the second period effect data is set (prepared) by receiving the freeze start command (step S3003 in FIG. 13). When the freeze state ends, a freeze end command is transmitted from the main control unit 300, and a second period effect is executed at this timing (step S3011 in FIG. 13). If the second period effect data is not set (prepared) in step S3003, the second period effect is not executed. That is, setting and updating of the production data is not necessarily performed. This second period effect corresponds to an example of the second effect of the present invention.

  The flow of executing the effect when the freeze is executed (first period effect A) and the effect after the end of the freeze (second period effect) has been described. Next, an operation when power interruption occurs during freezing will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operation when power interruption occurs during freezing. Note that the description of the configuration in this figure is omitted because it overlaps with the description of FIG.

  When a power interruption occurs, the main control unit 300 executes a power interruption process (step S221 in FIG. 9). Thereafter, when the power is turned on again, an initial setting process is executed (step S101 in FIG. 8). By this processing, the state of the main control unit 300 returns to the state at the time of power interruption. In FIG. 16, the power interruption process executed by power interruption that occurred during the freeze and the subsequent power-on process are described in succession. Further, it is described that the frozen state is maintained even if power interruption occurs due to these processes.

  On the other hand, in the first sub-control unit 400, the first period effect A is interrupted by the power interruption process. Thereafter, when the power is turned on, an initial setting process is executed, and a demonstration effect is set (step S301 in FIG. 12A, step S341 in FIG. 12D). FIG. 16 describes that the demonstration effect is executed when the first period effect A is interrupted by the power interruption that occurs during the freeze and the power is turned on thereafter. This demonstration effect corresponds to an example of a third effect of the present invention.

  Subsequently, when the freeze ends, a freeze end command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub control unit. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this command sets the second period effect (step S3011 in FIG. 13).

  As described above, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which when the power interruption occurs during the freeze, when the freeze is restored by turning on the power again, the effect is restored at the end of the freeze. The effect of this configuration will be described below.

  A conventional game machine is composed of a main control unit in charge of game progress and a sub-control unit in charge of production. In order to improve security, only one-way communication from the main control unit to the sub-control unit is possible.

  In addition, because there is a limit to the communication processing capacity, information indicating the current game state is transmitted at the game break (at the end of the game, at the start of the game) at a low processing load, and the production is reserved as much as possible. The structure to keep is adopted. In this configuration, when the game is advanced by the player's operation, information (command) corresponding to the progress of the game is transmitted to execute the effect according to the operation, and the main control unit and the sub-control unit are synchronized. The structure to let it be adopted is adopted. Furthermore, when performing freeze, the structure which sets an effect before execution of this freeze is employ | adopted.

  Furthermore, the conventional game machine employs a configuration in which a game interrupted by power interruption of the main control unit can be resumed by re-powering on. On the other hand, the sub-control unit adopts a configuration in which an effect that does not hinder the game is executed for the time being after the power is turned on, and the effect is returned at the break of the game. Hereinafter, this reason will be described.

  If the sub-control unit adopts a configuration in which the interrupted effect is resumed alone, it may not be synchronized with the game progress of the main control unit. For this reason, in general, a configuration in which the sub-control unit can resume the interrupted effect independently is not adopted.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that information indicating the state of the game is included in the information transmitted in response to the player's operation in order to resume the presentation when the sub-control unit receives the information after the game is resumed. However, in this case, there is a problem that the burden of communication processing increases. In addition, the information transmitted in response to the player's operation can grasp the game state (the state of the main control unit) together with the previously transmitted information. If this happens, there is a possibility that synchronization with game progress may not be achieved, or the state of the game may not be sufficiently reflected.

  For the reasons described above, the conventional gaming machine employs a configuration in which the effect is returned at the break of the game in which information indicating the current gaming state is transmitted.

