JP5996705B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that generates a big hit state by a lottery process caused by a gaming operation, and more particularly to a gaming machine that can stably execute advanced sound effects and the like.

  A ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a symbol start opening provided on the game board, a symbol display section for displaying a series of symbol variation patterns by a plurality of display symbols, and a big winning opening for opening and closing the opening and closing plate. Configured. When the detection switch provided at the symbol start port detects the passage of the game ball, the winning state is entered, and after the game ball is paid out as a prize ball, the display symbol is changed for a predetermined time in the symbol display section. Thereafter, when the symbol is stopped in a predetermined manner such as 7, 7, 7, etc., a big hit state is established, and the big winning opening is repeatedly opened to generate a gaming state advantageous to the player.

  Whether or not to generate such a game state is determined by a jackpot lottery executed on the condition that a game ball has won at the symbol start opening, and the above symbol variation operation is based on this lottery result. It has become a thing. For example, when the lottery result is in a winning state, an effect operation called reach action or the like is executed for about 20 seconds, and then the special symbols are aligned. On the other hand, a similar reach action may be executed even in the case of a lost state. In this case, the player pays close attention to the big hit state and pays close attention to the transition of the performance operation. When the predetermined symbols are aligned on the stop line at the end of the symbol variation operation, the player is guaranteed to be in the big hit state.

JP 2009-11368 A

  The above-mentioned performance operation is centered on the image production on the liquid crystal display device. In conjunction with this image production, a lamp production that blinks various lamps, an audio production that outputs a sound that excites the player, Movable effects such as moving animals are executed. And as these game effects are enriched, it takes time for each control operation, so it is desirable to optimize the circuit configuration and control operation.

  Based on such a request, for example, with regard to the volume level of sound production, it is desired to realize an optimal volume setting that matches the player's preference without increasing the control burden of the CPU.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of advanced voice control operation without increasing the processing load on the CPU.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is based on a main control means that performs a lottery process in response to a predetermined switch signal and performs game control operations centrally and a control command received from the main control means. A gaming machine configured to include sub-control means for performing a rendering operation including a sound rendering related to a lottery result of a lottery process, and a volume setting switch operable by a player, control means, or the game of one unit corresponding to the lottery result is completed, after the drawing result is informed, time counting means for determining whether a predetermined duration has elapsed, until the duration has passed while continuing predetermined audio effect, a determination unit repeatedly whether the switch operation of the volume setting switch for instructing an increase or decrease in volume is observed, for each determination means recognize the switch operation Predetermined time, the extension means by extending the duration is updated to the new duration, on condition that a predetermined determination condition is satisfied, for each of the switch operation of a unit, the volume value of the audio presentation Correspondingly The volume value updated by the updating unit is displayed on the screen so as to be grasped by the player .

  In the present invention, if there is a switch operation for volume adjustment before the end of the duration, the duration is extended for a predetermined time, so it is possible to adjust the volume according to the player's preference while listening to the audio effect. it can. In addition, since the configuration is simple, the processing load on the CPU does not increase. In addition, since the mute state is entered when the duration time ends, there is no possibility that a large volume continues to flow even though the player has finished the game and has left his / her seat.

  Preferably, the present invention is configured such that either the increase or decrease of the volume setting value of the sound production is instructed by the vinegar switch operation, the second means that allows the switch operation, the relationship with the volume limit value It is determined whether or not it is possible to accept the switch operation instruction, and if it is acceptable, an audio effect is performed with the volume setting value updated corresponding to the switch operation.

  In addition, when performing an audio effect with the updated volume setting value, it is preferable that the updated volume setting value is appropriately displayed on the screen accordingly, and the fourth means is an audio Even after the effect is shifted to the mute state, it is preferable that the switch operation for volume adjustment is accepted for a predetermined permission time.

  When there is a volume adjustment switch operation during the permitted time, it is preferable that the confirmation sound of the updated volume is emitted as long as the operation instruction is acceptable.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined permission time has elapsed, the sound effect that is started thereafter is preferably executed at the initial volume regardless of the previous volume adjustment switch operation, and the duration or If there is a switch operation for volume adjustment at any of the permitted times, a screen indicating that the switch operation has been recognized is displayed on the display device regardless of whether or not this operation instruction is acceptable. Preferably, it is configured.

  The switch is configured to instruct whether to increase or decrease the volume setting value of the sound effect by turning on the switch, and the volume setting value can be increased or decreased step by step based on the number of times the ON operation is repeated. Or an ON operation of the switch is instructed to increase or decrease the volume setting value of the sound effect, and the volume setting value is stepwise based on the ON duration of the ON operation. It is preferable to be able to increase or decrease.

  A voice synthesizer that reads the original sound data stored in the storage device and reproduces the voice signal, and sets the necessary operating parameters in the control register of the voice synthesizer, thereby providing the original sound data to be read and its reproduction mode Providing an effect control means for instructing to produce an audio effect, and reproduction of the audio signal is realized by reproducing a plurality of original sound data on a plurality of reproduction channels. It is preferable that a volume instruction as an operation parameter to be instructed every time is included, and the volume instruction is defined based on a volume setting value defined in response to an ON operation of the switch.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, an advanced voice control operation can be realized without increasing the processing load on the CPU.

It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine of a present Example. It is the front view which illustrated the game board of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an effect control unit. The schematic internal configuration of the speech synthesis circuit and the connection relationship with other circuits are illustrated. The internal structure of a speech synthesis circuit is illustrated in more detail. It is a block diagram which illustrates the internal structure of a digital amplifier. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement content of an effect control part. It is a flowchart explaining the one part operation | movement of FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart explaining a demo process. It is a flowchart explaining a sound reproduction process. It is drawing explaining the scenario table which implement | achieves an audio effect. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the modification of a demo process.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine GM of the present embodiment. This pachinko machine GM includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 1 that is detachably mounted on an island structure, and a front frame 3 that is pivotably mounted via a hinge 2 fixed to the outer frame 1. It is configured. A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 3 from the front side, not from the back side, and a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be openable and closable.

  On the outer periphery of the glass door 6, an electric lamp such as an LED lamp is arranged in a substantially C shape. On the other hand, at the upper left and right positions and the lower side of the glass door 6, all three speakers are arranged. The two speakers arranged in the upper part are each configured to output sound of the left and right channels R and L, and the lower speaker is configured to output heavy bass.

  In addition, a volume switch VSW capable of adjusting the volume of the effect sound by the player is disposed below the glass door 6. The volume switch VSW is a directional key having a + contact and a −contact on the left and right, and enables volume adjustment in 10 steps (MIN to MAX). The operation for adjusting the volume is permitted only during the production standby in which the audio production is not executed. In response to the operation of the volume switch VSW, the confirmation production sound is output and the setting level is displayed. It is displayed on the screen.

  In the present embodiment, the volume output from each speaker is defined in three stages by the total value (V1 * V2 * TV) of the primary volume V1, the secondary volume V2, and the total volume TV. The setting value of the volume switch VSW defined by is reflected in the final total volume value TV (see FIG. 6).

  Here, the primary volume value V1 is set by software so as to realize an appropriate sound effect, and the secondary volume value V2 is normally set at a fixed prescribed level. However, when a serious abnormal situation is detected, control is performed so that the abnormality notification sound is at the maximum level while the other effect sounds are at the minimum level. These points will be described later in detail.

  By the way, the volume setting value (total volume value TV) set by the player is returned to the clerk setting value by the setting switch SET (see FIG. 3) at the timing when the player seems to have left the gaming machine. For example, when a serious abnormal situation is detected even during a game, the total volume value TV and the secondary volume value V2 are at the maximum level regardless of the operation amount of the volume switch VSW. Since the abnormal notification sound is output at a high volume, illegal activities cannot be continued in a silent state.

  The front plate 7 is provided with an upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launching, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing or extracted from the upper plate 8 and a launch handle at the lower part of the front frame 3. 10 are provided. The launch handle 10 is interlocked with the launch motor, and a game ball is launched by a striking rod that operates according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 10.

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 13 made of a metal outer rail and an inner rail is provided on the surface of the game board 5 in an annular shape, and a central opening HO is provided at the approximate center thereof. A display device DS composed of a large liquid crystal color display (LCD) is disposed in the central opening HO.

  The display device DS is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to the big hit state and displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. This display device DS has special symbol display portions Da to Dc in the center portion and a normal symbol display portion 19 in the upper right portion. In the special symbol display portions Da to Dc, there is a case where a reach effect that expects a big hit state is invited, and in the special symbol display portions Da to Dc and the surroundings, an appropriate notice effect is executed.

  In the game area where the game ball falls and moves, a symbol start port 15, a big winning port 16, a normal winning port 17, and a gate 18 are arranged. Each of these winning openings 15 to 18 has a detection switch inside, and can detect the passage of a game ball. When the game ball passes through the symbol start port 15, a series of image effects accompanied by the special symbol changing operation is started on the special symbol display portions Da to Dc, assuming that the game ball has won. Corresponding to this image effect, a sound effect with background music and effect sound, and a lamp effect in which the lamp blinks are executed.

  The symbol start port 15 is configured to be opened and closed by an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 15a, and when the stop symbol after fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 17 displays a winning symbol, a predetermined time is displayed. The opening / closing claw 15a is opened only until a predetermined number of game balls are detected.

  The normal symbol display unit 19 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 18 is detected, the normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time and is extracted when the game ball passes through the gate 18. The stop symbol determined by the selected lottery random value is displayed and stopped.

