JP6292270B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball-type game machine such as a pachinko machine or an arrangement ball machine that plays a game with a game ball.

  Conventionally, this type of gaming machine executes a special game advantageous to the player as a hit when all of a plurality of symbols are displayed together after a variable display of a plurality of symbols. There has been proposed a method in which some of the displayed symbols are carried over to the next fixed display (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This gaming machine is equipped with a symbol display device that displays a three-digit symbol of the left symbol, middle symbol, and right symbol, and if the carryover condition is satisfied by random lottery, the left symbol of the three-digit symbol is confirmed last time. Only the middle symbol and the right symbol are scrolled and displayed while the display symbol is stopped, and after the display time has elapsed, the middle symbol and the right symbol are stopped and the fixed display is performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-9786

  In the above-described gaming machine, some symbols of the plurality of symbols are carried over to the next confirmation display, while other symbols are scroll-variably displayed. In such an effect, the scroll fluctuation itself is a common effect and does not produce a special effect. Therefore, the effect of the effect is weakened as a whole, which is insufficient as an entertainment for the player. In particular, during the execution of the variation shortening game in which the variation time of the effect symbol is shortened as compared with the normal game, the scroll variation is completed in a short time unless a special effect such as a reach effect is performed, so there is almost no effect of the effect. For this reason, there is still room for improvement in order to impress the player with a strong effect and to enhance the interest.

  The main purpose of the gaming machine of the present invention is to further enhance interest through special display effects.

The gaming machine of the present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.
That is, the gaming machine of the present invention is
A random number acquisition means for determination for acquiring a random number for determination based on the game ball entering the start opening;
A determination means for performing a hit / fail determination using the determination random number acquired by the determination random number acquisition means;
When the determination result by the determination means is obtained, the display of the variation of the determination symbol is started, the variation display is terminated when a predetermined variation time elapses, and the determination symbol is determined in a display mode indicating the determination result by the determination unit. Judgment symbol display means for displaying;
Effect symbol display means for starting the variation display of the effect symbol at the start of the variation display of the judgment symbol, ending the variation display of the effect symbol at the end of the variation display of the determination symbol, and confirming and displaying the effect symbol When,
A gaming state setting means for setting the shortened variation gaming state in which the variation time is shorter than the normal gaming state;
With
The effect symbol display means includes:
When the gaming state is set to the normal gaming state, after the variation display of the effect symbol is started in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol, the effect symbol is scrolled, and the scroll variation is followed by the scroll variation. In accordance with the end of the variation display of the judgment symbol, the variation display of the production symbol is terminated, and a normal display effect is performed to confirm and display the production symbol.
When the gaming state is set to the shortened variation gaming state, after the variation display of the effect symbol is started in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol, the variation of the determination symbol is not performed without scrolling the effect symbol. In accordance with the end of the variation display, the variation display of the effect design is terminated, and a special display effect for confirming and displaying the effect design is performed.
The auxiliary symbol indicating whether or not the variable member attached to the start port is in an open state can be variably displayed, and is configured not to have an effect symbol corresponding to the auxiliary symbol ,
The stage design is a combination of a plurality of designs and suggests the determination result of the hit / out,
When executing the special display effect , the gist is to start all the multiple symbols all at once and start the variable display, and then stop all the multiple symbols all at once to end the variable display. .

The gaming machine of the reference invention disclosed by reference in this specification is:
A gaming machine that plays a game with a game ball,
Random number acquisition means for determination that acquires a random number for determination triggered by a game ball entering the starting port,
Random number storage means for storing the determination random number acquired by the determination random number acquisition means;
Determination means for performing a hit / fail determination using a determination random number stored in the random number storage means;
In response to the result of the determination by the determination means, the display of the variation of the determination symbol is started. Judgment symbol display means for displaying;
The variation display of the effect symbol is started in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol, the variation display of the effect symbol is terminated in accordance with the end of the variation display of the determination symbol, and the result of determination by the determination means is shown. Effect symbol display means for confirming and displaying the effect symbol in a display mode;
A gaming state setting means for setting the shortened variation gaming state in which the variation time is shorter than the normal gaming state;
With
When the game condition is set to the shortened variation game state and the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the effect symbol display means changes the effect symbol in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol. A normal display effect is performed in which the effect symbol is fixedly displayed in accordance with the end of the variation display of the determination symbol after starting the display and temporarily stopping the effect symbol. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the determination symbol is displayed. Starting from the temporary stop while maintaining the effect symbol that was previously displayed and displayed in accordance with the start of the variable display, and after the temporary stop is ended and the effect symbol is determined and displayed in accordance with the end of the variable display of the judgment symbol The gist is that it is a means for performing special display effects.

  In the gaming machine of this reference invention, in a situation where the gaming state is set to the shortened variation gaming state, if the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the variation display of the effect symbol is displayed in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol. Starts a temporary display of the design symbol, performs a normal display effect that finalizes the display of the design symbol at the end of the variation display of the judgment symbol, and when the predetermined condition is met, matches the start of the variation display of the judgment symbol Then, a special display effect is performed in which the effect symbol that has been confirmed and displayed last time is maintained and the temporary stop is started, and the temporary stop is terminated and the effect symbol is confirmed and displayed at the end of the variation display of the determination symbol. In other words, in the special display effect, since the variation display of the effect symbol by the normal display effect is omitted, it is possible to give the player an impression that the effect symbol is stagnating while the game is progressing. As a result, it is possible to further enhance the interest by the production due to the stagnation of the production symbols. Here, the “temporary stop” is only required to be distinguished from the confirmed display in a strict sense. For example, the design is stopped at a position where the symbol is swaying or the position where the symbol is shifted from the stop position at the fixed display. In other words, the pattern is completely stopped, but the pattern size, shape, and color are different from those in the final display.

  In the gaming machine of such a reference invention, a lottery means for performing a lottery for determining whether or not to perform the special display effect is provided, and the predetermined condition is a condition including winning a lottery by the lottery means It can also be. In this way, a special display effect can be performed at an appropriate frequency.

  In the gaming machine of the reference invention, the game machine according to the present invention further includes a pre-determination unit that determines whether or not the value of the random number for determination stored in the random number storage unit is a predetermined specific value. It may be a condition including that a determination result that the value of the determination random number is the specific value is obtained by the pre-determination unit. In this way, a special display effect can be performed in accordance with the determination of a hit / miss.

  Furthermore, in the gaming machine of the reference invention, the random number storage means is means capable of storing a plurality of determination random numbers as a hold, and the predetermined condition is that a plurality of determination random numbers are held in the random number storage means. The effect symbol display means may be means for continuously executing the special display effect within the reserved range when the predetermined condition is satisfied. In the gaming machine according to the reference invention of this aspect, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the effect symbol display means informs the number of determination random numbers to be held, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied. It may be a means for temporarily stopping notification of the number of pending random numbers for determination. By doing so, the player cannot confirm whether or not the hold is digested by the special display effect from the notification result of the number of holds, so that the effect of the special display effect can be further enhanced.

  In addition, in the gaming machine of the reference invention, the effect symbol display means performs the normal display effect in accordance with the variation display of the determination symbol when the determination means makes a determination after the special display effect. It is also possible to perform a special effect display during the change display of the effect symbol by the normal display effect. In this way, since the special effect display can be continued after the special display effect, the effect of the effect can be strongly impressed to the player.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to further enhance interest by special display effects.