  However, it is desirable that an important effect such as an effect that suggests an advantage to the player be restored as early as possible without waiting for a break in the game. In the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, paying attention to the fact that freeze is used in the main control unit when an important performance is executed, and when power interruption occurs during this freeze, it is transmitted when the freeze ends. It is configured so that the production can be restored early by information (command). As described above, in the execution of the freeze on the conventional game machine, the configuration is used to set the effect before the execution of the freeze. Therefore, the command at the end of the freeze is not necessary in the normal game progress. is there. However, it is very useful in order to quickly restore the production during power interruption. This will be specifically described below.

  Unlike the command indicating that the game has progressed based on the operation, the command at the end of the freeze is transmitted without any player operation. That is, it is information that can be transmitted in a low processing load that does not require a processing of an effect for the player's operation. In addition, since the freeze delays the progress of the game and is not frequently executed, the command at the end of the freeze is not frequently transmitted information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency at which important effects are not executed due to power interruption while suppressing the processing load.

  In addition, there are the following problems in the configuration in which the production is returned with a command other than the command at the end of the freeze as a trigger. When a command other than the command at the end of the freeze is used as an opportunity to return the effect in accordance with the end timing of the freeze, the timing at which the effect is executed differs from the time at which the command is received, and thus processing for matching these timings is required. However, since the main control unit and the sub-control unit have different configurations, the processing timing at the time of power interruption and the time required for restoration differ from each other, and the time required for each processing is not necessarily constant. For this reason, it is difficult to realize a process for adjusting the timing.

  However, according to the present embodiment, the effect can be executed at the timing when the command is received at the end of the freeze, so that there is an advantage that the process of matching the timing is not necessary.

  Since the main control unit 300 and the first sub-control unit 400 have different configurations, it is difficult to match the start timing of each effect with the start or end timing of the freeze. For this reason, in consideration of the time required for command transmission and the processing time corresponding to this command, the command may be transmitted before the start or end timing of the freeze. In other words, adopt a configuration that transmits a freeze start command before the start of freeze execution, a configuration that transmits a freeze period update command before resetting the freeze, and a configuration that transmits a freeze end command before the end of freeze execution Also good. If the processing speed is sufficient, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a command is transmitted immediately after the start or end of freeze processing. That is, the command transmission timing may not be the same as the start or end of the freeze.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a configuration (step S341 in FIG. 12) that executes a demonstration effect by turning on the power again is adopted. This demonstration effect is an effect that is also executed during a so-called demonstration in which no game is being executed by the player. In this embodiment, after the demonstration effect is executed when the power is turned on again, the second period effect is executed based on the freeze end command. Therefore, the first sub-control unit 400 produces the effect at an arbitrary timing when the power is turned on again. In some cases, the player can quickly recognize that the game is in progress.

<Operation example 2>
In the description using FIGS. 15 and 16, the operation example in the case where the power interruption occurs during the freeze has been described. The slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the freeze period is reset (extended) when a predetermined operation is performed during the freeze. In the following description, an operation example in the case where a power interruption occurs during the reset freeze will be described. Note that the description of the configuration of the drawings described below is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIG.

  First, the operation when the freeze is reset will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operations when freeze is reset.

  First, the flow until the freeze starts is the same as in FIG. In the following, the flow after the freeze state (after the processing of FIG. 11 starts) will be described. Until the freeze execution timer set in step S1101 of FIG. 11 becomes 0, the process goes to step S1115 and subsequent steps to enter the freeze state. Here, it is assumed that the bet button 132 is operated. When this operation is performed, the freeze execution timer is reset (step S1109 in FIG. 11), and the timer extendable flag is set to OFF (step S1111 in FIG. 11). In the middle part of FIG. 17, it is described that the period (freeze period) in which the freeze state is set is reset. It should be noted that the freeze execution timer cannot be reset by setting the timer extendable flag off (step S1107 in FIG. 11).

  Here, at the time of resetting the freeze, a freeze period update command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub-control unit 400 (step S1113 in FIG. 11), and the first sub-control unit 400 that has received this command receives the freeze. The first period effect B prepared when the start command is received is executed (step S3007 in FIG. 13). In the upper part of FIG. 17, the first period effect B (freeze effect B) is executed instead of the first period effect A (freeze effect A) after the freeze is reset by the main control unit 300. Is described. In addition, it is described that the first period effect B is executed over the reset freeze period. A series of effects including the first period effect A and the first period effect B corresponds to an example of the first effect of the present invention.

