JP6064153B2 - Enclosed game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an enclosed game machine that plays a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the game machine.

  Conventionally, a pachinko machine, which is a gaming machine, has a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in a machine base, and fires the enclosed game balls toward the game area of the game board and collects the released game balls. In addition, there is known a configuration in which a game is played by using a predetermined number of game balls in a circulating manner by firing the collected game balls again (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This type of enclosed pachinko machine is based on the number of game balls rented to the player and the winnings during the game, instead of storing the game balls that the player can play in the upper and lower plates. The configuration is such that the number of game balls that a player can play is calculated and displayed in accordance with the number of prize balls, and the number of held balls is increased or decreased as the game progresses.
Patent Document 1 describes a configuration for lending balls and storing balls at the end of the game using an IC card.

Japanese Patent No. 4175524

By the way, the conventional encapsulated pachinko machine includes a main control device that performs control related to the progress of the game, and a sub-control device that manages lending, launching of game balls and management of prize balls, and the number of balls held by the sub-control device. And display control are performed. The display of the number of possessed balls is displayed on an operation unit that performs a lending request and a settlement request operation at the end of the game provided near the launching handle at a position lower than the game area of the game board.
However, usually, the player pays attention to the game area of the game board, and in order to confirm the number of possessed balls, the player must shift his eyes downward from the game area. In particular, in recent pachinko machines, a large-scale production symbol display device is provided in the game area, and a sophisticated production display is made, so it is fun to miss the production display by shifting the line of sight to check the number of balls held. There is a risk of halving.
In addition, the sub-control device for lending, launching game balls and managing prize balls is not directly connected to the effect symbol display device so as to electrically exchange signals, etc. Therefore, it is not efficient to display the number of balls on the effect symbol display device.
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to calculate the number of possessed balls so that the number of possessed balls can be displayed on a display device in a game area with high control efficiency.

The invention described in claim 1
It is configured to be communicable with an information processing device that performs information processing such as reading and writing of information in a storage medium storing a value for playing a game, and collects a game ball that has been launched on a game board by a launch device, A sealed game machine that plays a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls enclosed therein by firing the collected game balls again by the launching device,
A main controller that controls the progress of the game;
An effect symbol display device that displays an effect symbol as the game progresses;
An effect symbol control device for controlling the effect symbol display device;
In a sealed game machine comprising: a sub-control device that receives information on the number of possessed game balls that can be used in a game from the information processing device and controls the launching device based on the information on the number of possessed balls ,
The sub-control device includes a ball-number information transmitting unit that transmits the ball-number information to the main control device at least at the start of a game,
The main control device subtracts the number of winnings won at the winning opening and the number of outs not winning at the winning opening from the holding ball number information transmitted by the holding ball number information transmitting means, and the number of winning balls by winning A first ball number calculating means for adding, a prize ball number transmitting means for transmitting the prize ball number to the sub-control device,
The sub-control device adds a prize ball number transmitted by the prize ball number transmission means to the possession ball number information, and subtracts the number of shot balls fired by the launch device. Means,
It is provided with.

According to this, the main control device and to such as to calculate the number of individually have spheres by sub-control device, frequent communication for having counts information between the main controller and sub-controllers were traditional problems No processing is required and the control processing load is reduced.
As a result, the number of possessed balls can be easily displayed on the effect symbol display device based on the information calculated by the main control device.

It is a front view of a gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the launching apparatus used for the said gaming machine. It is a rear view of the gaming machine. It is an electric block diagram of the gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the main routine performed with the main control apparatus of the said gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the start winning confirmation process performed with the said main controller. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the control content of the success / failure determination process of the special symbol performed with the said main controller. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the control content of the said success / failure determination process. It is a 3rd flowchart which shows the control content of the said success / failure determination process. It is a 4th flowchart which shows the control content of the said success / failure determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the number-of-balls addition / subtraction process 1 performed with the said main controller. It is a figure which shows the display mode of the number of possessed balls displayed on the effect display apparatus of the said gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the counting process performed with the said main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the ball holding information processing 1 performed with the sub-control apparatus of the said gaming machine. It is explanatory drawing of the process regarding the number of balls which the said gaming machine has. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the number-of-balls addition / subtraction process 2 performed with the main control apparatus of the other game machine to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the ball holding information processing 2 performed with the sub-control apparatus of the said gaming machine.

A pachinko machine as a gaming machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. This pachinko machine has a predetermined number of game balls enclosed in the machine base, and fires the enclosed game balls toward the game area of the game board, winning game balls (winning balls), not winning Regardless of the out-ball, the game balls that have been launched are collected, and the collected game balls are fired again so that the game balls can be used by circulating the game balls inside.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 1 has a structure in which each part of the configuration is held by an outer frame 10 that forms a vertically long fixed outer frame. The outer frame 10 is provided with a front frame (glass frame) 11 in which a plate glass 110 is fitted and an inner frame (not shown) that can be opened and closed via a hinge 101 provided at the upper and lower positions on the left side. The front frame 11 and the inner frame are closed and locked to the outer frame 10 by a cylinder lock 18 so that a predetermined key is inserted into the cylinder lock 18 and the key is operated clockwise to open the inner frame. None, the front frame 11 is opened by a counterclockwise operation.
A game board 2 held by the inner frame is provided behind the plate glass 110 of the front frame 11.