  The special winning opening 16 includes an opening / closing plate 16a that advances and retreats in the front-rear direction. The operation of the special winning opening 16 is not particularly limited, but in a typical big hit state, a predetermined time elapses after the opening / closing plate 16a of the special winning opening 16 is opened, or a predetermined number (for example, ten) of games. When the ball wins, the opening / closing plate 16a is closed. Such an operation is continued up to 15 times, for example, and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player. In addition, when the stop symbol after the change of the special symbol display parts Da to Dc is a specific symbol among the special symbols, there is a privilege that the game after the end of the special game becomes a high probability state (probability variation state). Is granted.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration of the pachinko machine GM that realizes the above-described operations. As shown in the figure, this pachinko machine GM mainly receives a 24V AC and outputs various DC voltages, power supply abnormality signals ABN1, ABN2, a system reset signal (power reset signal) SYS, and the like, and a game control operation. Based on the main control board 21 that performs overall control, the effect control board 22 that executes the lamp effect and the sound effect based on the control command CMD received from the main control board 21, and the control command CMD ′ received from the effect control board 22 The image control board 23 for driving the display device DS, the payout control board 24 for controlling the payout motor M based on the control command CMD "received from the main control board 21, and paying out the game balls. It is mainly composed of a launch control board 25 that responds and launches a game ball.

  However, in this embodiment, the control command CMD output from the main control board 21 is transmitted to the effect control board 22 via the command relay board 26 and the effect interface board 27. The control command CMD ′ output from the effect control board 22 is transmitted to the image control board 23 via the effect interface board 27 and the image interface board 28, and is output from the main control board 21. Is transmitted to the payout control board 24 via the main board relay board 32. Although the control commands CMD, CMD ′, and CMD ″ are all 16 bits long, the main control board 21 and the payout control board 24 are used. The control commands related to are transmitted in parallel every two 8 bit lengths. On the other hand, the control command CMD 'transmitted from the effect control board 22 to the image control board 23 is 16 bits in length and transmitted in parallel. Therefore, even when the notification effects including the movable notification effect are diversified and a large number of control commands are continuously transmitted and received, the processing can be completed quickly, and other control operations are not hindered.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the production interface board 27 and the production control board 22 are directly connected to each other by a male connector and a female connector without passing through a wiring cable, and two circuit boards are laminated. . Similarly, with respect to the image interface board 28 and the image control board 23, two circuit boards are laminated by directly connecting a male connector and a female connector without going through a wiring cable. Therefore, even if the circuit configuration of each electronic circuit is complicated and sophisticated, the storage space of the entire board can be minimized, and noise resistance can be improved by minimizing the connection lines.

  The main control board 21, the effect control board 22, the image control board 23, and the payout control board 24 are each equipped with a computer circuit including a one-chip microcomputer. Therefore, in this specification, the control board 21 to 24, the circuits mounted on the interface boards 27 to 28, and the operations realized by the circuits are generically named. May be referred to as a section 22 ′, an image control section 23 ′, and a payout control section 24. That is, in this embodiment, the effect control board 22 and the effect interface board 27 constitute an effect control part 22 ′, and the image control board 23 and the image interface board 28 constitute an image control part 23 ′. . Note that all or part of the effect control unit 22 ′, the image control unit 23 ′, and the payout control unit 24 are sub-control units.

  The pachinko machine GM is roughly divided into a frame side member GM1 surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3 and a board side member GM2 fixed to the back of the game board 5. The frame side member GM1 includes a front frame 3 on which a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached, and a wooden outer frame 1 on the outside thereof. Is fixedly installed. On the other hand, the board side member GM2 is replaced in response to the model change, and a new board side member GM2 is attached to the frame side member GM1 instead of the original board side member. All except the frame side member 1 is the panel side member GM2.

  As shown in the broken line frame in FIG. 3, the frame side member GM1 includes a power supply board 20, a payout control board 24, a launch control board 25, a frame relay board 35, and a lamp drive board 36. These circuit boards are respectively fixed at appropriate positions of the front frame 3.

  A plurality of LEDs are connected to the lamp drive board 36, and the drive data SDATA for driving these LED groups is a serial signal, the production control board 22 → the production interface board 27 → the frame relay board 34 → the frame relay. The light is transmitted to a plurality of LED drivers mounted on the lamp driving substrate 36 via the substrate 35.

  On the back surface of the game board 5, a main control board 21, an effect control board 22, and an image control board 23 are fixed together with the display device DS and other circuit boards. And the frame side member GM1 and the board | substrate side member GM2 are electrically connected by the connection connectors C1-C4 concentratedly arranged in one place.

  The power supply board 20 is connected to the main board relay board 32 through the connection connector C2, and is connected to the power supply relay board 33 through the connection connector C3. The power supply board 20 is provided with a power supply monitoring unit MNT that monitors whether AC power is turned on or off. When power supply monitoring unit MNT detects that AC power is turned on, it maintains system reset signal SYS at L level for a predetermined time, and then transitions it to H level.

  Further, when power supply monitoring unit MNT detects the interruption of the AC power supply, power supply abnormality signals ABN1 and ABN2 are immediately shifted to the L level. The power supply abnormality signals ABN1 and ABN2 quickly become H level after the power is turned on.

  Incidentally, the system reset signal of this embodiment is generated by a DC power supply based on an AC power supply. For this reason, after detecting the turning-on of the AC power supply (usually turning on the power switch) and increasing it to the H level, the H level is maintained unless the DC power supply voltage drops to an abnormal level. Therefore, even if the AC power supply is in an instantaneous power interruption state while the DC power supply voltage is maintained, the system reset signal SYS does not reset the CPU. The power supply abnormality signals ABN1 and ABN2 are also output even when the AC power supply is instantaneously stopped.

  The main board relay board 32 outputs the power abnormality signal ABN1, the backup power supply BAK, and DC5V, DC12V, and DC32V output from the power board 20 to the main control unit 21 as they are. On the other hand, the power relay board 33 outputs the system reset signal SYS received from the power board 20 and the AC and DC power supply voltages to the effect interface board 27 as they are. The effect interface board 27 outputs the received system reset signal SYS to the effect control unit 22 'and the image control unit 23' as it is.

  On the other hand, the payout control board 24 is directly connected to the power supply board 20 without going through the relay board, and directly receives the same power abnormality signal ABN2 and backup power supply BAK as the main control unit 21 receives together with other power supply voltages. Is receiving.

  The system reset signal SYS output from the power supply board 20 is a power supply reset signal indicating that the AC power supply 24V has been applied to the power supply board 20, and one of the effect control unit 22 ′ and the image control unit 23 ′ is generated by the power supply reset signal. The chip microcomputer is reset together with other IC elements.

  However, the system reset signal SYS is not supplied to the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24, and a power reset signal (CPU reset signal) is generated in the reset circuit RST of each of the circuit boards 21 and 24. ing. Therefore, for example, even if the connection connector C2 is rattled or noise is superimposed on the wiring cable, there is no possibility that the CPU of the main control unit 21 or the payout control unit 24 is abnormally reset. The production control unit 22 ′ and the image control unit 23 ′ perform production operations dependently on the basis of the control command from the main control unit 21, so that the power supply board 20 is avoided in order to avoid complication of the circuit configuration. The system reset signal SYS output from is used.

  By the way, the reset circuits RST provided in the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24 each have a built-in watchdog timer, and unless a regular clear pulse is received from the CPUs of the control units 21 and 24, Each CPU is forcibly reset.

  In this embodiment, the RAM clear signal CLR is generated by the main control unit 21 and transmitted to the one-chip microcomputer of the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24. Here, the RAM clear signal CLR is a signal for deciding whether or not to initialize all the areas of the built-in RAM of the one-chip microcomputer of each control unit 21 and 24. The initialization switch SW operated by the attendant is turned on. It has a value corresponding to the / OFF state.

  The main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24 receive the power supply abnormality signals ABN1 and ABN2 from the power supply board 20 to start necessary end processing prior to a power failure or business end. The backup power supply BAK is a DC5V DC power source that retains data in the RAM of the one-chip microcomputer of the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24 even after the AC power supply 24V is shut off due to business termination or power failure. Therefore, the main control unit 21 and the payout control unit 24 can resume the game operation before power-off after power-on (power backup function). This pachinko machine is designed to retain the stored contents of the RAM of each one-chip microcomputer for at least several days.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 21 transmits a control command CMD ″ to the payout control unit 24 via the main board relay board 32, while the payout control unit 24 indicates a game ball payout operation. A prize ball counting signal, a status signal CON relating to an abnormality in the payout operation, and an operation start signal BGN are received, and the status signal CON includes, for example, a replenishment signal, a payout shortage error signal, and a lower plate full signal. The operation start signal BGN is a signal for notifying the main control unit 21 that the initial operation of the payout control unit 24 has been completed after the power is turned on.

  The main control unit 21 is connected to each game component of the game board 5 via the game board relay board 31. And while receiving the switch signal of the detection switch built in each winning opening 16-18 on a game board, solenoids, such as an electric tulip, are driven. The solenoids and the detection switch are configured to operate with the power supply voltage VB (12 V) distributed from the main control unit 21. Each switch signal indicating a winning state to the symbol start opening 15 is converted to a TTL level or CMOS level switch signal by an interface IC that operates with the power supply voltage VB (12 V) and the power supply voltage Vcc (5 V). And then transmitted to the main control unit 21.

  As described above, the effect control board 22 and the effect interface board 27 are integrated by connector connection, and the effect control unit 22 ′ is connected to each level from the power supply board 20 via the power relay board 33. A DC voltage (5V, 12V, 32V) and a system reset signal SYS are received (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The effect control unit 22 'receives the control command CMD and the strobe signal STB from the main control unit 21 via the command relay board 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  Then, the effect control unit 22 ′ supplies lamp drive data SDATA (serial signal) to the LED drivers mounted on the lamp drive substrate 29 and the lamp drive substrate 30 via the effect interface substrate 27. Although not particularly limited, the LED driver mounted on the lamp driving boards 29 and 30 has the same configuration as the LED driver mounted on the lamp driving board 36.

