JP6343595B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a pachinko machine.

There is a game machine represented by a pachinko machine or a slot machine that executes an effect accompanied by a change in the effect pattern multiple times when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In general, such an effect is designed so that the probability of being connected to a bonus such as a big hit game increases as it continues. Therefore, the player expects the development to continue during the performance, and the interest of the game increases every time the continuation is confirmed.
The following patent document 1 is illustrated as this type of gaming machine.

In Patent Literature 1, in the symbol variation game, an effect that continues with a temporary stop of a display mode (so-called misalignment) in which the same kind of effect symbol is displayed on a straight line different from the other column by one column is executed. More specifically, when the production is executed, the left row is temporarily stopped, the right row is temporarily stopped, and the middle row is temporarily stopped. And the player is informed of the establishment of the misalignment.
Thereby, the interest with respect to the symbol variation game can be improved.

JP 2010-253079 A

  As described above, the effect that continues with the specific temporary stop mode as an opportunity has already been implemented in the gaming machine in various forms and lacks freshness. Therefore, the player's interest in the continuation of the production may not be sufficiently improved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a gaming machine that improves a player's interest by performing a novel effect when a continuous effect is continued.

According to the present invention, a random number acquisition unit that acquires a random number when a start condition is satisfied, a success / failure determination unit that determines success or failure of winning using the random number acquired by the random number acquisition unit, and the success / failure determination unit In at least a part of the case where the winning is determined by, a privilege granting means for granting a privilege advantageous for a player, a continuous effect suggesting the possibility that the privilege is granted, and the continuous effect are continued. An effect control means that selectively suggests whether to perform or end during execution of the continuous effect, and the effect control means includes a plurality of columns of symbols during the execution of the continuous effect. to display the fluctuation continuously, in the continued effect suggests continuation of the continuous presentation, to display the combination of symbols that satisfy a performance condition from continuing display mode, the end of the continuous presentation In the continued presentation suggests, to display a combination of symbols that satisfy a performance condition of the completion of the display mode, and continuing effect one to be performed in the same said continuous effect, after the continuous effect of the one Comparing with other continuation effects to be performed, at least a part of the symbols that can be variably displayed in the one continuation effect becomes undisplayable in the other continuation effects. There is provided a gaming machine in which the number of patterns of satisfactory symbol combinations is reduced .

  According to the above-described invention, it seems that the possibility of continuation failure (end of the continuous effect) changes due to the continuation effect, and as a result, the possibility of continuation seems to change. Conventionally, there is no gaming machine that performs such a novel effect when a continuous effect is continued, so that it is possible to sufficiently improve the interest of the player.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the game machine which improves a player's interest is provided by performing novel production | presentation at the time of continuation of a continuous production.

It is a front view of a gaming machine. It is a figure which shows the game board arrange | positioned in the gaming machine. It is a figure which shows the symbol display arrange | positioned in the gaming machine. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main control structures of a gaming machine. It is a functional block diagram which shows the payout control structure of a gaming machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the production | presentation symbol variably displayed in the main display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the combination of the production | presentation symbol stopped and displayed on the main display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the time chart after a variation display of a production | presentation symbol is started until a break eye is stopped and displayed. It is a figure which shows the image data used for the fluctuation display of a production | presentation symbol, a temporary stop display, or a stop display. This is a table used by the effect control unit 210 to select a combination of effect symbols to be stopped and displayed in a normal effect symbol variation. It is a figure which shows the image data used for the display of the production | presentation symbol of the middle stage in the 2nd time of a pseudo | simulation continuous production. It is a table | surface which shows the list of the combinations of the effect symbol referred when the effect control part determines the mode of the temporary stop display or stop display of an effect symbol. It is a figure which shows the list of the combinations of the production | presentation symbols which can be actually displayed on a main display part. It is a figure which shows the image data used for the display of the production | presentation symbol of a middle stage in the 3rd time of a pseudo | simulation continuous production. It is a table | surface which shows the list of the combinations of the effect symbol referred when the effect control part determines the mode of the temporary stop display or stop display of an effect symbol. FIG. 16 is a view showing a list of combinations of effect symbols that can be actually displayed on the main display unit 81. It is a figure which shows an example of the time chart from the start of the variation display of an effect symbol to the 2nd time of a pseudo-continuous effect. It is a figure which shows an example of the 3rd time chart of a pseudo | simulation continuous production. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in a main display part and an upper sub display part. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process at the time of entering. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a symbol variation start process. It is a table which shows the concept of effect conditions in a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the time chart of the continuous production in the 3rd embodiment (the 1st time of a pseudo-continuous production). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a roulette effect. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a roulette effect. It is a figure which shows the effect image at the time of the roulette effect in the 2nd time of a pseudo | simulation continuous effect. It is a figure which shows the effect image at the time of the roulette effect in the 3rd time of a pseudo | simulation continuous effect. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main control structures of the game machine in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process at the time of entering in a modification. It is an example of the time chart of the continuous production in a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” refer to the gaming machine 10 on the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1 unless otherwise specified. ) Shall be designated in the state seen from.

<First Embodiment>
First, an outline of the gaming machine 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the game board 50 disposed in the gaming machine 10.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a main control configuration of the gaming machine 10.

The gaming machine 10 includes a random number acquisition unit (special drawing hold control unit 115), a win / fail determination unit (win / no lottery unit 131), a privilege grant unit (big hit control unit 145), and an effect control unit (effect control unit 210). .
The special figure hold control unit 115 acquires a random number when the start condition is satisfied.
The success / failure lottery unit 131 determines success or failure of the winning using the random number acquired by the special figure hold control unit 115.
The big hit control unit 145 gives a privilege (big hit game) that is advantageous to the player in at least a part of the case where the winning determination is made by the winning / failing lottery unit 131.
The production control unit 210 performs a continuous production that suggests the possibility of a privilege being given, and a continuous production that selectively suggests whether or not the continuous production is to be continued or ended during execution of the continuous production. .

When the production control unit 210 suggests the continuation of the continuous production, the continuous production mode (continuation eye) that satisfies one or more production conditions included in the first condition group is displayed in the continuous production, and the continuous production ends. In the continuous effect, an end display mode (end eye) that satisfies one or more effect conditions included in the second condition group different from the first condition group is displayed.
Here, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is different between one continuous effect and another continuous effect executed in the same continuous effect.
In this way, since the number of effect conditions that can satisfy the end display mode is different between one continuous effect and another continuous effect performed in the same continuous effect, the possibility of ending the continuous effect (continuity possibility) itself However, it seems as if it changes with each successive performance. Thereby, about the further continuation of the said continuous production, a player's interest is evoked more strongly and the production effect by a continuous production improves.

Here, the “continuous effect” is an effect executed in such a manner that a plurality of effects are recognized by the player as a series, and includes a so-called continuous notice effect and a pseudo-continuous effect.
In addition, the “continuous effect” is an effect performed in a certain period included in the continuous effect, and the continuous effect is continuously performed until after the period, or the continuous effect is ended with the period as an opportunity, One of these is selectively suggested.

Here, the “first condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the continuous display mode (continuation eye) that suggests that the continuous performance is continuously performed.
The “second condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the end display mode (end eye) that suggests that the continuous performance is to be ended.
Further, the “second condition group different from the first condition group” means that the first condition group and the second condition group do not have a common performance condition. At this time, if all the production conditions correspond to either the first condition group or the second condition group, it can be said that the second condition group is a complement of the first condition group. The second condition group does not necessarily need to be a complement of the first condition group. For example, the presentation condition belongs to both the first condition group and the second condition group, but belongs to another condition group different from them. May be present.

Here, the “continuous display mode” is a display that suggests that the continuous effect is continuously performed in the effect display area (in this embodiment, a display screen of the main display unit 81 described later), and is one or more. The following pattern (mode) can be adopted.
Further, the “end display mode” is a display that suggests that the continuous effect is ended in the effect display area (in this embodiment, a display screen of the main display unit 81 described later), and one or a plurality of patterns ( Embodiment).
Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the continuous display mode or the end display mode is represented by one or a plurality of effect symbols displayed on the display screen of the main display unit 81.
In addition, this aspect is an example and implementation of this invention is not restricted to this. For example, the continuous display mode or the end display mode may be formed by an effect image other than the effect symbol, or the continuous display mode or the end display mode may be formed by a combination of the effect image other than the effect symbol and the effect symbol. Further, a continuous display mode or an end display mode may be formed by an effect image displayed on the upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, or the right sub display unit 84, which will be described later, and is displayed on the main display unit 81. The continuous display mode or the end display mode may be formed by combining the effect image and the effect image displayed on the upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, the right sub display unit 84, or the like.

The “production condition” is one or more production conditions required for the continuous display mode or the end display mode, and specifically, individual production patterns. The production condition does not have to be a control condition used for branching whether continuous production can be continued.
Here, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group refers to the number of effect conditions that are included in the second condition group and can be actually selected and displayed. Specifically, even if it is included in the second condition group, for example, for the effect conditions that cannot be displayed due to prohibition processing by internal control, etc., the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group Not accounted for.
Therefore, the production conditions included in the second condition group that can be actually displayed in one continuous production executed in the same continuous production are displayed in the other continuous production by a prohibition process by internal control. Even in a configuration that cannot be obtained, “the number of performance conditions included in the second condition group differs between one continuous performance and another continuous performance that are executed in the same continuous performance”. I can say that.