  Speakers 112 are respectively installed at the left and right sides of the lower portion of the front frame 11, so that game sounds are output thereby improving the game's preference. In addition to the frame-side decorative lamp 113 that emits light according to the gaming state, the front frame 11 is provided with LEDs that notify the gaming abnormality.

  A firing handle 14 is provided on the right side of the lower half portion of the front frame 11. By operating the firing handle 14 clockwise, the launching device 31 provided at the upper left end of the front frame 11 is operated to tilt left. A game ball is launched from above toward the game board 2.

The pachinko machine 1 is adjacent to a card unit (CR unit) 60 that performs information processing such as reading and writing of stored contents from the player's IC card. The CR unit 60 corresponds to the information processing device described in the claims. The IC card stores, as stored information, a credit balance indicating the amount of gaming balls that can be lent, and the number of possessed balls that have been won by winning balls because the player cannot directly obtain gaming balls in the enclosed type. With the IC card, at the start of the game, gaming balls can be rented within the range of the credit balance, and the credit balance is updated according to the rental. At the end of the game, the number of balls is stored.
In connection with the CR unit 60, the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a loan SW 171, a return SW 172 and a balance display device 173 on the left side of the lower half of the front frame 11.
In addition, a game button 15 that can be operated by the player is adjacent to the lending SW 171, the return SW 172, and the balance display device 173, and a jog dial 16 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery thereof.

  A game area 20 surrounded by a rail body 201 is formed on the game board 2. A center case is attached to the game area 20 at the center thereof, and an LCD panel of an effect symbol display device 21 (the whole illustration is omitted) is disposed in the center case. The center case is provided with a warp entrance, a warp cage (game ball passage), a stage, and the like, as is well known.

  Passage gates 22 through which game balls can pass are respectively installed at the left and right side positions of the effect symbol display device 21. Further, at the lower position in the center of the production symbol display device 21, there is a first special symbol start port (hereinafter referred to as a first special diagram start port) 23 which is always open upward and allows a game ball to enter. A second special symbol start opening (hereinafter referred to as a second special figure start opening) 24 that can be opened and closed by a normal electric accessory (general electric accessory) and can enter only at the time of opening is provided at the position.

  The first special figure start opening 23 and the second special figure start opening 24 are start openings for performing a lottery (whether or not) of special symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as special figures). Each of the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24 extracts a plurality of types of random numbers when a game ball enters, and the extracted random numbers are stored as special figure holding memory.

  The second special figure starting port 24 is won by a lottery of a normal symbol (hereinafter simply referred to as a normal figure) executed due to the passing of the game ball to the passing gate 22, thereby Open for a predetermined time.

A plurality of normal winning openings 26 are arranged at the left and right side positions of the first and second special figure starting openings 23 and 24. Also, below the second special figure starting opening 24, a big winning opening 25 that is opened and closed by an opening / closing plate is arranged, and an out opening 29 is provided at the bottom of the board surface.
A number of game nails are planted in the game area 20 of the game board 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the launching device 31 is provided with a launching base 310 in the center, and the game balls B are sent to the launching base 310 one by one through the opening 313 by the operation of the ball feeding mechanism 312. Then, the game ball B is launched by the operation of the launcher 311 driven by the launch motor 314 and is launched toward the game area 20 of the game board 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the back side of the pachinko machine 1 houses an inner frame 30 to which the game board 2 is detachably attached. As with the front frame 11, the inner frame 30 is installed so that the vertical position of one side edge (the right side in FIG. 3) is hinged to the outer frame 10 and can be opened and closed.
The rear surface of the front frame 11 and the inner frame 30 are provided with a main control device 40, a payout control device 41, a sub-integrated control device 42, a production symbol control device 43, a launching device 31, and a power supply board (not shown). Yes.
The main control device 40, the sub integrated control device 42, the launching device 31 and the effect symbol control device 43 are provided on the back surface of the game board 2, and the payout control device 41 and the power supply board are provided on the inner frame 30.

  In addition, a polishing device 45 for collecting the game balls launched on the game board and polishing the collected game balls is installed at the bottom of the back surface of the pachinko machine, and the polished game balls are further removed from the lower part of the pachinko machine. A lifting device 33 for sending to the upper launching device 31 is installed vertically along the right side of the back surface of the inner frame 30.

  FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1. The payout control device 41, the sub-integrated control device 42, and the effect symbol control device 43 are arranged as sub-control devices centering on the main control device 40 that controls the game. It is the structure which comprises. The main control device 40, the payout control device 41, the sub-integrated control device 42, and the production symbol control device 43 are all provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM, input port, output port, etc., all of which are controlled by the CPU. A program consisting of a main routine and a subroutine mounted in the ROM is started due to an interrupt signal having a period of 2 ms or 4 ms, and various controls are executed.

  Main controller 40 is electrically connected to front frame (glass frame) 11, glass frame open SW (switch) 501 and inner frame open SW 502 for detecting whether or not inner frame 30 is open. A first start port SW503 for detecting a ball entering the first special figure start port 23, a second start port SW504 for detecting a ball entering the second special figure start port 24 via the plate 541, a normal pass gate The normal symbol operation SW 505 for detecting the entrance to the ball 22, the left winning entrance SW 506 for detecting the entrance to the left and right ordinary winning entrances 26, the right winning entrance SW 507, and the count SW 508 for detecting the entrance to the big winning device 25. A winning ball sensor 509 that detects a winning ball that has won a winning ball such as the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24, a grand winning port 25, or a normal winning port 26, and the like that is out without winning. Sphere detection DOO ball sensor 510, for detecting fraud magnet sensor 511 is connected wave sensor 512 or the like and electrically, each SW, the detection signal from the sensor is input.

The winning ball sensor 509 collects the winning balls that have been won at the winning ports such as the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24, the large winning port 25, the normal winning port 26, and the like, and sends them to the polishing device 45. It is installed in the downstream part of the ball passage provided on the back surface of the game board for sending, and is configured to detect the winning balls to each winning opening in a lump.
The out ball sensor 510 is provided in a ball path for sending an out ball from the out port 29 to the polishing device 45.

  The main control device 40 operates in accordance with the installed program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above detection signals and the like, and issues a payout control device 41, a sub-integrated control device 42, and an effect symbol control device. 43, and the display control of the special symbol display device 27, the special symbol hold number display device 271, the normal symbol display device 28, and the general symbol hold number display device 281 via the symbol display device relay terminal board 542. To do. These display devices 27, 271, 28, 281 are provided outside the game area on the front surface of the game board.

Further, the main control device 40 drives the special prize opening solenoid 513 via the game board relay terminal board 541 to open the special prize opening 25, and drives the universal utility solenoid 514 to start the second special figure start opening. Open and close 24 electric utility items.
The main control device 40 is connected to the payout control device 41 so that bidirectional communication is possible.

The payout control device 41 is communicably connected to the CR unit 60 via the CR unit terminal plate 548. Further, it is configured to accept operation signals for lending requests and return requests by lending and returning SWs 171 and 172 via the balance display device 173. The payout control device 41 communicates with the CR unit 60 based on the operation signals of the lending request and the return request, grasps the credit balance regarding the IC card inserted into the CR unit 60, and responds to the lending request signal The credit balance is returned according to the setting of the number of rented balls and the return request signal.
The CR unit 60 is connected to the hall computer 500 of the gaming facility so as to be communicable, and is configured to transmit game information of the pachinko machine 1 to the hall computer 500 based on the contents of communication with the payout control device 41.

Further, the payout control device 41 detects the operation amount of the handle volume 520 for detecting the operation signal of the counting SW 174 for performing the operation of counting the number of possessed balls and the operation amount of the firing handle 14 via the firing operation section relay terminal plate 543. A signal, a stop detection signal of the firing stop SW 522, and a detection signal such as a touch SW 521 for detecting that the player is touching (operating) the launching handle 14 are input.
Further, the payout control device 41, via the launch device relay terminal plate 544, launches a launch entrance sensor 524 that detects the presence or absence of a game ball at the entrance of the launch device 31, a launch motor 314, and a ball that drives the ball feed mechanism 312. A feed solenoid 526 is connected. Then, the payout control device 41 uses the firing motor 314 based on the command reflecting the game situation sent from the main control device 40, the signals of the handle volume 520, the touch SW 521, the firing stop SW 522, the firing inlet sensor 524, and the like. The ball feeding solenoid 526 is driven and controlled to launch and stop the game ball.

Furthermore, the payout control device 41 receives the detection signals of the cassette switch 527 and the polishing motor sensor 528 via the polishing device relay terminal plate 545 in addition to the control regarding communication processing with the CR unit 60 and the launch of the game ball. According to these detection signals, the cassette motor 529 and the polishing motor 530 are driven to control the polishing apparatus 45.
In addition to the control of the polishing device 45, the dispensing control device 41 receives detection signals from the lifting inlet sensor 532 and the lifting motor monitoring sensor 533 via the lifting relay terminal plate 546, and according to these detection signals. The lifting motor 531 is driven to control the lifting device 33.
Further, detection signals from an appropriate amount detection sensor 534, a full sensor 535, a night monitoring switch 536, and the like that detect an appropriate amount of game balls in the pachinko machine are input to the payout control device 41 via the inner frame relay terminal plate 547. It is the composition which is done.