1 is an external perspective view showing an external appearance of a pachinko machine 10 that is one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the game board 30 of the pachinko machine 10 of an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit of the pachinko machine 10 of an Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the symbol display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display mode of the normal symbol display apparatus 41. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display mode of the special symbol display apparatus 42 at the time of big hit. FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen configuration of the effect display device 34. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the fluctuation display of the effect symbol of the effect display apparatus 34, a temporary stop, and a fixed display. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a sub-control board 90. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a main control process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol game process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol game process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table for jackpot determination. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a symbol variation start process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the variation pattern table for jackpots at the time of low probability mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the variation pattern table for jackpots at the time of high probability mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table for jackpot symbol determination. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the fluctuation pattern table for deviation | shift in the low probability mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the fluctuation pattern table for deviation | shift in the high probability mode. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a big hit game process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a big hit game end process executed by a CPU 70a of the main control board 70. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an effect control process executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process at the time of occurrence of holding executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the symbol fluctuation effect process performed by CPU90a of the sub-control board 90. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a normal variation mode symbol variation effect process executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a symbol variation effect process in a shortened variation mode executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a normal variation effect execution process executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of special variation effect execution processing executed by a CPU 90a of a sub control board 90. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the fluctuation | variation of the production | presentation symbol containing a special fluctuation production. It is a flowchart which shows the design variation effect process at the time of the shortening variation mode of a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the normal fluctuation effect execution process of a modification.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. In the following, an example in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine of a type (so-called seven machine type) in which a jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed in response to the end of the special symbol variation display, and the jackpot game is triggered by this will be described. To do. In the following description, a game ball entering (accepting) a variety of winning holes provided on the game board may be referred to as “winning” or “entering”. Of these, “winning” means that a game ball enters the winning entrance, which is the premise for paying out the winning ball. In terms of indicating that a gaming ball enters (accepts) the winning entrance, Substantially synonymous with “sphere”.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the appearance of a pachinko machine 10 (game machine) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the outline of the configuration of a game board 30 of the pachinko machine 10. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the control circuit of the pachinko machine 10.

[Overall configuration of pachinko machine 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 of the embodiment has a game board 30 (see FIG. 2) in which the board surface is arranged so as to be visible through a glass plate 12 (transparent plate) fitted in the front frame 11, An upper tray 14 and a lower tray 16 that store game balls, and a launching handle 18 for launching the game balls stored in the upper tray 14 to the game board 30 are provided.

  The front frame 11 is fitted into the main body frame 21 and can be rotated with respect to the main body frame 21 with the left side as a rotation axis. The main body frame 21 is fitted into the outer frame 22 so that it can be rotated with respect to the outer frame 22 with the left side as a rotation axis. The front frame 11 and the main body frame 21 are configured as a substantially rectangular plastic frame. The outer frame 22 is configured as a substantially rectangular wooden frame, and is fixed to the island frame of the island facility of the pachinko hall.

  Speakers 28a and 28b are provided on the upper left and upper right of the front frame 11 for making various sound effects and notifying the player of the game state as the game progresses. The part is provided with a locking device 29 for locking the front frame 11 to the main body frame 21. In addition, a prepaid card type ball lending device (CR unit) (not shown) is provided on the left side of the front frame 11.

  The upper tray 14 is inserted into the CR unit on the upper surface portion thereof, and a ball lending button 24a for instructing lending of game balls within the range of the value balance (valuable balance) of the card inserted into the CR unit. A return button 24b for instructing the return of the card is provided.

  The launch handle 18 is provided at the lower right portion of the front frame 11, and includes a touch sensor 18a (see FIG. 3) that detects that the player is touching the handle and a launch stop that temporarily stops launch of the game ball. A switch 18b (see FIG. 3) is provided. A launching device (not shown) for launching game balls stored in the upper tray 14 one by one is connected to the rotation shaft of the launching handle 18, and the launching device is provided when the launching handle 18 is rotated. The firing motor 19 (see FIG. 3) rotates, and accordingly, a game ball is launched with a striking force having a strength corresponding to the operation amount of the firing handle 18.

[Composition of game board 30]
As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 30 has a game area 31 surrounded by an outer rail 31a and an inner rail 31b. This game board 30 is arranged at the left part of the game area 31 and has a normal symbol operation gate 32 having a gate switch 32a (see FIG. 3) for detecting the passage of a game ball, and a pattern arranged at the lower right part of the game area 31. Display device 40, effect display device 34 disposed in the center of game area 31, center accessory 50 disposed so as to surround the outer frame of effect display device 34, and disposed below center accessory 50 The start opening 36 having a start opening switch 36a (see FIG. 3) for detecting a winning of a game ball, a tulip-type ordinary electric accessory 38 attached to the start opening 36, and a lower part of the start opening 36. A total of four general winning holes 45 having a large winning opening 44 that can be opened and closed and a general winning opening switch 45a (see FIG. 3) that is disposed at the lower left and right of the game area 31 and that detects the winning of a game ball. Includes an out port 46 for collecting the game balls that did not enter in winning hole, the. In addition, the game board 30 is provided with a windmill 48 below the normal symbol operating gate 32, and a number of nails (not shown) for guiding and playing game balls around the above-described winning holes. Is provided.

  The ordinary electric accessory 38 includes wing piece portions 38a and 38b provided at the start port 36, and an ordinary electric accessory solenoid 39 (see FIG. 3) for operating the wing piece portions 38a and 38b. As shown in FIG. 2, the ordinary electric accessory 39 is in a normal state where the possibility of winning a game ball to the start port 38 is relatively low when the wing pieces 38a, 38b are upright (dotted line in the figure). When the wing piece portions 38a and 38b are opened to the left and right, the game ball is likely to win the starting port 36 in an open state (indicated by a solid line in the figure).

  The special winning opening 44 is normally in a closed state that does not accept a game ball, and in a big hit game (special game), the special winning opening solenoid 44a (see FIG. 3) is in an open state in which it is easy to accept the game ball. It is driven as follows. A large winning opening switch 44b (see FIG. 3) for detecting the winning of a game ball and counting the number of winning is attached to the large winning opening 44. In the present embodiment, as a process for the big hit game, one round is a time until a predetermined time (for example, 25 seconds) elapses before the big winning opening switch 44b counts 10 winning game balls or counts 10 game balls. The winning opening 44 is opened, and the opening operation of the large winning opening 44 is repeated until the prescribed round. In addition, between each round, the special winning opening 44 is closed for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds).

  As illustrated in the configuration diagram of FIG. 4, the symbol display device 40 includes a normal symbol display device 41 that can display and stop displaying a normal symbol, and a special symbol display device that can display and stop displaying a special symbol. 42. The normal symbol display device 41 includes a left normal symbol display unit 41a and a right normal symbol display unit 41b configured using light emitting diodes (LEDs). In FIG. 5, an example of the display mode of the normal symbol display device 41 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the normal symbol display device 41 has a display mode in which both the left normal symbol display unit 41a and the right normal symbol display unit 41b are turned off (see the first row from the top in FIG. 5), and the left normal symbol display unit 41b. A display mode in which the display unit 41a is turned on and the right normal symbol display unit 41b is turned off (see the second row from the top in FIG. 5), and a display mode in which the left normal symbol display unit 41a is turned off and the right normal symbol display unit 41b is turned on. (Refer to the third row from the top in FIG. 5) and four display modes in which both the left normal symbol display portion 41a and the right normal symbol display portion 41b are lit (see the fourth row from the top in FIG. 5). There is. When the normal symbol display device 41 detects that the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 32, the normal symbol display device 41 performs variable display by sequentially switching the four display modes. The display is stopped in one of the display modes. At this time, when the stop-displayed display mode is a specific display mode (for example, the display mode shown in the fourth row from the top in FIG. 5), the ordinary electric accessory 39 is held for a certain time (for example, 0. 0). For 5 seconds). When the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 32 during the normal symbol fluctuation display, the normal symbol fluctuation display is held up to four times, and when the current fluctuation display ends, it is held. The variable display is digested sequentially. The number of hold of the normal symbol variation display is displayed by the hold symbol 35b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the special symbol display device 42 includes a special symbol display unit 42 a and a round display unit 42 b configured by using a seven-segment display, and a combination of lighting and extinction of each segment. A plurality of display modes (up to 128) are expressed. The special symbol display device 42 performs variable display by sequentially switching the display state when a winning of the start port 36 is detected, and when the execution time of the variable display has elapsed, any of the display modes that can be expressed The display is stopped in the display mode. At this time, when the stop-displayed display mode is a specific display mode, the big winning opening 44 is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 25 seconds) as a big hit. In FIG. 6, an example of the display mode of the special symbol display device 42 at the time of big hit is shown. As shown in the figure, the first normal big hit is a display mode in which the upper right, lower right, and lower left vertical bar segments in the special symbol display section 42a are lit (see the first row from the top in FIG. 6). The first probability variation jackpot is a display mode in which the upper horizontal bar segment and the lower right and lower left vertical bar segments in the first special symbol display section 42a are lit (see the second line from the top in FIG. 6). The second probability variation big hit is a display mode in which the upper horizontal bar segment and the lower right vertical bar segment in the first special symbol display section 42a are lit (see the third line from the top in FIG. 6). In addition, the display mode at the time of big hit is not limited to the above mode, and may be displayed in any manner, and the type of display mode at each big hit is not limited to one type, and a plurality of types are prepared. Also good. When the game ball wins the start opening 36 during the special symbol fluctuation display, the special symbol fluctuation display is held up to four times, and when the current fluctuation display is finished, the held fluctuation display is sequentially displayed. Digested. The number of hold of the special symbol variable display is displayed by the hold symbol 35a.