Here, the performance conditions can be displayed so as to be visible to the player. “Visible” means that an effect condition is expressed in any visible area in the gaming machine 10. Here, the production conditions may be represented by any method, for example, may be displayed on the production display 80, or may be represented by printing or the like on the outer surface of the gaming machine 10. That is, the gaming machine 10 may have a region that can represent a plurality of performance conditions required for at least one of the continuous display mode and the end display mode.
The fact that the production condition is displayed so as to be visible may mean that one or a plurality of production patterns are displayed, or that information that can identify one or a plurality of production patterns is displayed. Also good.
Further, the production condition may be expressed at any time point, for example, may be expressed constantly, or may be expressed during a specific production execution period, or may be in a standby state (a symbol variation game or a big hit game). May be expressed in a state where is not executed. The production condition may be expressed according to a specific operation by the player, or the production condition may be expressed according to a specific internal condition. In the present embodiment, the effect condition is displayed on the upper sub display unit 82 in at least a part of the execution period of the continuous effect.
When a continuous display mode that satisfies at least one of the effect conditions is displayed in the effect display area in the continuous effect, the continuous effect is continued.

<About the structure of the gaming machine 10>
The structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 or FIG.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a symbol display 90 disposed in the gaming machine 10. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a payout control configuration of the gaming machine 10.

  The gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, and fires a game ball on a front area (hereinafter referred to as a gaming area 50a) of a gaming board 50 on which a large number of gaming nails (not shown) are erected. A game in which a prize ball is obtained when a game ball enters a specific prize opening (for example, the big prize opening 55, etc.) is performed.

  The gaming machine 10 includes a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 15 that opens forward and backward, a middle frame (not shown) that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a gaming board 50 (middle frame). ) And a front frame 20 configured to cover the front side.

The front frame 20 is rotatably supported on the left end side by a hinge mechanism 21 and can be opened and closed with respect to the middle frame. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23.
The front frame 20 includes a transparent member 25 disposed so as to cover the game area 50 a, and the game area 50 a and the game board 50 are transparently protected by the transparent member 25.
The front frame 20 includes an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 that store game balls. The upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are provided integrally with the front frame 20 so as to be spaced apart from each other.
The front frame 20 is provided with an operation handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball receiving tray 29 so that the game balls stored in the upper ball receiving tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a by rotating the operation handle 31. It has become.

A pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20, respectively. Further, the upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34 and 36 of the front frame 20 are formed by a light-transmitting cover, and lighting devices 35 (35a, 35b, and 35c) are disposed therein. Yes. The speaker 33 and the illuminating device 35 can output sound or can be turned on or off in conjunction with effects or error notifications that occur during the game.
The front frame 20 is provided with a button 37 at the front portion of the upper ball tray 27. The button 37 can accept a player's operation performed to switch effects generated during the game or to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 by the player.

  Below the lower ball receiving tray 29, a ball removal mechanism 39 for discharging the game balls stored in the lower ball receiving tray 29 downward is provided. By operating the ball removing mechanism 39, a bottom surface opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball receiving tray 29 is opened, and the game ball is naturally dropped and discharged from the bottom surface opening.

  The effect display 80 is provided on the left side of the main display unit 81, a main display unit 81 disposed substantially at the center of the game board 50, an upper sub display unit 82 disposed above the main display unit 81, and the main display unit 81. It includes a left sub display portion 83 disposed and a right sub display portion 84 disposed on the right side of the main display portion 81. The main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal device, and the upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, and the right sub display unit 84 are movable liquid crystal devices.

The main display unit 81 can display a variation display of effect symbols performed in conjunction with the symbol variation game in the special symbol display unit 91, and can also display other various effects. Here, the effect symbol is a symbol that is displayed in order to further enhance the interest of the game in the gaming machine 10, and is specifically composed of numbers, pictures, or a combination thereof.
The main display unit 81 can display the effect symbol at the approximate center thereof, and can also display the effect symbols above and below the effect symbol, respectively. That is, the main display unit 81 displays effect symbols in “upper”, “middle”, and “lower”, respectively, and the displayed effect symbols form one or more columns.
In the following description, a state in which the same kind of effect symbols are temporarily stopped in the upper and lower stages during the variation display of the effect symbols and the variation display is continued in the middle may be referred to as “reach eyes”. In addition, a state where the effect symbols are temporarily stopped or stopped and displayed in the middle after the effect symbols of different types in the upper and lower stages are temporarily stopped may be referred to as “separation”.

  The upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, or the right sub display unit 84 is provided mainly for displaying an effect image related to an effect, and can move when a specific effect is executed. The respective original positions are upward, left, or right with respect to the main display unit 81, and the upper sub display unit 82 and the left sub display unit 83 extend from these original positions to a position overlapping the display area of the effect symbol in the main display unit 81. Alternatively, the right sub display unit 84 can move.

  Note that although the effect display device 80 (main display unit 81, upper sub display unit 82, left sub display unit 83, or right sub display unit 84) in the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display device, The implementation of the invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices such as a drum type and a dot matrix type can be adopted as the effect display unit 80.

The symbol display 90 is disposed at a position that is less visible to the player than the effect display 80, such as the lower right side of the effect display 80. Further, the display area of the symbol display 90 is smaller than the display area of the effect display 80.
In the symbol display 90, a plurality of lamps are arranged. The lamp used for the symbol display 90 in this embodiment is a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED). The symbol display 90 shows various information depending on the arrangement of the light emitting LEDs, and includes a special symbol display unit 91 or a normal symbol display unit 93.

The special symbol display unit 91 displays the lottery result of the symbol variation game by the special symbol by the light emission patterns of the plurality of LEDs. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the special symbol display unit 91 is composed of 16 LEDs on the left side.
The normal symbol display unit 93 displays the lottery result of the symbol variation game based on the normal symbols by the light emission patterns of the LEDs (eg, two) less than the special symbol display unit 91.

As shown in FIG. 3, the symbol display 90 also includes LEDs that are not used for display on the special symbol display unit 91 or the normal symbol display unit 93, and the lottery result of the symbol variation game based on the special symbol or the normal symbol In addition, information such as the number of reserved memories and the number of rounds of jackpot games can be displayed.
In addition, the special symbol display unit 91 according to the present embodiment performs a variable display in a symbol variation game caused by either a ball entering the first start port 58 or a ball entering the second start port 59. At this time, the LED used for the variable display may be different depending on the start opening into which the ball has entered, or may be the same.

  Here, the special symbol refers to a data group that can be selected for display on the special symbol display unit 91 or a symbol (LED light emission pattern) that can be displayed on the special symbol display unit 91. Hereinafter, special symbols may be abbreviated as “special symbols”. Here, the symbol variation game with special symbols is a special symbol after the special symbol display unit 91 is variably displayed in order to show a lottery result for releasing the special electric actor 65 (so-called attacker). To stop display.

  Here, the normal symbol means a data group that can be selected for display on the normal symbol display unit 93 or a symbol (LED light emission pattern) that can be displayed on the normal symbol display unit 93. In the following, a normal symbol may be abbreviated as “common figure”. Here, the symbol variation game with the ordinary symbol is a specific ordinary symbol after the ordinary symbol display unit 93 is variably displayed in order to show a lottery result for releasing the ordinary electric accessory 61 (so-called electric tulip). Is to stop display.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of lamps arranged on the symbol display 90 are described as LEDs, but the type of lamp is not limited to this. The arrangement of the lamps is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and various arrangements can be adopted.

On the front surface of the game board 50, a large number of game nails (not shown), windmills 52, decorative members, and the like are arranged, so that a game area 50a is drawn so that the launched game ball rolls. It is made. Further, on the left side and the upper side of the game area 50a, curved outer rails 51 and inner rails 53 provided for guiding game balls launched by the rotation operation of the operation handle 31 to the upper part of the game area 50a are arranged. Has been. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the game area 50a as a reference.
Here, the windmill 52 is a mechanism for changing the direction in which the game ball falls, and is a nail-like one.

  The gaming machine 10 can increase or decrease the launch of the game ball according to the magnitude of the rotation operation amount (for example, the rotation angle) of the operation handle 31. In addition, one of the first flow path X (so-called left-handed) in which the weakly launched game ball rolls and the second flow path Y (so-called right-handed) in which the harder launched game ball rolls are used. Various obstacles are arranged in the game area 50a so that the game ball rolls.

In the game area 50a, various winning holes (for example, a large winning hole 55) are arranged, and behind each winning hole, various switches (for example, a count switch SW4, etc.) for detecting a game ball that has entered are arranged. Has been. In the following description, winning means that a game ball enters a specific winning opening.
In the present embodiment, the above-described various switches are arranged so that the player cannot visually recognize them, and are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a large winning port 55, a first starting port 58, a second starting port 59, an operation gate 63, and a normal winning port 67 (67a, 67b) as main winning ports. The winning award shown here is an example, and the number and arrangement thereof may be changed as appropriate.

The first start port 58 is disposed at the lower center of the game area 50a (below the main display portion 81), and is generally called “navel”.
A count switch SW1 for detecting a game ball that has entered the ball is disposed at the first start port 58, and a game ball that has entered the first start port 58 is detected by the count switch SW1, thereby allowing a special symbol pattern to be detected. A start condition for starting the variable game and a payout condition for paying out a predetermined number of game balls as prize balls can be satisfied.

The second start port 59 is disposed on the lower right side of the game area 50a (the lower right side of the main display portion 81), and the ordinary starter 61 is attached to the second start port 59. The ordinary electric accessory 61 is an opening / closing member that switches to the second starting port 59 in an open state in which it is easy to enter the game ball or a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the game ball. Transition to either the open state or the closed state. The control of the ordinary electric accessory 61 will be described in detail later.
The second start port 59 is provided with a count switch SW2 that detects a game ball that has entered the ball, and the game ball that has entered the second start port 59 is detected by the count switch SW2, thereby depending on a special symbol. The starting condition of the symbol variation game and the winning ball payout condition can be satisfied.

  The operation gate 63 is disposed on the upper right side of the second start port 59 (on the right side of the main display portion 81). The operation gate 63 is provided with a count switch SW3 that detects a game ball that has passed, and when the game ball that has passed the operation gate 63 is detected by the count switch SW3, the start of a symbol variation game with a normal symbol is started. Conditions can be met.