A detection signal for detecting an operation of the jog dial 16 and the game button 15 is input to the sub integrated control device 42.
Then, the sub integrated control device 42 drives the speaker 112 to output sound, and controls lighting and extinguishing of various LEDs and various lamps 113. Furthermore, a command for a pseudo effect for displaying a character or the like or a display pattern for a special symbol for the special symbol is transmitted to the effect symbol control device 43.

  The effect symbol control device 43 constitutes the effect symbol display device 21 together with the LCD panel unit and the accessory unit. The effect symbol control device 43 controls the display of the LCD panel of the effect symbol display device 21 in accordance with a command sent from the sub integrated control device 42.

When a game is started in the pachinko machine 1, the game ball is lent out within the range of the credit balance of the IC card and the game is started as a possessed ball that can be used for the game, or to the CR unit 60. If the card has a stored number of balls when the IC card is inserted, the card is read and the game is started as a ball.
In the game of the pachinko machine 1, when there is a ball entering the first and second special figure starting ports 23 and 24, a random number value for determining whether or not the special figure is determined is extracted based on this, and based on the random value The determination is made, and the special symbol display device 27 starts the symbol variation of the special symbol, and the effect symbol display device 21 starts the symbol variation of the pseudo effect symbol corresponding to the special symbol.
If the determination result of the special figure is a big hit, the big hit symbol is determined, the big hit symbol is determined and displayed on each display device 21, and the big hit game (special game) is executed. The big hit game has a basic game in which a predetermined number of rounds are continued for a predetermined time or until the predetermined number of times or the number of balls entered reaches a predetermined number and is closed.
In addition, the electric utility item in the second special figure starting port 24 is subjected to the normal lottery lottery due to the entrance to the passage gate 22, and is released if the result of the lottery wins.
In addition, the pachinko machine 1 has a gaming state after a big hit game, a gaming state with a “probability” function in which the winning probability of the special symbol is high, and the opening time of the electric utility item at the second special figure starting port 24 It is possible to shift to a gaming state provided with an “open extension” function.
And this pachinko machine 1 displays the number of possessed balls as a game ball that can be used for the game, while performing the effect display accompanying the fluctuation of the special figure according to the game in the effect symbol display device 21. The number of winning balls is displayed.

Hereinafter, the program processing deeply related to the present invention executed by the main controller 40 and the payout controller 41 will be described.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a “main routine” executed by the main controller 40. The “main routine” is composed of this processing (S100 to S110, S115) and the remaining processing (S111), and has a cycle of 2 ms or 4 ms. It is started due to the interrupt signal, and it is first determined whether or not it is a normal interrupt (S100). This determination is made based on whether or not a specific numerical value is written at a specific address in the RAM. If the determination is negative (S100: no), the initial setting (S115) is executed. The numerical value for determining whether or not it is a normal interrupt is written in the RAM as part of this initial setting.

  If it is a normal interrupt (S100: yes), an initial value random number update process (S101), a big hit determination random number update process (S102) that is a random value for determining whether or not the special figure is correct, and an update of the special figure big hit symbol determination random number Process (S103), update process of random numbers for hitting determination of ordinary figure (S104), update process of random numbers for reach determination relating to reach of special figure (S105), update process of random numbers for determining variation pattern relating to fluctuation pattern of special figure ( S106), winning confirmation processing (S107), winning / failing determination processing (S108), each output processing (S109), fraud monitoring processing (S110) are performed, and the initial time is within the remaining time until the next interrupt signal is input. The random number update process (S111) is looped.

Next, a part of subroutines of the winning confirmation process (S107), the success / failure determination process (S108), and each output process (S109) will be described.
The “start winning confirmation process” shown in FIG. 6 is a subroutine of the winning confirmation process (S107). If there is a ball entering the first special figure starting port 23 and the second special figure starting port 24 (S200: yes), It is checked whether the special figure corresponding to the incoming ball is full (S201). The number of pending storages that can be stored in this embodiment is four.

  If the hold memory is not full (S201: no), in the extracted random number hold storage process of S202, a plurality of random number values (a big hit determination random number, a big hit symbol determination random number, and a reach determination use) extracted due to the above-mentioned incoming ball Random numbers, random numbers for determining variation patterns, etc.) are stored as reserved storage. In this process, the number of lighting of the first or second special figure hold number display devices 271 and 272 is increased by one, and a command transmission process for transmitting the current hold storage number to the sub integrated device 42 is performed. Then return.

  7 to 10 show a flowchart of the “win / fail determination process”. As shown in FIG. 7, in the “win / fail determination process”, first, the operation of the accessory continuous operation device is confirmed to determine whether or not a big hit game is being played (S300). no), it is confirmed whether or not the first and second special drawings are changing (S301). If not changing (S301: no), the fixed symbols of the first and second special drawings are being displayed. It is confirmed whether or not there is (S302). In addition, if the said accessory continuous action | operation apparatus is operating (S300: yes), it will transfer to "special game processing."