  Here, in the first normal jackpot, a jackpot game in which the opening operation of the big winning opening 44 is repeated over a predetermined number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) is performed, and a predetermined number of times (for example, after the jackpot game ends) , 100 times) until the special symbol variation display is performed, the variation time of the special symbol and the normal symbol is shortened, and when the normal symbol is stopped and displayed, the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 39 is extended. It is a big hit mode that becomes a state (so-called short-time state). In addition, after the big hit game related to the first normal big hit, the low probability state (also referred to as a low probability mode) where the probability of the big hit determination result is a big hit is low. As in the first normal jackpot, the first winning jackpot game is a jackpot game in which the opening operation of the jackpot 44 is repeated for a predetermined number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds), and after the jackpot game ends. This is a big hit mode in which a probability change state (also referred to as a high probability mode) in which the probability of the big hit determination is higher than that in the low probability mode becomes a time-short state until the big hit is drawn. In addition, in the second probability variation jackpot, a jackpot game in which the opening of the big winning opening 44 is repeated over a smaller number of rounds (for example, two rounds) than the first normal jackpot is performed, and after the jackpot game is over This is a big hit mode in which a probabilistic state and a short time state are obtained until the next big hit is drawn. In this embodiment, at the start of the big hit game, a round display unit 42b for displaying a symbol indicating the maximum number of rounds of the big hit game is provided in a part of the symbol display device 40 (see FIG. 4). This round display part 42b is comprised using a 7 segment display similarly to the special symbol display part 42a. The display mode of the round display section 42b includes a display mode in which the upper and middle horizontal bar segments and the upper left and lower left vertical bar segments are lit (lighted in the form of the letter “F”), and the upper, middle and lower columns. There is a display mode in which the horizontal bar segment and the vertical bar segment in the upper right and lower left are lit (lighted in the form of the arithmetic numeral “2”), and the former display mode is “first normal jackpot” and “first Corresponding to the display of the number of rounds of the jackpot game triggered by “the probability variation jackpot”, the latter display mode corresponds to the display of the number of rounds of the jackpot game triggered by the “second probability variation jackpot”.

  The effect display device 34 is configured as a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and various effect displays such as a change display of effect symbols, a reach effect, and a notice effect are performed on the display screen. As shown in the screen configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, the effect display device 34 of the present embodiment has three effect symbols (pseudo special symbols) that are arranged side by side and are composed of characters and numbers. ) 34L, 34M, 34R and a background symbol (not shown). The effect display device 34 variably displays the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R when the game ball wins the start opening 36. FIG. 8 shows an example of the effect symbol variation display, temporary stop, and confirmation display of the effect display device 34. When the variation display is started, the effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are scroll-changed so as to scroll at a high speed from the top to the bottom, and when the execution time of the scroll change elapses, the effect symbol 34L on the left is temporarily After that, the right effect symbol 34R is temporarily stopped, and finally, the middle effect symbol 34M is temporarily stopped. Then, when the production effect 34M in the middle temporarily stops and the temporary stop time elapses, a finalized display in which the three production symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are completely stopped is obtained. Here, during the temporary stop, in the embodiment, the effect symbol is displayed so as to sway in the direction of scroll fluctuation (vertical direction). In the temporary stop state, the effect symbol has not yet been determined, so it may be fixed and displayed as it is, but it may change again and be displayed with a different effect symbol. When the effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are stopped and displayed, if the left effect symbol 34L and the right effect symbol 34R do not coincide with each other, it becomes a simple detachment without reach (see FIG. 8A). When the effect design 34L matches the effect design 34R on the right, reach is reached. When the middle production symbol 34M stops with a predetermined reach production and the middle production symbol 34M and the left and right production symbols 34L and 34R do not match, it is determined that the reach is off (FIG. 8 (b). )), A big hit is obtained when the middle production symbol 34M and the right and left production symbols 34L and 34R coincide (see FIG. 8C). The result of success or failure of the effect symbol displayed on the effect display device 34 basically matches the result of success or failure of the special symbol displayed by the special symbol display device 42 described above.

  In the present embodiment, the effect display device 34 also displays a reserved symbol 35a for special symbols and a reserved symbol 35b for ordinary symbols in the display screen. The reserved symbols 35a are displayed one by one in order from the left whenever a game ball is won at the starting port 36 during the variation display of the special symbol, and the reverse of the start winning a prize every time the variation display of the special symbol is started. It is erased in order. The reserved symbols 35b are also displayed one by one from the left each time the game ball passes through the normal symbol operating gate 32 during the normal symbol variation display, and each time the normal symbol variation display starts, Erase in reverse order.

[Configuration of control circuit]
Next, the configuration of the control circuit of the pachinko machine 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference mainly to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit of the pachinko machine 10 includes a main control board 70 that controls the basic progress of the game, a payout control board 80 that controls the payout of prize balls and ball rentals, The control board includes a sub-control board 90 that controls the overall control of various effects performed along with the progress, and a control board such as a launch control board 100 that controls the game ball. These control boards include a CPU that executes various logical operations and calculation operations, a ROM that stores various programs and data executed by the CPU, a RAM that temporarily stores data when the programs are executed, peripheral devices, Peripheral device interface (PIO) for exchanging data between them, an oscillator that outputs a clock for the CPU to perform operations, a watchdog timer for monitoring CPU runaway, and a CTC (counter that periodically generates interrupt signals) Various peripheral LSIs such as a timer circuit are connected to each other by a bus. In FIG. 3, only the CPU 70 a, ROM 70 b, and RAM 70 c of the main control board 70 among the various devices mounted on each control board are shown, and the other parts are not shown. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the sub-control board 90 that forms part of the control circuit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main control board 70 receives a winning signal from the start port switch 36 as a signal necessary for controlling the basic progress of the game, and from the gate switch 32a. Pass signals, winning signals from the big winning opening switch 44b and the general winning opening switch 45a, and the like are input via the relay terminal board 72. From the main control board 70, a relay terminal board receives a control signal to the symbol display board 40a for controlling the display of the symbol display device 40, a drive signal to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 39, a drive signal to the special prize opening solenoid 44a, etc. 72 is output. The main control board 70 communicates with the payout control board 80, the sub control board 90, and the launch control board 100 (communication via the payout control board 80), and various command signals (commands, drive signals, etc.) and data. We are exchanging.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the payout control board 80 directly receives a detection signal from a frame opening switch 81 for detecting the opening of the front frame 11 as a signal necessary for performing control related to payout of award balls and ball rentals. The operation signals from the ball lending button 24a and the return button 24b are input via the ball lending display board 82 and the relay terminal board 83, and are received from the pre-payout switch 84 and the post-payout switch 85 for detecting the payout of the prize ball. A detection signal is input via the relay terminal board 87. From the payout control board 80, a drive signal to the payout motor 86 for paying out the prize balls is output via the relay terminal plate 87. The payout control board 80 communicates with the main control board 70 and the launch control board 100, and exchanges various command signals and data.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sub control board 90 includes a CPU 90a, a ROM 90b, a RAM 90c, and the like, receives various command signals from the main control board 70, and produces a game according to the commands. The sub control board 90 drives an effect display control board 91 that controls the effect display device 34, an amplifier board 92 that drives the various speakers 28a and 28b, various LED lamps 93a, and operates a movable decorative member. A decoration drive board 93 for driving the decoration motor 93b, an effect button board 94 for inputting an operation signal from the effect button 26, and the like are connected.

  The firing control board 100 detects a detection signal from the touch sensor 18a, an operation signal from the firing stop switch 18b, a detection signal from the lower tray full switch 102 that detects that the game ball is full in the lower tray 16 and the like. And a pulse signal for driving is output to the firing motor 19. The launch control board 100 drives the launch motor 19 to launch a game ball when the launch handle 18 is rotated, the touch sensor 18a is on, the launch stop switch 18b is off, and the lower tray full switch 102 is off. When either the touch sensor 18a is turned off, the firing stop switch 18b is turned on, or the lower tray full tank switch 102 is turned on, the driving of the firing motor 19 is stopped and the launch of the game ball is stopped. Further, the launch control board 100 communicates with the main control board 70 via the payout control board 80, and data regarding the operation state of the launch handle 18 such as a detection signal from the touch sensor 18 a is sent via the payout control board 80. It is transmitted to the main control board 70.

