JP6232567B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to control of effect output in gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines.

  In gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines, various effects are performed during the game by outputting sound, lighting / flashing lamps, displaying images, and the like. In order to enhance the interest of the game, productions with various tastes have been tried.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a control technology that realizes various presentation displays using scenario data. The scenario data is data in which symbols to be displayed on the screen are sequentially specified in time series. By preparing a control process for realizing a general-purpose process for sequentially displaying designated symbols in accordance with this scenario data, there is an advantage that various presentation displays can be easily realized simply by switching the scenario data. The scenario data may include BGM designation. In this case, the sound corresponding to the display screen can be output by outputting the BGM designated by the sound source IC.

JP-A-7-313694

In gaming machines, there is a demand for elaborate production. For example, in a pachinko machine, various lotteries may be performed by winning a start winning opening during a game. At the time of lottery, the symbols displayed on the display panel fluctuate in various fluctuation patterns, and then stop and display the lottery result. While the symbols are changing, an effect display with a fancy pattern is displayed, and various jackpot notices are displayed.
However, it is not sufficient that these presentation displays are simply colorful. Some skilled players can find subtle differences in a wide variety of performance displays, and thereby guess the lottery results. For example, when two types of effect display with / without jackpot notice displayed in the middle while displaying the same fluctuation pattern are separately prepared, the subtle difference between the two is found at the start of the fluctuation pattern display, and the jackpot notice is displayed. It is possible to guess the presence or absence. Therefore, inadvertently preparing various display effects may be detrimental to a skilled player.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to diversify the contents while avoiding the occurrence of a difference in the common part of the effect display in the gaming machine.

Examples of the gaming machine of the present invention include a spinning machine such as a slot machine, a pachinko machine, and the like. The gaming machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of types of effect devices used for audiovisual effects shown to the player during a game, and a payout device for paying out game media to the player under predetermined conditions. Have. Examples of the multiple types of effect devices include an audio output device, an illumination device such as a lamp, an image display device for displaying an image, a segment type display device, and the like. The audio output device may be subdivided for music or announcement. A game medium refers to a medium such as a game ball or medal that is a target of investment or privilege during a game.
The gaming machine also has a main control device that integrally controls the progress of the game, and an effect control device that controls a plurality of types of effect devices according to the game state of the game based on commands output from the main control device. doing. The main control device and the effect control device are connected by a unidirectional signal line that transmits signals in one direction from the main control device to the effect control device.

The main control device is a device that controls the progress of the entire game in the gaming machine. The main control device determines the success or failure of a predetermined condition related to the payout of the game medium during the game, and instructs the main board command to indicate the content of the effect to be executed by the effect device based on the game state including the determination result Is output to the effect control device. The game state here includes a state in which the player is not playing a game, that is, a standby state or a demo state.
The predetermined condition relating to the payout of game media differs depending on the type of gaming machine. In the case of being configured as a slot machine, whether or not the symbols are arranged in a predetermined role at the time of stopping the rotating cylinder corresponds to the condition mentioned here. When configured as a pachinko machine, payout of game media is likely to occur due to whether or not a game ball has won a prize opening provided on the surface of the game board and a lottery performed after winning the start prize opening Whether or not a specific gaming state, so-called “big hit” has occurred, corresponds to the condition here.
Each function of the main control device may be realized in software by a CPU executing a predetermined computer program, or may be realized in hardware by a circuit such as an ASIC.

The effect control device includes an input unit that inputs a main board command from the main control device, an effect content setting data storage unit, and an effect control execution unit. Each of these units may be configured in software or hardware.
The effect content setting data storage unit stores a plurality of types of effect content setting data for defining output contents in each effect device. The effect content setting data for outputting the sound can be, for example, data specifying the sound source data to be output and its output time in time series. The same applies to effect content setting data for controlling the output of displays, lamps, and the like.
The effect content setting data can take various data structures, but for example, can have a data structure in which a plurality of functions for instructing predetermined processing are stored. This function includes a call function for instructing execution of the function stored at a predetermined address without being restricted by the order of the functions stored in the production content setting data.
The predetermined address may be a fixed value or may be designated separately. For example, if the production content setting data has a data structure that stores a plurality of combinations of functions and parameters that define information necessary for the processing, the “predetermined address” of the call function must be specified by the parameters. You can also.

The effect control execution unit selects any one of the effect content setting data according to the gaming state specified based on the main board command. Then, according to the selected effect content setting data, the output of each effect device is controlled in the following procedure. That is, the effect control execution unit reads the function included in the effect content setting data, analyzes the content, and executes the process instructed by the function. Then, the next stored function is read in the effect content setting data and executed in the same manner. In this way, the reading and execution of the function are sequentially executed from the head of the production content setting data.
Further, when executing the call function in the production content setting data, once the other function designated by the call function is executed, the processing after the call function is continuously executed. This function can be realized by the following processing, for example. First, a pointer for managing the progress of the processing of the production content setting data is prepared. For example, the address value storing the function to be processed next is stored in the pointer, and the progress of the process can be managed by sequentially updating the pointer each time the function is executed. In the call function, the function to be executed is specified by its storage address value. When the production control execution unit executes the call function, the value stored in the pointer immediately before that is temporarily saved in a predetermined memory area, and the address specified by the call function is used as the pointer. Store it.
If the production control execution unit executes the function at the designated address and immediately returns the saved address to the pointer, the call function can execute only one function and return to the previous processing. . Further, the effect control execution unit may sequentially execute the functions from the address specified by the call function.
By doing so, it is also possible to perform complicated processing across a plurality of functions with a call function as a trigger. In this case, if a function for restoring the address saved at the time of execution of the call function, such as “return”, is provided, it is possible to return to the previous processing at an arbitrary timing.

As described above, when the call function is used, one content setting data can be used for content common to a plurality of performance outputs, and the capacity of the content setting data can be reduced.
Further, this function not only can reduce the load of creating the production content setting data, but also has an effect specific to the gaming machine as shown below. In the gaming machine, various lotteries are performed during the game, and the development of the game changes depending on the result. Some players can find a subtle difference in the contents of the presentation during the lottery and guess the lottery result. On the other hand, in the present invention, the general function contents can be utilized in various scenes by the call function, so that such a subtle difference can be eliminated and it is difficult to predict the lottery result and the like. It is possible to prevent the entertainment of the game from being impaired.

The effect content setting data may include a conditional branch function for switching a function to be executed in accordance with success or failure of a predetermined condition as another configuration. The production control execution unit sequentially executes the process specified by the production content setting data, and at the time of execution of the conditional branch command, determines whether the condition is successful. If the condition is established, the production control execution unit is designated by the conditional branch function. Execute the function. When the condition is satisfied, like the call function, the pointer value for managing the execution of the production content setting data is temporarily saved and then rewritten to the designated address.
By providing the conditional branch function in this way, it is possible to deal with a variety of gaming states that branch with a single effect content setting data. Examples of the gaming state used for conditional branching include the result of a lottery performed during a game, the presence / absence of a player's operation of a button and the like. A spinning reel stop state may be used in a spinning-type game machine, and a winning state at a start winning opening may be used in a pachinko machine. Further, conditional branching may be performed depending on whether or not an error has occurred during the game.

  The content of the effect after the conditional branching can be variously configured. For example, after the conditional branching, it may be configured to be completely separated into two or more processes. Moreover, after performing a predetermined process by a conditional branch, you may comprise so that it may return to the process before a branch. According to the latter aspect, for example, after a process of outputting a sound effect temporarily when a button is pressed during a game, it is possible to return to the previous effect without any sense of incongruity.

Further, a lottery function may be provided. The lottery function is a function for instructing to execute other production content setting data designated in advance when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition can be set, for example, in the form of whether or not the value of the random number prepared for the lottery is within a predetermined range. The lottery function may be realized by a combination of a conditional branch function and a call function. That is, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, other effect content setting data may be executed by a call function.
At the time of execution of the lottery function, the production control execution unit selects one of the production content setting data prepared as selection targets in advance by lottery and determines the production content.
By doing so, ambiguous effects can be realized for the main board command, and various effects can be realized without increasing the load of the main control device.

In the present invention, the production content setting data can take various structures. As an example, as shown below, a hierarchical structure of schedule data and effect data may be taken. The schedule data is one piece of effect content setting data, and is data defining the output content in each effect device. In order to enable the selection described above, a schedule data storage unit may be provided in the effect content setting data storage unit, and a plurality of types of schedule data may be stored for each effect device. The effect data is one piece of effect content setting data, and is data representing the effect content obtained by integrating the effect devices by specifying schedule data for each of a plurality of types of effect devices. After all, an effect data storage unit may be provided in the effect content setting data storage unit, and a plurality of effect data may be stored.
In order to prepare a plurality of production content setting data having the same production time, the schedule data includes a plurality of types of data having the same production time by each production device, and the production data includes the same production time. A plurality of types of data in which any one of the schedule data to be specified is specified for each rendering device is included.

When the schedule data corresponding to the lower data for controlling each effect device and the effect data corresponding to the upper data for realizing the integrated control over the effect devices of different types are prepared, the effect control is executed. The unit executes the effect control in a hierarchical structure of an output scheduler unit provided in association with each effect device for processing the schedule data and an effect scheduler unit for processing the effect data. The output scheduler unit and the effect scheduler unit are modules in the effect control execution unit, and are preferably configured as software by a common CPU or hardware as a common arithmetic circuit.
The control procedure in the hierarchical structure is as follows. First, the effect scheduler unit selects any of the effect data according to the gaming state specified based on the main board command. In the effect data, schedule data to be executed by each effect device is specified. The effect scheduler unit analyzes the selected effect data, generates operation information specifying schedule data to be executed by each effect device, and outputs the operation information for each effect device. The operation information is information representing the contents of the effects of each effect device by specifying schedule data to be executed for each effect device. For example, an address indicating the storage location of the schedule data, an identification code attached directly or indirectly to the schedule data, and the like can be used.
The output scheduler unit is individually provided for each rendering device. Each output scheduler unit selects any one of the schedule data stored in the schedule data storage unit based on the operation information. And the output of each production | presentation apparatus is controlled based on this schedule data.

  In this way, control of a plurality of types of effect devices is performed using hierarchically two types of data, effect data and schedule data. The effect scheduler unit and the output scheduler unit are modules having a general function of analyzing these data and executing a process defined by the data. Since each module does not depend on the contents of the production, there is an advantage that it can be shared among different types of gaming machines. There is also an advantage that various effects can be easily realized by changing the effect data and schedule data.