  If the confirmed symbol is not being displayed in the process of S302 (S302: no), as shown in FIG. 8, it is confirmed whether or not there is a special figure pending storage (S310). If there is no pending storage (S310: no), the process proceeds to “special game processing”. If there is a reserved memory (S310: yes), the number of memories is subtracted and a shift process of the reserved memory is performed (S311). By the shift process, the oldest reserved memory among the reserved memories of the special figure is the target of the determination of success / failure.

Next, in the process of S312, the probability variation flag is confirmed to confirm whether or not the current gaming state is the probability variation state (high probability) (if the probability variation flag is “1”, the probability variation is in progress). If the probability change is in progress (S312: yes), it is determined whether or not it is a big hit by comparing the success / failure determination table at the time of the probability change with the big hit determination random number of the pending storage that is the target of the determination (S313).
If the probability change is not in progress (S312: no), it is determined whether or not it is a big hit by comparing the normal probability (low probability) determination table with the big hit determination random number (S314).

In the subsequent process of S315, it is confirmed whether or not the determination of whether or not the process of S313 or S314 is a big hit.
If it is a big hit (S315: yes), in the process of S316, the big hit symbol is determined based on the random number for determining the big hit symbol in the reserved storage that is the object of the determination.
In the process of S317, a variation pattern such as a variation time for a special figure jackpot displayed on the effect symbol display device 21 is determined based on the variation random number for determining the variation pattern of the reserved memory that is the object of the determination.

  After determining the variation pattern, a big hit setting process is performed in S318. In this process, a jackpot game release pattern is set based on the determined jackpot symbol. For example, the time setting for the opening effect of the jackpot game executed by the effect symbol display device 21, the setting of the time for the ending effect, and the setting of the opening mode of the big prize opening 25 are made. In addition, processing such as setting whether or not probability change and time reduction are given as the bonus game state after the big hit game is finished, setting of a probability change counter for limiting the duration of probability change, setting of time reduction counter for limiting the duration of time reduction, etc. are performed. The

  In the process of S315, if it is not a big hit but a loss (S315: no), in the process of S319, a lost symbol is determined based on the random symbol for determining the lost symbol of the pending storage that is the object of the success / failure determination, A variation pattern such as a variation time for a special figure loss displayed on the effect symbol display device 15 is determined (S320). In the subsequent lose setting process (S321), if the gaming state is probabilistic and the time is short, the number of probable changes and the number of times that the time is short are subtracted.

  After each setting process of S318 or S321, in the process of S322, the symbol variation start control of the special symbol display device 16 is performed, the symbol variation start command and the symbol designation command are transmitted to the sub integrated control device 83, and “special game” In the case of a big hit, a big hit game is performed in which the big winning opening 25 is opened.

  When the special symbol is changing in the process of S301 of FIG. 7 (S301: yes), as shown in FIG. 9, when it is confirmed that the symbol change time has passed (S330: yes), the fixed symbol display process In (S331), control for terminating the variation display of the special symbol display device 27 is performed, and a symbol confirmation command is transmitted to the sub integrated control device 42 and the effect symbol control device 43 so as to terminate the variation display and the effect display. Move to “Special Game Processing”.

If the confirmed symbol is being displayed in the process of S302 of FIG. 7 (S302: yes), the process proceeds to S340 of FIG. 10 to check whether or not the confirmed symbol display time has ended. If the fixed symbol display time has not ended (S340: no), the process proceeds to "special game processing".
On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the fixed symbol display time has ended (S340: yes), the fixed symbol display on the special symbol display device 27 is controlled to be ended by the final symbol display end processing (S341), and the sub-integration is performed. A command is transmitted to the control device 42 so as to end the fixed display of the pseudo symbol corresponding to the special figure.

  Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not the symbol of the special figure is a combination that makes a big hit (S342). If it is a combination that makes a big hit (S342: yes), if the probability variation flag is “1” (S343: yes), the probability variation flag is set to “0” (S344). Next, if the hour / hour flag is “1” (S345: yes), “0” is set to the hour / hour flag (S346). By these processes, the gaming state in the big hit game (special game) is reset to the normal state.

In the process of S347, the operation of the condition device is started, and in the process of S348, the operation of the accessory continuous operation device is started. The condition device is a device that is necessary for the operation of the continuous action device in the jackpot game, and the continuous accessory operation device is a device that continuously operates the special electric accessory.
Then, a command is sent to the sub integrated control device 42 to start the big hit effect by the big hit start effect process (S349), and the process proceeds to the “special game process”.

If it is not a big hit combination in the process of S342 (S342: no), it is checked whether the probability variation flag is “1” (S350), the probability variation flag is “1” (S350: yes), If the probability variation counter (number of times) is “0” (S351: yes), the probability variation flag is set to “0” (S352).
In the subsequent process, if the hour / hour flag is “1” (S353: yes) and the hour / hour counter (number of times) is “0” (S354: yes), the hour / hour flag is set to “0” (S355).
In the subsequent state designation command transmission process of S356, a state designation command including information such as a probability change flag indicating a gaming state and a time reduction flag is transmitted to the sub integrated control device 83.