[Main control processing]
Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment thus configured will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a main control process executed by the CPU 70a of the main control board 70. This process is executed when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is turned on. The main control process executes a power-on process necessary for power-on such as an initialization process (step S100), a game start process (step S110), a normal symbol game process (step S120), and a game per normal symbol This is performed by repeatedly executing the process (step S130), the special symbol game process (step S140), and the big hit game process (step S150). In the present embodiment, the time required for the processes of steps S110 to S150 is about 4 msec, and therefore these processes are repeatedly executed at intervals of about 4 msec. The main control board 70 advances the entire game of the pachinko machine 10 by transmitting various commands to the control board in charge and executing the processes according to the commands in accordance with the execution of these processes.

[Game start processing]
In the game start process of step S110, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 first detects the state of various sensors (the gate switch 32a, the start port switch 36a, the big winning port switch 44b, the general winning port switch 45b, etc.) and the RAM 70c. Are stored in a predetermined state storage area, and various random numbers (such as a jackpot determination random number, a jackpot symbol determination random number, a reach random number, a variation pattern determination random number, which will be described later) are updated. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a switch relating to winning of a game ball (such as a start port switch 36a, a large winning port switch 44b, a general winning port switch 45a, etc.) is detected. The number of prize balls is calculated and saved as prize ball information in a predetermined prize ball information storage area of the RAM 70c. When the prize ball information is not 0, a prize ball number designation command (prize ball information) is transmitted to the payout control board 80. To finish the game start process. When the payout control board 80 receives the award ball number designation command, the payout motor 86 is driven to pay out the game balls one by one, and the game balls paid out by the pre-payout switch 84 and the post-payout switch 85 are detected. Each time a prize ball payout process is performed to decrement the prize ball information (the number of unpaid game balls) by one value. This award ball payout process is repeatedly executed until the award ball information reaches a value of 0, but when a winning game ball is detected and a new award ball number designation command is received from the main control board 70, the award ball information is received. The process is repeated until the value becomes zero. When the game start process ends, the process returns to the main control process and proceeds to the normal symbol game process of the next step S120.

[Normal design game processing]
In the normal symbol game process of step S120, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 first determines whether or not the normal symbol hold is not the value 0, that is, whether the value is 1 or more. Decrement the number by 1 to determine whether or not the normal symbol is appropriate, and determine the normal symbol to be stopped and displayed based on the result of the determination. That is, when the result of the determination is correct, the winning symbol (see the fourth row from the top in FIG. 5) is determined to be stopped and displayed, and when the result of the determination is out of the way, the symbol (from the top in FIG. 5) is determined. 1 to 3) is determined as a symbol to be stopped and displayed. Then, the normal symbol fluctuation display time is set to start the normal symbol fluctuation display, and waits until the fluctuation display time elapses. The variable display time is set to a long time (for example, 30 seconds) when not in the short time state, and is shortened to a short time (for example, 1 second) when in the short time state. When the variable display time elapses, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed with the determined symbol, and when the stopped and displayed symbol is the winning symbol, the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 38 is set, and the ordinary electric accessory 38 is opened. The normal symbol game process is temporarily terminated, and when the stopped and displayed symbol is out of the symbol, the normal symbol game process is terminated without doing anything. The opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 38 is set to a short time (for example, 0.5 seconds) when not in the short time state, and is extended to a long time (for example, 5 seconds) when in the short time state. Further, as described above, the ordinary electric accessory 38 is opened by controlling the drive of the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 39 to open the pair of blade pieces 38a and 38b to the left and right. When the normal symbol game process ends, the process returns to the main control process and proceeds to the next normal symbol game process in step S130.

[Game processing per normal symbol]
In the normal symbol game process in step S130, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 sets the elapsed time (open elapsed time) from the start of the normal electric accessory 38 to the set time set in the normal symbol game process. It is determined whether or not a predetermined number (e.g., 8) of game balls has won the start opening 36. If it is determined that the elapsed time has not reached the set time and a specified number of game balls have not won the start opening 36, the game processing per normal symbol is temporarily performed while the normal electric accessory 38 is kept open. finish. On the other hand, if it is determined that the elapsed elapsed time has reached the set time, or if it is determined that a prescribed number of game balls have already won the start opening 36 even before the elapsed elapsed time has reached the set time. Then, the driving of the ordinary electric accessory 38 is stopped, and the game process per ordinary symbol is finished. When the normal symbol per game process is completed, the process returns to the main control process and proceeds to the special symbol game process of the next step S140.

[Special design game processing]
The special symbol game process of step S140 is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 (first half part) and FIG. 12 (second half part). When the special symbol game process of FIGS. 11 and 12 is executed, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 first inputs a detection signal from the start port switch 36a to determine whether or not a game ball has won the start port 36. Is determined (step S200). If it is determined that the game ball has won the start opening 36, it is determined whether or not the current number of holds is less than the upper limit value (value 4 in this embodiment) (step S202). When it is determined that the current number of holds is smaller than the upper limit value, the number of holds is incremented by 1 (step S204), and a determination random number is acquired and stored in a predetermined determination random number storage area of the RAM 70c ( In step S206), a start winning command is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 (step S208). Here, as the determination random number acquired in step S206, the big hit determination random number used in the big hit determination performed by winning the game ball to the start port 36, or special when the big hit determination result is the big hit Whether or not to perform reach display when effect symbols are displayed in a variable manner on the display screen of the effect display device 34 when the result of the jackpot determination is wrong and the result of the jackpot determination is out of order for determining the jackpot symbol to be stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 42 A random number for reach to determine whether or not. The start winning command includes a command indicating the stored determination random number and a command indicating the number of holds. These commands may be transmitted as individual commands in addition to those transmitted as a common start winning command. If it is determined in step S200 that no game ball has been won in the starting port 36, or if it is determined in step S202 that the number of holds has reached the upper limit value, the processing in steps S204 to S208 is skipped and the next step is skipped. Proceed to the process.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a big hit game is being played (step S210), whether or not a special symbol variation is being displayed (step S212), whether or not it is during a stop display time (step S214), and the number of holds is 0. Whether or not (step S216). If it is determined that a big hit game is being played, the special symbol game process is terminated, and the process returns to the main control process to proceed to the next big hit game process in step S150. On the other hand, if it is determined that the game is not a big hit game, the special symbol variation display is not being performed, the stop display time is not being displayed, and the number of holds is not 0, the number of holds is decremented by 1 (step S218). The oldest determination random number (big hit determination random number) among the determination random numbers stored in the storage area is read (step S220). Then, the jackpot determination is performed using the jackpot determination table and the read jackpot determination random number (step S222), the symbol variation start process is executed (step S224), and the special symbol game process is temporarily terminated. Here, in the jackpot determination table, a jackpot determination table for the low probability mode illustrated in FIG. 13A and a jackpot determination table for the high probability mode illustrated in FIG. 13B are prepared. When the current gaming state is the normal mode (low probability mode), the jackpot determination is performed using the table for the low probability mode, and when the current gaming state is the probability variation mode (high probability mode), the table for the high probability mode. A big hit judgment is performed using. In the jackpot determination table for the low probability mode, the jackpot determination table for the high probability mode is set as a jackpot when the random number for determining the jackpot value is 60 or 61 out of the values 0 to 796 (a jackpot probability of 1 / 398.5). Then, when the random number for hit determination is a value 60 to 79 out of the values 0 to 796, it is assumed that it is a big hit (a jackpot probability of 1 / 39.85). Details of the symbol variation start process illustrated in FIG. 14 will be described below.