  In this embodiment, the same LED driver is used to drive the stepping motor, and the production motor groups M1 to Mn are driven via the lamp driving substrate 30 as indicated by the broken line. In this case, the motor drive data is a serial signal similar to the lamp drive data, and even if the number of production motors is increased in order to enrich production contents, the number of wiring cables does not increase, and the device configuration is simplified. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the effect control unit 22 ′ has two types of control commands CMD ′ and strobe signal STB ′, and a system reset signal SYS received from the power supply board 20, with respect to the image control unit 23 ′. DC voltage (12V, 5V).

  Then, the image controller 23 'drives the display device DS based on the control command CMD' to execute various image effects. The display device DS emits light by an LED backlight, and is driven by receiving five pairs of LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling) signals and a backlight power supply voltage (12 V) from the image interface board 28. (See FIG. 4).

  Next, the configurations of the effect control unit 22 'and the image control unit 23' will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the effect interface board 27 receives a 4-bit switch signal from the setting switch SET operated by the attendant. Here, the setting switch SET is a board-side member that is arranged on the back side of the game board 5 and is operated when necessary. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the setting switch SET is arranged separately from the volume switch VSW (see FIG. 1) which is a frame side member. When the clerk operates the setting switch SET, the set value of the volume switch VSW set by the player becomes invalid. However, thereafter, the set value of the volume switch VSW set by the player becomes effective except when a serious abnormal situation occurs.

  The production interface board 27 receives three types of DC voltages (5V, 12V, and 32V) from the power supply board 20 via the power supply relay board 33. Here, the DC voltage 5V is distributed as power supply voltage of the digital logic circuit to the rendering interface board 27, the lamp driving board 29, the lamp driving board 30, the image interface board 28, and the image control board 23, and is supplied to each digital circuit. Is operating.

  However, the direct current voltage 5V is not distributed on the effect control board 22, and the direct current voltage 3.3V stepped down from 12V by the DC / DC converter and the direct current stepped down from 3.3V by the DC / DC converter. Only the voltage 1.8V is distributed from the production interface board 27 to the production control board 22.

  In this way, the production control board 22 of the present embodiment is driven by the power supply voltage of 3.3V or lower because all the circuits are driven. Therefore, even if the production interface board 27 is arranged and laminated immediately above the production control board 22, there is no problem in heat dissipation.

  However, the DC voltage 12V received from the power supply board 20 is used as it is as the power supply voltage of the digital amplifier 46 and is distributed to the lamp drive board 30 and the lamp drive board 29 to become the power supply voltage of each lamp group. The direct current voltage 32V is stepped down to the direct current voltage 13V in the DC / DC converter of the production interface board and used as a drive power source for the production motors M1 to Mn as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the effect control unit 22 ′ includes a one-chip microcomputer 40 that executes processing such as a sound effect, a lamp effect, a notice effect by the effect movable body, and data transfer, and a control program for the one-chip microcomputer 40. A flash memory 41 to be stored, a voice synthesis circuit 42 that reproduces and outputs a voice signal based on an instruction from the one-chip microcomputer 40, and compressed voice data that is original data of the reproduced voice signal are stored. And a watchdog timer WDT that forcibly clears the one-chip microcomputer 40 when the clear pulse is interrupted.

  The compressed audio data is phrase compressed data specified by an 11-bit length phrase number (000H to 7FFH). Specifically, the compressed audio data is a series of background music (BGM) or a group of music. Production sounds (notice sounds) and the like are stored corresponding to the phrase numbers.

  In the present embodiment, the BGM sound and effect sound sound data (original sound) stored in the sound memory 43 is stored in such a manner that when it is reproduced, it becomes a sound signal having the maximum volume. Therefore, the volume value defined by the primary volume V1, the secondary volume V2, and the total volume TV means an attenuation rate with respect to the volume of the original sound in this embodiment.

  In the case of this embodiment, the volume value X of the primary volume V1, the secondary volume V2, and the total volume TV is a numerical value from the minimum value MIN to the maximum value MAX, for example, in the range of MIN = 0 to MAX = 128. However, the volume value X actually means an attenuation factor of X / MAX. Therefore, for example, when X = MAX / 2, the amplification factor is ½, and the original sound is attenuated by 6 dB (= 20 Log ½) and reproduced. Conversely, when all volume values (V1, V2, TX) are at the maximum level MAX, the volume of the original sound level is reproduced.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the original sound with the maximum volume is stored in the sound memory 43 and the attenuation rate is appropriately controlled, the dynamic range of the original sound is wide and the volume value is high. However, the upper and lower limits of the reproduced audio signal are saturated, and there is no fear of the waveform of the reproduced sound being reproduced, and a clear audio is reproduced.

  The one-chip microcomputer 40, the flash memory 41, and the voice memory 43 operate at a power supply voltage 3.3V, and the voice synthesis circuit 42 operates at a power supply voltage 3.3V and a power supply voltage 1.8V. Significant power saving has been realized. Here, 1.8V is the power supply voltage of the computer core part of the speech synthesis circuit, and 3.3V is the power supply voltage of the I / O part.

  The one-chip microcomputer 40 includes a plurality of parallel input / output ports PIO (Pi + Pi '+ Po + Po') and a plurality of serial output ports SI. More specifically, the serial output port SI includes three-channel serial ports (S0 to S2). Each of the LED drivers mounted on the lamp driving boards 36, 29, and 30 is connected to each of the LED drivers. Serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 are output in synchronization with clock signals CK0 to CK2.

  That is, the serial port S0 to serial port S2 transmit serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 to the corresponding lamp drive boards 36, 29, and 30 based on the clock synchronization method. The serial drive data SDATA0 to SDATA2 are mostly brightness data (lamp drive data) for adjusting the light emission brightness of each LED by PWM control (pulse width modulation), but drive the production motors M1 to Mn. Motor drive data to be included is also included.

  As shown in the figure, the lamp drive boards 36, 29, 30 are also connected to the parallel output port Po ′ of the parallel input / output port PIO, and the LED drivers mounted on the lamp drive boards 36, 29, 30 are parallel. The operation is started based on one of the 3-bit operation enable signals ENABLE0 to ENABLE2 output from the output port Po ′. A MUTE signal for silencing the output of the digital amplifier 46 is output from the output port Po ′. This MUTE signal is used, for example, when power is turned on, which may cause the operation to become unstable, or when an abnormal operation of the speech synthesis circuit 42 is detected.

  On the other hand, the control command CMD and the strobe signal STB from the main control unit 21 are input to the input port Pi of the parallel input / output port PIO, and the control command CMD ′ and the strobe signal STB ′ are output from the command output port Po. It is comprised so that.

  Specifically, a control command CMD and a strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB output from the main control board 21 correspond to the power supply voltage 3.3 V in the buffer 44 of the effect interface board 27 at the input port Pi. Converted to a logic level to be supplied in units of 8 bits. The interrupt signal STB is supplied to the interrupt terminal of the one-chip microcomputer, and the effect control unit 22 'is configured to acquire the control command CMD by the reception interrupt process.

  The parallel port Pi ′ is supplied with a switch signal from the setting switch SET operated by an attendant to set the volume via the effect interface board 27. The level of the switch signal of the setting switch SET is determined when the power is turned on, and an initial volume setting value is determined. After that, the setting position of the setting switch SET is determined regularly, and if there is a change from the initial state, the volume setting value according to the level of the switch signal at that time is obtained.

  However, the sound volume set here is only reflected during normal performance operations, and when a serious abnormal situation occurs, it is the first time that an abnormality notification is executed at the maximum sound volume regardless of the sound volume setting value. As explained.

  By the way, the control command CMD acquired by the effect control unit 22 ′ includes (1) abnormality notification and other notification control commands, and (2) outline specification of various effect operations resulting from winning at the symbol start opening. Control commands (variation pattern commands) to be performed and control commands (designation command) for designating a symbol type are included. Here, the outline of the production operation specified by the variation pattern command includes the production total time from the production start to the production end and the result of winning or failing in the jackpot lottery.

  In addition, the symbol designating command includes information for identifying information on the jackpot type (15R probability variation, 2R probability variation, 15R normal, 2R normal, etc.) in the case of a jackpot according to the result of the jackpot lottery. In some cases, information for identifying a loss is included. The outline of the production operation specified by the variation pattern command includes the production total time from the production start to the production end, and the result of success or failure in the big hit lottery. In addition to these, the change pattern command including the presence or absence of the reach effect or the notice effect may be specified, but even in this case, the specific content of the effect content is not specified.

  Therefore, when the change pattern command is acquired, the effect control unit 22 ′ performs an effect lottery subsequently to further specify the effect outline specified by the acquired change pattern command. For example, the specific contents of the reach effect and the notice effect are determined. Then, in accordance with the determined specific game content, a lamp effect by blinking LEDs and a sound effect preparation operation by a speaker are performed, and an effect operation by a lamp or speaker is performed on the image control unit 23 ′. A control command CMD ′ relating to the synchronized image effect is output.

  In order to realize such an image effect synchronized with the effect operation, the effect control unit 22 ′, along with the strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB ′ for the image control unit 23 ′, is sent to the image control unit 23 ′ through the command output port Po. CMD ′ is output toward the production interface board 27. When the production control unit 22 ′ receives a design designation command, a notification control command related to the display device DS, and other control commands, the control command is summarized in a 16-bit length. It is output toward the production interface board 27 together with the interrupt signal STB ′.

  Corresponding to the configuration of the production control board 22 described above, the production interface board 27 is provided with an output buffer 45, and a 16-bit control command CMD ′ and a 1-bit interrupt signal STB ′ are sent to the image interface. It is output to the substrate 28. These data CMD ′ and STB ′ are transmitted to the image control board 23 via the image interface board 28.