  Furthermore, by using two types of data in a hierarchical manner, various effects can be realized relatively easily. First, by preparing various schedule data, it is possible to easily realize various effects with each effect device. Further, in the effect data, it is possible to define the contents of the effect using a combination of a plurality of effects devices by combining various effects prepared for each effect device. By providing data hierarchically in this way, for example, it is possible to easily output a wide variety of sound effects and easily switch display screens corresponding to a certain sound effect. In addition, since the audio output schedule data and the image display schedule data are separated, the audio output can be changed during the image display.

The call function, conditional branch function, and lottery function in the present invention may be provided in one of the effect data and the schedule data, or in both.
The production data is data prepared to control a plurality of production devices in an integrated manner. Therefore, when lottery is performed in the production scheduler unit, a variety of production contents are maintained while maintaining a unified feeling of production contents of the plurality of production devices. There is an advantage that the production can be realized.
On the other hand, when the scheduler unit performs lottery, since the schedule data can be selected for each production device, there is an advantage that the production content realized by the combination becomes very diverse.
In the present invention, the main control board and the effect control board are connected by a unidirectional signal line, and the main control board has a structure that cannot detect whether or not the effect has been completed. Therefore, in order to maintain synchronization between the main control board and the effect control board, it is desirable that the effect data and schedule data to be selected as described above are set to have the same effect time.

  Further, when the output scheduler unit performs selection, the selection may be performed by excluding a part of schedule data having the same production time from the selection target. Based on the operation state of the effect device associated with the output scheduler unit or the operation information from the effect scheduler unit, it may be determined whether to exclude or schedule data to be excluded. As described above, by excluding a part from the selection target and limiting the selection range, it is possible to suppress selection of inappropriate schedule data that is likely to cause a sense of incongruity. For example, schedule data that provides a feeling of strangeness with respect to the current operating state, or schedule data that tends to cause a feeling of strangeness in relation to other effects devices may be excluded.

  All of the above-described features are not necessarily provided, and some of them may be omitted or combined as appropriate. The above-described production scheduler unit, output scheduler unit, and the like may be configured in hardware or may be configured as a software module. In addition, the present invention may be configured as a control method for controlling the rendering device by the above-described processing, or a computer program for realizing such control, or a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, that is, a ROM or a flash memory You may comprise as non-volatile media, such as.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the external appearance of the slot machine 10 in an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a control mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows a control software structure. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic concept of effect control. It is explanatory drawing which shows the production | generation of a system event. FIG. 32 shows the function of the effect module 240. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of a sound module 250. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of a lamp module 260. It is a flowchart of a main process. It is a flowchart of an event process. It is a flowchart of effect data processing. It is a flowchart of a sound process. It is a flowchart of a ramp process. It is a front view of the game board 70 used for the pachinko machine as 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the control software structure of a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows an example at the time of implement | achieving a lamp processing program with the program of the conventional structure. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table used by the program of a conventional structure. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of running the program of a conventional structure. It is a figure which shows a specific example of the data table of a conventional structure. It is a figure for demonstrating the bit structure of the data in the data table shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process based on the data table of a conventional structure. It is a sequence chart for demonstrating the control performed by the program of a conventional structure. It is a figure which shows the conceptual diagram of the program and data structure in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the ramp process schedule data in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by the ramp process program in embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
B. Control mechanism configuration:
C. Control software configuration:
C1. Module configuration:
C2. Basic concept of production control:
C3. Event module features:
C4. Production module features:
C5. Sound module features:
C6. Lamp module features:
D. Production control processing:
D1. Main processing:
D2. Event processing:
D3. Production data processing:
D4. Sound processing:
D5. Ramp processing:
E. effect:
F. Second embodiment:
F1. Game machine configuration:
F2. Game machine control:
G. Variations:
H. Difference between the program structure and the prior art in this embodiment:

A. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the slot machine 10 in the embodiment. The slot machine 10 can play a game using medals (game medals) that are game media. The “game medium” means an object to be invested or spent for each game in a game hall (hall) and an object to be paid out as a privilege according to the result of the game. Although the present embodiment will be described by taking a slot machine as an example, the present embodiment may be configured as a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine.

  A front view of the slot machine 10 is shown on the left side of the figure, and an AA cross-sectional view is shown on the right side. In order to avoid complication of the drawing, only the door portion of the slot machine 10 is shown in the AA sectional view. The slot machine 10 is provided with a large liquid crystal panel 21 (the screen size is about 19 inches in this embodiment) on the upper side. Three cylindrical reels 22 are arranged below the liquid crystal panel 21. These reels 22 are drawn with game symbols, and can be rotated about the horizontal direction in the drawing as a rotation axis. The front surface of the slot machine 10 is covered with a large transparent cover 11.

  When the player inserts a medal and operates the start lever 15, the reel 22 starts to rotate. When the player operates the three stop buttons 16 respectively, the rotation of the reel 22 corresponding to the position of the button can be stopped. The slot machine 10 pays out medals according to the number of medals inserted and the arrangement of symbols when the rotation stops.

  The slot machine 10 includes a speaker 40 and a lamp 30 for performing various effects during the game. The speakers 40 are provided at four locations on the left and right sides of the upper and lower parts, respectively, but the upper speakers are not shown. The lamps 30 are provided on the left and right sides and the upper part of the slot machine 10. The lamp 30 includes a large number of LEDs and a transparent resin lens that covers the LEDs. The lamp 30 is turned on according to the game situation. For example, when a big hit is made, the lamp 30 is turned on vividly, and an effect of appealing the occurrence of the big win to the surroundings is performed.

B. Control mechanism configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the control mechanism. The slot machine 10 is controlled by distributed processing of the main control board 100 and the sub control board 200. The main control board 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103 therein, and controls the overall processing of the slot machine 10. In order to execute this control, various information is inputted to and outputted from the main control board 100. Some of them are shown in the figure.

  The input information includes, for example, sensor outputs such as operating states of the start lever 15 and the stop button 16, a medal full sensor 50, an error release sensor 51, and a door open sensor 52. The medal full sensor 50 outputs an error signal to the main control board 100 when the number of medals stored in the gaming machine exceeds a predetermined number. The error release sensor 51 is an output signal from a switch for resetting an error in accordance with an operation of an attendant when an error occurs in the operation of the slot machine 10. The door opening sensor 52 is a sensor output for notifying that the front door of the slot machine 10 has been opened.

  The reel 22 outputs a signal representing stop position information of each reel. Further, a drive pulse signal for controlling start and stop of a motor that rotates each reel is output from the main control board 100 to the reel 22.

  The power supply unit 18 is a mechanism for supplying power to various boards including the main control board 100. A power failure prediction signal is output to the main control board 100 in order to perform backup processing when an abnormality such as a power failure occurs along with the supply of power.

  The hopper device 19 is a mechanism for paying out medals as a privilege. Depending on the combination established by the reel stop state, medals stored inside can be paid out from the payout port by the stepping motor. A control signal for performing a medal payout operation is output from the main control board 100 to the hopper device 19. The hopper device 19 is provided with a payout sensor that detects the payout medal one by one, and a payout medal signal for each medal is output to the main control board 100.

  The slot machine 10 produces effects such as sound output, lamp lighting, and image display according to the gaming state. These effects are controlled by the sub-control board 200. When the main control board 100 outputs a command representing the gaming state, the sub control board 200 executes an effect corresponding to this. In this sense, it can be said that the sub control board 200 is a subordinate control board that operates in response to a command from the main control board 100. In this embodiment, in order to avoid fraud, the main control board 100 and the sub control board 200 are connected by a unidirectional signal line, and signal transmission from the sub control board 200 to the main control board 100 is not performed.

  The sub-control board 200 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, and the like. The CPU 201 uses the program and data stored in the ROM 202 to execute various effect control processes while utilizing the RAM 203. The CPU 201 can control the lighting state by outputting lamp data representing the lighting pattern to the lamp 30.

The sub control board 200 also has a VDP (Video) for controlling the LCD 21.
Display
Processor) 204 is provided. The VDP 204 expands an image into a bitmap in accordance with a command from the CPU 201 and generates display data for displaying the image on the LCD 21. Display data can be generated by various methods. In this embodiment, a method of utilizing character data prepared in advance is adopted.

  Character data is rectangular bitmap data of a prescribed size such as 64 pixels for representing an image (hereinafter referred to as a sprite) displayed as a unit on the LCD 21. There are sprites of various sizes on the screen. A small sprite can be represented by one character data, and in the case of a relatively large sprite such as a person, for example, it can be represented by a total of six character data arranged in a horizontal 2 × vertical 3 or the like. . A larger sprite such as a background image can be expressed using a larger number of character data. The number and arrangement of character data can be arbitrarily specified for each sprite. The size of the sprite and character data can be arbitrarily set. In the present embodiment, the sprite is configured by arranging character data of a standard size, but the character data may have a non-uniform size according to the size of each sprite.

  The CPU 201 instructs the VDP 204 about a plurality of sprites to be displayed on the image and their positions. The VDP 204 reads the character data corresponding to the designated sprite from the ROM 202, expands it to the designated position, and generates display data.

  When a plurality of sprites are arranged on the screen, data for each sprite is sequentially developed on the buffer. Since the data of the sprite developed later is overwritten on the already developed data, when a plurality of sprites are arranged, the sprite developed later is displayed preferentially.

  The VDP 204 has various functions useful for developing an image. One of such functions is a layer function. The VDP 204 can develop sprites for each of a plurality of layers prepared in advance. If this function is used, there is an advantage that the degree of overlap between sprites can be easily controlled by designating whether or not to display an image and the priority of display.

The sub-control board 200 may further include a display control CPU for controlling the above-described processing of the VDP 204 and a character ROM for storing character data.
In this case, the CPU 201 of the sub control board 200 only needs to output an identification code or the like representing an image to be displayed to the display control CPU. The display control CPU analyzes this identification code, specifies the sprite and position to be displayed, and issues an instruction to the VDP 204. In addition, by providing a character ROM dedicated to character data, the character data read speed can be improved, and image display can be performed smoothly.

  The sub-control board 200 is provided with a sound source IC 205 for outputting sound. When the sound source command representing the sound to be reproduced by the CPU 201 is output to the sound source IC 205, the sound source IC 205 can read sound source data corresponding to the sound source command from the ROM 202 and output sound from the speaker 40 via the amplifier 206. A dedicated ROM for storing sound source data may be connected to the sound source IC 205.