  In the main control unit 300, when the reset freeze period described above ends, the second period described with reference to FIG. On the other hand, in the first sub-control unit 400, when the first period effect B is finished, the second period effect is executed as in the operation example of FIG.

  The flow of executing the effect (first period effect B) when the reset freeze is executed and the effect after the freeze (second period effect) has been described. Next, the operation when power interruption occurs during the first freeze will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operation when power interruption occurs during the first freeze. Note that the description of the configuration in this figure is omitted because it overlaps with the description of FIG.

  When a power interruption occurs, the main control unit 300 executes a power interruption process (step S221 in FIG. 9). Thereafter, when the power is turned on again, an initial setting process is executed (step S101 in FIG. 8). By this processing, the state of the main control unit 300 returns to the state at the time of power interruption. In FIG. 18, a power-off process executed by power-off occurring during the freeze and a subsequent power-on process are described in succession. Further, it is described that the frozen state is maintained even if power interruption occurs due to these processes.

  On the other hand, in the first sub-control unit 400, the first period effect A is interrupted by the power interruption process. Thereafter, when the power is turned on, an initial setting process is executed, and a demonstration effect is set (step S301 in FIG. 12A, step S341 in FIG. 12D). FIG. 16 describes that the demonstration effect is executed when the first period effect A is interrupted by the power interruption that occurs during the freeze and the power is turned on thereafter.

  When the bet button 132 is operated during the freeze, the freeze execution timer is reset as described above, and a freeze period update command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub control unit. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this command executes the first period effect B (step S3007 in FIG. 13).

  Subsequently, when the freeze ends, a freeze end command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub control unit. In the first sub-control unit 400 that has received this command, the second period effect is executed (step S3011 in FIG. 13).

  According to the operation example described above, in the configuration in which the freeze can be reset, the effect can be returned from the time when the freeze is reset.

  Next, the operation in the case where a power interruption occurs during the reset freeze will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operation when power interruption occurs during the reset freeze. Note that the description of the configuration in this figure is omitted because it overlaps with the description of FIG.

  When a power interruption occurs, the main control unit 300 executes a power interruption process (step S221 in FIG. 9). Thereafter, when the power is turned on again, an initial setting process is executed (step S101 in FIG. 8). By this processing, the state of the main control unit 300 returns to the state at the time of power interruption. In FIG. 19, the power interruption process executed by the power interruption that occurred during the reset freeze and the subsequent power-on process are described in succession. Moreover, it is described that the reset freeze state is maintained even if power interruption occurs due to these processes.

  On the other hand, in the first sub-control unit 400, the first period effect B is interrupted by the power interruption process. Thereafter, when the power is turned on, an initial setting process is executed, and a demonstration effect is set (step S301 in FIG. 12A, step S341 in FIG. 12D). FIG. 19 describes that the demonstration effect is executed when the first period effect B is interrupted by the power interruption that occurs during the reset freeze and the power is turned on thereafter.

  Subsequently, when the reset freeze is ended, a freeze end command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the first sub control unit. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this command executes the second period effect (step S3011 in FIG. 13).

  According to the operation example described above, it is possible to return the effect from the point of resetting the freeze in the configuration in which the freeze can be reset. Further, even if there is no freeze resetting, it is possible to return the effect early from the end of the freeze.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the freeze execution timer is overwritten has been described. However, a configuration in which a value is added to this timer may be employed. Moreover, although the configuration in which resetting is allowed only once for one freeze has been described, a configuration in which multiple resets are allowed may be used. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the freeze is reset based on the operation of the bet button 132 has been described. However, the operation means is not limited to the bet button 132. Therefore, for example, operation means such as the stop buttons 137 to 139 and the start lever 135 may be used, or a combination of these operation means may be used. In other words, a configuration may be adopted in which the freeze is reset based on whether or not certain operation conditions are followed.