  The effect interface board 27 is provided with a digital amplifier 46 that receives the audio signal output from the audio synthesis circuit 42. As described above, the speech synthesis circuit 42 operates with power supply voltages of 3.3 V and 1.8 V, and the digital amplifier 46 performs class D amplification operation with a power supply voltage of 12 V, reducing power consumption. It is possible to produce a loud sound while suppressing it.

  The left and right speakers at the upper part of the gaming machine and the speakers at the lower part of the gaming machine are driven by the output of the digital amplifier 46. For this reason, the voice synthesis circuit 42 needs to generate a three-channel voice signal, and if this is transmitted in parallel, the wiring between the voice synthesis circuit 42 and the digital amplifier 46 becomes complicated.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the voice synthesis circuit 42 and the digital amplifier 46 are connected by four signal lines in order to prevent deterioration of sound quality and avoid complicated wiring. In this case, the transfer clock signal SCLK, the channel control signal LRCLK, and the 2-bit serial signals SD0 and SD1 are suppressed to a total of 4 bit signal lines. Note that the amplitude level of any signal is 3.3V.

  The effect interface board 27 is provided with parallel output port Po 'of the one-chip microcomputer 40, serial buffer SI, and output buffer circuits 47, 48, and 49 for transmitting various signals to be output. Here, the output buffer 47 is related to the LED group of the 0th channel, and outputs the lamp driving data SDATA0, the clock signal CK0, and the operation permission signal ENABLE0 output from the one-chip microcomputer 40 to the frame relay board 34. doing. The output 3-bit signal is transmitted to the LED driver of the lamp driving board 36 via the frame relay board 34 and the frame relay board 35.

  Similarly, the output buffer 48 transmits the lamp drive data SDATA1, the clock signal CK1, and the operation enable signal ENABLE1 output from the one-chip microcomputer 40 to the LED driver of the lamp drive board 29, and the output buffer 49 The drive data SDATA2, the clock signal CK2, and the operation permission signal ENABLE2 are transmitted to the LED driver of the lamp drive board 30. The LED driver of the lamp driving board 29 drives the LED group of the first channel, and the LED driver of the lamp driving board 30 drives the LED group of the second channel and the effect motors M1 to Mn.

  FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic internal configuration of the speech synthesis circuit 42 and a connection relationship among the one-chip microcomputer 40 (host CPU), the speech memory 43, and the digital amplifier 46. FIG. 6 shows the internal configuration of the speech synthesis circuit in more detail. As described above, the sound memory 43 stores a series of background music pieces (BGM) and production sounds such as a group of notice sounds, each as phrase compression data corresponding to the phrase number. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the voice synthesis circuit 42 is read from a number of control registers 51 accessed from the host CPU 40, a sound control module 52 that centrally controls voice reproduction operations, and the voice memory 43. The main generator 53 that decodes the phrase compressed data and mixes the decoded data of the plurality of phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH15 at an appropriate volume ratio, and an equalizer function that realizes a desired frequency characteristic by digital filter processing, An effect unit 54 that realizes a compressor function that changes input / output gain characteristics, a total volume TV that defines the final volume, and a digital IF unit 55 that generates four types of signals SCLK, LRCLK, SD0, and SD1 for serial transmission, Is configured with .

  As shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 6, the main generator 53 includes a decoder 60 divided into 16 phrase reproduction channels (CH0 to CH15) that can be independently decoded, a primary volume V1, and a secondary volume. A volume V2; a channel volume having a panpot section and adjustable sound volume and volume balance; and a channel mix section 61 for mixing the sound of the 16 phrase playback channels (CH0 to CH15). Configured.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the L0 signal, the R0 signal, the R1 signal, and the L1 signal are output for each phrase playback channel (CH0 to CH15). These four types (16 × 4 signals in total) are The signals are mixed by the channel mixing unit 61 and output as a mixed L0 signal, a mixed R0 signal, a mixed R1 signal, and a mixed L1 signal.

  Here, the mixed L0 signal is finally supplied to the upper left speaker, the mixed R0 signal is finally supplied to the upper right speaker, and the mixed R1 signal and the mixed L1 signal are finally supplied to the lower speaker. To be supplied. At this stage, each signal (L0, R0, R1, L1) is digital data.

  The control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42 is used by the host CPU 40 to grasp the operation state of the write register and the speech synthesis circuit 42 that the host CPU 40 performs a write process so that the speech synthesis circuit 42 functions as intended. It is divided into a read register for read processing.

  The write data to the write register includes (1) a phrase number for specifying a BGM sound or effect sound to be reproduced, (2) a volume (V1, V2) instruction of the reproduced sound, and (3) a loop defining the number of times of reproduction. Instructions, (4) operation instructions such as playback start and pause, (5) volume transition mode instructions such as playback start and playback end, and (6) panpot instructions that are the volume balance of the upper and lower speakers and left and right speakers , (7) Final volume (TV) instructions and the like are included.

  Here, (1) phrase number designation, (2) volume (V1 / V2) instruction, (3) loop instruction, (4) operation instruction, (5) voice transition mode instruction, and (6) panpot instruction Are configured to be performed by designating the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH15 of the decoder 60. Therefore, up to 16 types of phrase compressed data corresponding to the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH15 are independently reproduced based on the above instructions (1) to (6), and mixed by the channel mixing unit 61. Will be output.

  Note that the audio transition mode includes a phase in speed when outputting audio, a phase out speed when stopping audio, and a pan pot when changing the pan pot in the up / down / left / right directions. Each transition mode is realized by writing a predetermined operation parameter (volume transition amount) in the corresponding control register.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the volume transition amount is defined corresponding to the volume instruction (volume value), and thus is effective for the primary volume V1, the secondary volume V2, and the total volume TV. Specifically, the volume transition amount defines the number of transition steps up to the instructed volume value and the transition amount in one step, but the volume transition amount = 0 is instructed from the current volume value. It means to immediately shift to the specified volume value.

  By the way, the sound control module 52 causes each part of the apparatus to function for each instruction based on the individual instructions from the host CPU 40 written in the control register 51. In order to simplify the control operation of the host CPU 40, the present embodiment is implemented. The speech synthesis circuit 42 in the example is provided with a simple access function and a sequencer function. Here, simple access is a function that can execute a plurality of commands (instruction sequences) registered in advance in an external memory (specifically, the voice memory 43) with one command. It means an automatic performance function that realizes the phrase playback and volume / pan functions according to the procedure registered in the voice memory 43 in advance.

  In this embodiment, the above-described simple access function and sequencer function are utilized as necessary, but the operation of the main generator 53 is basically the same whether or not these functions are utilized. . Therefore, for convenience, in the following description, the host CPU 40 individually controls the speech synthesis circuit 42 without using the simple access function or the sequencer function.

  As described above, the main generator 53 includes the decoder 60 divided into a plurality of phrase reproduction channels, and a channel volume having a primary volume portion V1 and a secondary volume portion V2 (see FIG. 6). Accordingly, in response to such a configuration, the host CPU 40 of this embodiment uses the decoders of the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH1 for reproducing the BGM sound, and 13 phrase reproductions for reproducing the effect sound. Any one of the channels CH2 to CH14 is used, and the decoder for the phrase reproduction channel CH15 is used for voice notification for notifying the occurrence of a serious abnormal situation.

  Then, an effective sound effect is realized by appropriately setting the volume balance of the primary volume V1 of the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH14 for realizing the sound effect. Specifically, when the production sound is output, the volume of the BGM sound is suppressed to prevent the production sound from being overheard. In the present embodiment, the production sound is, for example, a warning sound for notifying with a predetermined reliability (≦ 100%) that there is a possibility of shifting to a big hit state during a series of fluctuating operations, and the phrase reproduction channel CH0. By appropriately setting the volume balance of the primary volume V1 of -CH14, the possibility that the notice sound important for the player is hidden in the high-volume BGM sound is solved.

  During normal operation, the secondary volume V2 of the phrase playback channel (CH0 to CH14) in use is maintained at a specified value, and when a serious abnormality occurs, the secondary volume V2 of the phrase playback channel CH15 is set to the maximum level. On the other hand, the secondary volume V2 of all other in-use phrase playback channels (CH0 to CH14) is changed to the minimum level. For this reason, in the case of an abnormality that occurs suddenly, the abnormality notification operation is realized in a state in which the progress of the sound effect is continued. Since the secondary volume V2 of the phrase playback channels (CH0 to CH14) that are executing the sound effects are all returned to the specified value after the abnormality recovery, the sound effects that have been progressing in the silent state until then are appropriate. It will be revived at the volume.

  In this embodiment, the thirteen phrase playback channels CH2 to CH14 are more specifically divided into a higher channel (CH2 to CH9) in which the host CPU 40 sets the primary volume V1 to a relatively higher level, and a primary volume V1. It is divided into lower channels (CH10 to CH14) that are set at relatively lower levels.

  Then, at the production timing in which the high channel and the low channel are used in an overlapping manner, the host CPU 40 controls the production sound reproduced on the high channel to be slightly louder than the production sound reproduced on the low channel. ing. Specifically, an appropriate volume parameter is set in the control register 51 for the primary volume V1 related to the corresponding phrase playback channel.

  Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the player from being overheard by playing a high-reliability warning sound on the high-order channels (CH2 to CH9). On the other hand, it is also preferable to arouse the player's sense of tension by intentionally playing a high-reliability warning sound on the lower channels (CH10 to CH14). In any case, in this embodiment, it is possible to enrich a variety of sound effects by simultaneously reproducing a plurality of effect sounds at different volume ratios.

  In this embodiment, since the upper and lower panpots can be set for each phrase playback channel, the host CPU 40 determines that the upper speaker has a slightly higher volume based on the positional relationship between the upper speaker and the lower speaker. The volume balance is set for all phrase playback channels. More specifically, appropriate operation parameters are written in the control registers for the upper and lower panpots in order to set the upper and lower panpot settings to an appropriate volume ratio for all phrase playback channels.