In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, as apparent from the fact that the count switch SW3 is not shown in FIG. 5, the detection of the count switch SW3 is not included in the award ball payout condition. That is, even if a game ball enters the operation gate 63 of this embodiment, the prize ball is zero.
Further, the operation gate 63 may be a so-called gate type winning opening in which the passed game ball rolls again in the game area 50a after passing. In this case, passing through the operation gate 63 is also referred to as “entrance ball” in this specification.

The big winning opening 55 is arranged below the second start opening 59 (lower right side of the main display portion 81). The special winning opening 55 is provided with a special electric accessory 65 that opens and closes by the operation of the actuator AC2.
In addition, the grand prize winning port 55 is provided with a count switch SW4 that detects a game ball that has entered the game. The payout conditions can be satisfied.

The special electric accessory 65 in the closed state extends so as to substantially coincide with the surface position of the game area 50a, and covers the big prize winning opening 55 on the far side from the surface position.
In addition, the special electric accessory 65 in the open state operates so as to function as a tray for the game ball that jumps forward from the surface position of the game area 50a and flows down from above, and receives the received game ball as a big prize opening 55. Guide to.
The special electric accessory 65 in this embodiment operates so as to be in an open state during execution of the big hit game, and allows the game ball to enter the big prize opening 55.

The normal winning opening 67 (67 a, 67 b) is arranged on the lower left side of the main display portion 81. The normal winning opening 67 is provided with a count switch SW5 that detects a game ball that has entered, and the game ball that has entered the normal winning opening 67 is detected by the count switch SW5, whereby the payout condition of the winning ball is determined. It can be established.
In the present embodiment, the example in which one count switch SW5 is provided for the two normal winning openings 67a and 67b has been described, but a sensor (count switch) may be provided individually. At this time, the payout condition of the prize ball may be different or the same for each sensor.

In the present embodiment, the game area 50a is located at the first start port 58 or the normal winning port 67 when the game ball rolls from the first flow path X, rather than when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y. Various obstacles are arranged to make it easier to enter the ball. That is, the first start port 58 or the normal winning port 67 is provided in the first flow path X mainly including the left side of the game area 50a.
In addition, the game area 50a in the present embodiment is configured such that when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y, when the game ball rolls from the second flow path X, the big winning opening 55, the second start opening. Various obstacles are arranged so that it is easy to enter the 59 or the operation gate 63. That is, the special winning opening 55, the second start opening 59, or the operation gate 63 is provided in the second flow path Y mainly on the right side of the game area 50a.

  The out port 69 is disposed at the lowermost part of the game area 50a. The game balls that have not entered the winning ports (except for the operation gate 63) are dropped into the out port 69 and processed as out balls.

  Up to this point, the structure of the gaming machine 10 in the present embodiment has been described. However, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented by another configuration.

<About the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Subsequently, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, since the description may be made by touching each component illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, please refer to these drawings as appropriate.
4 and FIG. 5 are components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, and components not shown here are added to the gaming machine 10. May be. Further, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily include all of the components illustrated here, and some components may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The gaming machine 10 includes a board (not shown) in its own machine, a board including the components shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a functional component electrically connected to the board. Various functions are realized by this processing. More specifically, the board includes a CPU (not shown) that executes control operations in a predetermined procedure, a ROM (not shown) that stores a control program for the CPU, and writing and reading of necessary data. A RAM (not shown) is provided. The CPU can implement various functions by executing a control program read from the ROM and writing various data to the RAM or reading various data from the RAM.
4 and 5 are components that function only on one substrate, components that function by performing various data exchanges between a plurality of substrates, and the substrate and the substrate. In other words, components that function by electrically connecting non-mounted functional components are mixed. There can be many hardware configurations for realizing each of these components, and the configuration is not necessarily limited to one.

  The main control unit 100 controls the game in an integrated manner, and transmits commands to other components (for example, the effect control unit 210) for effects related to the game. The main control unit 100 is a board having a function that affects or may affect the game result, and functions as a so-called main board. As shown in FIG. 4, the main control unit 100 has a number of components, and these components are connected to each other. The connection is an example and is not necessarily limited to this.

Main components included in the main control unit 100 include a special drawing lottery control unit 130, a general drawing lottery control unit 170, a gaming state control unit 140, a symbol display control unit 150, a variation pattern processing unit 160, an information transmission unit 110, and the like. Is mentioned.
The special symbol lottery control unit 130 controls other components in relation to the symbol variation game with special symbols.
The regular drawing lottery control unit 170 controls other components in association with the symbol variation game based on the normal symbols.
The game state control unit 140 performs control of the big hit game, management of the probability change state, or management of the change state.
The symbol display control unit 150 causes the symbol display 90 to display the special symbol selected as a result of the symbol variation game based on the special symbol or the normal symbol selected as the result of the symbol variation game based on the normal symbol.
The variation pattern processing unit 160 determines a variation pattern including at least variation time information indicating the time from when the symbol display control unit 150 starts the variation display until the stop display is performed in the symbol variation game using the special symbols. In addition, the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern processing unit 160 is output to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110 to execute a display effect (reach effect, hold change effect, etc.) on the effect indicator 80. Also used for.
The information transmission unit 110 has a function of transmitting control information (command) generated by each component included in the main control unit 100 to another component (for example, the effect control unit 210). The command transmitted by the information transmission unit 110 includes, in addition to the information indicating the above-described variation pattern, the result of special drawing lottery or ordinary drawing lottery, the presence / absence of a probable variation state or variation state, information on reserved storage, or jackpot game May include information on the execution of.

In addition to the main components described above, the gaming machine 10 includes an effect control unit 210, a payout control unit 230, and the like.
The effect control unit 210 controls an effect related to a game (such as a symbol variation game or a big hit game) performed by the gaming machine 10.
The payout control unit 230 controls the payout of a prize ball given as a bonus privilege to each winning opening.
Each component mentioned so far will be described in more detail below.

<Special drawing lottery>
The main control unit 100 includes a special drawing hold control unit 115 and a special drawing lottery control unit 130.
In addition, the special drawing lottery control unit 130 manages a symbol variation game using special symbols, and includes a success / failure lottery unit 131 and a special drawing selection unit 132.

The special figure hold control unit 115 acquires and stores the random number M1 when the first start port 58 enters the ball. Further, the special figure hold control unit 115 acquires and stores the random number M2 in response to the winning of the second start port 59.
More specifically, the special figure hold control unit 115 acquires the random number M1 when the winning of the first start port 58 is detected by the count switch SW1, and stores it in a dedicated storage area (holding storage). Further, the special figure hold control unit 115 acquires the random number M2 when the winning of the second start port 59 is detected by the count switch SW2, and stores (holds) the random number M2 in the dedicated storage area.
The reserved upper limit number of the random number M1 or the reserved upper limit number of the random number M2 is determined in advance, and in this embodiment, four are set as the reserved upper limit number for each of the random number M1 and the random number M2.

The special figure hold control unit 115 distinguishes and stores the random number M1 acquired in response to the winning of the first starting port 58 and the random number M2 acquired in response to the winning of the second starting port 59.
The special figure hold control unit 115 may cause the success / failure lottery unit 131 to process the random number M1 or the random number M2 stored on hold in the order in which the random number is stored, or to process the pass / fail lottery unit 131 in preference to the other. You may let them.

  The special figure hold control unit 115 may monitor the number of random numbers stored on hold. In this case, the special symbol hold control unit 115 may output a command to the symbol display control unit 150 (special symbol display control unit 151) so as to display the number of random numbers being monitored on the symbol display 90. . Further, the special figure hold control unit 115 may output a command to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110 so as to display a number of hold displays corresponding to the number of random numbers stored in a hold. .

The success / failure lottery unit 131 performs a success / failure lottery of the big hit game using the random number M1 or the random number M2 acquired when the game ball enters the first start port 58 or the second start port 59. In addition, the winning probability of the success / failure lottery by the success / failure lottery unit 131 is not limited to an example, and can be changed as appropriate.
Here, “to perform a lottery determination with an incoming ball as an opportunity” means that the winning lottery can be executed after that the detection of an incoming ball is one condition. In other words, even if a ball is detected, the success / failure lottery does not necessarily have to be executed. For example, a ball detected by the count switch SW1 when the number of held random numbers M1 exceeds the holding upper limit number or a count switch SW2 when the number of held random numbers M2 exceeds the holding upper limit number The entry detected by means of the above is not a condition for the lottery.

The special symbol selection unit 132 selects a special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display unit 91 based on the result of the success / failure lottery performed by the success / failure lottery unit 131.
The special symbol selected by the special symbol selection unit 132 is displayed on the special symbol display unit 91 by the special symbol display control unit 151 described later during the execution of the symbol variation game using the special symbol.
Note that the selection by the special figure selection unit 132 includes an aspect in which the random number M1 used in the lottery determination and the number of special symbols prepared in advance are the same and uniquely determined.

<Regular drawing lot>
The gaming machine 10 includes a general figure holding control unit 116, a general drawing lottery control unit 170, and a normal electric role control unit 180.
The regular drawing lottery control unit 170 manages a symbol variation game based on normal symbols, and includes an open lottery unit 171 and a universal symbol selection unit 172. Further, the ordinary electric combination control unit 180 is a function for controlling the ordinary electric combination 61.

When the winning of the operation gate 63 is detected by the count switch SW3, the usual hold control unit 116 acquires the random number M3 and stores it in a dedicated storage area (holding storage). Here, the random number M3 is a random number used for the lottery by the open lottery unit 171. A holding upper limit number that is an upper limit number of the random number M3 that can be held is determined in advance.
When the general symbol lottery control unit 170 is not performing control related to the symbol variation game by the normal symbol, the general symbol hold control unit 116 reads the random number M3 that is reserved at a predetermined cycle.