  In this embodiment, sound can be output to the speaker 40 with four channels. The four speakers shown here schematically represent channels, and do not correspond to the four physical speakers described in FIG. In the amplifier 206, an amplifier circuit 206a and a volume 206v are prepared for each channel. As will be described later, the CPU 206 can individually adjust the volume 206v. By doing so, for example, during the performance of BGM, it is possible to relatively easily realize an effect such as lowering the volume of the channel and temporarily giving priority to sound effects flowing from other channels.

C. Control software configuration:
C1. Module configuration:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a control software configuration. In this embodiment, each module is configured by software by a computer program executed by the CPU 201 of the sub control board, but a part or all of the modules may be configured by hardware.

The main board command buffer 211 in the system module 210 receives the main board command transmitted from the main control board 100 and passes it to the command analysis module 220.
In this embodiment, the main board command is 2-byte information, and is output in 4 bits divided into 4 times. The main board command buffer 211 receives these four signals, reconfigures them into 2-byte commands, and passes them to the command analysis module 220.

  The main board command includes information representing contents related to the production out of the gaming state and the operation state of the slot machine 10. For example, door opening and other sensor outputs (see FIG. 2), operation of the start lever 15 and stop button 16, rotation and stop of the reel, success / failure of the role at the stop, and the like can be mentioned. The commands listed here are examples, and various commands can be included depending on the model of the gaming machine and the contents of the effects. For example, when this embodiment is applied to a pachinko machine, the main board command can include the presence / absence of winning at the start winning opening, the result of lottery, and the like.

  The command analysis module 220 analyzes the contents of the main board command and determines whether or not it is a valid command. If it is determined that the command is valid, the command is passed to the event module 230.

  The event module 230 generates a system event and a user event based on the received command. The system event refers to a management state for performing various processes in accordance with the operation state of the slot machine 10 regardless of the operation of the user during the game. In this embodiment, the state managed by the system event includes, in order of priority, “during setting change, various abnormality notifications, door open state, reel idle, power save, normal game, demonstration” and the like. These are only examples, and more management states may be targeted.

  The user event is an event related to an effect display during a game, and examples thereof include an operation of the start lever 15, an operation of the stop button 16, and a reel stop state. The event module 230 identifies the production number in accordance with these events, and delivers it to the production module 240. The production number is identification information representing production contents realized by voice output, a lamp, an LCD, and the like.

  The effect module 240 determines a liquid crystal command, a voice operation number, and a lamp operation number based on the effect number. The relationship between the production number and these liquid crystal commands is defined in advance as production data and stored in the ROM 202. The contents of the effect data and the method for determining the liquid crystal command will be described later. The liquid crystal command is transferred to the VDP 204 via the liquid crystal command buffer 212. Of the liquid crystal command, the voice operation number, and the lamp operation number, those resulting from the system event may be specified by the event module 230 regardless of the effect module 240.

  The event module 230 and the effect module 240 of the present embodiment are the effect scheduler unit according to the present invention in that the effect data is selected and the operation information (liquid crystal command, voice operation number, lamp operation number) based on the effect data is output. It fulfills the equivalent function. In the present embodiment, the effect scheduler unit is configured by two modules, but the effect scheduler unit may be configured by a single module in which both are integrated.

  The VDP 204 generates display data based on the liquid crystal command buffer 212 and outputs it to the LCD 21. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the display data is generated by a method of expanding character data specified by a liquid crystal command at a specified position.

The sound module 250 generates a sound source command based on the voice operation number. A method for generating a sound source command will be described in detail later, and only an outline is shown here.
In this embodiment, the relationship between the voice operation number and the sound source command to be generated is defined as schedule data in advance and stored in the ROM 202. The sound module 250 generates a sound source command with reference to the schedule data. Although not shown, the sound module 250 is provided with a plurality of schedulers for generating sound source commands with reference to schedule data. The sound module 250 can generate a sound source command corresponding to the output for four channels by integrally controlling the plurality of schedulers. The sound source IC 205 reads the sound source data designated by the sound source command from the ROM 202 and outputs the sound from the speaker 40.

The lamp module 260 generates lamp data for lighting / flashing the lamp based on the lamp operation number. The method of generating the ramp data will be described later in detail, and only an overview is shown here.
In this embodiment, the relationship between the lamp operation number and the lamp data to be generated is defined as schedule data in advance and stored in the ROM 202. The ramp module 260 generates ramp data with reference to the schedule data. Although not shown, the lamp module 260 is provided with a plurality of schedulers for generating ramp data with reference to schedule data. The lamp module 260 can generate lamp data by integrally controlling the plurality of schedulers. The lamp data is output to the lamp 30 via the output port image work 213, and each lamp is lit and blinks.

C2. Basic concept of production control:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic concept of effect control. The function of the sound module 250 is shown as an example. As described above, the sound module 250 generates a sound source command based on the voice operation number. The generation of the sound source command is realized by the scheduler 252 [1] to 252 [4] or the like. Each scheduler generates a sound source command with reference to schedule data 255 prepared in advance. The structure of the schedule data 255 will be described later. The sound module main 251 controls activation of each scheduler and designates schedule data to be referred to.

  The illustrated schedulers 252 [1] to [4] are part of the scheduler provided in the present embodiment. As many schedulers as the number of sound source commands that need to be generated in parallel are prepared. In this embodiment, the sound output by each scheduler, that is, each sound to be processed in parallel is associated with the layer structure of the image display and may be referred to as “layer”. One scheduler is provided for each layer.

The layers provided in this embodiment are as follows in descending order of priority. The layer structure for audio is not limited to the following, a part of which may be omitted, or other layers may be added.
System sound effects (setting changes, etc.) Prohibited;
Normally abnormal sound effects are prohibited;
Door opening sound effect (error notification, door, etc.) is prohibited;
Function sound effect 2 (payout, BET, etc.) permission;
Function sound effect 1 (payout, BET, etc.) permission;
Special sound effects (bonus BGM, etc.) permitted;
Planning production sound effect (voice number setting from production) permitted;

  “Prohibited” and “permitted” are designations for prohibiting or permitting the audio output of other layers when using each layer. For example, when sound is output using the “system sound effect” layer, sound output of other layers is prohibited, so that only the system sound effect is output. When the “plan effect sound effect” layer is used, a sound obtained by synthesizing the sound of this layer and the sound of another layer is output.

  The sound source commands output from the schedulers 252 [1] to 252 [4] are output from any of the four channels Ch1 to Ch4 provided in the present embodiment. The sound of each channel is output from the speakers 40 [1] to [4] via the volumes 260v [1] to [4]. However, the speakers 40 [1] to [4] shown here schematically represent the outputs of the channels Ch1 to Ch4, and any one of the physical speakers provided in the slot machine 10 can be used. It does not mean that it corresponds.

  The correspondence relationship between the scheduler 252 and the output channel is managed by channel management works 253 [1] to 253 [4] provided in association with the channels Ch1 to Ch4. The data structure of the channel management work 253 is illustrated in the lower right of the figure. In the work 253, a layer number, a phrase number, a stereo reproduction flag, an output volume, and a loop attribute are stored.

The layer number defines the layer that uses each channel. In the example shown in the figure, the channel Ch4 indicates that layer # 3 is using it. By changing the layer number, the correspondence between the channel and the scheduler can be switched. For example, the scheduler 252 [4] is assigned to the channel Ch2 in the example in the figure, but if the layer number of the channel management work 253 [4] is changed to “# 4”, it is assigned to the channel Ch4. . Similarly, if the layer number of the channel management work 253 [1], 253 [2] is changed to “# 4”, they are assigned to the channels Ch1 and Ch2, respectively.
The phrase number is information indicating which phrase is currently being reproduced from a series of sounds output from each layer. The stereo reproduction flag indicates whether to output in stereo. The output volume is a volume for each channel. The loop attribute is a designation of whether or not to reproduce repeatedly. These pieces of information are designated by the sound module main 251.

The configuration of the present embodiment can be said to be a configuration in which the function of generating a sound source command regardless of the output volume and the function of adjusting the superiority or the volume between output destinations and outputs and the volume are separated. The former is the function of the scheduler 252 and the latter is the function of the sound module main 251.
In this way, the plurality of schedulers 252 only have to specify schedule data to be reproduced without considering superiority or inferiority between the schedulers, and thus has an advantage that the operation control can be simplified. In addition, the processing load on the scheduler is reduced. Further, there is an advantage that the output channel, priority, and volume can be adjusted flexibly in the audio output process.

  For example, during sound output, the sound module main 251 can easily switch the layer output from each channel by changing the layer number of each channel. In the middle of outputting the layers 1 and 2 from the channels Ch1 and Ch2, respectively, the output destination channels can be switched. As a result, when the channel Ch1 is set to a large volume and the channel Ch2 is set to a small volume, the audio that has been played back to a large level is output to a small level without changing the volume balance between the large and small levels. Can be easily output.

  As another example, by setting the output volume of some layers to 0, the sound of a specific layer can be easily deleted, and only the sound of a specific layer can be temporarily output. . In the meantime, since the layer set to volume 0 continues to reproduce only the sound, there is an advantage that if the volume is restored, the previous sound is output without a sense of incongruity.

In the drawing, the basic concept of effect control is shown for the sound module 250. In the present embodiment, the same configuration is adopted for the lamp module 260. That is, a plurality of schedulers for generating lamp data are also provided in the lamp module, and a layer structure is adopted. The layers for the lamp module are as follows in descending order of priority.
setting change;
Error notification;
Door opening notification;
Function display 2 (notification, etc.);
Function display 1 (payout etc.);
Game production;
The layer structure for the lamp is not limited to this, and a part of the layer structure may be omitted or another layer may be added.

  All lamps are treated as “prohibited”. That is, only the highest priority among the above layers is output. Therefore, unlike the sound module, the function of adjusting the volume between outputs is not provided. Of course, the lamp may also be provided with a function equivalent to a volume that adjusts the output intensity of each layer while “allowing” the output of other layers, as in the case of the sound. For example, if a plurality of production layers are provided and both of them are handled as output permission, there is an advantage that various productions can be easily realized by superimposing both layers and adjusting their output intensity.

  In the foregoing, the module configuration of the control mechanism of the slot machine 10 and the basic concept of effect control have been described. Next, the function of each module will be described in more detail while showing the data structure.