<Others>
Hereinafter, the embodiment described above will be supplemented.

  First, in the above-described operation example, the case where the freeze is executed during the game has been described. However, the operation when the freeze is not executed during the game will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing the flow of operation when a power interruption occurs during a game in which freezing is not executed. Note that the description of the configuration in this figure is omitted because it overlaps with the description of FIG.

  FIG. 20 shows an example in which power interruption occurs during the period before the first stop operation is performed while the reel is rotating. As described above, the main control unit 300 performs the power interruption process by power interruption (step S221 in FIG. 9), and then when the power is turned on again, the initial setting process is performed (FIG. 8). Step S101). When the state of the main control unit 300 returns to the state at the time of the power interruption by this process, the reel is opened again, and the subsequent stop operation is possible.

  On the other hand, the second period effect performed by the first sub-control unit 400 before power interruption is interrupted by power interruption. Thereafter, when the power is turned on again, an initial setting process is executed and a demonstration effect is set (step S301 in FIG. 12A and step S341 in FIG. 12D). FIG. 20 shows that the second period effect performed before the power interruption is a demonstration effect after the power is turned on. Note that all commands other than the freeze period update command and the freeze end command that are transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 after power-on are cleared (step S3021 in FIG. 13). For this reason, even if the first stop operation command is transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400, for example, the effect is not executed. Thereafter, when the game ends, the initialization flag is set to OFF (step S3017 in FIG. 13), and the effect is executed according to each command from the next game. At this time, information related to the game is transmitted by the game update command, so that it is possible to produce effects in accordance with the progress of the game. The operation described in FIG. 20 is the same as the operation performed by the configuration of the conventional slot machine.

  Next, in the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which a freeze end command is transmitted when the freeze ends. The second period effect when no power interruption occurs is executed continuously with the first period effect A or the first period effect B, thereby synchronizing with the freeze execution period without a freeze end command. Can be made. Therefore, a configuration may be adopted in which the freeze end command is transmitted only in a game in which power interruption has occurred.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although it does not specifically mention about each production content of the 1st period production A, the 1st period production B, and the 2nd period production, this does not have a restriction | limiting in particular in production content. It depends. Therefore, for example, the contents related to these effects may be related or may not be related. In the present embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the second period effect is executed following the first period effect. For example, an image displayed on the display device 157 when the character A appearing in a part of the image displayed on the display device 157 by executing the first period effect is executed. The first period effect and the second period effect are configured so as to appear in a part of. According to this configuration, there may be a case where a relationship can be impressed between the suggestion by the first period effect and the second period effect. For example, if the first period effect is an effect that suggests that the player is in an advantageous state, even if the first period effect is interrupted by power interruption, By doing so, the player may be able to recall this suggestion.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, about the structure which determines the effect data used for each of 1st period effect A, 1st period effect B, and 2nd period effect by lottery about the freeze at the time of internal winning as a special part. This has been described (step S3003 in FIG. 13). Here, a configuration in which freezing is executed even when the special combination is not won internally may be adopted. However, in this case, the effect of the effect during the freeze is low, and it is not always necessary to return the effect. That is, when a plurality of types of effects to be executed during freezing are prepared in advance, for the effects to be executed when a predetermined condition (for example, internal winning for a special role) is established from these effects, What is necessary is just to employ | adopt the structure which returns an effect at the time of completion | finish of the freeze demonstrated above. Note that the predetermined condition is not limited to the internal winning in the special role as in the present embodiment, for example, that it has shifted to an advantageous gaming state or that an effect advantageous to the player is executed. Also good.

  Further, in this embodiment, an example in which freezing is performed immediately after the operation of the start lever 135 has been described, but the execution timing of the freezing during the game is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, the freeze may be executed at a timing when stop control is performed on any of the reels.

  In the above embodiment, an example of the slot machine 100 using medals (coins) as a game medium is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is also applicable.