In the symbol variation start process of FIG. 14, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 determines in which state the current gaming state is, that is, a gaming state that is in the low probability mode and not in the short time state (low probability non-short time state). It is determined whether the game state is in a low probability mode and in a short time state (low probability short time state) or in a high probability mode (high probability state) (step S300). This determination can be made by examining the value of a probability variation flag or a variation shortening flag, which will be described later. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the result of the big hit determination is a big hit (step S302). If the big hit is determined, a big hit variation pattern table is set (step S304). Here, the variation pattern table for jackpot is associated with a variation pattern determining random number, a variation pattern, and a variation time, and is set for each gaming state in accordance with the gaming state determined in step S300. FIG. 15 shows an example of the jackpot variation pattern table in the low probability mode, and FIG. 16 shows an example of the jackpot variation pattern table in the high probability mode. 15 and 16 show a table storing a small number of patterns for the sake of convenience, but actually a table storing a larger number of patterns (for example, 20 or more types of patterns) is used. As shown in the figure, when the low probability non-short-time state is in the low-probability non-time short-time big hit variation pattern table shown in FIG. 15A, the low-probability short-time fluctuation pattern table shown in FIG. 15B is set. Set the fluctuation pattern table for hourly and big hits. Further, when in the high probability state, the high probability big hit variation pattern table shown in FIG. 16 is set.

  When the jackpot variation pattern table is set, a variation pattern determining random number is acquired (step S306), the jackpot symbol determining random number is read (step S308), the set jackpot variation pattern table, the acquired variation pattern determining random number, Is used to set the big hit symbol variation pattern, and the big hit symbol to be stopped and displayed is set using the read big hit symbol determining random number (step S310). FIG. 17 shows an example of the jackpot symbol determination table. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, when the random number for determining the big hit symbol is 0 to 101, the stop symbol in the upper stage of FIG. 6) When the big hit symbol determination random number is between 102 and 203, the middle stop symbol in FIG. 6 is selected and becomes the “first probability variable big hit” (about 40% big hit distribution probability) ). In addition, when the big hit symbol determining random number is a value 204 to a value 255, the stop symbol in the lower part of FIG. 6 is selected and becomes the “second probability variation big hit” (approximately 20% big hit distribution probability).

  If it is determined in step S302 that the result of the big hit determination is not a big hit, it is further determined whether or not reach display is performed using a random number for reach (step S312). A table is set (step S314), and when no reach display is performed, a non-reach variation pattern table is set (step S316). Here, the variation pattern table for losing (including the presence or absence of reach) is associated with the variation pattern determination random number, the variation pattern, and the variation time in the same manner as the big hit variation pattern table, and is determined in step S300. It is set for each gaming state according to the gaming state, and is further set for each special symbol hold number when the gaming state is not in the short-time state. FIG. 18 shows an example of a deviation variation pattern table for the low probability mode, and FIG. 19 shows an example of a deviation variation pattern table for the high probability mode. 18 and 19 collectively show the unreachable variation pattern table and the unreachable variation pattern table. 18 and 19 show a table storing a small number of patterns for the sake of convenience, but actually a table storing a larger number of patterns (for example, 20 or more types of patterns) is used. As shown in the figure, the deviation variation pattern table is set when the low-probability non-short-time state is set, as shown in FIG. 18 (a). a) The upper stage low fluctuation pattern table for low probability non-reach without reach is set, and when there is a reach, the lower stage low probability non-time short reach reach fluctuation pattern table is set in FIG. When in the short-time state, the low-probability short-time deviation variation pattern table shown in FIG. 18B is set (if there is no reach, the low-probability short-time deviation fluctuation pattern table in FIG. In the case of the reach, the low probability short-time reach / displacement variation pattern table in the lower part of FIG. 18B is set. In addition, when there is a high probability state, the fluctuation pattern table for outbreak at high probability shown in FIG. 19 is set (in the case of no reach, the fluctuation pattern table for outbreak at high probability in FIG. 19 is set (a variation pattern table for detachment with high probability in the lower part of FIG. 19).

  When the deviation variation pattern table is set, a variation pattern determination random number is acquired (step S318), and the deviation symbol variation pattern is set and removed using the set variation pattern determination random number and the acquired variation pattern determination random number. A symbol is set (step S320). Although the detailed explanation is omitted, for example, the winning symbol can be set using a jackpot symbol determining random number and a not-showing symbol determining table. Of course, if a losing symbol determining random number is acquired separately from the jackpot symbol determining random number, it can be set using the losing symbol determining random number and the losing symbol determining table.

  When the big hit symbol variation pattern and the big hit symbol or the out symbol design variation pattern and the out symbol design are set, the special symbol variation display is started (step S322), and the symbol variation start command is transmitted to the sub control board 90 (step S322). S324), the symbol variation start process is terminated. Here, the symbol variation start command includes a big hit symbol variation pattern, a variation time in the pattern (variation pattern designation command) and a big hit stop symbol (special symbol stop information designation command) in the case of a big hit, The out symbol change pattern, the change time in the pattern (variation pattern designation command) and the out stop symbol (special symbol stop information designation command) are included. Receiving the symbol variation start command, the sub-control board 90 analyzes the command, determines the effect content to be performed on the screen of the effect display device 34, and controls the effect display device 34.

  Returning to the special symbol game process of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, after the special symbol variation display is started, when the special symbol game processing is executed next, it is determined in step S212 that the special symbol is being varied. Therefore, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 determines whether or not the variable display time (variable time) has elapsed (step S226). Since the fluctuation display time is determined according to the fluctuation pattern when the fluctuation pattern of the special symbol is determined, whether or not the fluctuation display time has passed is determined by the elapsed time from the start of the fluctuation display of the special symbol. This can be done by comparing the determined variable display time. If it is determined that the variable display time has not elapsed, the special symbol game process is temporarily terminated. If it is determined that the variation display time has elapsed, the variation of the special symbol is stopped (step S228), and a symbol stop command is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 (step S230). The sub control board 90 that has received the symbol stop command transfers the symbol stop command to the effect display control board 91. Then, a stop display time is set (step S232), and it is determined whether or not the stop display time has elapsed (step S234). Here, the stop display time is an interval from when the special symbol variation display is stopped until the next variation display is started, and is set to 0.6 seconds, for example. If it is determined that the stop display time has not elapsed, the special symbol game process is temporarily terminated. When the special symbol is stopped and displayed, it is determined in step S214 that the stop display time is in effect. Therefore, in step S234, it is determined again whether or not the stop display time has elapsed, and it is determined that the stop display time has elapsed. Then, it is determined whether or not the special symbol that is stopped and displayed is a big hit symbol (step S236).

  If it is determined in step S236 that the game is a big hit symbol, the big hit game flag is turned on (step S238), and a big hit game start designation command is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 (step S240). Thereby, the big hit game is started by the big hit game processing described later. In addition, during the big hit game, in order to temporarily stop the probability variation function, the time shortening function, and the release extension function, the probability variation flag is turned off when the probability variation flag is on (steps S242 and S244), and the variation shortening is performed when the variation shortening flag is on. The flag is turned off and the release extension flag is turned off (steps S246 to S250), the special symbol game process is terminated, and the process returns to the main control process and proceeds to the next step S150 jackpot game process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S236 that the symbol is not a big hit symbol, it is determined whether or not the variation shortening flag is on (step S252). If the variation shortening flag is not on, the special symbol game process is temporarily terminated. When the variation shortening flag is on, the variation shortening counter is decremented by 1 (step S254), and it is determined whether or not the variation shortening counter is 0 (step S256). Here, the fluctuation shortening counter indicates the upper limit value of the number of fluctuations of the special symbol that maintains the short time (ordinary symbol fluctuation shortening) state, and a value corresponding to the big hit mode is set after the big hit. When the fluctuation shortening counter is not 0, the special symbol game process is temporarily terminated while maintaining the time shortening state. When the fluctuation shortening counter is 0, the variation shortening flag is turned off in order to terminate the time shortening state ( In step S258, the release extension flag is turned off (step S260), and a gaming state designation command indicating that the gaming state has been changed from the short-time state to the non-short-time state is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 (step S262). The symbol game process is temporarily terminated. Note that the gaming state designation command includes a variation shortening flag and an opening extension flag indicating the current gaming state of the pachinko machine 10. The sub control board 90 that has received the gaming state designation command outputs a control signal to the effect display control board 91 to change the background screen of the effect display device 34 from the background for the time reduction to the background for the non-time reduction, for example. Process. The determination in step S254 is executed regardless of whether the mode is the normal mode or the probability variation mode. However, in the first probability variation big hit and the second probability variation big hit, 10,000 times are set in the fluctuation shortening counter after the big hit. Therefore, in the case of these probable big hits, the fluctuation shortening counter cannot normally have a value of 0, and the time saving state does not end until the next big hit is drawn.