  In this embodiment, since the left and right panpots can be set for each phrase playback channel, the host CPU 40 sometimes uses the L0 signal for the playback sound of the phrase playback channels CH2 to CH14 as part of the notice effect. The volume balance of the R0 signal is made different. In this case, for example, the warning sound heard from the upper left and right speakers can be moved from left to right (panning in the right direction), or conversely, moved from right to left (panning in the left direction). Note that the panning speed is defined by an operation parameter for voice transition that the host CPU 40 writes to the left / right panpot control register 51 for the L0 signal and the R0 signal.

  In this embodiment, since the L1 signal and the R1 signal are supplied to a single speaker (lower speaker), the volume balance is set to be the same.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the output signal (mixed L0, mixed R0, mixed L1, mixed R1) of the channel mix 61 is subjected to digital filter processing based on the operation parameter defined in the control register 51 in the effect unit 54. After that, it is supplied to the total volume unit TV.

  Here, the total volume value TV is defined by an operation parameter written in the corresponding control register 51. In this embodiment, the operation parameter is, in principle, a setting switch SET (FIG. 3) operated by an attendant. It is prescribed based on. However, when the player operates the volume switch VSW (FIG. 1) during the game operation (but during the sound production standby), the total volume TV is defined based on the set value.

  To explain conceptually, the volume of the audio signal output from each speaker is defined by the product of the product of the primary volume V1 and the secondary volume V2 defined by the host CPU and the total volume TV based on the player's intention. Therefore, all sound effects are realized at the volume intended by the player.

  However, when a serious abnormal situation is detected, the secondary volume V2 and the total volume TV are at the highest level regardless of the intentions of the attendant or player. It cannot be hidden by VSW operation.

  The audio signal (PCM data) mixed L0, mixed R0, mixed L1, and mixed R1 after passing through the total volume unit TV having such significance are stored in the output buffer BUF, and two kinds of serial signals are generated based on the digital IF unit 55. Converted to signals SD0 and SD1. Here, the serial signal SD0 is a serial signal that specifies PCM data related to the stereo signals R and L that drive the left and right speakers arranged in the upper part of the gaming machine, and the serial signal SD1 is a heavy bass arranged in the lower part of the gaming machine. It is a serial signal that specifies PCM data related to a monaural signal that drives a speaker.

  These serial signals SD0 and SD1 are output from the digital IF unit 55 in synchronization with the bit clock signal BCO. Also, the word clock signal LR0 is output from the digital IF unit 55, and it is specified whether the contents of the serial signals SD0 and SD1 currently being transmitted are the left signals L0 and L1 or the right signals R0 and R1. It has come to be.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 5B, these signals SD0, SD1, BCO, and LR0 are transmitted to the digital amplifier 46. For example, it is assumed that the digital amplifier 46 of YDA171 (YAMAHA) is used. When evaluated, the bit clock signal BCO means the serial clock SCLK, and the word clock signal LR0 means the channel control signal LRCLK.

  The operation of the speech synthesis circuit 42 in this case is as shown in FIG. 5B, and the left channel speech signals L0, L1 are maintained with the word clock signal LR0 (channel control signal LRCLK) maintained at the L level. The right channel audio signals R0 and R1 are transmitted with the word clock signal LR0 (channel control signal LRCLK) maintained at the H level. Since the number of lower speakers is one in this embodiment, the left and right channel signals R1 and L1 are the same and are supplied to the same speaker in common.

  As described above, in this embodiment, four types of audio signals R0, R1, L0, and L1 can be transmitted with four cables, and therefore, signal transmission without noise deterioration due to noise can be performed with the minimum number of cables. That is, since it is serial transmission, the number of cables is overwhelmingly smaller than parallel transmission. As described above, the voltage level of each signal SCLK, LRCLK, SD0, SD1 is 3.3V. However, when analog transmission is used instead of serial transmission as in this embodiment, the number of cables is the same. However, not a little noise is superimposed on an analog signal having an amplitude of 3.3 V, and the sound quality is greatly deteriorated. On the other hand, when the amplitude level is increased, the power supply wiring becomes complicated and the power consumption increases.

  Such serial signals SD0 and SD1 are acquired by the digital amplifier 46 in synchronization with the rising edge of the bit clock signal BCO (serial clock signal SCLK). In the digital amplifier 46, parallel conversion is performed for each predetermined bit length, and after D / A conversion, D-class amplification is performed and supplied to each speaker.

  Although the internal configuration of the digital amplifier 46 is appropriate, FIG. 7 shows an internal configuration diagram when YDA171 (YAMAHA) is used as the digital amplifier. Although it is not limited to such an internal configuration, in any case, in this embodiment, since the voice synthesis circuit 42 and the digital amplifier 46 are connected by a serial line, the bit length of the PCM data (voice data) is increased. Even if the sound quality is improved, it is not necessary to change the wiring cable and the like, and the circuit configuration can be simplified.

  Next, the operation of the effect control unit 22 'will be described with respect to the sound effect operation and the sound notification operation. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation content of the effect control unit 22 ′, which is executed by the CPU of the one-chip microcomputer 40. The operation of the effect control unit 22 ′ includes a main loop process (FIG. 8 (a)) executed in an infinite loop after the CPU reset, a timer interrupt process (FIG. 8 (b)) started every 1 mS, And a reception interrupt process (not shown) for receiving a control command transmitted by the control unit.

  First, the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 8B will be described. In the timer interrupt process, first, various switch signals including the setting switch SET and the volume switch VSW are acquired, the levels of the respective switch signals are stored, and when a rising edge or a falling edge is detected, The fact is memorized (ST30). The setting switch SET is a 4-bit long switch signal, and the level values of all the bits are stored.

  FIG. 9A shows in detail the specific operation of the switch input process (ST30) shown in FIG. 8B. As shown in the figure, in the switch input process (ST30), the switch signal level information is copied from the switch level NEW area of the RAM to the switch level OLD area every 1 mS, and the data of the switch level NEW area and the switch level OLD area is also copied. Are detected, and the ON edge and the OFF edge are detected and stored in the corresponding storage areas (ST80, ST81).

  Next, when the falling edge (OFF edge) is detected for the volume switch VSW, the long press counter CNT is cleared to zero and the threshold variable TH is initialized to 500 (ST83). Here, the long press counter CNT is a counter that measures the duration during which the volume switch VSW is continuously turned on, and the threshold variable TH determines the value of the long press counter CNT every 0.5 seconds. It is used for purposes.

  Therefore, when a rising edge (ON edge) is detected for the volume switch VSW, the long press counter CNT is incremented (ST84 to 85). Here, since the switch input process is executed every 1 mS, the long press counter CNT is incremented and updated every 1 mS, and the initial value 500 of the threshold variable TH is 0 for the long press counter CNT. It means 5 seconds.

  Incidentally, since the signal from the volume switch VSW is actually a 2-bit length of the + contact signal and the −contact signal, two independent long press counters CNT + and CNT− may be provided. However, since the volume switch VSW of the embodiment does not simultaneously turn ON the + contact and the − contact because of its structure, as shown in FIG. The pressing duration of the contact (±) can be grasped.

  When the switch input process (ST30) having the above contents is completed, if the effect motor (stepping motor) is being rotationally driven, the drive pulse is updated by one step at an appropriate timing to advance the effect motor. Then, the updated drive pulse is output to the effect motor (ST32). Further, the LED lamp is driven for the lamp effect and the like (ST33). The lamp drive data SDATA for driving the LED lamp is updated every 16 mS in the process of step ST18 of the main loop process.

  Next, when a control command is stored in the transmission buffer, it is transmitted to the downstream image control unit 23 ', and when the clear timing is reached, the watchdog timer WDT is cleared (ST34 to ST35). Note that the clear timing is appropriately determined in the range of an integer multiple of 1 mS, and for example, is set at an interval of 16 mS.

  Next, the interrupt counter is incremented and the abnormality detection counter is incremented (ST36 to ST37). Here, the interrupt counter is a counter for repeatedly executing the main loop process (FIG. 7A) every 16 ms. That is, in the main loop process, the value of the interrupt counter is first determined (ST10), and the process of steps ST11 to ST20 is executed at the time when this value reaches 16, thereby realizing a repetition process at intervals of 16 ms. .

  Further, the abnormality detection counter updated in the process of step ST37 is used for the purpose of causing the watchdog timer WDT to function when the program runs away in the main loop process. Specifically, the abnormality detection counter is incremented every 1 mS (ST37), but is cleared to zero every 16 mS in the main loop process (ST21). Absent.

  However, if the program process is stopped during the main loop process (ST10 to ST20), the increment process is repeated every 1 mS without clearing the abnormality detection counter (ST37). In such a case, in this embodiment, the infinite loop process is repeated at the timing when the value of the abnormality detection counter exceeds a predetermined value (for example, 100) (ST38), and thereafter, the watchdog timer WDT is transferred to the watchdog timer WDT. Since the clear process (ST35) is not executed, the CPU is forcibly reset, and as a result, the CPU in the program runaway state can be returned to the initial state.

  Next, the main loop process shown in FIG. When the interrupt counter reaches 16 (ST10), it is cleared to zero (ST11), and a command analysis process is executed for the control command received from the main control unit 21 (ST12). The received control command includes an error command indicating the occurrence of an abnormal situation. In this embodiment, the effect lottery is executed when the reception of the variation pattern command is recognized in the command analysis process (ST12).

  Next, error processing is executed (ST13). The error process is a process of determining whether a serious abnormal situation in which an illegal act is a concern or other special situation has occurred and performing a necessary notification operation. The specific contents are not particularly limited, but for example, based on the switch signal acquired by the production control unit 22 ′ in the process of step ST30 and the control command (error command) transmitted from the main control unit 21, for example. The occurrence of an abnormal situation or special situation is determined (ST13).