  Further, the slot machine is not limited to one that directly uses game media such as medals or game balls, but may be a slot machine that only exchanges electronic data. In this case, the game medium includes computerized data corresponding to medals, and the insertion of the game medium includes inputting the computerized data from a predetermined external device (electronic storage device). Yes, the payout of the game medium includes outputting the digitized data to a predetermined external device (electronic storage device).

In the above explanation,
Operating means operated by the player (bet buttons 130 to 132, start lever 135
, Stop buttons 137-139),
Main control means (main control unit 300) for executing control relating to the progress of the game;
An effect control means (first sub-control unit 400, second sub-control unit 500) that performs effect control of effect means (liquid crystal display device 157, speakers 272, 277, various lamps 420). And
The main control means includes
Progress control (execution of the freezing control in step S1115 in FIG. 11) that does not advance the game, and advancement of the game based on the operation of the operation means during the period when the freeze control is not executed (in FIG. 8) Progress control means for executing steps S103 to S127);
A restoration information storage means for saving restoration information for restoring the control state of the progress control means when the supply voltage is changed from an energized state that is a predetermined operating voltage to a power interruption state that is lower than the operating voltage. Main controller 300, step S221 in FIG.
The control state when the restoration information is saved by using the restoration information saved by the restoration information saving means when the restoration information is saved from the power interruption state. Restoring means (main control unit 300, step S101 in FIG. 8) for restoring to
Information transmission means (main control unit 300, step S211 in FIG. 9) for transmitting information related to the game to the effect control means,
The production control means includes
Based on the reception of the freeze start information transmitted from the information transmitting means, the effect control of the effecting means is executed so as to start the first effect (step S3003 in FIG. 13), and the information transmitting means Based on the received freeze end information, the effect control of the effect means is executed so as to start the second effect (step S3011 in FIG. 13).
The information transmitting means includes
The freeze start information corresponding to the start of execution of the freeze control is transmitted to execute the first effect in accordance with the start of the execution period of the freeze control (step S1009 in FIG. 10). The freeze end information corresponding to the end of execution is transmitted to execute the second effect in accordance with the end of the execution period of the freeze control (step S1117 in FIG. 11).
The production control means includes
The control state in which the freeze control is executed is restored by the restoration means, and the second effect is started by transmitting the freeze end information corresponding to the end of the execution period of the freeze control. A game table characterized by being capable of being made (see FIG. 16) is described.

Also,
A gaming machine as described above,
The production control means includes
After the energized state where the supply voltage is a predetermined operating voltage is changed to the power-off state lower than the operating voltage, and when the energized state is again entered, the effect means is configured to start the third effect. Production control is executed (step S341 in FIG. 12),
When the freeze end information is received during execution of the third effect, the effect control of the effect means is executed so as to end the third effect and start the second effect (FIG. 13 is a game table characterized by being step S3011, FIG. 16).

Also,
A gaming machine as described above,
The progress control means includes
If the operation means is operated in accordance with a predetermined operation condition within the execution period of the freeze control, the freeze is performed in order to make the period during which the game does not proceed regardless of the operation of the operation means longer than the execution period. A gaming table (step S1109 in FIG. 11, FIG. 18, FIG. 19) characterized in that it performs at least one of the extension of the execution period of control and the execution of the new freeze control is described. ing.

Also,
A gaming machine as described above,
The production control means includes
In executing the second effect, the effect control of the effect means is executed so that both effects are successively executed in the order of the first effect and the second effect. A characteristic game table (FIGS. 13, 15, and 17) is described.

Also,
A gaming machine as described above,
The production control means includes
When a predetermined condition (for example, internal winning for a special role) is established, the first effect is selected from a plurality of types of effects, and the effect control of the effect means is executed so as to execute the first effect. A gaming table characterized by being a thing is described.

Also,
A gaming machine as described above,
The production control means
A gaming table (step S341 in FIG. 12) characterized in that effect control of the effect means is executed so that the third effect is executed as a demonstration effect at a demonstration when no game is being performed. Has been.