C3. Event module features:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing generation of a system event. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the event module 230 generates and manages system events and user events based on the main board command; according to these events, the production number is specified, and the production module 240 And a function for setting a liquid crystal command, a voice operation number, and a lamp operation number based on a system event.
A state SE managed as a system event in the present embodiment is shown in a broken line frame. The lower the priority, the higher the priority. For convenience of control, “power on” is also treated as a system event.

A work 231 used for event processing by the event module 230 is shown on the left side.
In this work, event information [1] to [n] corresponding to the number of events to be managed is stored. The event information [1] to [n] corresponds to each system event SE except “power on”, and each event is “ON”, “OFF”, “switch from ON to OFF”, “OFF”. It manages which state is “switching to ON”. For example, when it is detected by the main board command and other information that a predetermined time has passed without any operation by the player, the event module 230 determines that the “demo” should be entered, and the corresponding event information Set [1] to “Switching from OFF to ON”.

The “sound effect stop layer” and the “ramp stop layer” in the work 231 store the sound layer number and the ramp layer number whose output should be stopped in response to the occurrence / stop of the above-described event. Although illustration is omitted in order to avoid complication of the figure, the necessary number of works 231 such as “sound effect stop layer” and “ramp stop layer” are provided so as to be specified in parallel.
The “sound activation layer” and “sound activation pattern” in the work 231 respectively specify a layer for outputting a sound and a pattern of a sound to be output by a number according to the occurrence / stop of the event. The sound pattern number means the voice operation number in FIG. Similarly, the “lamp activation layer” and the “lamp activation pattern” in the work 231 specify the lamp layer to be activated and the lighting pattern of the lamp by numbers. The number of the lamp lighting pattern means the lamp operation number in FIG. When the above-mentioned “demo” is activated, the sound effect [1] is activated in the sound layer [1], and the lamp [1] is activated in the ramp layer [1].

  A “power save monitoring timer” in the work 231 is a timer used for monitoring a no-operation period. When the time designated by this timer elapses, it is determined that the normal game has shifted to the demo state. The “reel emptying warning timer” in the work 231 is a timer for monitoring the time during which the reel continues to rotate without the stop button 16 being operated. When the time designated by this timer elapses, an error is displayed on the LCD 21 in response to a “reel emptying warning in progress” event.

  “Sound effect stop layer”, “ramp stop layer” and the like in the work 231 are given by the operation number table 232 and the layer information table 233. These tables are defined in advance and stored in the ROM 202. The operation number table 232 stores a sound operation number to be activated (sound effect [0] to [n] in the figure) and a lamp operation number (lamps [0] to [n] in the figure) for each event. doing. The layer information table 233 stores, for each event, a layer (sound layers [0] to [n] in the drawing) to which sound is to be output and ramp layers [0] to [n]. The event module 230 refers to the operation number table 232 and the layer information table 233 according to the event state, and executes a process of reflecting the result on the work 231.

  In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the system module 210 specifies the production number according to, for example, the operation of the start lever 15, the operation of the stop button 16, the reel stop state, and system event information. . In the present embodiment, a method of specifying an effect number corresponding to the gaming state by referring to an effect lottery table that preliminarily defines the relationship between these various events and the effect numbers is adopted.

  Furthermore, the system module 210 outputs a screen setting command to the VDP 204 at a predetermined timing. This is a command related to screen setting and the like, and by doing so, it is possible to quickly recover even if the effect display is hindered due to the influence of noise or the like.

  In addition to this, the system module 210 outputs a sound operation number and a lamp operation number for performing sound output and lamp display in conjunction with basic operations performed during a game. Examples of the sound to be output include “medal insertion sound”, “waiting sound”, “rotor rotation start sound”, “reel stop sound”, “payout sound”, and the like. Examples of the lamp display include a display at the time of betting, lever ON, and reel stop. In the present embodiment, these voice operation numbers and lamp operation numbers are written in the sound activation layer, sound activation pattern, lamp activation layer, and lamp activation pattern of the work 231 used for system event management. These sound and lamp output are managed as a layer different from the sound and lamp output corresponding to the system event.

C4. Production module features:
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the effect module 240. The effect module 240 receives the effect number from the event module 230 and sets a command to be output to the VDP 204, the sound module 250, and the lamp module 260. In the figure, the structure of the effect data 241 referred to for setting this command is shown.

  In the present embodiment, the effect data 241 is prepared for each effect number designated from the event module 230 and stored in the ROM 202. The correspondence between the production data 241 and the production number is defined in the production management table. As shown on the left side of the figure, the effect management table includes an effect management pointer indicating the storage address of effect data. The number of effect management pointers corresponding to the effect number is prepared, but only five are illustrated here. In the example shown in the figure, for example, the production management pointer [1] initially stores the start address A1 of the production data 241. As the effect data processing is executed, the value of the effect management pointer [1] sequentially shifts to A1 and A2.

  In the present embodiment, the effect number uses the address value of the effect management pointer. In the example shown in the figure, production numbers 01H, 02H, etc. represent storage addresses of production management pointers [1], [2], etc., respectively. However, the production number is not limited to the address value, and any identification information can be used. In this case, the production management table may be configured to associate the production number with the production management pointer, and the production module 240 searches the production management pointer using the production number as a key, and then processes the production data. Should be done. However, if the address value of the effect management pointer is used as the effect number, the amount of data in the effect management table can be reduced, and the above-described search is not required, which has the advantage of reducing the load required for processing the effect data.

As shown in the drawing, the production data 241 is composed of functions and parameters in principle. The function is a function that the rendering module 240 should execute. Examples of functions used in this embodiment are shown below. The parameter is a variable that specifically indicates the processing content of the function. A function that does not need to specify a parameter may be provided.
(1) Main board command reception check: Checks whether a predetermined main board command has been received. The main board command to be checked is specified by a parameter.
(2) Jump: The address specified by the parameter is set in the effect management pointer.
The effect module 240 jumps to the designated address and continues the processing of the effect data.
(3) Call: After saving the pointer value of the next function, the address designated by the parameter is set in the effect management pointer. The effect module 240 can temporarily move to the address designated by the parameter and process the effect data, and then can return to the previous process based on the saved pointer value.
(4) Return: An instruction for returning from the call destination. It has a function of setting the pointer value saved by the call in the effect management table.
(5) Timer set: Sets the timer value for the waiting time. This timer value is sequentially subtracted during processing. This indicates that the specified waiting time has elapsed when the timer value becomes zero.
(6) Timer wait: Wait until the set timer reaches 0, and continue the effect data processing.
(7) Memory reference: It is determined whether or not the occurrence of a predetermined event satisfies a set condition, and the next processing is branched depending on whether or not the condition is satisfied. Whether or not an event has occurred is monitored by referring to the value of the event memory indicated by the parameter.
(8) Production end ... The production number is cleared and execution ends. At this time, it is reset by writing the start address of the effect data in the effect management pointer.
(9) Liquid crystal command set: Sets a command to be sent to the liquid crystal.
(10) Voice action number set: A voice action number to be output to the sound module 250 is set.
(11) Lamp operation number set: A lamp operation number to be output to the lamp schedule 260 is set.

  In the example in the figure, the “call” function is designated at the address A2. The effect module 240 next executes the address A31 specified by this parameter. In the illustrated example, a liquid crystal command is set at address A31, a voice operation number is set at A32, a lamp operation number is set at A33, and the process returns at A3n. When the effect command ends these processes, it returns to the address A2 where “call” is designated, and proceeds to the process of the next address A3.

  As described above, by utilizing the call function, the contents of a series of blocks BL3 designated by the addresses A31 to A3n can be taken into various portions of the effect data. By doing so, the capacity of the production data can be reduced and the creation load can be reduced. In addition, by doing this, there is an effect peculiar to the slot machine 10 as shown below. In the slot machine 10, various lotteries and the like are performed during the game, and the development of the game changes according to the result. Some players can find a subtle difference in the contents of the presentation during the lottery and guess the lottery result. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the general-purpose production contents can be utilized in various scenes by a call, such a subtle difference can be eliminated and the lottery result or the like can be difficult to predict. It is possible to prevent the entertainment of the game from being impaired.

  Although the “call” function can be used as described above, the effect data 241 of this embodiment is different from the interpreter program. As described above, the main function used in the production data 241 is to set instructions for other schedulers such as “liquid crystal command set”, “voice operation number set”, “lamp operation number set”, etc. This is because the module 240 is merely an instruction for a very limited function that can be realized.

  In the example in the figure, a timer wait is then executed at address A3. Here, the processing of the effect data is awaited until the time specified by the parameter Prm [031] has elapsed. As will be described later, in this embodiment, processing is repeatedly executed by a timer interrupt. Accordingly, in the timer wait function, if the value of the parameter Prm [031] is not 0 in the timer wait function, the effect data processing is temporarily ended without performing the subsequent processing. The process of shifting to the function of the address of is performed.

  In the example in the figure, memory reference, that is, conditional branching is executed at address A11. Here, the case where the condition is whether or not a predetermined button has been pressed is illustrated. When the occurrence of an event that a button is pressed is detected based on a command delivered from the main board, the effect module 240 proceeds to processing of the address next to the address A11. Until this event occurs, the process moves to the address specified by the parameter Prm [112].

  In the present embodiment, the configuration is such that the processing does not proceed until the button is pressed by specifying its own address A11 in the parameter Prm [112]. As a result, the effect data 241 of the present embodiment can be understood as a series of blocks BL1 from the start address A1 to the conditional branch A11. In the effect data 241, the liquid crystal command, the voice operation number, and the lamp operation number are designated so as not to conflict with each other in this processing.

  In the present embodiment, the voice operation number and the like are designated using a work in the same format as the work 231 shown in FIG. The work 231 used by the system event and the work used by the effect module 240 are prepared separately, and the effect module 240 stores the voice operation number and the like in the work according to the designation of the effect data. Further, the layer designated by the rendering module 240 is also provided separately from the system module layer (see FIG. 5). Also in the work for the effect module, a plurality of voice operation numbers and lamp operation numbers can be specified in parallel from these layers.

  The effect data is also defined by functions and parameters in the same manner after the conditional branch address A11. In the example in the figure, an example is shown in which no conditional branch is provided from the conditional branch address A11 to the end of presentation (address An). Since this range is a block BL2 different from the block BL1 described above, a liquid crystal command (address A22), a voice operation number (address A21), etc. can be designated without considering conflicts with the block BL1. Instead of these settings, the block BL3 or the like may be fetched by a call function.