  As a serious abnormal situation, an abnormal reaction of a magnetic sensor, a radio wave sensor, or a vibration sensor can be exemplified. The serious abnormal situation includes a case where the RAM of the main control unit 21 is cleared and a case where the front frame 3 and the glass door 6 of the gaming machine are released. Other special situations include cases where the supply of gaming balls is interrupted, gaming balls are clogged, and the like.

  In any case, when an error as described above is detected, an error flag corresponding to the air content is set. This error flag is referred to in the subsequent input detection process (ST14).

  Next, an input detection process (ST14) shown in detail in FIG. 8C is executed. The input detection process (ST14) is a process corresponding to the setting switch SET operated by the attendant. First, it is determined whether or not the setting switch SET has been operated (ST40). The 4-bit signal from the setting switch SET is to be stored in the switch VOL area of the RAM every time a new signal is acquired. Since the setting switch signal is acquired every 1 mS and stored in the switch level NEW area of the RAM (see FIG. 9B), the stored values of the switch level NEW area and the switch VOL area are compared. It is possible to grasp that the setting switch has been operated.

  When the setting switch SET is operated, a new setting switch signal (SET value) is stored in the switch VOL area (ST41), and the same SET value is copied to the output VOL area (ST42). Here, the output VOL area is a work area related to the total volume TV of the speech synthesis circuit 42, and is referred to in the subsequent processing (ST45).

  By the way, the data in the output VOL area (output VOL value) is configured to be updated in response to an operation of the volume switch VSW by the player. Therefore, the total volume TV of the speech synthesis circuit 42 can be freely changed based on the player's preference even after the staff operates the setting switch SET. However, in this embodiment, as will be described later, when the gaming machine reaches the demo state 2 through the demo state 1, the player assumes that the player has left the seat and returns the output VOL value to the SET value by the attendant. There is no discomfort for new players.

  When the process of step ST42 is completed, it is determined whether or not a serious abnormal situation has been detected (ST43). The occurrence of an abnormal situation is determined based on the switch signal received by the production control unit 22 ′ in the process of step ST30 and the control command (error command) transmitted from the main control unit 21, and in the error process (ST13), the air The error flag corresponding to the content is set.

  When a serious abnormal situation occurs, the value of the total volume TV of the speech synthesis circuit 42 is set to the maximum value regardless of the output VOL value, and the secondary volume value V2 is set to the error notification mode. (ST44). Specifically, volume setting operation parameters are written in the RAM audio playback work area WDA (see FIG. 11B).

  As shown in FIG. 11B, in this embodiment, 16 divided work areas WDA are secured corresponding to the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH15 of the speech synthesis circuit 42. , (A) phrase number specifying a series of audio information, (b) volume value V1 / V2 specifying playback volume, (c) loop instruction specifying playback count, (d) volume specifying volume change speed The transition value, (e) panpot value, and the like are stored for each of the reproduction channels CH0 to CH15. The total volume TV is stored in a single total volume area.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the notification of a serious abnormal situation uses the reproduction channel CH15 reserved exclusively for it, the secondary volume value of the reproduction channel CH15 is set as the secondary volume setting in the error notification mode. While the maximum value (MAX) is set, the secondary volume values of the other reproduction channels CH0 to CH14 are set to the minimum value (= 0). That is, in step ST44, the operation parameter (maximum value or minimum value) of the secondary volume V2 is written to each of the 16 partitioned work areas WDA, and the total volume value TV which is the maximum value is written to the corresponding area. .

  The written secondary volume value V2 and total volume value TV are made effective by being written in the control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42 in the sound reproduction process (ST17).

  The case where a serious abnormal situation has been described has been described above. However, if no serious abnormal situation is detected, the value of the total volume TV of the speech synthesis circuit 42 is set as the output VOL value as a normal operation, and the normal mode is set. The secondary volume V2 is set. Specifically, in step ST45, the operation parameters of the secondary volume V2, which is a specified value (standard value), are respectively written to the 16 partitioned work areas WDA, and the output VOL value is written to the corresponding area as a total volume.

  In this way, when the input detection process (ST14) relating to volume setting is completed, the demo process shown in detail in FIG. 10A is executed (ST15).

  By the way, in the present embodiment, a demo state 1 that is started by receiving a demo command from the main control unit 21, a demo state 2 that is started after the end of the demo state 1, and a demo movie state that is started thereafter Is provided. Here, the demo command is transmitted following the change stop command when there is no change operation that starts continuously after a series of change operations are completed, that is, when there is no prize in a stage where the performance is suspended. The

  Then, the operation state of the effect control unit 22 ′ that has received such a demo command is a demo state 1 in which the BGM sound is continued with the special symbol stopped (see FIG. 10D). . This demo state 1 ends in 30 seconds (minimum duration) unless a new variation pattern command is received during this period and the player does not operate the volume switch VSW. Move to 2. Note that when a new variation pattern command is received during the period of the demo state 1, the demo state is canceled, and thereafter, the execution of the demo process (ST15) is effectively skipped. .

  On the other hand, in the demo state 2 started without receiving the variation pattern command, the special symbol is stopped in a silent state in which the BGM sound is extinguished. This demo state 2 ends in 150 seconds (minimum duration) unless a new variation pattern command is received during this period and the player does not operate the volume switch VSW (FIG. 10 (minimum duration)). d)). Then, when the demo state 2 ends, the state shifts to the demo movie state, and the image effect (moving image effect) on the display screen DS is executed in a silent state in synchronization with the lamp effect.

  However, in this embodiment, if the player operates the volume switch VSW during the period of the demo state 1 or the demo state 2, the duration of the demo state 1 or the demo state 2 is extended. Then, while listening to the BGM sound, it is possible to set the volume appropriately any number of times. That is, each time the volume switch VSW is operated, the duration is extended as much as possible, so that the volume setting can be repeated until the user is satisfied while listening to the BGM sound.

  On the other hand, in the demo state 2, the BGM sound disappears, but each time the volume switch VSW is operated, the duration is extended and an appropriate notification sound (for example, ♪ picone) is emitted at the set volume. The volume can be set based on the volume.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the demo state 1 → the demo state 2 → the demo movie state and the operation state shift, and each time the volume switch VSW is operated, a sufficient operation time is secured. The volume can be set according to the player's preference. Then, if the game is started after such a volume setting, the demo state is canceled when the variation pattern command corresponding to the winning of the game ball is received, and a new sound effect synchronized with the image effect and the lamp effect is generated by the player. It starts at the set volume.

  Note that the case where the demo movie state is started means that 180 seconds or more have passed since the stop of the change without receiving the change pattern command, and 150 seconds or more have passed since the last switch operation. The person is likely to have left the gaming machine. Therefore, in this embodiment, at the start of the demo movie, the volume setting by the player is invalidated and the silent demo movie is displayed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a large volume is emitted from a gaming machine in which no one is playing, and there is no discomfort to surrounding players. However, since this demonstration movie is repeatedly executed at intervals of 90 seconds in synchronization with the lamp effect, the gaming ability of the gaming machine can be effectively appealed (see FIG. 10D).

  Based on the above operation, specific processing contents of the demo processing will be described. Prior to that, the demo command reception processing shown in FIG. 10B will be described. This demo command reception process is a part of the command analysis process (ST12), and the demo command is received by the main control unit 21 when there is no fluctuating operation that starts continuously after a series of fluctuating operations are completed. As described above, it is transmitted from.

  In the demo command reception process, first, the gaming state is set to demo state 1 (ST80), and the demo timer is initially set to 30 seconds (ST81). Here, the demo timer is a software timer that manages the duration of the demo state 1 and the demo state 2 and is referred to in the demo process (see FIG. 10C).

  When the process of step ST81 is completed, the demo command is stored in the transmission buffer (see FIG. 10C) in order to transfer the demo command received from the main control unit 21 to the image control unit 23 '(ST82). Note that the demo command stored in the transmission buffer is transmitted to the image control unit 23 'in the command output process (ST34) shown in FIG. 8B.

  Next, the demo process (ST15) will be described with reference to FIG. In the demo process, first, it is determined whether or not the current state is the demo state (demo state 1 / demo state 2 / demo movie state) (ST51).

  On the other hand, in any demo state, it is determined whether or not the volume switch VSW is operated (ST52). Note that whether or not the volume switch VSW has been operated is ascertained every 1 mS in the switch input process (ST30) of FIG. 8B, but in this embodiment, the volume switch VSW may be pressed for a long time. Considering the fact, the determination process shown in FIG. 9C is executed.

  That is, in the demo process (ST15), a switch signal of the volume switch VSW is obtained again every 16 ms and is compared with past data to determine whether an ON edge is detected (ST90). Thus, the volume switch VSW signal has a 2-bit length of the + signal and the − signal, but since the + signal and the − signal do not change at the same time, only one of the ON edges is detected.

  If an ON edge is detected, the threshold variable TH is initialized to 500, which means 0.5 seconds (ST93), and the ON edge of the + signal or the − signal is specified. (*) The detection flag DJ is set to * 1H (ST95).

  On the other hand, when the ON edge is not detected, the value of the long press counter CNT is compared with the threshold variable TH to determine the long press time of the volume switch VSW (ST91). If CNT <TH, the detection flag is set to 00H to indicate that no ON edge is detected (ST92).

  On the other hand, when TH = 500 and CNT ≧ TH, it means that the ON level is continued for 0.5 seconds or more after the ON edge is detected. Therefore, in such a case, the threshold variable is updated by +500 (ST94), and either the + signal or the − signal is specified (*), and the detection flag DJ is set to * 1H (ST95). . As a result, the ON edge of the volume switch VSW has been detected, and it is determined that the + direction or − direction switch operation has been repeated.