[Big hit game processing]
The jackpot game process of step S150 is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the jackpot game process of FIG. 20 is executed, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 first determines whether or not the jackpot game flag is on, that is, whether or not the jackpot game is in progress (step 400). If it is determined that the big hit game is not being played, the big hit game processing is terminated as it is. When the big hit game process ends, as described above, the process returns to the game start process of step S110 of the main control process, and the processes of steps 110 to S150 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the big hit game is being played, it is determined whether or not the big winning opening 44 is being opened (step S402). Considering immediately after the big hit occurs, since the big winning opening 44 is closed, a negative determination is made in step S402, and then it is determined whether or not the big hit game end condition is satisfied ( Step S404). This determination is performed by determining whether or not the number of repetitions (number of rounds) of the opening operation of the special winning opening 44 has reached a specified number determined according to the big hit mode. In this embodiment, if the big hit mode is the first normal big hit or the first probability variable big hit, whether or not the number of rounds has reached 15 times, and if the big hit mode is the second probability variable big hit, the number of rounds is two. It is determined whether or not it has been reached. Immediately after the big hit has occurred, it is determined in step S404 that the big hit game end condition is not satisfied. Next, it is determined whether or not the specified closing time (2 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed. (Step S406) When it is determined that the specified closing time has elapsed, the big prize opening solenoid 44a is driven and controlled so that the big prize opening 44 is opened (Step S408), and the big hit game process is once ended.

  When opening of the big winning opening 44 is started, it is determined in step S402 that the big winning opening 44 is being opened when the big hit game process is executed next. Whether or not the time has reached a predetermined opening time (step S410), and whether or not the number of game balls won in the special winning opening 44 has reached a specified number (10 in this embodiment) (step S412). Determine. Here, the opening time is determined according to the big hit mode, and in this embodiment, it is 25 seconds when either the first normal big hit or the first positive probability big hit, and the second positive change. It is 6 seconds for a big hit. When the elapsed time from the opening of the grand prize winning opening 44 has not reached the predetermined opening time and the number of game balls won to the big winning prize opening 44 has not reached the prescribed number, The jackpot game process is temporarily ended while maintaining the opening. On the other hand, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the opening of the grand prize opening 44 has reached a predetermined opening time, or even if the game ball that has won the grand prize opening 44 has not reached the opening time, When it is determined that the number has reached the specified number, the big prize opening solenoid 44a is driven and controlled so that the big prize opening 44 is closed (step S414), and the big hit game process is once ended. If the big winning opening 44 is closed, it is determined in step S402 that the big winning opening 44 is not open when the big winning game processing is executed next. The special winning opening 44 is opened until the closing time elapses (steps S404 to S408). Thus, the big hit game is advanced by repeating the opening operation of the big winning opening 44 while sandwiching the closed state. When the number of repetitions of the opening operation of the big winning opening 44 reaches the specified number, it is determined in step S404 that the big hit game end condition is satisfied, and the big hit game end process illustrated in FIG. 21 is executed (step S416). The jackpot game process is terminated.

  In the big hit game end process of FIG. 21, the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 first turns off the big hit game flag (step S450), whether the big hit symbol is a probability change symbol, that is, whether the current big hit is the first probability variable big hit. It is determined whether it is one of the second probability variation big hits (step S452). If it is determined that it is not a probability variation symbol, that is, the current big hit is the first normal big hit, the probability variation flag is kept off and the fluctuation shortening counter is set to 100 times (step S454), and the probability variation symbol is judged. Then, the probability variation flag is turned on (step S456), and the fluctuation shortening counter is set to 10,000 times (step S458). As described above, when the fluctuation shortening counter is set 10,000 times, the time-saving state is substantially continued until the next big hit is drawn. When the fluctuation shortening counter is set in this way, the fluctuation shortening flag is turned on (step S460), the release extension flag is turned on (step S462), and a gaming state designation command is transmitted to the sub control board 90 (step S464). The process when the big hit game ends is completed. The sub control board 90 that has received the game state designation command performs processing such as outputting a control signal to the effect display control board 91 to set the background screen of the effect display device 34 as the background for the probability change or the time reduction, for example. .

[Production control processing]
Next, operations performed by the sub control board 90 will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the effect control process executed by the CPU 90 a of the sub control board 90. The effect control process is performed by repeatedly executing the on-hold occurrence process (step S500), the symbol variation effect process (step S510), and the jackpot game effect process (step S520). Although the jackpot game effect processing is not described in detail, it is determined whether a jackpot game start designation command indicating the start of jackpot or a jackpot game end designation command indicating the end of jackpot is received from the main control board 70. When the jackpot game start designation command is received, a control signal is output to the presentation display control board 91 so that the jackpot fanfare screen is displayed on the presentation display device 34. When the jackpot game end designation command is received, the ending screen is displayed as an effect. This is performed by outputting a control signal to the effect display control board 91 so as to be displayed on the device 34. In various effects, in accordance with the screen display of the effect display device 34, a drive signal is output to the amplifier board 92 so that sound is output from the speakers 28a, 28b, or the decoration drive board 93 is driven so that the LED 93a is lit. Or output a signal.

[Processing when a hold occurs]
The on-hold occurrence processing is executed according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 23, first, the CPU 90a of the sub-control board 90 has received a start winning command transmitted by the main control board 70 in the process of step S208 of the special symbol game process of FIG. Is determined (step S600). As described above, the start winning command includes a command indicating a random number for determination and a command indicating the number of holds. When the start winning command is not received, the process at the time of occurrence of the hold is terminated. On the other hand, when the start winning command is received, the hold number counter is incremented by 1 (step S602), the determination random number information is stored in the RAM 90c in association with the hold number counter value (step S604), and the hold symbol 35a is stored. One display is added (step S606), and the on-holding process is terminated.

[Design variation effect processing]
The symbol variation effect process is executed according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. In the symbol variation effect process of FIG. 24, the CPU 90a of the sub control board 90 determines whether or not the shortening variation mode flag is off (step S700). When the shortening variation mode flag is off, the normal example illustrated in FIG. The variation mode time symbol variation effect process is executed (step S702). When the shortened variation mode flag is ON, the shortened variation mode time symbol variation effect process illustrated in FIG. 26 is performed (step S704). Here, the shortening variation mode flag is a flag indicating that the current gaming state is the short-time state (shortening variation mode), and the game state designation is performed from the main control board 70 in step S464 of the big hit gaming end processing in FIG. When the command is received, the variable shortening flag included in the gaming state designation command is set to ON when the command is ON, and is set to OFF when the variable shortening flag is OFF. Hereinafter, the details of the symbol variation effect process in the normal variation mode and the symbol variation effect process in the shortened variation mode will be described in order.

  In the normal variation mode symbol variation effect process of FIG. 25, the CPU 90a of the sub control board 90 has received the symbol variation start command transmitted by the main control board 70 in the process of step S324 of the symbol variation start process of FIG. It is determined whether or not (step S710). If it is determined that the symbol variation start command has been received, a symbol variation effect pattern is set (step S712), a stop symbol is set (step S714), and a symbol variation effect is started (step S716). Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the symbol variation effect pattern is a symbol stop command in which three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R start varying display due to scroll variation when the symbol variation effect is started, and after each temporary stop. An effect pattern that is fixedly displayed in accordance with the reception of the image is set, and a notice effect or a reach effect according to the variation pattern determined in the symbol variation start process of FIG. 14 is combined with this. If it is determined that the change start command has not been received, the process of steps S712 to S716 is skipped and the process proceeds to the next process. Then, it is determined whether or not a symbol stop command has been received (step S718). If it is determined that a symbol stop command has been received, the symbol variation effect is terminated (step S720), and the symbol variation effect in the normal variation mode. The process ends. If it is determined that the symbol stop command has not been received, the normal variation mode time symbol variation effect processing is terminated.