  In the process of S357, it is confirmed whether the number of reserved memories after the current lottery lottery is “0” (confirmed whether there is a reserved memory). If there is no reserved memory (S357: yes), the sub integrated control device 83 Then, a standby state designation command is transmitted to instruct to wait for the symbol variation of the special symbol until the next special symbol variation start command is output (S358). Thereafter, the process proceeds to “special game processing”.

Next, the program processing executed by the main control device 40 regarding the display of the number of balls possessed by the effect symbol display device 21 will be described. The “number-of-balls adding / subtracting process 1” shown in FIG. 11 is a subroutine of “each output process” of the “main routine”. In the “number-of-balls adding / subtracting process 1”, first, the main controller 40 can use the game. It is confirmed whether there is no memory of information (number of balls held) of possession balls that are game balls (S400). If there is no ball information (S400: yes), in the subsequent process of S401, if the card has a memory of the ball number when the IC card is inserted into the CR unit 60, the ball number information read from the card, or It is confirmed whether or not the possessed ball information that has been rented out as a possessed ball by the player because the card has no memory of the number of possessed balls has been received through the payout control device 41. Wait for reception.
If the ball information is received (S401: yes), the received ball information (number of balls) is stored in a storage medium such as a RAM in the main controller 40 (S402).

  If the possessed ball information is stored in the process of S400 (S400: no), in the subsequent process of S403, the detection signals of the first and second start ports SW503 and 504, the left and right winning ports SW506 and 507, and the count SW508 are detected. It is confirmed whether or not a winning has been made to the first and second special figure starting ports 23, 24, the big winning port 25 or the normal winning port 26. If a winning is detected (S403: yes), the number of winning balls awarded according to the winning is added to the holding ball information and stored, and the holding ball information is updated (S404). Next, preparation (processing) for displaying the number of prize balls on the effect symbol display device 21 is performed (S405).

If no winning is detected in the process of S403 (S403: no), it is confirmed whether a winning ball is detected by the winning ball sensor 509 or an out ball is detected by the out ball sensor 510 (S406). If a winning ball or an out ball is detected (S406: yes), 1 is subtracted from the ball information and the ball information is updated (S407).
In the subsequent processing of S408, the possessed ball information stored in S402, the retained ball information updated in S406, and the information on the number of prize balls in S405 are transmitted to the effect symbol control device 43 via the sub integrated control device 42. Then, the effect symbol control device 43 controls the effect symbol display device 21 to display the number of possessed balls and the number of prize balls in the current gaming state.
The processing of S403 to S407 corresponds to “first holding ball number calculating means” described in the claims.
In addition, in the “ball number addition / subtraction process 1”, the ball already has a ball, but when the ball is increased by lending, a process of adding the lending portion to the ball information is executed in the same manner as the prize ball. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 12, on the display screen of the effect symbol display device 21, the ball information is displayed in two upper and lower stages at the lower right portion of the pseudo symbol display (three-digit number) 210 relating to the special symbol. The number of held balls 211 is displayed at the bottom, and the prize ball display 211 is displayed at the top. The display mode is an example of display, and the display mode is not limited to this and may be other display modes.

The game is ended by the player operating the counting SW 174. The “counting process” shown in FIG. 13 is a process executed by the main control device 40 regarding the end of the game. In this process, first, it is confirmed whether or not the count SW 174 has been operated to receive a count signal (S500). In this case, the count SW 174 is connected to the payout control device 41, and the count signal is transmitted to the main control device 40 via the payout control device 41.
If there is a count signal received (S500: yes), in the subsequent waiting process of S501, if there is a game ball that is flowing down the game board, the exact number of balls cannot be calculated, so all game balls are collected. A predetermined time sufficient for this is set as a standby.
Then, in the process of S502, after the time sufficient for collecting all the game balls has elapsed, the possessed ball information (the number of possessed balls) updated by the “number of possessed balls addition / subtraction process 1” is transmitted to the payout control device 41. . Thereafter, the ball information of the main controller 40 is cleared (S503).

Next, the program processing executed by the payout control device 41 regarding the ball information will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, in the “holding ball information processing 1”, first, in the processing of S600, the number of balls held read from the card when the IC card is inserted into the CR unit 60, or a new game at the start of the game It is confirmed whether or not the possessed ball information is received from the CR unit 60 due to the occurrence of lending of the ball or the supplementation (addition) of the retained ball.
If ball information is received from the CR unit 60 (S600: yes), the ball information from the CR unit 60 is transmitted to the main controller 40 (S601). In this case, the main control device 40 performs the processes of S401, S402, and S408 of the “ball number addition / subtraction process 1” (FIG. 11).