  The subsequent processing is the same. When CNT ≧ TH with respect to the updated threshold variable TH, it is assumed that the + direction or − direction switch operation is repeated (ST94 to ST95). As described above, in this embodiment, if the ON operation is continued for 0.5 seconds or more, it is assumed that the ON operation is repeated, so that an appropriate volume setting can be set corresponding to the long-pressed volume switch. .

  This point will be specifically described below. When the switch operation of the positive contact or negative contact of the volume switch VSW is recognized by the processing of FIG. 9C, it is first determined whether or not the demo movie is in operation. The state is returned to the demo state 2 (ST53, ST54). Therefore, for example, when a player is seated in an empty gaming machine (in the demo movie), the volume can be adjusted in the demonstration state 2 by operating the volume switch VSW prior to the start of the game.

  Next, in order to notify the image control unit 23 'that the volume switch VSW has been operated, a volume setting display command is set in the transmission buffer (ST55). As a result, the image control unit 23 'that has received the volume setting display command based on the subsequent command output processing (ST34) displays an appropriate volume bar on the display device DS.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the switch operation of the volume switch VSW is determined only in the demo state (ST51 to ST52). For example, even if the volume switch VSW is operated during the changing operation, Since the switch operation is ignored, an erroneous operation does not cause a problem such that the sound production suddenly becomes loud and surprises the player.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the output VOL can be updated based on whether the operated contact is a + contact or a −contact (ST56). Here, the output VOL is a variable that defines the volume value (total volume TV) instructed to the speech synthesis circuit 42 (see ST45 in FIG. 8 (c)), and corresponds to the operation of the volume switch VSW by the player. The increase / decrease can be changed, for example, in 10 steps from the MIN value to the MAX value.

  If the output VOL is MIN <output VOL <MAX, the output VOL is appropriately updated (± 1), and the VOL command is sent to the transmission buffer to transmit the updated output VOL value to the image control unit 23 ′. Are stored (ST57 to ST58). On the other hand, when the + contact of the volume switch VSW is pressed in the state of the output VOL = MAX, or when the −contact is pressed in the state of the MIN value of the volume switch VSW in the state of the output VOL = MIN, In order to display on the display device DS that it cannot be changed in the limit state, a VOL command based on the current output VOL value is stored in the transmission buffer (ST58).

  In any case, a phrase number for identifying a notification sound (for example, ♪ beep) indicating that the operation of the volume switch VSW has been received is stored in the work area WDA for sound reproduction (FIG. 11B) ( ST58). Note that the phrase number for specifying the notification sound is stored in an unused empty area in the work area WDA corresponding to the phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH14.

  Here, the phrase number stored in the work area WDA (FIG. 11B) is read in the sound reproduction process (ST17) together with the value such as the output VOL and written into the corresponding control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42. It is. As described above, the phrase number specifies the notification sound of the audio memory 43, and the compressed data read from the audio memory 43 is reproduced in any of the phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH14. An appropriate notification sound is output.

  When the process of step ST58 is completed, the demo timer is initialized. The initial value of the demo timer is different between the demo state 1 and the demo state 2, and is initially set to 30 seconds and 150 seconds, respectively (ST59). As described above, in this embodiment, if the volume switch VSW is operated, the demo timer is initialized even if the operation exceeds the limit value (MIN / MAX). The grace time until the end of state 2 is reset to 30 seconds / 150 seconds, respectively, to ensure a reliable operation time.

  Next, a volume setting display timer is initialized to 5 seconds (ST60). Here, the display timer is a timer variable for managing a display time for continuously displaying the volume bar on the display device DS (see FIG. 10C). Since the display timer is also initialized corresponding to the initial setting of the demo timer, the volume bar is always displayed on the display device DS during the time when the volume switch VSW can be operated.

  Following the process of step ST60, the value of the display timer is determined (ST61). If it is not zero, it is decremented (ST62), and the value of the display timer after decrement is determined (ST63). Here, if the display timer is zero, it means that the display time of the volume bar for at least 5 seconds has expired. Therefore, in order to notify this to the image control unit 23 ′, the volume setting display is displayed in the transmission buffer. An erase command is set (ST64). As a result, in the image control unit 23 ′ that has received the display erasure command based on the subsequent command output process (ST 34), the volume bar of the display device DS is extinguished.

  When the processing related to the display timer is completed, it is determined whether or not the current state is the demo state 1. If the demo state is 1, the value of the demo timer is zero, that is, the demo state 1 is at least 30 seconds. It is determined whether or not the process has been continued (ST66). If the value of the demo timer is zero, BGM fade-out processing is executed (ST67). Specifically, in order to gradually reduce the primary volume V1 of all channels CH0 to CH14 excluding the error notification phrase playback channel CH15, necessary operation parameters (volume transition amount per unit time) are reproduced as audio. Is stored in the work area WDA for use (FIG. 11B). It should be noted that this operation parameter is read out in the sound reproduction process (ST17) and written in the corresponding control register 51 of the sound synthesizing circuit 42, thereby fading out an appropriate speed fade-out operation.

  When the process of step ST67 is completed, the demo state is changed from the demo state 1 to the demo state 2, and the demo timer is initialized to 150 seconds to finish the demo process (ST68).

  Therefore, in the next demo process (ST13), unless the volume switch VSW is operated, the process proceeds through the route of step ST51 → step ST52 → step ST61 → step ST65 → step ST69 → step ST70, and is silent for 150 seconds. Will wait for the elapse of time. In the demo state 2, if the volume switch VSW is operated, the notification sound is output at the level of the output VOL only at that time, and the time elapsed until that time returns to the initial state as described above.

  In any case, after 150 seconds have passed since the last operation of the volume switch VSW, the operation state is changed from the demo state 2 to the demo movie, and the value of the switch VOL is written to the output VOL. The output VLO is returned to the initial value (ST71).

  As a result, the operation of the volume switch VSW set by the player is wasted, but after the final operation of the volume switch VSW is finished, the game ball should be launched, and for 150 seconds thereafter. In the meantime, it is extremely rare that there is no winning of the game ball and the changing motion is not started, so it is understood that there is virtually no problem.

  Rather, if the game ball has not been won for 150 seconds after the last operation of the volume switch VSW, it is assumed that the player has left the gaming machine. It is more reasonable to display the demo movie (see ST74, ST75, ST72, ST73).

  When the above demonstration process is completed, the voice production is started or the scenario update process is executed to advance the voice production being executed (ST16), and the sound reproduction process for driving the voice synthesis circuit according to the scenario is performed. Execute (ST17). Details thereof will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, a lamp effect is started, or LED data update processing is executed to advance the lamp effect being executed (ST16). The LED lamp driving operation is executed in a 1 mS timer interrupt (ST33).

  Next, a sum operation (for example, 8-bit addition operation) is executed for a predetermined area of the RAM, and the operation result is stored (ST19 to ST20). This stored value is compared with the calculation result of the same sum calculation executed after the CPU is reset, and if the comparison values match, the hot start process is executed without clearing the RAM area. .

  As a result, even if the watchdog timer WDT functions and the CPU is abnormally reset, as long as the contents of the predetermined area of the RAM are maintained, the effect of the gaming machine is resumed without returning to the initial state. Is possible.

  Next, after clearing the abnormality detection counter (ST21), the random number for effect lottery is updated, and the process returns to step ST10 (ST22). The significance of the process in step ST21 is as described above in relation to the process in step ST38.

  Next, the sound reproduction process (ST17) will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process for writing various operation parameters stored in a predetermined work area WDA into the control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42.

  Specifically, first, the total volume value TV stored in the work area WDA is written into the corresponding control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42 (SS11). This process is executed to set the same total volume value to the L0 signal and the R0 signal, and the L1 signal and the R1 signal (see FIG. 6).

  Further, as described above, the total volume TV can be set by an operation of the setting switch SET by an attendant (ST41) and can be set by the player by an ON operation of the volume switch VSW (ST55, ST45). . However, when a serious abnormality is detected, the maximum volume value is forcibly set (ST44).

  When the writing process of the total volume value TV is finished, the processes of steps SS12 to SS29 are repeated 16 times corresponding to the number of phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH15.

  First, the secondary volume value V2 is written to the corresponding control register 51 of CHn (SS13). As described above, during normal times, the secondary volume V2 of the phrase playback channel (CH0 to CH14) is a specified value (standard value), and when a serious abnormal situation occurs, only the phrase playback channel CH15 is set to the maximum level, All other phrase playback channels (CH0 to CH14) are set to the minimum level. Whether or not a serious abnormal situation has occurred is determined based on the error flag set in the error processing (ST13).

  In this embodiment, the process from step SS14 is continued even in a serious abnormal situation where the reproduction output from the phrase reproduction channels (CH0 to CH14) becomes silent. Therefore, after the abnormal situation is resolved, the sound production in the voiced state can be resumed smoothly.

  When the process of step SS13 is completed, it is next determined whether or not the operation parameter is stored in the work area of the channel CHn (SS14). If not, the operation of the next channel CHn + 1 is determined. (SS29).

  On the other hand, if any operation parameter is stored in the work area of the phrase playback channel CHn, it is determined whether it is related to the volume transition mode (volume transition amount) or the primary volume V1 (SS15). . In the case of Yes determination, the primary volume V1 and volume transition mode including the adjacent phrase playback channel CHn + 1 are set based on whether or not stereo playback is involved (SS19), or the phrase playback channel. Only CHn is set (SS17).

  In addition, pan settings for the left and right speakers and pan settings for the upper and lower speakers are executed as necessary (SS20, SS18). In this embodiment, the pan setting means setting of the volume ratio (volume balance) of the audio signals L0 and R0 supplied to the left and right speakers. That is, the volume of the other is increased in response to the decrease of the volume of one of the left and right. In this case, the volume ratio should preferably be set with a single numerical value X of about 1 byte for the convenience of control.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the volume ratio is set by a numerical value X of 0 to 128 having a 1-byte length. As a specific setting ratio, the left / right volume ratio may be linearly changed, for example, [X / 128]: [(128-X) / 128]. It is preferable to change more smoothly.