  In the shortened variation mode symbol variation effect process of FIG. 26, the CPU 90a of the sub-control board 90 determines whether or not a symbol variation start command has been received (step S730), and determines that a symbol variation start command has been received. Then, it is determined whether or not the special variation effect counter is 0 (step S732) and whether or not the special variation effect end flag is off (step S734). Here, the special variation effect counter is a counter that indicates the remaining number of times of executing a special variation effect, which will be described later, as an effect of the effect symbol variation display, and is decremented by 1 each time the special variation effect is started. The special variation effect end flag is a flag indicating the end of the special variation effect, and is turned on when the special variation effect counter is counted down to 0. If the special variation effect counter is determined to be 0 and the special variation effect end flag is determined to be OFF, it is determined whether or not the current number of reserved special symbols is 3 or more (step S736). If it is determined that the current number of holds is less than 3, a normal variation effect execution process described later is performed (step S738). On the other hand, if it is determined that the current pending number is equal to or greater than 3, the determination random number information (big hit determination random number or reach random number) stored in the RAM 90c is read (step S740), and the determination stored in the RAM 90c. It is determined whether there is determination random number information whose random number value is a special value among the random number information for use (step S742). Here, the special value is a random value determined in advance for determining whether or not to perform the special variation effect. In the embodiment, the random number for the big hit determination indicates the big hit or the random number for the reach is displayed as a reach Random number value indicating is included. If it is determined that there is no determination random number information whose random value is a special value in the RAM 90c, a normal variation effect execution process is performed (step S738). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S742 that there is determination random number information whose random value is a special value in the RAM 90c, the number of reservations up to the special value (the value of the hold number counter associated with the corresponding determination random number information) ) Minus the value 1 is set in the special variation effect counter (step S744), and a special variation effect execution process described later is performed (step S746). If it is determined in step S730 that the symbol variation start command has not been received, the process of steps S732 to S748 is skipped and the process proceeds to the next process. Then, it is determined whether or not a symbol stop command transmitted by the main control board 70 is received in the process of step S230 of the special symbol game process of FIG. 11 (step 750). When the symbol stop command is received, The symbol variation effect is terminated (step S752), and the symbol variation effect process in the shortened variation mode is terminated. If it is determined that the symbol stop command has not been received, the symbol variation effect processing in the shortened variation mode is temporarily terminated.

  When the special variation effect is performed once by starting the special variation effect in accordance with the reception of the symbol variation start command in step S730 and ending the special variation effect in accordance with the reception of the symbol stop command in step S750, the special variation effect is performed. The special variation effect execution process is repeated every time a symbol variation start command is received until the effect counter reaches the value 0 (steps S732 and S746). When the special variation effect counter is 0 and the first time the symbol variation start command is received, it is determined in step S734 that the special variation effect end flag is on, and the special variation effect end flag is turned off (step S748). Then, a normal variation effect execution process is performed (step S738). Hereinafter, details of the normal variation effect execution processing in step S738 and the special variation effect execution processing in step S746 will be described in order.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the normal variation effect execution process in step S738 is performed by setting a normal variation effect pattern (step S760), setting a stop symbol (step S762), and starting the normal variation effect. (Step S764). Here, the variation effect pattern similar to the variation effect pattern in the normal variation mode described above is set as the normal variation effect pattern.

  In the special variation effect execution process in step S746, as shown in FIG. 28, a special variation effect pattern is set (step S770), a stop symbol is set (step S772), and a special variation effect is started (step S774). ). Here, the special variation effect pattern is an effect pattern in which all the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are temporarily stopped by the start of the special variable effect, and are confirmed and displayed from the temporarily stopped state in response to the reception of the symbol stop command. Is set, and the scroll variation of the normal variation effect pattern is omitted. The stop symbol is set by copying the symbol that was confirmed and displayed last time. In FIG. 29, the state of the change of the effect design including the special change effect is shown. FIGS. 29A to 29E and 29J to 29N show the normal variation effects, and FIGS. 29F to 29I show the special variation effects. Here, in the example of FIG. 29, during the normal variation effects of FIGS. 29A to 29E, the game ball is won at the start opening 36, and the determination is transmitted from the main control board 70 along with this. This shows a case where the random number information (big hit determination random number) is a special value indicating a big hit and the number of holds at that time is a value 3 (the special variation effect counter is a value 2). In the normal variation effects shown in FIGS. 29A to 29E, the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R scroll from the top to the bottom (see FIG. 29A), and the left effect symbol 34L temporarily stops. Then, it is in a state of swinging up and down (see FIG. 29 (b)), and then the production effect 34R on the right temporarily stops and swings up and down in the up and down direction (see FIG. 29 (c)). The middle effect symbol 34M temporarily stops and fluctuates vertically (see FIG. 29 (d)), and when the symbol stop command is received, all of the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are The final display is completely stopped (see FIG. 29 (e)). The special variation effect is temporarily stopped in a state where all the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R are maintained as they were previously displayed (see FIG. 29F), and the symbol stop command is received. When this is done, the process of completely stopping all three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R and confirming the display (see FIG. 29G) is repeated by the number of special variation effect counters. Since the special variation effect counter is set to a value obtained by subtracting the value 1 from the number of holds associated with the determination random number information determined to be a special value, the special variation ( Scroll fluctuation, temporary stop, and definite display are performed by a fluctuation pattern according to a random number indicating a big hit or a random value indicating reach display. In the example of FIG. 29, since the case where the random number information for judgment (random number for big hit determination) is a special value indicating a big hit, the next normal fluctuation effect after the special variation effect has ended is a big hit with a reach effect. The figure is fixedly displayed (see FIGS. 29 (j) to 29 (n)). By executing special variation effects in this way, the game (digestion of hold) is progressing, but the player can feel as if the game is stagnant (freeze). Can be improved.

  When the special variation effect is started, the special variation effect counter is decremented by 1 (step S776), and it is determined whether or not the special variation effect counter is 0 (step S778). When it is determined that the special variation effect counter is not 0, the special variation effect execution process is terminated. When the special variation effect counter is determined to be 0, the special variation effect end flag is turned on (step S780). The special variation effect execution process is terminated.

  According to the pachinko machine 10 of the embodiment described above, when the random number information for determination obtained with the winning of the game ball to the start port 36 is not a special value in the shortened variation mode, the command variation start command is received. At the same time, the scroll variation of the effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R is started, and when the symbol stop command is received through the temporary stop of each effect symbol 34L, 34M, and 34R, the normal variation effect is displayed and executed. When the random number information is a special value, the temporary stop is performed while maintaining the effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R that have been finalized and displayed in accordance with the reception of the symbol variation start command, and the symbol is displayed when the symbol stop command is received. The game is in progress, but the player has a strong impression that the game is stagnant (frozen). It is possible to feel. In particular, in the shortened variation mode, the scroll variation is short when there is no reach display (see FIG. 18B and FIG. 19), and does not produce any effect, so the scroll variation is omitted. By doing so, it is possible to enhance the subsequent effects such as reach display. As a result, the interest can be improved. Moreover, since the special variation effect is continuously executed when the number of holdings is 3 or more, the impression that the special variation effect gives to the player can be further strengthened, and the interest is further improved. be able to. Also, the random number for determination, which is a special value in the next normal variation effect after the special variation effect is completed, is executed by subtracting the value 1 from the number of holds until the random number information for determination determined as a special value. Since the variation display is performed according to the information, the next normal variation effect after the special variation effect is ended depending on how the special value is determined can be an effect that causes the player to expect a big hit.

  In the embodiment, when the determination random number information is a special value, the number obtained by subtracting the value 1 from the number of holds associated with the determination random number information is set as the number of executions of the special variation effect (special variation effect counter). However, the number of executions of the special variation effect may be any number within the range of the number of reservations. For example, when the special value of the random number information for determination includes a random value indicating a big hit or a random value indicating reach display, and the number of holdings associated with the random number information for determination is set as the execution number of the special variation effect as it is In the final execution of the special variation effect, the three effect symbols 34L, 34M, and 34R may be re-varied from the temporarily stopped state to perform reach display or final display with the jackpot symbol.