  The general hold control unit 116 monitors the number of random numbers M3 that are held. Further, the general symbol hold control unit 116 may issue a command to the symbol display control unit 150 to display the number of the random number M3 being monitored on the symbol display 90, or display it on the effect display 80. As described above, a command may be issued to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110.

The open lottery unit 171 performs an open lottery to determine whether or not to change the ordinary electric accessory 61 to the open state, using the random number M3 acquired by the ordinary map holding control unit 116. The winning probability of the open lottery by the open lottery unit 171 is lower when in the normal gaming state than when in the variable state, and higher when in the variable state than when in the normal gaming state. Yes.
When an open lottery by the open lottery unit 171 is won, the normal electric role control unit 180 operates the actuator AC1 to open the normal electric combination 61 under a predetermined open condition.

The normal symbol selection unit 172 selects a normal symbol based on the result of the open lottery by the open lottery unit 171, and causes the normal symbol display control unit 153 to display the selected normal symbol on the normal symbol display unit 93. One of the two LEDs corresponding to the normal symbol display unit 93 corresponds to winning and one of them corresponds to defeat. The normal symbol display control unit 153 emits either one according to the normal symbol selected by the general symbol selecting unit 172. Let
The selection here means that the random number M3 used for the lottery by the open lottery unit 171 and the number of special symbols prepared in advance are the same as the selection by the special figure selection unit 132, and are uniquely The aspect to be determined is also included.

  The normal electric role control unit 180 controls the normal electric combination 61 so that the time taken for the open state increases per unit time when the change state is given by the change control unit 143. That is, the control of the ordinary electric power control unit 180 varies due to the provision of the variable state by the variable control unit 143 described later.

<About game state control>
The game state control unit 140 controls a big hit game, a probability change state or a short change state, and has a probability change control unit 141, a short change control unit 143 or a big hit control unit 145.

  The probability change control unit 141 can shift from the normal game state to the probability change state when the probability change state provision condition is satisfied, or from the probability change state to the normal game state when the probability change state release condition is satisfied. Here, the probability variation state means that the winning probability in the symbol variation game with the special symbol becomes higher than the normal gaming state.

There are generally three types of probability variation methods: loop method, ST method, and falling lottery method. The probability variation control unit 141 in the present embodiment may be in any of these three types of probability variation states.
The probability change of the loop method means a probability change that shifts to a probability change state after a jackpot game related to a probability change jackpot and continues at least until the next jackpot. Therefore, in the case of the loop type probability change, the condition for canceling the probability change state is that the next big hit is started.
ST method probability change is also referred to as “special time probability change” or “number cut probability change”, etc., and after shifting to the probability change state after the big hit game related to the probability change big hit, in the big hit lottery in the predetermined number of symbol change games When not winning, it means a probability change to the normal gaming state. Therefore, in the case of the ST method of probability variation, the probability variation state cancellation condition includes a predetermined number of symbol variation games being played in addition to the next big hit.
The probability change of the falling lottery system is a lottery (falling lottery) to determine whether or not to fall from the probabilistic state to the normal game state in the symbol variation game that is performed after shifting to the probabilistic after the big hit game related to the probable big hit game. This refers to the probability of changing to the normal gaming state when winning. Therefore, in the case of the probability change of the falling lottery method, the condition for canceling the probability variation state includes winning the falling lottery in addition to starting the next big hit.

The conditions for granting the probability change state are generally (a) a method in which a part or all of the hit games are a condition, and (b) the entry of a game ball into a predetermined area (including a winning opening) during the hit game. And a method using a sphere as a condition. In addition, in the method (a), as a method for selecting a part of winning game that is a condition for giving a certain probability change state, a method that is determined by a special symbol drawn in a special symbol variation game is often adopted.
In addition, the method of (a) may be employ | adopted for the provision conditions of the probability variation state in this embodiment, and the method of (b) may be employ | adopted.

The change control unit 143 shifts from the normal game state to the change state when the change condition grant condition is satisfied, and changes from the change state to the normal game state when the change state cancellation condition is satisfied. It is a function to be transferred.
In addition, the provision condition of the variable state in the present embodiment may be the same as or different from the provision condition of the probability variation state. Further, the changing condition cancellation condition in the present embodiment may be the same as or different from the probability changing condition releasing condition. That is, the period during which the probability variation state is imparted and the period during which the variation state is imparted may be common or different.

The variable speed state means that (i) the probability of winning the open lottery of the ordinary electric accessory 61 becomes higher than the normal gaming state, and (ii) the opening time per time of the ordinary electric accessory 61 is higher than that of the normal gaming state. (Iii) The number of times the ordinary electric accessory is released is increased from the normal gaming state according to the winning of the open lottery of the ordinary electric accessory 61, (iv) per time in the ordinary symbol display section 93 This means that at least one of the variable display time is reduced.
When the variable state is given in the present embodiment, any of the above four is executed. Note that at least one of the above (ii) and (iii) is generally referred to as “electric chew support” or “electric support”.

The jackpot control unit 145 is a function for controlling the jackpot game.
Specifically, the jackpot game in the present embodiment is executed as follows.

First, when a big win game is won by the winning / losing lottery unit 131, a special symbol corresponding to the big hit game is selected by the special symbol selecting unit 132, and the selected special symbol is stopped and displayed on the special symbol display unit 91 (special After the symbol variation game with symbols is finished), the big hit control unit 145 starts the big hit game.
When the big hit game is started, the big hit control unit 145 issues a command regarding the opening effect indicating the start of the big hit game to the effect control unit 210. The effect control unit 210 executes the opening effect for a predetermined time (opening time) according to the command of the big hit control unit 145. In addition, it is preferable to encourage the player to launch a game ball into the second flow path Y toward the big prize opening 55 by recommending the player to make a right strike in the opening effect.
After the opening effect, the round game in which the special winning opening 55 is opened is performed a plurality of times with a predetermined number of times (number of rounds) as an upper limit. In the round game, the special winning opening 55 is opened a predetermined number of times (for example, once). Also, after a specified number of game balls have entered the opened big winning opening 55, or after a predetermined time (round gaming time) has elapsed, the big winning opening 55 is closed and the round game ends.
After the end of the round game, the big prize opening 55 is closed for a predetermined time (interval time), and the big prize opening 55 is opened again with the start of the next round game.

The jackpot control unit 145 transmits a command including the number of rounds, round game time, interval time, and the like as control information to the special power control unit 190 in order to perform control as described in the previous stage.
The special electric combination control unit 190 operates the actuator AC2 according to the command received from the big hit control unit 145 to open the special electric combination item 65. Also, the special electric role control unit 190 determines the number of game balls that have entered the big prize opening 55 during one round game while the special electric accessory 65 is opened based on the detection of the count switch SW4. Monitoring. Then, the special electric combination control unit 190 operates the actuator AC2 to close the special electric combination 65 when the number of game balls entered reaches the upper limit.

The big hit control unit 145 issues a command related to the effect related to the round game to the effect control unit 210. The effect control unit 210 executes the round effect according to the command of the big hit control unit 145.
When the prescribed number of rounds is over, the jackpot control unit 145 issues a command regarding the ending effect indicating the end of the jackpot game to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110. The effect control unit 210 executes an ending effect for a predetermined time (ending time) according to the command of the jackpot control unit 145, and the jackpot control unit 145 ends the jackpot game.

<About payout control>
The gaming machine 10 includes a payout control unit 230 that controls the payout mechanism unit 70 communicating with the upper ball tray 27 and can pay out the prize balls to the upper ball tray 27.
More specifically, the main control unit 100 pays out a predetermined prize ball in response to winning detection by each count switch (count switch SW1, count switch SW2, count switch SW4, count switch SW5). Command is output. Then, the payout control unit 230 controls the payout mechanism unit 70 based on the command received from the main control unit 100. The payout mechanism 70 is disposed behind the middle frame (not shown) and cannot be visually recognized when the front frame 20 is closed.
The number of predetermined prize balls set in advance for each count switch may be appropriately set according to the embodiment, and is not limited to an example.

<Variation display of symbol variation game and production symbol>
The gaming machine 10 includes a symbol display control unit 150, an effect control unit 210, and a variation pattern processing unit 160.
The symbol display control unit 150 causes the symbol display 90 to display a special symbol that is a result of the symbol variation game based on the special symbol or a normal symbol that is a result of the symbol variation game based on the normal symbol.
The effect control unit 210 causes the effect display unit 80 to display an effect display related to a symbol variation game or a big hit game based on special symbols. In particular, regarding the execution of the symbol variation game by the special symbol, the main display portion 81 which is a part of the display area of the effect display 80 according to the variation time of the symbol variation game by the special symbol in the special symbol display portion 91. In addition, the effect symbols are displayed in a variable manner. In other words, the effect control unit 210 executes, in principle, the symbol variation game by one special symbol in the special symbol display unit 91 and the one effect display in the main display unit 81 in association with each other.

  Here, in the case where an effect display having continuity over a symbol variation game with a plurality of special symbols is executed, or for a symbol variation game with one special symbol, a plurality of variations are set as one set. An effect display may be executed. The former representative example is an effect display called a so-called continuous notice effect, and the latter representative example is an effect display called a so-called pseudo-continuous effect.

The variation pattern processing unit 160 determines a variation pattern in order to ensure the correspondence between the above-described symbol variation game with special symbols and the variation display of the effect symbols.
The variation pattern processing unit 160 determines a variation pattern including at least variation time information indicating the time from when the symbol display control unit 150 starts the variation display until the stop display is performed in the symbol variation game using the special symbols. In addition, the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern processing unit 160 is output to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110 and is also used when a display effect (reach effect or the like) on the effect indicator 80 is executed. .
The special symbol display control unit 151 executes a symbol variation game with a special symbol according to the variation pattern, and the effect control unit 210 executes variation display of the effect symbol according to the variation pattern, thereby ensuring these correspondences. doing.