  In effect data, a conditional branch and a call function may be used in combination. For example, a random number for switching the production contents may be generated, and a different address may be called according to the value of the random number. In the example of FIG. 6, if the condition “random number ≦ Th1?” Is added to the address A2, the effects of the addresses A31 to A3n are executed when this condition is satisfied. If the address A41 (not shown) is called after the address A2 (address A2 + 1) with the condition “Th1 <random value ≦ Th2?”, The address A31 and the subsequent addresses are called. Different performances are performed. In this way, if different addresses are called in a conditional branch according to a random number, the contents of the presentation can be switched randomly according to the random number, and the fun of the game can be enhanced. Hereinafter, switching the contents of effects in this way is referred to as “effect lottery” in this specification.

As an application example of the effect lottery, for example, the following modes can be cited.
(1) Notification of child roles (sound, display, lamp drawing lottery);
(2) Switch the sound effect for the time around the inside (sound production lottery);
(3) Switch the display background according to the time zone (display effect lottery);
(4) Change the sound effect at the time of the tempering according to the reach (sound production lottery);
(5) Delay the output timing of the fluctuation start sound (sound production lottery);
(6) Display assist time lottery (display lottery for display);
(7) Display sub-characters other than the main displayed character (display rendering lottery);
(8) Notification sound output (sound production lottery);
(9) Announcement of internal hits over several games (display lottery)
(10) Change the backlight when the reels stop depending on the winning combination (ramp production lottery)

  In the above example, all of the display, sound, and lamp may be switched by the effect lottery, or only a part may be switched. In the case of switching all, display, sound, and lamp contents may be specified in the effect data called by the call function. In the case of switching only a part, it is only necessary to specify only the part to be switched in the effect data called by the call function and to specify the other part in a unified manner after returning from the call function.

  As described above, the effect lottery is to switch the content of the effect by the control process of the sub-control board 200, and does not affect the game itself. However, by enabling the effect lottery in this way, it is possible to realize more various effects than the types of commands output from the main control board 100, and it is possible to further enhance the interest.

C5. Sound module features:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the sound module 250. The sound module 250 outputs sound while referring to the schedule data 255 stored in the ROM 202. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the sound module 250 performs these processes using a plurality of schedulers 252 in combination. Each scheduler 252 is provided in association with a sound layer for voice. Each scheduler 252 is provided with a work 252W for operation management. The contents of the work 252W will be described later.

  When the sound operation number is received from the rendering module 240, the sound module 250 refers to the sound operation number table and specifies the schedule data 255 to be executed. The voice action number table is a table in which a sound pointer and a sound layer are associated with a voice action number. In this embodiment, the voice operation number uses the storage address of the voice operation number table. Although any identification information can be used for the voice operation number, the capacity of the voice operation number table is reduced and the table using the storage address is the same as described in the production number (see FIG. 6). There is an advantage of reducing the processing load at the time of reference.

  The sound pointer designates the storage address of the schedule data 255. In the present embodiment, the address SA1 is stored in the sound pointer [1].

The schedule data 255 is composed of functions and parameters in the same way as effect data (see FIG. 6). The functions used in the schedule data 255 are as follows.
(1) Timer set: The time set by the parameter is set to the timer of the workpiece 252W.
(2) Phrase playback: Phrase data indicated by the phrase number set in the parameter is played back. The contents of the phrase data will be described later.
(3) Phrase mute: Stops playback of the channel that is playing the phrase data set by the parameter.
(4) Channel mute: Stops playback of the channel set by the parameter.
(5) Stop scheduler: Stops processing and releases the used channel.
(6) Call: Save the pointer value of the next function and set the address specified by the parameter in the sound pointer.
(7) Return: Returns from the call destination.
(8) Jump: The address specified by the parameter is set in the sound pointer.
(9) Loop: The function from the loop to the loop end is repeatedly executed as many times as specified by the parameter.
(10) Loop end: represents the end of the loop.

  In the example in the figure, a call function is defined at the address SA2. The sound module 250 executes a series of blocks after the address SA31 (not shown) as shown in the effect data (FIG. 6), and then processes the address SA3 next to the address SA2.

  At address SA3, phrase playback is defined. The sound module 250 reads the phrase data 255F corresponding to the phrase number 00H specified by the parameter and reproduces it.

  An example of the structure of the phrase data 255F is shown on the right side of the figure. The phrase number is identification information attached to each phrase data. In this embodiment, arbitrary identification information can be used, but the storage address of the phrase data 255F may be used as the phrase number. In this case, the phrase number can be omitted from the phrase data 255F.

  The channel is an output channel designation for phrase playback. The left and right panpots and the upper and lower panpots are the left / right / upper / lower output balances of the four speakers provided in the slot machine 10. The volume is an output volume. The song number is an identification number of the sound to be reproduced. When this number is delivered to the sound source IC 205, the sound source IC 205 reads the sound source data corresponding to the number from the ROM 202 and reproduces the sound. The loop is a designation as to whether or not to reproduce the sound repeatedly. Stereo is a designation of whether or not to output in stereo.

  The schedule data 255 can use the “call” function as described above, but the schedule data 255 of the present embodiment is different from the program of the interpreter. This is because, as described above, the main function used in the schedule data 255 is merely a specific instruction for a very limited function such as “phrase playback” such as voice output. That is, it merely defines the timing for executing each function such as “phrase playback” prepared in advance, the number of times of execution, and the like.

Each scheduler 252 is associated with an operation management work 252W. Various pieces of information shown in the figure are stored in the work 252W.
The operation state indicates whether each layer is operating.
The voice number represents the number of schedule data 255 in operation. In this embodiment, the head address of the schedule data 255 is used.
The sound pointer is the address of the schedule data 255 being executed by the scheduler 252. In the example in the figure, as the processing proceeds, the value of the sound pointer sequentially shifts to SA2 and SA3.
The timer value represents a waiting time until the next function is executed. It is set when the waiting time is specified by the schedule data 255, and is subtracted sequentially as time elapses. The sound module 250 executes the next function when this value becomes zero.

  The number of call nests and the number of loop nests represent the number of call and loop nests specified in a multiple manner by the schedule data 255 and the phrase number. In other words, for example, in the process after address SA31 called by the call function (first call) of address SA2, when the schedule data 255 of another address is called by the call function (second call), the call nest number is 2. Become. When the second call is finished and returned to the first call, the number of call nests is reduced to one. The same applies to the loop. The call return address is a return address from the call destination and is provided according to the number of call nesting. The loop start address is the start address of the loop range, and the loop count is the number of loop iterations. The loop head address or the like is provided according to the number of loop nests.

C6. Lamp module features:
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the lamp module 260. The lamp module 260 performs lamp output, that is, lighting / flashing control of the lamp while referring to the schedule data 265 stored in the ROM 202. The lamp module 260 also performs these processes using a plurality of schedulers 262 in combination. Each scheduler 262 is provided in association with a lamp layer for lamps. Each scheduler 262 is provided with a work 262W for operation management. The contents of the work 262W will be described later.

When the lamp operation number is received from the effect module 240, the lamp module 260 refers to the lamp operation number table and specifies the schedule data 265 to be executed.
The lamp operation number table is a table in which a lamp pointer and a lamp layer are associated with a lamp operation number. In the present embodiment, the lamp operation number uses the storage address of the lamp operation number table. As the lamp operation number, arbitrary identification information can be used. However, as described above with reference to the production number (see FIG. 6), the storage address is used to reduce the capacity of the lamp operation number table. There is an advantage of reducing the processing load at the time of reference.

  The lamp pointer designates the storage address of the schedule data 265. In the present embodiment, the address LA1 is stored in the lamp pointer [1].

The schedule data 265 is composed of functions and parameters, similarly to the effect data (see FIG. 6). The functions used in the schedule data 265 are as follows.
(1) Timer set: The time set by the parameter is set to the timer of the workpiece 252W.
(2) Tone pattern setting: The tone pattern data address set by the parameter is set, and the tone data timer in the work 262W is cleared to instruct the execution of the tone data.
(3) Jump: Sets the address specified by the parameter to the ramp pointer.
(4) Stop scheduler: Stops processing.
(5) Loop: The function from the loop to the loop end is repeatedly executed as many times as specified by the parameter.
(6) Loop end: represents the end of the loop.

  In the example in the figure, a call function is defined at the address LA2. The lamp module 260 executes a series of blocks after the address LA31 (not shown) as shown in the effect data (FIG. 6), and then processes the address LA3 next to the address LA2.

  In the address LA3, gradation pattern setting is defined. The lamp module 260 sets the gradation pattern data 266 stored at the address LA11 specified by the parameter. Each of the lamp schedulers 262 is provided with a gradation scheduler 263 in association with each other. The lamp is turned on with the designated gradation data 1 and when the time designated by the timer value has elapsed, the gradation data 2 is used. Lights up. Here, an example in which two kinds of gradation data are designated is shown, but even when three or more kinds of gradation data are designated, the lamp is turned on while sequentially switching the gradation data at the time interval of the timer value. By preparing a plurality of gradation pattern settings after address LA12, it is possible to light the lamp with various gradation patterns while changing the timer value for switching between gradation data. It is also possible to provide a loop in the gradation pattern data. When the gradation scheduler 263 executes a series of processes of the addresses LA11 to LA1n, the lighting of the lamp is finished. The lamp scheduler 262 returns to the processing of the address LA3 of the schedule data 265 and executes the processing of the next address until it reaches the stop (address LAn).

Each scheduler 262 is associated with a work 262W for operation management. Various pieces of information shown in the drawing are stored in the work 262W.
The scheduler status indicates whether the scheduler is active.
The operation pattern number represents the number of schedule data 265 during operation. In this embodiment, the head address of the schedule data 265 is used.
The scheduler timer represents a waiting time until the next function is executed. It is set when the waiting time is specified in the schedule data, and is subtracted sequentially as time elapses. The lamp 260 executes the next function when this value becomes zero.
The gradation data timer represents a waiting time until the next gradation data is executed when the gradation pattern data 266 is executed. In the example shown in the figure, when the gradation data defined in the address LA11 is executed, when the timer value set in the gradation data timer becomes 0, the gradation data 1 is shifted to the gradation data 2. When the timer value becomes 0 again, the processing at the address LA11 is terminated and the processing proceeds to the processing at the address LA12.