  In view of this point, in this embodiment, the left / right volume ratio is defined by a trigonometric function, and left volume SQR (2) * Cos (π / 2 * X / 128)) and right volume The volume ratio is SQR (2) * Sin (π / 2 * X / 128). In this case, the left / right ratio ∞: 0 at X = 0, the left / right ratio 1: 1 at X = 64, and the left / right ratio 0: ∞ at X = 128, and the volume ratio transitions smoothly. SQR means a root symbol.

  When the above volume ratio is converted into dB corresponding to human hearing (Log calculation with 10 as the base), when X = 1, the right volume is −36.124 dB with respect to the left volume +3.009 dB. When X = 64, both left and right are 0 dB, and when X = 127, the right volume is +3.009 dB with respect to the left volume -36.124 dB.

  The volume ratio has been described above. However, it is preferable to change the volume ratio stepwise instead of immediately to the set volume ratio. The left and right volume ratios are set to initial values (for example, 1: 1) as time elapses. ) To the target value, a smooth panning operation from one speaker to the other speaker can be realized. In this case, however, the control processing becomes complicated, and it is preferable to change the speed by defining the rate of change (the amount of pan transition) from the initial value toward the target value. It is sufficient to define the pan transition amount in the same way as the volume transition amount. Specifically, the number of transition steps until the instructed volume ratio (target value) is reached and the transition amount in one step are defined. .

  Next, when the phrase number needs to be changed, a new phrase number is written into the control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42 for the phrase reproduction channel CHn (SS23).

  Further, the number of loops is set based on whether or not a series of sound effects to be reproduced from now on are reproduced repeatedly (SS26, SS25). In this embodiment, the number of loops is infinite or zero, and the infinite number of sound effects (for example, BGM sound) are repeatedly reproduced until the next sound effect is started or a stop command is received. .

  Then, a start command is written in the corresponding control register 51 of the voice synthesis circuit 42 in order to start the voice effect specified by the new phrase number (SS27). The sound effect started in this way is automatically continued until the number of phrase data to be reproduced is exhausted when the loop count = 0, and automatically ends when the phrase data is exhausted.

  In a series of audio effects, the playback volume is basically maintained at a specified level defined by the phrase data. However, in this embodiment, the primary volume V1 is appropriately set when a plurality of effect sounds are overlapped. The production effect is enhanced by changing the. That is, for example, as described above, the volume of the overlapping sound effects is appropriately changed depending on the importance of the effect sound.

  When the process for the channel CHn is completed in this way, the operation parameter for which the process has been completed is deleted (SS28), and the process for the next channel CHn + 1 is shifted to (SS29).

  As described above, the volume at the time of occurrence of a serious abnormal situation and the volume setting by the player have been described in detail. However, this embodiment also has a great feature in effect operation control in a normal state.

  FIG. 12 is a drawing showing the outline, and the outline of the progress of a series of effects is defined by scenario numbers SC1 to SCx.

  As shown in FIG. 12B, a scenario table is provided for each of the scenario numbers SC1 to SCx. The scenario numbers are roughly classified for each variation pattern command received from the main control unit 21, and further subdivided. Any one is selected by the effect lottery. In FIG. 12A, for convenience of explanation, a scenario table is illustrated for the simplest normal variation not accompanied by a reach effect.

  In the case of the normal variation effect shown in FIG. 12 (a), the scenario table includes sub-scenarios selected for the start timing of variation start, high-speed variation, left stop, right stop, middle stop, and shake variation as the start timing time. Defined with information. In addition, the scenario table is specified together with sub-scenarios that define lamp effects, motor effects, and accessory effects, but the normal fluctuation effects shown in the figure are effects with very low expectations, so There is no scenario.

  FIG. 12C illustrates the sub-scenario 12 that starts from the high-speed fluctuation time T12 of the normal fluctuation SC1. In this embodiment, the channels CH0 and CH1 are used for GBM sound reproduction, the channel CH15 is used for error notification, and the channels CH2 to 14 are divided into two to be used for reproduction of effect sounds (SE1, SE2). Therefore, sub-scenarios are also classified in the same way.

  As shown in the figure, the relative elapsed time from the start time T12 defined in the scenario table and the control information for specifying the operation parameter to be written in the control register 51 of the speech synthesis circuit 42 at that time are described.

  Here, the control information for specifying the operation parameter is divided into main information for defining a sound effect to be started and other control information. The main information includes a phrase number that identifies a series of audio effects, the volume of the audio effects (primary volume value), the volume transition (phase-in) mode at the start of playback, the presence / absence of repeated audio effects (loop), stereo sound Whether or not. On the other hand, the control information defines the control mode for the sound effect that has already been started and is being executed. Note that SFO3 + BG_T and SFI1 + BG_T are constant values on the program, and are actually control data having a length of a plurality of bytes that define the control mode.

  In the illustrated sub-scenario 12, the effect specified by the main information 00806001H is started at the relative time +0 (= the elapsed time from the start of the effect is T12). Based on the main information, the audio effect of the phrase 0001H is It is stipulated that the sound volume starts at 80H without any volume transition (6H). Note that the audio effect of the phrase 0001H is executed using any one of the phrase reproduction channels CH2 to CH9.

  Further, based on the control information, it is stipulated that the currently-executed CH0 sound effect (BGM sound) already started is muted in a predetermined volume transition mode (phase-out). Note that the mute of the reproduction channel CH0 and the volume setting of the audio effect of the phrase 0001H are realized by setting the primary volume V1 in each phrase reproduction channel.

  Thereafter, at the relative time +2000, the effect specified by the main information 00807002H is started. Based on the main information, the sound effect of the phrase 0002H may be reproduced in stereo (7H) at a volume of 80H and without volume transition. It is prescribed. In addition, the operation based on the control information is executed at the relative time +5000. Here, the CH0 sound production (BGM sound) set to the mute state is restored in a predetermined volume transition mode (phase-in). It is prescribed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, advanced sound effects are realized by appropriately controlling the primary volume V1 provided for each channel. If an abnormal situation occurs, only the secondary volume V2 is changed (ST44), and the value of the primary volume V1 is maintained, so that the sound production by the scenario table proceeds in a silent state, and thereafter When the abnormality is resolved, the sound volume is restored (ST45), and the sound production that matches the image production can be resumed.

  By the way, in FIG. 12C, the exact description is omitted for convenience, but at the start of reproduction of the effect sound SE1, the fade-in operation of the effect sound SE1 is executed in response to the fade-out operation of the BGM sound. . Further, the fade-in operation of the production sound SE2 is executed at the start of the production sound SE2, and the fade-in operation of the BGM sound is performed at the end of the production sound SE2 in response to the fade-out operation of the production sound SE2. Executed.

  In this example, both the effect sound SE1 and the effect sound SE2 are reproduced on two phrase reproduction channels belonging to the higher channel, but the primary volume value of each reproduction channel in the overlapping section of the two effect sounds SE1 and SE2. Of course, an appropriate difference may be provided between V1 and V1.

  Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the specific contents do not particularly limit the present invention. For example, in the demo process shown in FIG. 10, the volume level is displayed on the display device DS from the timing of the first ON operation of the volume switch VSW. However, it is preferable that the volume bar is only displayed in the first switch operation.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the embodiment in this case. When the switch operation is accepted (ST52), the value of the display timer is determined (ST530a). As described above, the display timer manages the display time of the volume level, and is always zero at the first volume switch operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the switch is operated for the first time, the display command for volume setting is set to be transmitted, and only the output setting of the notification sound 1 is set (ST530b), and the update of the output VOL is skipped.

  However, since the initialization of the demo timer and the display timer is executed (ST59, ST60), the display timer is not equal to 0 when the volume switch is turned on for the second time next time. Therefore, the value of the output VOL is appropriately updated and the notification sound 2 is set to be output (ST57 to ST58).

  In this case, it is preferable to make the notification sound 1 and the notification sound 2 different. For example, a volume bar is displayed on the display device together with the notification sound 1 (♪ picone), and the notification sound 2 (♪ In addition, it is preferable to display the volume level on the display device DS.

  As described above, various embodiments have been described by taking a bullet feeding game machine as an example. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to a bullet ball game machine, and can be applied to a slot machine.

  In the above embodiment, the total volume TV is changed in response to the operation of the player or the staff. However, the secondary volume V2 may be changed instead. Also in this case, when a serious abnormal situation occurs, the secondary volume V2 of the phrase reproduction channels CH0 to CH14 becomes the minimum level MIN, and the secondary volume V2 of the phrase reproduction channel CH15 becomes the maximum level MAX.

GM gaming machine 43 storage device 42 voice synthesis means 40 production control means ST17 first means ST52 second means ST59 third means ST67 fourth means

Claims (1)

The main control means that performs the lottery process in response to a predetermined switch signal to centrally control the game control operation, and the sound effect related to the lottery result of the lottery process based on the control command received from the main control means A gaming machine configured to include a sub-control means for performing the included production operation, and a volume setting switch operable by the player,
The sub-control means includes
Or game of one unit corresponding to the lottery result is completed, after the drawing result is informed, time counting means for determining whether a predetermined duration has elapsed,
A determination means for repeatedly determining whether or not a switch operation of the volume setting switch for instructing an increase or decrease in volume is permitted in a state in which a predetermined sound production is continued until the lapse of the duration time;
Each time the determination means recognizes the switch operation, an extension means for extending the duration for a predetermined time and updating it to a new duration , and
And updating means for increasing or decreasing the volume value of the sound effect corresponding to each unit of the switch operation on condition that a predetermined determination condition is satisfied,
A gaming machine, wherein the volume value updated by the updating means is configured to be displayed on a screen so as to be grasped by a player.