In the above description, it is described that the effect control unit 210 controls the effect display of the effect display device 80 (the main display unit 81, the upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, and the right sub display unit 84). However, the lighting (flashing) effect by the lighting device 35 or the sound effect by the speaker 33 can also be controlled. The effect display, the lighting effect, the sound effect, etc. are combined to stimulate the player's interest. be able to.
In addition, the production control unit 210 can switch various productions variably in accordance with the player's operation received by the button 37.
In addition, the effect control unit 210 can execute movement control of the upper sub display unit 82, the left sub display unit 83, or the right sub display unit 84, and can control movement of a so-called decorative movable body (not shown). It may be possible to execute.

  In the above description, it has been described that the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern processing unit 160 includes at least variation time information. In addition to this, the variation pattern may include information indicating whether the reach effect is to be performed or separated, information indicating the type of reach effect, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the effect symbol that is variably displayed on the main display unit 81. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination of effect symbols stopped and displayed on the main display unit 81.
As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of effect symbols are scrolled (variably displayed) in the upper, middle, or lower stages of the main display unit 81. The arrows shown in FIG. 6 indicate the stage and direction in which each effect symbol scrolls. In other words, the effect symbols in the present embodiment are configured to scroll mainly from right to left, and the scrolling is stopped or temporarily stopped for each stage. The order in which the scrolling stops at each stage (the effect symbol is displayed as a temporary stop display) is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, in principle, the order is the upper stage → the lower stage → the middle stage.
Here, the temporary stop is a display mode indicating that the vehicle is temporarily stopped, and means a state that can be changed again. In addition, the temporary stop in the present embodiment is that the progress of the effect symbol in the scroll direction (normally the left-right direction) is stopped, and the swing in the direction different from the scroll direction or the change in the display of the effect symbol (character The operation is allowed.

In the present embodiment, the position where the effect symbol can be stopped and displayed is limited to a vertical line located in the center of the main display unit 81, and this vertical line is referred to as an effective line. In other words, the gaming machine 10 is a pachinko machine having a single effective line.
In the implementation of the present invention, the number of effective lines need not be single, and a plurality of effective lines may be provided.

Each effect symbol illustrated in FIG. 6 or FIG. Here, a number equal to the number symbol drawn as the effect symbol is entered in the circle, and a symbol corresponding to the position where the effect symbol is drawn is entered in the triangle. In the symbol, a corresponds to the upper stage La of the effective line, b corresponds to the middle stage Lb of the active line, and c corresponds to the lower stage Lc of the active line.
In addition, since the scroll direction in this embodiment is the left-right direction, the scroll of the effect symbol is executed for each stage, but when the scroll direction is the vertical direction, the effect symbol is scrolled for each column. For this reason, the description content described as “stage” in the present embodiment can be synonymous with “column” when implemented in a gaming machine in which the scroll direction is the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the effect symbols displayed on the main display unit 81 in the present embodiment are numeric symbols that respectively express numbers in a decorative manner.
In addition, as a design, for example, a character with an animal motif added with a number, an organism such as a person or a plant, an inorganic material such as a vehicle or a robot, or an abstract design (for example, a character, a design or a symbol) ) With a number added may be used. In addition, when a character is used as an effect design, it is not limited to the case where a part of the effect design is a character, the character may be the effect design itself, or the effect design and the character are integrated so that they cannot be distinguished. Also good.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a combination of effect symbols stopped and displayed on the active line. Specifically, the effect symbol D2a is shown above the effective line, the effect symbol D4b is shown in the middle of the effective line, and the lower line of the effective line. The effect design D3c is stopped and displayed. Note that the state where the combination of effect symbols in FIG. 7 is stopped and displayed corresponds to the above-mentioned “separation”.
Hereinafter, the internal processing until the combination of effect symbols shown in FIG. 7 is stopped and displayed on the active line will be described with reference to FIG. 8 or FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time chart from the start of the variation display of the effect symbol to the stop display of the break-up eyes. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating image data used for a variation display, a temporary stop display, or a stop display of an effect symbol.

In FIG. 8, a period displayed as “symbol changing game (1)” indicates a period in which one symbol changing game is being executed.
In addition, “T _O ” in FIG. 8 indicates the start time of the symbol variation game. “T ₁ ” indicates a point in time when the change display is switched to the temporary stop display in the upper stage La in the symbol change game. “T ₂ ” indicates a time point when the change display is switched to the temporary stop display in the lower stage Lc in the symbol change game. “T ₃ ” indicates a time point when the change display is switched to the temporary stop display in the middle stage Lb in the symbol change game. “T ₄ ” indicates a time point when the temporary stop display is switched to the stop display in all stages (upper stage La, middle stage Lb, and lower stage Lc) in the symbol variation game. “T _E ” indicates the end point of the symbol variation game.
It should be noted that the interval of each time point (T _O , T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , T ₄ or T _E ) in FIG. 8 can be changed according to the situation in which the symbol variation game is executed. And the actual execution period do not necessarily match.

The effect symbols shown in FIG. 9 represent the number symbol “1” to the number symbol “4” displayed on the main display unit 81.
Further, FIG. 9 shows that in the case where the number symbol “1” is stopped and displayed at any level, the image data displayed at the level where the number symbol “1” is stopped is displayed in a variable manner. It is shown that the image data (A) is in the execution period of (2), the image data (B) is in the execution period of temporary stop display, and the image data (C) is in the execution period of stop display.
Further, FIG. 9 shows that when the number symbol “2” is stopped and displayed at any level, the image data displayed at the level where the number symbol “2” is stopped is displayed as a variable display. It is shown that the image data is (d) in the execution period of, image data (e) in the execution period of temporary stop display, and image data (f) in the execution period of stop display.
Further, FIG. 9 shows that in the case where the stop is displayed with the number symbol “3” in any step, the image data displayed in the step where the number symbol “3” is stopped is displayed in a variable display. It is shown that the image data (g) is in the execution period of, the image data (h) is in the execution period of temporary stop display, and the image data (g) is in the execution period of stop display.
Further, FIG. 9 shows that in the case where the stop is displayed with the number symbol “4” in any stage, the image data displayed in the stage where the number symbol “4” is stopped and displayed is the variable display. It is shown that the image data (N) is in the execution period of, the image data (L) is in the execution period of the temporary stop display, and the image data (W) is in the execution period of the stop display.
Here, the image data is at least one of still image data and moving image data. Further, the image data (A) to the image data (W) may be composed of a single data file or a plurality of data files.

The processing procedure for displaying the combination of effect symbols is as follows.
First, the processing when the variation start condition is satisfied (T _{0 in} FIG. 8) is as follows.
The special symbol selection unit 132 selects a special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display unit 91. The special symbol to be selected here is in accordance with the result of the success / failure lottery of the big hit game by the success / failure lottery unit 131. The variation pattern processing unit 160 generates a variation pattern including the above-described variation time information (information indicating a time corresponding to T ₀ to T _{E in} FIG. 8) and information indicating that a reach or a break is observed. The symbol display control unit 150 causes the special symbol display unit 91 to start the symbol variation game (the symbol variation game (1) in FIG. 8) upon receiving information indicating the lost symbol and an instruction including the variation pattern.
Further, when a command including the variation pattern is input, the effect control unit 210 selects a combination of effect symbols to be stopped and displayed with reference to a table shown in FIG.
Here, in this embodiment, since there are four types of effect symbols, there are 4 ³ = 64 combinations of effect symbols. FIG. 10 is a table used by the effect control unit 210 to select a combination of effect symbols to be stopped and displayed in a normal effect symbol variation. The combination of effect symbols shown by the table in the figure is the same as the combination of effect symbols that can actually be stopped and displayed on the main display unit 81. In the table shown in the figure, the combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the first portion p1 is a disjointed pattern and is displayed as a continuous display mode. The combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the second portion p2 is a symbol alignment (hit). The combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the third portion p3 is a losing eye through a reach eye. The combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the fourth part p4 is a disjoint pattern and can be displayed as an end display mode.
Although details will be described later, the table shown in FIG. 10 can also be used in the first pseudo-continuous production.

If the input command includes information indicating the winning of the big hit game, the effect control unit 210 refers to the control condition of the second part p2 of the table shown in FIG. Select as a combination of production symbols. In addition, if the input command includes information indicating that the jackpot game has been lost and information indicating that it will be reached, the effect control unit 210 refers to the control condition of the third part p3 of the table. Then, select the missing eye through the reach eye as a combination of production symbols. Further, if the input command includes information indicating that the command is to be broken, the effect control unit 210 refers to the control condition of the fourth part p4 of the table, and displays the break temporarily or Select as a combination of effect symbols to be stopped.
In addition, since the combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the first part p1 of the same table indicates the continuous display mode as described above, it is not selected in the normal variation, and is a pseudo continuous effect described later. Can be selected.

Subsequently, the effect control unit 210 determines an effect to be executed before displaying the break-up eyes based on the change pattern, and the timing for switching each stage from the change display to the temporary stop display (T1, T2, FIG. 8). T3 or T4) is determined.
Furthermore, the effect control unit 210 selects image data to be displayed on each stage during the change display period of the effect symbol. Here, image data (d) is selected for the upper stage La, image data (nu) is selected for the middle stage Lb, and image data (g) is selected for the lower stage Lc. Here, in the image data (d), the image data (nu), or the image data (g), the numerical symbol “2”, the numerical symbol “4”, or the numerical symbol “3” is temporarily stopped at each end time. It is video data. Subsequently, the effect control unit 210 searches for the display start time of the image data on the basis of the end time of the selected image data. For example, when the variable display period (T ₁ -T _O ) in the upper stage La is 2 seconds, the effect control unit 210 searches for 2 seconds before the end of the image data as the display start time. Then, the effect control unit 210 displays each image data on each stage so as to start from the searched display start time.
Here, the change start conditions are (i) that the symbol change game with special symbols is not executed, (ii) that the big hit game is not executed, and (iii) there is one or more reserved memories. Etc.