The ramp pointer is the address of the schedule data 265 being executed by the scheduler 262. In the example in the figure, as the processing proceeds, the value of the ramp pointer sequentially shifts to LA1, LA2, and LA3.
The gradation data pointer is an address of gradation pattern data 266 being executed by the gradation scheduler 263. In the example in the figure, as the processing proceeds, the value of the gradation data pointer sequentially shifts to LA11 and LA12.
The loop count is the loop repeat count, and the loop head address is the head address of the loop range. As with sound, you may allow loops to be nested.

D. Production control processing:
In the present embodiment, the effect control is executed by the function of each module described above.
Below, the processing content of production control is shown. Each process is realized in cooperation with the modules described above in software, and is executed by the CPU 201 of the sub-control board 200 in hardware.

D1. Main processing:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the main process. The left side shows steady processing and the right side shows timer update processing. The steady process is repeatedly executed at a cycle of 16 msec, and the timer update process is repeatedly executed at a cycle of 2 msec. Each period can be set arbitrarily.

  In the steady processing, a series of processing after power-on is shown. When the power is turned on, the CPU 201 prohibits interruption (step S10), and performs various register settings and the like as start processing (step S11). When the startup process is completed, an interrupt is permitted (step S12), and the main process routine is entered.

  In the main processing routine, event processing (step S30), effect data processing (step S40), sound processing (step S50), ramp processing (step S60), and command output to the liquid crystal (step S70) are repeatedly executed at a cycle of 16 msec. To do. These processes are processes corresponding to the functions of the event module 230, the sound module 250, the effect module 240, and the lamp module 260, respectively.

  During the execution of the main processing routine, various timers are used as described above. The timer table TW shown in the center of the figure is a table that stores various timer values used in the main processing routine in association with timers [1] to [n]. In the main processing routine, each module can update a timer value necessary for processing by referring to the timer table TW.

  The values of timer [1] to timer [n] in the timer table are updated by timer update processing executed at a cycle of 2 msec. A flowchart of timer update processing is shown on the right side. In this process, if the timer [i] to be processed is not 0 (step S21), the CPU 201 subtracts 1 from the timer value (step S22), otherwise skips the subtraction process. The CPU 201 repeatedly executes the timer [i] to be processed while switching sequentially from timer [1] to timer [n] until all timers are completed (step S23). By executing the timer update process, the values of timer [1] to timer [n] stored in the timer table TW are sequentially subtracted until the value becomes 0 at a cycle of 2 msec. Each module of the main processing routine can determine whether or not the specified time has elapsed by monitoring whether or not the value of the timer table TW is zero.

  In this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which each module of the main processing routine polls the value of the timer table as necessary. The time monitoring is not limited to such a method, and when any value of timer [1] to timer [n] in the timer table becomes 0 in the timer update process, the module corresponding to the timer A configuration may be adopted in which a notification that indicates the passage of time is issued.

D2. Event processing:
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of event processing. This process is executed by the event module 230, and corresponds to step S30 of the main process routine.

  In this process, the CPU 201 first reads a main board command (step S41) and analyzes the contents (step S42). Then, a system event is created according to the main board command (step S43). That is, by setting each event information for the work 231 shown in FIG. 5, the state of the slot machine 10 is represented, and a sound effect stop layer or the like is set according to the result. Various operations other than the effect display are set.

  The CPU 201 executes this process in order from the event with the highest priority. When an event that is switched from “ON → OFF” or “OFF ← ON” occurs in the middle, the process for the subsequent events is skipped. (Step S44). If there is no event to be switched, the above process is executed for all events (step S45).

When these processes are completed, the CPU 201 sequentially executes the setting of the production number (step S46), the liquid crystal command setting (step S47), the sound pattern activation (step S48), and the ramp layer activation (step S49).
The setting of the production number (step S46) refers to the production number according to, for example, the operation of the start lever 15, the operation of the stop button 16, the reel stop state, and the system event information as described in FIG. Is the process of identifying
The liquid crystal command setting (step S47) is a process of outputting a screen setting command related to the screen setting or the like to the VDP 204 as a countermeasure when the effect display is hindered due to the influence of noise or the like.
Sound pattern activation (step S48) and ramp layer activation (step S49) are a voice operation number for outputting a sound and a lamp operation linked to a basic operation performed during a game, and an output of a lamp operation number. Do. Examples of the sound to be output include “medal insertion sound”, “waiting sound”, “rotor rotation start sound”, “reel stop sound”, “payout sound”, and the like. Examples of the lamp display include a display at the time of betting, lever ON, and reel stop.

D3. Production data processing:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of effect data processing. This is a process executed by the effect module 240, and corresponds to step S40 of the main process routine.

  The CPU 201 reads the effect number (step S41) and determines whether the effect number is normal (step S42). When an effect number that is not normal is specified due to the influence of noise or the like (step S42), the CPU 201 ends the effect data process. At this time, the read effect number is discarded.

  When the production number is normal (step S42), the CPU 201 refers to the production management table (see FIG. 6) (step S43) and obtains the production management pointer value corresponding to the production number. When the effect management pointer value is abnormal (step S44), the CPU 201 stops the scheduler (step S46) and ends the process.

  When the effect management pointer value is normal (step S44), the effect data designated by the pointer is read, and the function defined there is executed (step S45). The structure of effect data and the types of functions are as described in FIG. Through this processing, a liquid crystal command, a voice operation number, and a lamp operation number for realizing an effect corresponding to the gaming state are set and stored in the work 231 (see FIG. 5). The CPU 201 continues this process when the interruption of the effect data process is instructed by a process such as conditional branching or time wait, or until the end of the effect is instructed (step S47).

  When the above processing is completed, as shown in FIG. 9, the voice operation number and the lamp operation number designated according to the effect data are transferred to the following sound processing and ramp processing. The liquid crystal command is output to the VDP 204 in the main processing routine (step S70 in FIG. 9).

D4. Sound processing:
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of sound processing. This process is executed by the sound module 250 and corresponds to step S50 of the main process routine.

  The CPU 201 executes the processes of steps S51 to S54 while sequentially switching the schedulers to be processed with respect to the plurality of schedulers 252. First, the CPU 201 determines whether the scheduler is being activated or whether a new activation is necessary according to the voice operation number to be processed (step S51). If the scheduler is not active and it is not necessary to start it again, the processing target is switched to the next scheduler and processing is performed sequentially. Whether or not the activation is necessary can be determined by referring to the work 231 set in the effect data processing (FIG. 11). Whether or not the scheduler is already activated can be determined by referring to the operating state of the work 252W (see FIG. 7) used by the sound scheduler 252.

  If it is determined that the scheduler 252 is being activated or newly activated (step S51), the work 252W associated with the scheduler 252 is referred to and it is determined whether or not the timer value is 0 (step S52). . If the timer value is not 0, it means that the process is waiting, and the CPU 201 switches the processing target to the next scheduler without performing any processing on the scheduler 252.

  When the timer value is 0, it means that the scheduler is at the timing to execute the next function. Therefore, the CPU 201 performs a process for updating the scheduler (step S53), that is, a process for advancing the scheduler pointer by one. Then, the schedule data designated by the new pointer is read, and processing according to the function is executed. In this process, as described above with reference to FIG. 7, when phrase playback is designated, a music number according to the phrase data 255F is output as a sound source command, and the sound source IC 205 plays back sound. CPU201 performs the above process sequentially about all the schedulers (step S54).

  Next, the CPU 201 selects the highest priority scheduler among the active schedulers (step S55). The sound layer structure 254 in the present embodiment is shown on the right side of the figure. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, this embodiment has eight sound layers # 1 to # 8. The lower the layer, the higher the priority level. Assume that layers # 1, # 2, and # 5 marked with a circle in the figure are being activated. At this time, in the process of step S55, layer # 5 having the highest priority among the active layers is selected.

  The CPU 201 determines whether or not the sound generation of other schedulers is prohibited for the selected layer (step S56). If it is prohibited, the CPU 201 turns off the volume of the other scheduler (step S57). If it is permitted, the volumes of all the schedulers are set to the volume value specified by the phrase data 255F (step S57). S58).

  In the example shown in the figure, layer # 5 is prohibited from sounding other layers. Therefore, the output volumes of layers # 1 and # 2 are set to 0. This volume adjustment can be realized by setting the output volume of the channel management work 253 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the channel specified by the phrase data 255F to zero. In layers # 1 and # 2, although the output volume is set to 0, the operation is not stopped, so that the audio output is continued as it is. Accordingly, as long as the output volume is restored, the continuation of the previous output can be output without a sense of incongruity.

  In this embodiment, the permission / inhibition of audio output of other layers is controlled by referring only to the prohibition / permission of the highest priority layer. However, the prohibition / permission of a plurality of layers may be referred to. For example, the highest priority layer and the second layer may be referred to, and when one of them is prohibited, the other layer may be silenced. In this way, even when the higher priority layer is “permitted” and the second layer is “prohibited”, the third and subsequent layers can be muted. In the layer structure shown in FIG. 12, the lower priority layers # 1 to # 4 are permitted, and the higher priority layers # 5 to # 8 are prohibited. However, by referring to the prohibition / permission of a plurality of layers, the prohibition / permission of each layer can be set flexibly. For example, it is preferable to always output, but if there is audio that is not information that prohibits the sound of other layers, set it to “Allow” while setting it as the highest priority layer. Good.

  Through the above processing, audio output can be performed while using a plurality of schedulers in parallel. Also, depending on the setting of priority and prohibition / permission, it is possible to output only the sound of some layers while continuing to play other layers. By activating a plurality of schedulers, it is possible to easily realize various effects such as temporarily mixing and playing sound effects such as operation of the start lever while playing BGM. .

D5. Ramp processing:
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the ramp process. This process is executed by the lamp module 260 and corresponds to step S60 of the main process routine.

  Similar to the sound processing (FIG. 12), the CPU 201 activates the scheduler (step S61) and determines the timer value (step S62). When the scheduler is running or in a newly activated state and the timer value is 0, the CPU 201 updates the scheduler (step S63), and updates the schedule data specified by the new ramp pointer (work 262W in FIG. 8). Execute the function. In this process, when the gradation pattern setting (FIG. 8) is set, the gradation pattern is output to the lamp 30 based on the designated gradation pattern data 266. The CPU 201 executes the above processing for all schedulers included in each layer, that is, the ramp scheduler and the gradation data scheduler (step S64), and further executes for all layers (step S65).