  If no ball information is received from the CR unit 60 in S600 (S600: no), ball information is received from the main controller 40 by the process of S502 of the “counting process” (FIG. 13) at the end of the game. It is confirmed whether or not (S602). If the ball information is received from the main control device 40 (S602: yes), the ball information from the main control device 40 is transmitted to the CR unit 60 (S603). The CR unit 60 that has received the ball information updates the information on the IC card based on the information received from the payout control device 41.

  If no ball information is received from the main control device 40 in S602 (S602: no), it is assumed that a game is in progress, and it is confirmed whether or not the counting SW 174 has been operated to end the game ( If the counting SW 174 has been operated (S604: yes), a counting signal is transmitted to the main controller 40 (S605). As a result, the main controller 40 performs the “counting process”.

  Next, the function and effect of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the main control device 40, the pachinko machine 1 performs effect display according to the game on the effect symbol display device 21 via the special symbol display control (special symbol display unit 27) and the effect symbol control device 43 during the game. Various processes related to game content are performed. On the other hand, at the start of the game, the main control device 40 receives information about the possessed ball from the payout control device 41, stores the possessed ball information, and detects and outputs the winning ball according to the winning and the winning ball sensor 509 during the game. In response to detection by the ball sensor 510, the possessed ball information is added and subtracted and updated. Then, the main control device 40 causes the effect symbol display device 21 to display the possessed ball information (the number of possessed balls, the number of prize balls) via the effect symbol control device 43.

The payout control device 41 receives the ball number information read from the card when the IC card is inserted into the CR unit 60, or the ball information on which the game ball has been lent based on the IC card information by operating the loan SW 171. Is sent to the main controller 40.
The payout control device 41 controls the launching device 31 and the lifting device 33 during the game. When the counting SW 174 is operated at the end of the game, a counting signal is sent to the main control device 40, and when the possession ball information is received from the main control device 40, the game ball display device 173 displays the number of possessions and the amount of money. Do. Further, the holding ball information is transmitted to the CR unit 60, and the stored contents of the IC guard are updated in the CR unit 60 based on the information.

  In this way, the pachinko machine 1 is configured to display the possessed ball information on the game area effect symbol display device 21, so that the player can confirm the number of possessed balls without shifting his eyes from the game area. Therefore, it is possible to concentrate on the game, and to enjoy a rich game without missing the effect display.

Further, since the number of possessed balls is calculated by the main control device 40, the main control device and the payout control device which are problematic when displaying the number of possessed balls calculated by the conventional payout control device on the effect symbol display device. The problem of having to frequently carry out signal communication such as information on the number of balls held between the two and the control device 40, 41, and there is no frequent signal communication. Can be reduced, and the number of possessed balls can be displayed and controlled on the effect symbol display device 21 efficiently.
At the end of the game, the ball information calculated by the main control device 40 is sent to the CR unit 60 via the payout control device 41, so that the configuration of the communication network may be the same as the conventional one and communication can be performed efficiently.

Next, a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment applied to the present invention will be described.
This pachinko machine is configured to add and subtract the ball information individually in both the main controller 40 and the payout controller 41 in order to improve the accuracy of the ball information. The basic configuration of the pachinko machine is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, and the differences will be mainly described.

  In the pachinko machine, as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 4 and 15, the payout control device 41 includes a launch ball sensor (ball feed sensor) 523 that detects a game ball launched into the game area by the launch device 31. A detection signal, a detection signal from the winning ball 509, and a detection signal from the out ball sensor 510 are input.

Then, the payout control device 41 executes the “number-of-balls addition / subtraction process 2” shown in FIG. 16 to calculate the number of balls held separately from the main control device 40. Note that the main control device 40 performs the “number-of-balls addition / subtraction process 1” as in the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 16, in the “ball number addition / subtraction process 2”, first, the payout control device 41 confirms whether there is no storage of ball information (number of balls) (S 420). If there is no ball information (S420: yes), in the subsequent processing of S421, if the card has a memory of the ball number when the IC card is inserted into the CR unit 60, the ball number information read from the card, or It is confirmed whether or not the possessed ball information that has been rented out as a possessed ball by the player as a possessed ball has been received from the CR unit 60, and the reception of the possessed ball information is awaited.
If the ball information is received (S421: yes), the received ball information (the number of balls) is stored in a storage medium such as a RAM in the payout control device 41 (S422). In the subsequent process of S423, the possessed ball information is transmitted to the main controller 40. Based on this information, the main control device 40 performs the “holding ball information addition / subtraction process 1”.