Next, the processing when switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display in the upper stage La (T _{1 in} FIG. 8) is as follows.
The effect control unit 210 displays the image data (e) on the upper stage La instead of the image data (d) displayed on the upper stage La. By a search at the display start described above, the image data (D) is adapted to be temporary stop display at timing T _1. Here, the image data (d) is the image data of the numerical symbol “2” temporarily stopped. Therefore, although the image data (d) is switched from the different image data (d) to the image data (e), it appears to the player that the numeric symbol “2” is displayed without breaks.

Next, the processing when switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display in the lower stage Lc (T _{2 in} FIG. 8) is as follows.
The effect control unit 210 displays the image data (H) in the upper La, instead of the image data (G) displayed in the lower Lc. By a search at the display start described above, the image data (G) is adapted to be temporary stop display at timing T _2. Here, the image data (H) is the image data of the numerical symbol “3” temporarily stopped. Therefore, although the image data (g) is switched to the image data (h), it appears to the player that the numerical symbol “3” is displayed without breaks.

Next, the processing when switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display in the middle stage Lb (T _{3 in} FIG. 8) is as follows.
The effect control unit 210 displays the image data (le) on the upper stage La instead of the image data (nu) displayed on the middle stage Lb. By a search at the display start described above, the image data (j) is adapted to be temporary stop display at timing T _3. Here, the image data (L) is the image data of the numerical symbol “4” temporarily stopped. Therefore, although the image data (nu) is switched to the image data (le), it appears to the player that the numerical symbol “4” is displayed without breaks.

Since T ₁ , T ₂ and T ₃ described above are selected so as to synchronize with the period of the period during which the temporarily stopped effect symbols swing, the effect symbols temporarily stopped at each stage are selected. It appears to the player as if the swing is aligned.

Next, the processing when switching from the temporary stop display to the stop display (T _{4 in} FIG. 8) in all stages (upper stage La, middle stage Lb, and lower stage Lc) is as follows.
The effect control unit 210 replaces the image data (e), image data (l), or image data (h) displayed on each level with image data (f), image data (wo), or image data (relay). ) Is displayed. The above-mentioned T ₄ is selected so as to be synchronized with the period of the period during which the temporarily stopped effect symbol oscillates, so that it was oscillating even when the image data switching process as described above was performed. It appears to the player that each design symbol stops at the same time.

Finally, the effect control unit 210, from T ₄ until shortly before the end of the symbol variation game (T _E), and displays stop each performance symbols. Here, the end of the stop display of the effect symbol does not need to be exactly the same as the end of the symbol variation game, and is preferably before the end of the symbol variation game. In addition, the period of the stop display of the effect symbol may be shorter than the period of the variable display or the temporary stop display, and it is only necessary to provide a period that allows the player to visually recognize the stop display of the effect symbol.

Although the symbol variation game and the effect symbol variation display are executed by the processing procedure as described above, this procedure is an example, and the same processing procedure is not always performed in all cases.
For example, when a command including a variation pattern including information indicating that a reach effect is performed is input, the effect control unit 210 performs the above-described image data (A) and image data as image data corresponding to the variable display of the middle stage Lb. (D) Fluctuating display image data corresponding to the reach effect may be displayed after the image data (g) or the image data (n). At this time, the temporary stop display image data displayed in the upper stage La or the lower stage Lc may be switched to the temporary stop display image data corresponding to the reach effect.
In this way, it has a lot of image data corresponding to the production, and by appropriately combining the image data to be displayed according to the situation, it is possible to realize a variable display of various production symbols, It can arouse interest.

<About continuous production and continuous production>
Subsequently, a continuous effect in the present embodiment and a continuous effect that can be executed in the middle of the continuous effect will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 26.
The continuous effect in the present embodiment is a so-called pseudo-continuous effect. Here, the quasi-continuous effect means that a single symbol variation game is executed with one variation cycle from the variation display of the effect symbols displayed in multiple stages (or multiple columns) to the temporary stop display. This is an effect in which a plurality of fluctuation cycles are continuously performed.
Specifically, the production control unit 210 executes, for example, the following process in the pseudo-continuous production. First, the effect control unit 210 refers to a variation pattern included in the input command and determines whether or not to perform a pseudo-continuous effect and, when performing the pseudo-continuous effect, the number of pseudo-continuous effects. Subsequently, the effect control unit 210 determines the display pattern stop display mode with reference to the variation pattern, and further determines the period of each change cycle and the temporary stop display mode of the effect symbol.
It should be noted that the period of each variation cycle and the temporary stop display mode of the effect symbols do not necessarily have to be determined for all other variation cycles when determining them in the first variation cycle. They may be determined during the temporary stop display period in the fluctuation cycle immediately before.

  In the pseudo-continuous production of the present embodiment, the number of production conditions included in the second condition group (the number of end display modes) is different in each variation cycle. That is, the number of effect conditions (number of end display modes) included in the second condition group differs between one continuous effect and other continuous effects executed in the same continuous effect. Details of the number of effect conditions in each variation cycle will be described later.

As in the case of the normal variation described above, it is assumed that the effect control unit 210 selects a temporary stop display or a combination of effect symbols to be stop-displayed with reference to the table shown in FIG. 10 based on the input command. Will be described.
Specifically, the effect control unit 210 selects a combination of effect symbols shown in any one of the second part p2 to the fourth part p4 of the table in the normal variation, but in the first pseudo-continuous effect. The combination of effect symbols shown in the first part p1 of the table can also be selected. Specifically, the production control unit 210 refers to the control condition of the first part p1 of the same table, when the pseudo continuous production is continued from the first time to the second time, and the continuous display mode is a combination of the production symbols. Choose as. In this embodiment, there are one combination of effect symbols that can be a continuous display mode, but here, it is expressed as “selected”.
Note that a table dedicated to pseudo-continuous effects may be provided separately, and the effect control unit 210 may perform similar selection processing with reference to the tables.

  In the present embodiment, the effect control unit 210 performs a continuous effect that selectively suggests to the player whether to continue or end the pseudo-continuous effect in the pseudo-continuous effect. In the continuous production, the production control unit 210 can cause the production display 80 (in this embodiment, the upper sub display unit 82) to display one or more “production conditions” that can satisfy the continuous display mode. Is possible.

Hereinafter, image data used for the variation display, temporary stop display, or stop display of the effect symbol in the pseudo-continuous effect will be described.
In the first pseudo-continuous production, the image data described with reference to FIG. 9 is used for production symbol variation display, temporary stop display, or stop display. That is, in the first pseudo-continuous effect, image data similar to the image data used when the continuous effect is not performed is used.

In the table shown in FIG. 10, “1”, “2”, and “3”, which are display modes (outcomes) included in the combination of effect symbols corresponding to the control condition of the first part p1, are assigned to the “first condition group” This is a continuous display mode that satisfies the included production conditions. On the other hand, the other display mode is an end display mode that satisfies the effect conditions included in the “second condition group”.
Here, the “first condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the continuous display mode that suggests that the continuous performance is continuously performed. In the present embodiment, the production condition included in the first condition group is only one of “1”, “2”, and “3”.
The “second condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the end display mode (end eye) that suggests that the continuous performance is to be ended.
It should be noted that the symbol matching pattern (the combination of effect symbols included in the control condition of the second part p2) is a result that definitely shows the big hit game, and when it is displayed, the continuous effect is also ended. Therefore, the pattern matching eye also falls under the second condition group.

As described above, the production control unit 210 (production control means) continuously performs a variation display of a plurality of production symbols over a plurality of stages (or a plurality of columns) during execution of the pseudo-continuous production (continuous production). The production condition is a combination of production symbols.
That is, the player can easily determine the success or failure of formation of the continuous display mode (whether or not the continuous effect continues) by the combination (arrangement) of the effect symbols displayed on the main display unit 81. Therefore, the effect of stimulating the game entertainment when the continuous production continues is further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the number of effect conditions included in the first condition group is the number of effect symbol combinations that can be taken by the continuous display mode. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the control condition of the first portion p1 indicates “ 1 ”,“ 2 ”and“ 3 ”. Further, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is the number of effect symbol combinations that can be taken by the end display mode. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the second part p2, the third part p3, and the fourth part. The number of combinations of effect symbols indicated by the control condition of p4 is 63.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating image data used for displaying the effect symbol of the middle stage Lb in the second pseudo-ream effect. Image data obtained by replacing (changing) the display of the number design “3” with the display of the number design “2” is used for the display of the effect design in the second middle stage Lb of the pseudo continuous effect.
The image data related to this change is the image data represented in bold in FIG. Specifically, the temporary stop display period of the image data (data), the image data (re), the image data (wa), the image data (G) used for the variable display execution period, and the numeric symbol “2” related to the replacement The image data (F) used in the above and the image data (Y) used in the stop display period are image data changed from the first pseudo-continuous effect. Since the image data other than these is originally image data that does not include the display of the numerical symbol “3”, the above-described replacement (change) is unnecessary, and the second middle stage Lb of the pseudo-continuous effect is also included. Can be used.
Incidentally, the above-described image data shown in FIG. 9 is used for displaying the effect symbols of the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc even in the second pseudo-continuous effect. On the other hand, with respect to the effect design that fluctuates in the middle stage Lb, the image data shown in FIG. 9 used in the first and normal change of the pseudo-continuous effect is changed as follows in the second pseudo-continuous effect.