  Next, the CPU 201 selects the highest priority scheduler among the active schedulers (step S66). The lamp layer structure 264 in the present embodiment is shown on the right side of the figure. As described above with reference to FIG. 8, this embodiment has six sound layers # 1 to # 6. The lower the layer, the higher the priority level. Assume that layers # 1, # 2, and # 5 marked with a circle in the figure are being activated. At this time, in the process of step S66, layer # 5 having the highest priority among the active layers is selected.

  The CPU 201 outputs the ramp data only for the layer thus selected (step S67). For the other layers, the scheduler reproduces the gradation data, but the output is cut off without being transmitted to the lamp. Since the schedulers of the other layers do not stop the processing, if the processing of the highest priority layer stops, the gradation data of the layer with the next highest priority is output without any sense of incongruity.

  The reason why only the top-priority layer is output is that, when a plurality of layers are superimposed on a lamp, the lighting pattern generally has no regularity and tends to have a sense of incongruity. Depending on the gradation data of the lamp, layers other than the highest priority layer may be output together. Further, the gradation data may be superimposed with strength depending on the priority. In the case of permitting the superimposed output in this way, prohibition or permission of superimposition may be set for each layer as in the case of audio output.

E. effect:
According to the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment described above, there is an advantage that various effects can be realized relatively easily in the effect control on the sub-control board 200.
First, by using a plurality of schedulers in parallel for each of the sound and the lamp, it is possible to realize a wide variety of effects with each of the sound and the lamp.
In addition, production data for integrated control of the LCD, voice, and lamp and schedule data for controlling the output of the voice and lamp are used in a hierarchical manner. Furthermore, it becomes possible to easily realize a wide variety of effects.

F. Second embodiment:
F1. Game machine configuration:
FIG. 14 is a front view of a game board 70 used in a pachinko machine as a second embodiment. The game board 70 is attached to an outer frame (not shown) of the pachinko machine, and has a game area 71 in the center. The player can perform a game by operating a handle (not shown) and driving a game ball into the game area 71 to win a winning opening.

The pachinko machine of this embodiment corresponds to a so-called second type. In the center of the game board 70, there is provided a variable winning device 80 for executing a mechanical lottery, that is, a lottery method for determining whether or not a big hit is made based on the movement of a game ball. As shown in the drawing, a first movable piece 81 and a second movable piece 82 are provided in a pair on the left and right sides of the variable winning device 80, respectively. The state shown in the figure shows a state in which the first movable piece 81 and the second movable piece 82 are opened so that the game ball can enter the variable winning device 80. Usually, the first movable piece 81 is closed so as to slide and close the opening as shown by the arrow B. At this time, the second movable piece 82 is hidden inside as indicated by an arrow C.
When the game ball wins the start winning opening 72 at the lower part of the game area 71, the first movable piece 81 and the second movable piece 82 are opened as shown in the figure.

  As shown by the arrow D, the game ball that has entered the variable winning device 80 in the opening rolls down in the flow path 83 provided in the arc shape on the left and right toward the arm 84 extending from the left and right to the center. Since the variable winning device 80 swings left and right as shown by the arrow A as a whole, the game ball rolls unstable on the left and right on the arm 84, and then drives the driving device 85 driving device 85 driving device 85 driving device 85. Device 85 falls at an appropriate timing. Depending on the fall timing, the game ball enters the general winning opening 86 and enters the V winning opening 87. The arm 84 and the drive device 85 function as a sorting mechanism that determines whether or not the big hit. When winning the V winning opening 87, it becomes “big hit”, and “big hit game” in which the first movable piece 81 and the second movable piece 82 repeat opening and closing in a predetermined pattern is started.

  The variable winning device 80 is provided as a driving device 85 for producing a UFO at a position shifted to the front so as not to interfere with the falling game ball. The drive device 85 imitates the movement of the UFO and moves in a curved manner so as to draw a figure 8 in the front-rear and left-right directions as indicated by an arrow E, and also performs a roll motion as indicated by an arrow F. The player feels as if the driving device 85 interferes with the falling game ball, and at the same time, the real thing moves, thereby obtaining a realistic presentation effect that cannot be obtained with a display or a lamp. it can.

  An LCD 73 is provided at the center of the game area 71, and various effect screens (sometimes referred to as decorative symbols) are displayed during the game. An effect screen corresponding to the game state is also displayed when winning at the start winning opening or when a big hit occurs. The LCD 73 is installed behind the driving device 85 as viewed from the player. The driving device 85 may be driven in conjunction with the display on the LCD 73.

F2. Game machine control:
The configuration of the control mechanism of the pachinko machine is the same as that of the slot machine 10. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the main control board 100 and the sub control board 200 control the game and effects for the game. In the slot machine 10, display control is also performed by the sub-control board 200, but in the pachinko machine, a display control board may be separately provided. In this case, the display-related functions in the effect module 240 shown in FIG. 3 and the functions of the liquid crystal command buffer 212 and the VDP 204 are realized by a liquid crystal display control board.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a control software configuration of the pachinko machine. The same modules as those in the slot machine 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The pachinko machine of the present embodiment is different from the embodiment (FIG. 3) in that a module for controlling the operation of the drive device 85 shown in FIG. 14 is added.

The driving device 85 is connected to the driving device module 270 via the output port image work 214 like the lamp and the like, and is controlled by the event module 230A and the driving device module 270. The operation of the stepping motor that drives the driving device 85 is a control target. Specific control items are as follows.
(1) Travel amount: Stepping motor rotation step angle;
(2) Movement time: Time for moving from the current position to the next position;
(3) Movement speed: Motor rotation speed;
(4) Excitation method: 1-1 phase excitation, 1-2 phase excitation, 2-2 phase excitation distinction;
(5) Trapezoidal drive: Instead of changing the speed in a step function at the start and stop of rotation, the rotational speed is changed at a predetermined angular acceleration;
(6) Rotation direction: Rotation direction of the motor;
(7) Execution instruction for return operation to return to the origin position;
(8) Instruction to stop mechanical end;
Here, the mechanical end stop means stopping when the movable range of the driving device 85 is mechanically limited and biased to the limit position of the movable range.

  The control method of the driving device 85 is the same as that of the lamp or the like. The effect module 240A analyzes the command to determine the operation mode of the drive device 85, and outputs a drive device operation number representing the operation mode to the drive device module 270. The driving device module 270 refers to schedule data corresponding to the driving device operation number. In the schedule data for the driving device 85, functions and parameters for designating the control items (1) to (8) described above are prepared. Calls, conditional branching, and effect lotteries are also provided.

  As for the driving device 85, a plurality of schedulers can be operated in parallel as shown in FIG. The signal output from each scheduler to the stepping motor is adjusted by the output strength of a plurality of channels, as shown in FIG.

Thus, by providing a control mechanism similar to the lamp and sound, it is possible to cause the drive device 85 to perform various movements.
For example, when determining hit / displace mechanically, in order to produce an effect that looks like it interferes with the game ball, in addition to moving in the shape of 8 figure, you can fly fancy at the time of hitting, or crash at the time of falling off Thus, you may make it move considering various production effects. It is only necessary to adjust the output according to the lottery result while operating the scheduler that moves in the shape of figure 8, the scheduler that realizes the effect operation at the time of winning, and the scheduler that realizes the effect operation at the time of losing. . The effect data may be defined so that the effect operation of the driving device 85 is linked to the display, the lamp, and the sound. By doing so, it is possible to realize a production with a sense of unity.

  Also in the second embodiment, it is possible to perform an effect lottery for display, sound, lamp, and driving device 85. The effect lottery can also be performed by properly using the call function of the effect data based on random numbers as in the embodiment (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a method of performing an effect lottery using schedule data instead of effect data is adopted.

The effect lottery with the schedule data can be realized by the same method as the effect data. That is, in the schedule data, it is only necessary to use conditional branching and a call function so as to call different schedule data according to the random number for effect lottery.
In this method, the display, sound, lamp, and driving device 85 independently perform the effect lottery, and as a result, the effect modes realized by the combination become very diverse, and there is an advantage that it can be more interesting.
However, regardless of the result of the lottery of the display, sound, lamp, and driving device 85, it is preferable that these effects end at the same time in order to realize an effect without a sense of incongruity. Therefore, in this embodiment, the schedule data to be selected for the effect lottery has the content that the effect ends in the same time. However, it is not an essential requirement that the production ends at the same time, and these production times may vary.

The effect lottery based on the schedule data has the advantage that the lottery contents can be changed and the lottery mode can be switched according to the output status of the display, sound, lamp, and driving device 85.
For example, when an effect lottery is instructed, the drive device 85 is performing an 8-shaped sorting operation, and when other operations are restricted, the drive device module 270 performs an effect lottery regarding the drive device 85. It may be prohibited.
Similarly, for the display, sound, and lamp, the effect lottery may be prohibited depending on the situation when the effect lottery is instructed. In the production lottery prohibition, the production lottery may be partially prohibited by prohibiting selection of some schedule data.

  In the gaming machine of the second embodiment described above, various effects can be realized as in the first embodiment. Further, by adopting the same control method for the drive device 85, the drive device 85 can be handled as a kind of effect device, and it is possible to realize a more interesting effect by the operation. .

G. Variations:
In the above embodiments, the LCD is configured such that the sub-control board 200 outputs a liquid crystal command, but a module for processing scheduler data may be provided for the liquid crystal command as well as a sound module or the like. Further, the production control may be realized with a data structure of three or more layers. For example, in the embodiment, when the ramp scheduler 262 (see FIG. 8) is activated, the gradation scheduler 263 is used to output gradation data. The gradation scheduler 263 is a module that operates by referring to gradation pattern data 266 different from the schedule data 265 used by the lamp scheduler 262. In this sense, it can be said that the lamp is controlled in three layers of effect data, schedule data, and gradation pattern data. As described above, the production control may be controlled by data having three or more hierarchical structures.

As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
(1) In this embodiment, part or all of the processing realized by software may be realized by hardware, and vice versa.
(2) In the present embodiment, the application example to the slot machine 10 is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine or other gaming machines. Further, the configuration applied to the pachinko machine in the second embodiment can be applied to the slot machine 10.

G. Variations:
In the above embodiments, the LCD is configured such that the sub-control board 200 outputs a liquid crystal command, but a module for processing scheduler data may be provided for the liquid crystal command as well as a sound module or the like. Further, the production control may be realized with a data structure of three or more layers. For example, in the embodiment, when the ramp scheduler 262 (see FIG. 8) is activated, the gradation scheduler 263 is used to output gradation data. The gradation scheduler 263 is a module that operates by referring to gradation pattern data 266 different from the schedule data 265 used by the lamp scheduler 262. In this sense, it can be said that the lamp is controlled in three layers of effect data, schedule data, and gradation pattern data. As described above, the production control may be controlled by data having three or more hierarchical structures.