100 slot machine 110 to 112 reel 113 display window 130 to 132 bet button 135 start lever 137 to 139 stop button 157 liquid crystal display device 272, 277 speaker 420 various lamps 300 main control unit 400 first sub control unit 500 second sub control unit

Claims (4)

Operation means operated by a player;
Main control means for executing control relating to the progress of the game;
An effect control means for executing effect control of the effect means,
The main control means includes
Progress control means for executing freeze control that does not advance the game and executing progress control that advances the game based on the operation of the operation means during a period when the freeze control is not executed;
A restoration information storage means for saving restoration information for restoring the control state of the progress control means when the supply voltage is changed from an energized state that is a predetermined operating voltage to a power interruption state that is lower than the operating voltage; ,
The control state when the restoration information is saved by using the restoration information saved by the restoration information saving means when the restoration information is saved from the power interruption state. Recovery means to restore to,
Information transmitting means for transmitting information related to the game to the effect control means,
The production control means includes
Based on the reception of the freeze start information transmitted from the information transmitting means, the effect control of the effecting means is executed so as to start the first effect, and the freeze end information transmitted from the information transmitting means is Based on the reception, the effect control of the effect means is executed to start the second effect,
The information transmitting means includes
The freeze start information corresponding to the start of execution of the freeze control is transmitted to execute the first effect in accordance with the start of the execution period of the freeze control, and the freeze corresponding to the end of execution of the freeze control End information is transmitted to execute the second effect in accordance with the end of the execution period of the freeze control,
The production control means includes
The control state in which the freeze control is executed is restored by the restoration means, and the second effect is started by transmitting the freeze end information corresponding to the end of the execution period of the freeze control. der what can be is,
The progress control means includes
If the operation means is operated in accordance with a predetermined operation condition within the execution period of the freeze control, the freeze is performed in order to make the period during which the game does not proceed regardless of the operation of the operation means longer than the execution period. amusement machine, characterized in der Rukoto what extend the execution period of the control.   Operation means operated by a player;
  Main control means for executing control relating to the progress of the game;
  An effect control means for executing effect control of the effect means,
  The main control means includes
  Progress control means for executing freeze control that does not advance the game and executing progress control that advances the game based on the operation of the operation means during a period when the freeze control is not executed;
  A restoration information storage means for saving restoration information for restoring the control state of the progress control means when the supply voltage is changed from an energized state that is a predetermined operating voltage to a power interruption state that is lower than the operating voltage; ,
  The control state when the restoration information is saved by using the restoration information saved by the restoration information saving means when the restoration information is saved from the power interruption state. Recovery means to restore to,
  Information transmitting means for transmitting information related to the game to the effect control means,
  The production control means includes
  Based on the reception of the freeze start information transmitted from the information transmitting means, the effect control of the effecting means is executed so as to start the first effect, and the freeze end information transmitted from the information transmitting means is Based on the reception, the effect control of the effect means is executed to start the second effect,
  The information transmitting means includes
  The freeze start information corresponding to the start of execution of the freeze control is transmitted to execute the first effect in accordance with the start of the execution period of the freeze control, and the freeze corresponding to the end of execution of the freeze control End information is transmitted to execute the second effect in accordance with the end of the execution period of the freeze control,
  The production control means includes
  The control state in which the freeze control is executed is restored by the restoration means, and the second effect is started by transmitting the freeze end information corresponding to the end of the execution period of the freeze control. Is possible,
  The progress control means includes
  If the operation means is operated in accordance with a predetermined operation condition within the execution period of the freeze control, a new period is set to extend the period during which the game does not proceed regardless of the operation of the operation means. A game machine for executing the freeze control.   The game stand according to claim 1 or 2,
  The production control means includes
  After the energized state where the supply voltage is a predetermined operating voltage is changed to the power-off state lower than the operating voltage, and when the energized state is again entered, the effect means is configured to start the third effect. Perform production control,
  When the freeze end information is received during the execution of the third effect, the effect control of the effect means is executed so as to end the third effect and start the second effect. A game stand characterized by that.   The game stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
  The production control means includes
  An amusement stand characterized in that effect control of the effect means is executed so that the third effect is executed as a demonstration effect during a demonstration when no game is being performed.