In this way, in the second pseudo-continuous production, there are four types of production symbols “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” that can be displayed on the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc, while the production that can be displayed on the middle stage Lb. Since there are three types of symbols “1”, “2”, and “4”, there are 4 ² × 3 = 48 combinations of effect symbols. FIG. 12 is a table showing a list of effect symbol combinations that are referred to when the effect control unit 210 determines the temporary stop display or stop display mode of the effect symbols in the second pseudo-continuous effect. In the table shown in the figure, the hatched square is a numerical symbol “2” that is changed (replaced) from the numerical symbol “3” to the numerical symbol “2” in the second pseudo-continuous production. It shows that there is. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a list of effect symbol combinations that can actually be displayed on the main display unit 81.
By the above change (replacement), the numerical symbols “1”, “2”, “2”, and “4” are variably displayed in the second middle stage of the pseudo-continuous performance. Accordingly, the 16 display modes (outcomes) formed by temporarily stopping the number symbol “3” in the middle stage Lb cannot be actually displayed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 13, the combination of effect symbols decreases from 64 ways to 48 ways.
Here, the number of performance conditions included in the first condition group is the number of continuous display modes. In the example shown in FIG. 12, “1”, “2”, “3” included in the first portion p1. One remains unchanged. Accordingly, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group (the number of end display modes) is 48, which is the total number of combinations of effect symbols, and the number of effect conditions included in the first condition group (the number of continuous display modes). 47 which is obtained by subtracting 1).
As described above, in the second pseudo-continuous production, the number of continuous display modes (production conditions included in the first condition group) remains the same as in the first time, and the end display mode (second condition group). The number of production conditions) included in. Thereby, since it seems that “1”, “2”, and “3”, which are the continuous display modes, are easily formed for the player, an interest in the continuous production is aroused.

As described above, the effect control unit 210 can display a plurality of display conditions as the effect condition at the first time in at least part of the case where the continuous display mode is displayed at the first time (one continuous effect) of the pseudo-continuous effect. By making at least a part of the effect symbols (64 combinations of effect symbols shown in FIG. 10) non-displayable, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is the same as the first and pseudo-continuous effect 2 It can be made different for the second time (other continuation effects). As described above, the second time is performed after the first time in the same continuous performance.
Here, making an effect symbol undisplayable means that the effect symbol is invisible on the display area (for example, the main display unit 81) when viewed from the player, and the effect symbol is displayed as in the present embodiment. It is not limited to the replacement process, and may be a process of deleting the display of the effect symbol. Specifically, the process of replacing the display of the effect symbols is the image data (for example, “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”) that is displayed before the process. ), Instead of displaying some of the effect symbols in the image data with other effect symbols (for example, image data displayed in order of “1” “2” “2” “4”). It is to let you. In addition, the process of deleting the display of the effect symbol is the image data (for example, image data displayed consecutively in the order of “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”) displayed before the process. Instead, it is to display image data (for example, image data displayed consecutively in the order of “1”, “2”, and “4”) from which some effect symbols in the image data are deleted. In this example, the area where the deleted “3” is displayed may be blank (space), may be narrowed, or may be made invisible by overlapping another effect image. .

  In other words, the production control unit 210 displays a plurality of production symbols that can be displayed as production conditions in the first time in at least a part of the case where the continuous display mode is displayed in the first time (one continuous production). Among them, in order to make it impossible to display at least a part of the effect symbols that cannot satisfy the effect condition in the second time (other continuation effects), the effect symbol is deleted or replaced with an effect symbol that can satisfy the effect condition. Due to this processing (impossible to be displayed by the effect control unit 210), the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group at the second time is less than the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group at the first time. Become.

In FIG. 12, the outcomes of “3”, “2” and “3” and the outcomes of “3”, “4” and “3” included in the third part p3 are reach eyes based on the numerical symbol “3”. Since the number symbol “3” cannot be displayed in the second middle stage of the pseudo-continuous production, when these reach eyes are formed, there is a possibility that the player's interest will be impaired. Accordingly, in the second pseudo-rendition production, “3”, “1”, “3” outcomes, “3”, “2”, “3” outcomes included in the third part p3 in the list shown in FIG. For the outcomes of “3”, “4”, and “3”, it is preferable to perform a prohibition process such as setting a flag to that effect so that the effect control unit 210 does not select. By performing this prohibition process, the number of presentation conditions (end display mode) included in the second condition group is 3 from the 47 described above, which is the number of combinations of presentation symbols to be subjected to the prohibition process shown in FIG. This can be 44 minus.
In addition, for example, when the losing eyes are stopped and displayed in the pseudo-continuous production, from the viewpoint of the production effect, a display mode in which the reach eyes become losing eyes instead of the loose eyes (the outcomes included in the fourth part p4) A configuration may be adopted in which the outcomes included in the three portions p3 are selected. With this configuration, the number of effect conditions (end display mode) included in the second condition group is the number of effect symbol combinations included in the fourth portion p4 shown in FIG. It can be set to 12 minus 35.

As described above, the effect control unit 210 disables display of the effect symbol corresponding to the latest stage (middle stage Lb) at which the timing of switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display among the plurality of stages (or a plurality of columns). At this time, it is preferable that the effect control unit 210 prohibits the reach effect using the effect symbols that cannot be displayed.
In addition, when performing display control of effect symbols in a configuration in which display is stopped without changing from the temporary display to the temporary display, the effect control unit 210 has the latest timing of switching from the variable display to the stop display among a plurality of stages. The effect design corresponding to the stage may be disabled.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing image data used for displaying the effect symbol of the middle stage Lb in the third pseudo-ream effect. As shown in the figure, in the third middle stage Lb of the pseudo-continuous production, among the image data used in the second pseudo-continuous production shown in FIG. 11, the display of the numerical symbol “1” is displayed as the numerical symbol “2”. The image data replaced (changed) by is used.
The image data related to this change is the image data represented in bold in FIG. Specifically, image data (tu), image data (ra), image data (mu), image data (c) used for the variable display execution period, and the temporary stop display period of the numeric symbol “2” related to replacement The image data (ne) used in the above and the image data (na) used in the stop display period are the image data changed from the second pseudo-continuous effect. Since the image data other than these is originally image data that does not include the display of the numerical symbol “1”, the above-described replacement (change) is unnecessary, and the third stage Lb of the pseudo-continuous effect is also provided. Can be used.
For the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc, the image data used in the first pseudo-continuous effect shown in FIG. 9 can be used.

As described above, in the third pseudo-continuous production, there are four types of production symbols “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” that can be displayed on the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc, while the production that can be displayed on the middle stage Lb. Since there are two types of symbols “2” and “4”, there are 4 ² × 2 = 32 combinations of effect symbols. FIG. 15 is a table showing a list of effect symbol combinations that are referred to when the effect control unit 210 determines the temporary stop display or stop display mode of the effect symbols in the third pseudo-continuous effect. In the list shown in the figure, the hatched square is a numerical symbol “2” which is changed (replaced) from the numerical symbol “3” to the numerical symbol “2” in the second pseudo-continuous production. The squares with vertical line hatching indicate that the number symbol “2” is changed (replaced) from the number symbol “1” to the number symbol “2” in the third pseudo-continuous production. It shows that there is. FIG. 16 is a view showing a list of combinations of effect symbols that can be actually displayed on the main display unit 81.
As a result of this change (replacement), the numerical symbols “2”, “2”, “2”, and “4” are variably displayed in the third middle stage of the pseudo-continuous performance. Accordingly, since the 32 display forms (outcomes) formed by temporarily stopping the number symbol “1” or the number symbol “3” in the middle stage appear to disappear, the combination of effect symbols as shown in FIG. It seems that the total number of has decreased from 48 to 32 in the second pseudo-rendition production.
Here, the number of effect conditions included in the first condition group is the number of continuous display modes. In the example shown in FIG. 15, “1”, “2”, and “3” included in the first portion p1. One remains unchanged. Accordingly, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group (the number of end display modes) is 32, which is the total number of combinations of effect symbols, and the number of effect conditions included in the first condition group (the number of continuous display modes). ) Which is 1) is 31 subtracted.
In this way, in the third pseudo-continuous production, the number of continuous display modes (production conditions included in the first condition group) remains the same as in the second time, and the end display mode (in the second condition group). The number of production conditions included) is reduced. Thereby, since it seems that “1”, “2”, and “3”, which are the continuous display modes, are easily formed for the player, an interest in the continuous production is aroused.

In FIG. 15, “1”, “2”, “1” included in the third portion p3, “1”, “4”, “1” are reach by the numerical symbol “1”, and the pseudo-continuous Since the number symbol “1” cannot be displayed in the third stage of the production, when these reach eyes are formed, there is a possibility that the interest of the player is impaired. Accordingly, in the third pseudo-rendition production, the outcomes of “1”, “2”, “1” and the outcomes of “1”, “4”, “1” included in the third part p3 in the list shown in FIG. In order to prevent the production control unit 210 from selecting, a prohibition process such as setting a flag to that effect is preferably performed. By performing this prohibition process, the number of presentation conditions (end display mode) included in the second condition group is 6 from the above 31, which is the number of combinations of presentation symbols to be subjected to the prohibition process shown in FIG. This can be 25 minus.
Further, as described above, in the case where the losing eyes are stopped and displayed in the pseudo-continuous production, from the viewpoint of the production effect, the display is changed from the reach eyes to the losing eyes instead of the loose eyes (the outcomes included in the fourth portion p4). It is good also as a structure which selects the aspect (the outcome contained in the 3rd part p3). By configuring in this way, the number of effect conditions (end display mode) included in the second condition group is the number of effect symbol combinations included in the fourth part p4 shown in FIG. It can be set to 8 by subtracting 23.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group decreases as the number of variable cycles increases in the same continuous effect (pseudo-continuous effect). In other words, the second pseudo-continuous effect (the other continuous effect) is performed after the first pseudo-continuous effect (one continuous effect) in the same continuous effect. The number of production conditions in the condition group is smaller than the number of production conditions in the second condition group in the first pseudo-continuous production.
In the present embodiment, the “same continuous production” is an production in which a plurality of variations are set as one set for a symbol variation game with one special symbol, and is recognized by a player as a series. This is a pseudo-continuous performance to be executed.