  In the embodiment, the determination as to whether or not to execute the special variation effect is performed based on the random number information for determination acquired along with the winning of the game ball to the start port 36, but is not limited thereto. It may be performed by lottery separately from the determination random number information. FIG. 30 shows the symbol variation effect process in the shortened variation mode of the modified example in this case, and FIG. 31 shows the normal variation effect process of the modified example. Note that, among the respective processes of the shortened variation mode time symbol variation effect processing of FIG. 30 and the normal variation effect processing of FIG. 31, the shortened variation mode time symbol variation effect processing of FIG. 26 and the normal variation effect execution processing of FIG. The same step number is assigned to the same process, and the description thereof is omitted because it is redundant. In the shortened variation mode symbol variation effect process of FIG. 30, it is determined in step S730 that a symbol variation start command has been received, the special variation effect counter is determined to be 0 in step S732, and the special variation effect end flag is turned off in step S734. If it is determined in step S736 that the number of holds is 3 or more, a lottery is performed as to whether or not to execute the special variation effect (step S740B). This lottery can be performed, for example, by acquiring a random number for special variation effect and comparing the acquired random number value with a predetermined value for winning. When the lottery result is a win (step S742B), the special variation effect counter is set to a value obtained by subtracting the value 1 from the current hold number (hold number counter) (step S744B), and a special variation effect execution process is performed (step S744B). S746) When the lottery result is not a win, that is, when the lottery is off, normal variation effect execution processing is performed (step S738). If it is determined in step S734 that the special variation effect end flag is on, the special variation effect end flag is turned off (step S748), and the change start flag after the special variation effect end is turned on (step S748B). An effect execution process is performed (step S738). In the normal variation effect execution processing of FIG. 31, it is determined whether or not the variation start flag after the end of the special variation effect is off (step S760B). When the variation start flag after the end of the special variation effect is off, the normal variation effect pattern is displayed. The normal variation effect pattern corresponding to the special effect is set (step S762B) when the variation start flag after completion of the special variation effect is on (step S762B), and the variation start flag after completion of the special variation effect is turned off (step S760). S764B). Here, the special effects include a notice effect and a reach effect at the time of symbol change such as a step-up notice and a cut-in notice. Therefore, the special variation effect gives the player an impression different from the normal variation display, and the next normal variation effect after the special variation effect is finished is accompanied by a special effect. A big hit can be expected, and the interest can be improved.

  In the embodiment and its modifications, the special variation effect is executed on the condition that the number of reserved special symbols is 3 or more. For example, the number of reserved special symbols is 4 or more. Any number of reservations may be set within a range in which special variation effects can be continuously executed. Further, if it is assumed that single execution of the special variation effect is permitted, the number of reserved special symbols may be 2 or more, or the condition of the number of reserved symbols may be omitted.

  In the embodiment, when the game ball enters the start opening 36, the display of the holding symbols 35a is added to the effect symbol display device 34 one by one, and the holding symbols 35a are erased one by one as the holding is digested. However, during the special variation effect, all the reserved symbols 35a may be temporarily deleted until the special variation effect ends. In this case, for example, when the special variation effect counter is a value other than 0 in the shortened variation mode symbol variation effect process of FIG. It is sufficient to display the hold symbols 35a by the number of hold counters. Thereby, since the player cannot confirm whether or not the hold is digested by the special display effect from the display of the hold symbol 35a, the effect of the special display effect can be further enhanced.

  In the embodiment, during the temporary stop of the production symbol, it is assumed that the display is swayed in the direction of the scroll fluctuation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the direction orthogonal to the direction of the scroll fluctuation or the rotation direction is not limited thereto. For example, the direction in which the production symbol shakes may be any direction. Also, the stop position of the effect symbol during the temporary stop may be shifted from the position at the time of the final display. During the temporary stop, the effect symbol is completely stopped, but the size, shape, and color of the effect are fixed. It is good also as what displays different from the magnitude | size at the time of a display, a shape, and a color. In other words, the effect symbols may be temporarily stopped in any manner that can be distinguished from the fixed display.

  In the embodiment, the effect symbol is used for the effect of the special symbol. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any symbol can be used as long as it is a determination symbol for determining whether or not the game is successful, such as a normal symbol effect. It may be used for the production. When the effect symbol is used for the effect of the ordinary symbol, various commands and determination random number information handled in the effect control process of FIG. 22 may be those related to the ordinary symbol instead of those relating to the special symbol.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems will be described. In the embodiment, the pachinko machine 10 corresponds to the “gaming machine” of the present invention, the starting port 36 corresponds to the “starting port”, and the main control board 70 that executes the process of step S206 of the special symbol game process is “for determination”. The RAM 70c of the main control board 70 corresponds to “random number storage means”, the main control board 70 that executes the process of step S222 of the special symbol game process corresponds to “determination means”, and corresponds to the “random number acquisition means”. The symbol display device 42 and the symbol display substrate 40a that controls the display correspond to the “determination symbol display means”, and the effect symbol display device 34, the sub control substrate 90 that executes symbol variation effect processing, and the effect display control substrate 91, Corresponds to “production symbol display means”. The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem is the same as that of the embodiment described in the column of means for solving the problem. Therefore, the elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems are not limited. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems should be made based on the description of the column, and the examples are those of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems. It is only a specific example.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you get.

  The present invention is applicable to the gaming machine manufacturing industry.

  10 Pachinko machine, 11 Front frame, 12 Glass plate, 14 Upper tray, 16 Lower tray, 18 Launch handle, 18a Touch sensor, 18b Launch stop switch, 19 Launch motor, 21 Body frame, 22 Outer frame, 24a Ball rental button, 24b return button, 26 effect button, 28a, 28b speaker, 29 locking device, 30 game board, 31a outer rail, 31b inner rail, 32 normal symbol operation gate, 32a gate switch, 34 effect display device, 34L, 34M, 34R effect Symbol, 35a Special symbol holding lamp, 35b Normal symbol holding lamp, 36 Start port, 36a Start port switch, 38 Normal electric accessory, 38a, 38b Wing piece, 39 Normal electric accessory solenoid, 40 Symbol display device, 40a Display board, 41 Normal symbol display device, 41a Normal symbol display section, 41b Right normal symbol display section, 42 Special symbol display device, 42a Special symbol display section, 42b Round display section, 44 Grand prize opening, 44a Grand prize opening solenoid, 44b Grand prize opening switch, 45 General prize opening 45a General winning opening switch, 46 out port, 48 windmill, 50 center, 70 main control board, 70a CPU, 70b ROM, 70c RAM, 72 relay terminal board, 80 payout control board, 81 frame release switch, 82 balls Rental display board, 83 Relay terminal board, 84 Switch before delivery, 85 Switch after delivery, 86 Delivery motor, 87 Relay terminal board, 90 Sub control board, 90a CPU, 90b ROM, 90c RAM, 91 Production display control board, 92 Amplifier Board, 93 decoration drive board, 93a LED lamp, 93b decoration model Data, 94 performance button board, 95 moving the control board, 100 fire control board, 102 under saucer full switch.

Claims (1)

A random number acquisition means for determination for acquiring a random number for determination based on the game ball entering the start opening;
A determination means for performing a hit / fail determination using the determination random number acquired by the determination random number acquisition means;
When the determination result by the determination means is obtained, the display of the variation of the determination symbol is started, the variation display is terminated when a predetermined variation time elapses, and the determination symbol is determined in a display mode indicating the determination result by the determination unit. Judgment symbol display means for displaying;
Effect symbol display means for starting the variation display of the effect symbol at the start of the variation display of the judgment symbol, ending the variation display of the effect symbol at the end of the variation display of the determination symbol, and confirming and displaying the effect symbol When,
A gaming state setting means for setting the shortened variation gaming state in which the variation time is shorter than the normal gaming state;
With
The effect symbol display means includes:
When the gaming state is set to the normal gaming state, after the variation display of the effect symbol is started in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol, the effect symbol is scrolled, and the scroll variation is followed by the scroll variation. In accordance with the end of the variation display of the judgment symbol, the variation display of the production symbol is terminated, and a normal display effect is performed to confirm and display the production symbol.
When the gaming state is set to the shortened variation gaming state, after the variation display of the effect symbol is started in accordance with the start of the variation display of the determination symbol, the variation of the determination symbol is not performed without scrolling the effect symbol. In accordance with the end of the variation display, the variation display of the effect design is terminated, and a special display effect for confirming and displaying the effect design is performed.
The auxiliary symbol indicating whether or not the variable member attached to the start port is in an open state can be variably displayed, and is configured not to have an effect symbol corresponding to the auxiliary symbol ,
The stage design is a combination of a plurality of designs and suggests the determination result of the hit / out,
When executing the special display effect, all of the plurality of symbols are simultaneously operated to start variable display, and then all of the plurality of symbols are simultaneously stopped to end the variable display. Gaming machine.

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