As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
(1) In this embodiment, part or all of the processing realized by software may be realized by hardware, and vice versa.
(2) In the present embodiment, the application example to the slot machine 10 is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine or other gaming machines. Further, the configuration applied to the pachinko machine in the second embodiment can be applied to the slot machine 10.

H. Difference between the program structure and the prior art in this embodiment:
Finally, the difference between the program structure in this embodiment and the prior art will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration in the prior art]
First, the outline of the program structure in the prior art will be described.
FIG. 16 shows an example in which a ramp processing program is realized by a program having a conventional structure. In the program code shown in FIG. 16, program code for executing a specific process “Process 1” based on a variable or value “A”, and a specific process “Process 2” as a variable “B” or The program code that is executed based on the values,... Is arranged in the order to be executed.

  A data table used by the program code is stored in advance at an address as shown in FIG. 17, for example.

When a program having such a conventional structure is executed, processing as shown by the flowchart of FIG. 18 is executed.
In this process, first, the head data “A” of the lamp process data table is read (step S101), and “process 1” is executed based on the read data “A” (step S102). Then, the data “B” stored at the address + 01H of the lamp processing data table is read, and “processing 2” is executed based on the read data “B” (step S104).

  In this way, “Process 3” is executed sequentially based on the data “C” (Steps S105 and S106), “Process 4” is executed based on the data “D” (Steps S107 and S108), and the data “ “Process 4” is executed based on “E” (steps S109 and S110).

Next, a description will be given with reference to a specific example of processing according to the related art realized in this way.
For example, a case where processing using a data table configured as shown in FIG. 19 is performed as a conventional technique will be described.

  In the configuration of the data table shown in FIG. 19, each block includes a timer value, data for controlling the lighting of the lamp A, and data for controlling the operation of the driven object a. The data shown in FIG. 19 has a bit configuration as shown in FIG.

The flow of processing based on the conventional data table having such a configuration is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this process, first, the first data of the ramp processing table is read (step S201). That is, here, the timer value “1000 ms” of the first block, the lamp A lighting data “10000000B” are read, and the driving object a control data “00000001B” is read.

  Then, the read timer value “1000 ms” is set (step S202), lamp A lighting data “10000000B” is output (step S203), and driving object a control data “00000001B” is output (step S204). By this process, the lamp A1 is turned on and the driven object a1 is driven.

When the time set as the timer value “1000 ms” elapses (step S205), if the data has not ended (step S206), the data table pointer is updated (step S207), and the ramp processing data table is again displayed. Next block data is read (step S201).
The above processing is performed until the data in the data table shown in FIG.

By performing such processing, control as shown in FIG. 22 is executed.
That is, the lighting of the lamp A1 and the driving of the driving object a1 are performed for 1000 ms by the data of the first block, and the lighting of the lamp A2 and the driving of the driving object a2 are performed by the data of the second block for 500 ms. The lamps A1 and A2 are turned on and the driven objects a1 and a2 are driven for 1300 ms based on the data of n blocks, and the process ends.

  As described above, in the processing using the data table having the conventional structure, the control program depends on the structure of the data table. Therefore, when the data structure of the data table is changed, it is necessary to change the control program itself. Become.

  For example, when control objects such as the lamp A3 and the driving object a3 are added, a flag for instructing the control of the lamp A3 and the driving object a3 is set in the empty bits of the data having the configuration shown in FIG. However, it is necessary to add to the control program a process of reading some bits of the control data and instructing control of the lamp A3 and the driving object a3. Specifically, it is necessary to change the processing of steps S203 and S204 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the data table having the conventional structure, when the control target is changed, it is necessary to change the control program itself. Therefore, even when a control program is developed for a certain model, when developing another model, the control program must be changed from its data structure, which requires a large development man-hour. Further, when the control program is changed, a huge amount of man-hours such as verification of the presence / absence of defects such as bugs in the control program after the change, correction of found defects, and re-verification may be required.

[Configuration in this embodiment]
Next, the program and data structure in the gaming machine of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 23 shows a conceptual diagram of the program and data structure in the present embodiment. Here, a case where the control program is a ramp processing program and the functions f1 to f4 are prepared in advance will be described.

  In the program configuration shown in FIG. 23, the ramp processing program (lamp output scheduler) is designated by the part 90 for executing the process until there is no data based on the designated schedule data, and the functions f1 to f4. The f1 to f4 processes are configured by general-purpose individual function modules 91 to 94.

  Then, description will be made assuming that, for example, schedule data as shown in FIG. 24 is designated as the ramp processing schedule data.

  In such a case, the flow of processing executed by the ramp processing program in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in the ramp processing program, the first function f1 and parameter A of the schedule data shown in FIG. 24 are read (step S301).

  If it is determined that the read function is an instruction for the process 1 (Yes in step S302), the ramp processing program instructs the individual function module of the process 1 to execute the process using the parameter A, and the process 1 is executed (step S303).

  If the schedule data has not ended (step S310), the next function and parameters of the schedule data are read (step S301), and it is determined which of the processes 1 to 4 is designated by the read function (step S302). , S304, S306, S308), and instructs the corresponding function-specific module to execute the corresponding process among the processes 1 to 4 (steps S303, S305, S307, S308).

  As described above, in the program configuration of the present embodiment, the schedule data is composed of functions and parameters, and the ramp processing program is designated by the portion 90 for executing the designated schedule data and each function. It is comprised independently by the individual function modules 91-94 which perform a process.

  Therefore, even when a new function is required, it is not necessary to drastically change the lamp processing program by creating an individual function module for realizing the function and providing a function for specifying the function.

  For example, even if a function called function f5 is required for control of a new model, an individual function module for f5 processing is created, and only changes are added and registered to the program configuration shown in FIG. It's okay.

  The processing of the functions f1 to f4 is not a function used exclusively for the lamp processing program (lamp output scheduler), but a processing program (for example, an audio output scheduler) for controlling other effect devices such as an audio device. It is also possible to use a highly versatile process that can be used in common.

  As described above, in the program configuration of the present embodiment, the function of the program is divided into a highly universal model common part and a model individual part, and the model common part is programmed as a process that can be supported by any model, For the related parts, a new function is provided, and an individual function module that executes this function can be newly registered.

  Therefore, even when verifying whether there is a problem with the program after the change, it is only necessary to verify the newly added individual function module and the part related to the new function, and verify the individual function modules that have been registered in the past. Is no longer necessary. Therefore, by using the program configuration as in the present embodiment, compared to the case of using the program having the conventional structure, the change when the control target is changed is small, and the expandability is greatly improved.

  In other words, by separating a program for realizing a new function from a program having general versatility, it is possible to easily extend a model that will change in the future with less man-hours.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine 11 ... Transparent cover 15 ... Start lever 16 ... Stop button 18 ... Power supply unit 19 ... Hopper device 21 ... Liquid crystal panel (LCD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Reel 30 ... Lamp 40 ... Speaker 50 ... Medal full sensor 51 ... Error release sensor 52 ... Door open sensor 70 ... Game board 71 ... Game area 72 ... Start winning port 80 ... Variable winning device 81 ... First movable piece 82 ... Second movable piece 83 ... Flow path 84 ... Arm 85 ... Drive device 86 ... General prize opening 100 ... Main control board 101 ... CPU
102 ... ROM
103 ... RAM
200 ... Sub-control board 201 ... CPU
202 ... ROM
203 ... RAM
204 ... VDP
205 ... Sound source IC
206 ... Amplifier 206a ... Amplifier circuit 206v ... Volume 210 ... System module 211 ... Main board command buffer 212 ... Liquid crystal command buffer 213, 214 ... Output port image work 220 ... Command analysis module 230, 230A ... Event module 231 ... Work 232 ... Operation Number table 233 ... Layer information table 240, 240A ... Production module 241 ... Production data 250 ... Sound module 251 ... Sound module main 252 ... Scheduler 252 ... Sound scheduler 252W ... Work 253 ... Channel management work 254 ... Sound layer structure 255 ... Schedule Data 255F ... Phrase data 260 ... Ramp module 262W ... Work 262 ... Ramp scheduler 263 ... gradation scheduler 264 ... ramp layer structure 265 ... schedule data 266 ... gradation pattern data 270 ... drive device module

Claims (1)

A gaming machine that performs a game using a predetermined game medium,
During the game, a plurality of types of effect devices used for audio-visual effects shown to the player,
A payout device for paying out the game medium to a player under predetermined conditions;
A main control device for integrated control of the progress of the game;
An effect control device that controls the plurality of types of effect devices according to the gaming state of the game, based on instruction information output from the main control device;
The main control device and the production control device are connected, and has a unidirectional signal line for transmitting signals in a single direction from the main control device to the production control device,

The main controller is
A determination unit for determining success or failure of a predetermined condition related to payout of the game medium during the game;
An instruction information output unit that outputs the instruction information for instructing the contents of the effect to be executed by the plurality of types of effect devices to the effect control device based on the gaming state including the determination result by the determination unit;
The production control device
An input unit for inputting the instruction information from the main control device;
In order to control the effect in each effect device, a function that specifies a predetermined process to be executed among a plurality of processes required according to the effect device, and a parameter that defines information necessary for the process of the function, An effect content setting data storage unit for storing a plurality of types of effect content setting data stored in the order to be executed,
An effect control execution unit that selects any of the effect content setting data stored in the effect content setting data storage unit based on the instruction information, and controls the effect of each effect device according to the selected effect content setting data; With
The production control execution unit
Sequentially read the functions included in the production content setting data, execute the process specified by the read function and the parameters set for the function,
The function includes a loop instruction that instructs to repeatedly execute a predetermined range of processing for controlling the production,
The parameter set for the loop instruction is set to each function up to a predetermined range and the number of times the process specified by the parameter set for the function is repeated,
Said loop instruction when the execution number of designated times for those parameters that are set for the corresponding loop instruction, the parameters are set for each function and the function from the loop instruction to a predetermined range Executes the specified process repeatedly,
The function stored in the effect content setting data includes a common function that is commonly used corresponding to the effect device and a dedicated function that is used individually corresponding to the effect device.
A gaming machine characterized by that.

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