If the ball information is stored in the process of S420 (S420: no), in the subsequent process of S424, the detection signals of the first and second start ports SW503 and 504, the left and right winning ports SW506 and 507, and the count SW508 are detected. It is confirmed whether or not a winning has been made to the first and second special figure starting ports 23, 24, the big winning port 25 or the normal winning port 26. If a winning is detected (S424: yes), the number of winning balls to be paid out according to the winning is added to the holding ball information and stored, and the holding ball information is updated (S425).
Winning is detected by the main controller 40, and information on the number of winning balls corresponding to the winning is sent to the payout controller 41 by the main controller 40. Then, the information is confirmed by the process of S424.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the payout control device 41 may receive the detection signal related to winning, confirm winning detection, and determine the number of winning balls according to the detection.
Note that the processing of S424 to S427 corresponds to the “second holding ball number calculating means” recited in the claims.

  If no winning is detected in the process of S424 (S403: no), it is confirmed whether or not there is a detection by the ball feeding sensor 523 for detecting that the game ball has been launched by the launching device 31 (S426). If the sensor 523 is detected (S426: yes), 1 is subtracted from the held ball information to update the held ball information (S427).

  At the end of the game, the payout control device 41 executes “holding ball information processing 2” as shown in FIG. 17 and sends the ball information to the CR unit 60. In the “ball possession information processing 2”, it is confirmed whether or not the possession ball information is received from the main controller 40 by the process of S502 of the “counting process” (FIG. 13) executed by the main controller 40 at the end of the game. (S620). If the ball information is received from the main control device 40 (S620: yes), the ball information from the main control device 40 and the ball information calculated by the payout control device 41 are collated and compared. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the information of both matches (S621). Note that the processing of S621 corresponds to the “ball number collating unit” described in the claims.

If the two pieces of information match (S622: yes), the holding ball information is transmitted to the CR unit 60 (S623). Thereafter, the ball information of the payout control device 41 is cleared (S624). The CR unit 60 that has received the ball information from the payout control device 41 updates the information on the IC card based on the information.
If the information does not match (S622: no), in the holding ball error process of S625, the main computer 40 is informed to the hall computer 500 that an error relating to the holding ball has occurred via the CR unit 60. A warning lamp or the like is turned on to notify an employee of the amusement facility of the occurrence of an error.

  If no ball information is received from the main controller 40 in S620 (S620: no), it is checked whether or not the counting SW 174 has been operated to end the game (S626), and the counting SW 174 has been operated. If so (S626: yes), a count signal is transmitted to the main controller 40 (S627). As a result, the “counting process” (FIG. 13) is performed in the main controller 40.

  According to this pachinko machine, the same effect as the pachinko machine 1 of the first embodiment is obtained, and the number of balls is calculated individually in the main control device 40 and the payout control device 41. Since the number of possessed balls is collated, the number of possessed balls at the end of the game can be accurately calculated.

It should be noted that the present invention described in the claims is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above, and can of course be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the pachinko machine of the first embodiment, the number of balls is not displayed on the balance display device 173 during the game, but in the pachinko machine of the second embodiment, the balance display device 173 is displayed during the game. Alternatively, the number of possessed balls calculated by the payout control device 41 may be displayed.
In addition, in the pachinko machines of the first and second embodiments, when a game is started, a game ball is lent out within the range of the credit balance of the IC card and the game is started using this as a ball or to the CR unit 60. When the IC card is inserted, if the card has a memory of the number of balls, the payout control device 41 reads all the information on the number of balls from the card, and starts playing the game as a ball. In the latter case, instead of reading all the information on the number of possessed balls from the card, the payout control device 41 may read as many pieces of possessed ball information by the player's operation and start the game based on this. good.

1 Pachinko machine (enclosed game machine)
2 game board 20 game area 21 effect symbol display device 31 launching device 40 main control device (first number-of-balls calculating means)
41 Dispensing control device (sub-control device, second possessed ball calculating means, possessed ball number collating means)
43 effect symbol control device 509 winning ball detection means 510 out ball detection means 60 CR unit (information processing device)

Claims (1)

It is configured to be communicable with an information processing device that performs information processing such as reading and writing of information in a storage medium storing a value for playing a game, and collects a game ball that has been launched on a game board by a launch device, A sealed game machine that plays a game by circulating a predetermined number of game balls enclosed therein by firing the collected game balls again by the launching device,
A main controller that controls the progress of the game;
An effect symbol display device that displays an effect symbol as the game progresses;
An effect symbol control device for controlling the effect symbol display device;
In a sealed game machine comprising: a sub-control device that receives information on the number of possessed game balls that can be used in a game from the information processing device and controls the launching device based on the information on the number of possessed balls ,
The sub-control device includes a ball-number information transmitting unit that transmits the ball-number information to the main control device at least at the start of a game,
The main control device subtracts the number of winnings won in the winning opening and the number of outs not winning in the winning opening from the holding ball number information transmitted by the holding ball number information transmitting means, and the number of winning balls by winning A first ball number calculating means for adding, a prize ball number transmitting means for transmitting the prize ball number to the sub-control device,
The sub-control device adds a prize ball number transmitted by the prize ball number transmission means to the possession ball number information, and subtracts the number of shot balls fired by the launch device. Means,
An enclosed game machine characterized by comprising:

Images