  Specifically, in the examples shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 15, among the production conditions included in the second condition group in the first pseudo-continuous production, that is, the production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode, a numerical symbol is displayed in the middle stage Lb. The display mode (outcome) formed by temporarily stopping “3” cannot be displayed in the second and subsequent pseudo-continuous effects. Further, in the third and subsequent pseudo-continuous effects, the display mode (outcome) formed by temporarily stopping the numerical symbol “1” cannot be displayed in the middle stage Lb. Thus, the player can see that the number of production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode decreases as the number of pseudo-continuous productions increases (continuous production continues).

  By configuring in this way, the continuous production continues, and the production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode are reduced. Therefore, the player may fail to continue the continuous production (the continuous production is Receives evidence that the possibility of termination) has decreased. Accordingly, as a result, it seems that the player has a higher possibility of continuation, and the player's interest is aroused.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time chart from the start of the variation display of the effect symbol to the second pseudo-continuous effect. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a third time chart of the pseudo-continuous effect. FIGS. 19 to 26 are diagrams illustrating examples of effect images displayed on the main display unit 81 or the upper sub display unit 82 during execution of the continuous effect. Further, the effect lines displayed in the vicinity of the upper left and the lower right of each effect symbol shown in the figure indicate a state in which the effect symbol is temporarily stopped.
In FIG. 17 or FIG. 18, the period displayed as “symbol variation game (1)” indicates a period during which one symbol variation game is executed, and “pseudo sequence (1)”, “pseudo sequence ( 2) "and" Pseudo-continuous (3) "indicate periods during which the first, second, and third variation cycles of the pseudo-continuous performance are being executed.
Further, “T _O ” in FIG. 17 or FIG. 18 indicates the start time of the symbol variation game. When “n” is a natural number, “T _n0 ” indicates the start time of the continuous effect at the n-th pseudo-continuous effect. “T _n1 ” indicates a time point when the display is switched from the change display to the temporary stop display in the upper stage La in the n-th pseudo continuous effect. “T _n2 ” indicates a time point when the display is switched from the change display to the temporary stop display in the lower stage Lc at the n-th time of the pseudo continuous effect. “T _n3 ” indicates a time point when the display is switched from the change display to the temporary stop display in the middle stage Lb in the n-th time of the pseudo continuous effect. “T ₁₄ ” indicates a point in time when the temporary stop display of all stages (upper stage La, middle stage Lb, and lower stage Lc) in the first pseudo-continuous effect is finished and the second pseudo-continuous effect starts. “T ₂₄ ” indicates a point in time when the temporary stop display of all the stages (upper stage La, middle stage Lb, and lower stage Lc) in the second pseudo-continuous effect ends and the third pseudo-continuous effect starts. “T ₃₄ ” indicates a time point when the temporary stop display is switched to the stop display in all the stages (upper stage La, middle stage Lb, and lower stage Lc) in the third pseudo-continuous performance. “T _E ” in FIG. 18 indicates the end point of the symbol variation game.
Note that the interval between each time point (T _O , T _n0 , T _n1 , T _n2 , T _n3 , T _n4, or T _E ) in FIG. 17 or FIG. 18 may change depending on the situation where the symbol variation game is executed. The interval shown in the figure does not necessarily match the actual execution period.

Hereinafter, an example of the execution transition of the continuous effect (pseudo continuous effect) in the present embodiment will be described in detail based on the time chart of FIG. 17 or FIG.
First, the symbol variation game starts at T _O s 17, when first variation cycle of the pseudo continuous presentation is started, continued effect at T ₁₀ seconds is started (see FIG. 19). As shown in FIG. 19, during the period when the continuous display mode in the first fluctuation cycle is “1”, “2”, “3” is displayed on the upper sub-display unit 82 and is clearly indicated to the player, This is a period that selectively suggests whether or not to continue (pseudo-continuous effects), and corresponds to an execution period of continuous effects. In the example shown in FIG. 17, a period from T ₁₀ seconds to T ₁₃ seconds is a continuous effect execution period.

In _TO seconds, the effect control unit 210 determines whether or not to execute a pseudo-continuous effect, and further determines the following when executing the pseudo-continuous effect. That is, the effect control unit 210 determines the number of pseudo-continuous effects to be executed and the timing for starting each fluctuation cycle. In addition, the effect control unit 210 determines a combination of effect symbols that are temporarily stopped and displayed in each pseudo-continuous effect, and a combination of effect symbols that are finally stopped and displayed.
Furthermore, the performance control unit 210 T _O s, reads the image data for displaying the performance symbol in first pseudo continuous effect. Specifically, based on the determined combination of effect symbols for temporary stop display or the combination of effect symbols for stop display, the “variable display period”, “temporary display” are selected from the image data defined in the table shown in FIG. Image data suitable for each period of “stop display period” or “stop display period” is selected for each effect symbol.

The period from _TO seconds to T ₁₁ seconds is a period in which the effect symbols scroll in all stages of the upper stage La, the middle stage Lb, and the lower stage Lc as shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, it is expressed as “variation display”.

After the continuation effect is started at T ₁₀ seconds, the upper stage La temporarily stops at time T ₁₁ seconds (see FIG. 20), and the state in which the effect symbol of the middle stage Lb or the lower stage Lc scrolls while the upper stage is temporarily stopped is T _12. Continue to seconds. Here, the effect symbol D1a temporarily stopped at the upper stage La is the numeric symbol “1”. Therefore, the temporary stop of the production symbol D1a can cause the player to have a feeling that the continuous display mode may be displayed.

Next, at the time point T ₁₂ seconds, the lower stage Lc is temporarily stopped (see FIG. 21), and the state in which the effect symbol of the middle stage Lb is scrolled continues until T ₁₃ seconds while the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc are temporarily stopped. Specifically, the numerical symbols “1” and “2” as shown in FIG. 21 are shown in the middle Lb during the period from T ₁₂ seconds to T ₁₃ seconds in which the variation of the production symbols in the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc is temporarily stopped. The change display Mb1 is “3” and “4”.
In this example, the effect symbol D3c temporarily stopped at the lower stage Lc is the numeric symbol “3”. Thus, if “2” is temporarily stopped at the middle stage Lb thereafter, the effect symbols corresponding to the continuous display mode are arranged. become. Therefore, the temporary stop of the effect symbol D3c can give the player a sign that the possibility that the continuous display mode is displayed has increased.

Subsequently, the middle Lb is temporarily stopped at the time T ₁₃ seconds (see FIG. 22), all the stages is the suspend state. Here, the production symbol D2b temporarily stopped at the middle stage Lb is the numeric symbol “2”. As shown in FIG. 22, “1”, “2”, and “3” are displayed in order from the upper stage La according to the stage symbols (stages of stage symbols) that are temporarily stopped at this time, and continue. A display mode is formed. Therefore, the player can recognize that the continuation from the first fluctuation cycle to the second fluctuation cycle has been confirmed, and receives a testimony that the possibility of being awarded a big hit game is improved. Arouses the interest of

Thereafter, the second fluctuation cycle of the pseudo-continuous production starts at time T ₁₄ seconds. In this example, in the second variation cycle of the pseudo-continuous production, it is assumed that the continuous display mode is formed by the production symbols of each stage temporarily stopped as in the first variation cycle. In other words, the continuous effect starts at time T ₂₀ seconds, the effect symbol temporarily stops at the upper stage La at time T ₂₁ seconds, the effect symbol temporarily stops at the lower stage Lc at time T ₂₂ seconds, and the middle stage Lb at time T ₂₃ seconds. The production symbol is temporarily stopped at, and a continuous display mode is formed by the production symbol of each stage at the time T ₂₃ seconds.

In effect control unit 210 T ₁₄ seconds, selects the image data for displaying the performance symbol in the second pseudo continuous effect. Specifically, based on the determined combination of effect symbols for temporary stop display or effect symbol combinations for stop display, the upper La and lower Lc are selected from the image data defined in the table shown in FIG. Image data suitable for each period of “variable display period”, “temporary stop display period”, or “stop display period” is selected for each effect symbol. On the other hand, as described above, the middle stage Lb is adapted to each period of “variable display period”, “temporary stop display period”, or “stop display period” from the image data defined in the table shown in FIG. The image data to be selected is selected for each effect symbol.

Here, in the second pseudo-series effect, the image data for displaying the effect symbol that fluctuates in the middle stage Lb is image data in which the numeric symbol “3” is replaced with the numeric symbol “2” as described above. Therefore, during the period from T ₂₂ seconds to T ₂₃ seconds when the variation of the effect symbols in the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc is temporarily stopped, in the middle stage Lb, as shown in FIG. 23, the numerical symbols “1” “2” “2” "4" is displayed as a fluctuation display Mb2. As a result, compared to the first time of the pseudo-continuous production, it seems to the player that the number symbol “2” is easily temporarily stopped in the middle stage Lb, and as a result, the production conditions included in the first condition group are changed. It seems that “1”, “2”, and “3”, which are satisfactory continuous display modes, are easily formed. In other words, it appears to the player that the number of end display modes that satisfy the performance conditions included in the second condition group is reduced as compared to the first pseudo-continuous performance.

Then, the third fluctuation cycle of the pseudo-continuous production starts at time T ₂₄ seconds. In the present embodiment, the pseudo-continuous production and the continuous production start in T ₃₀ seconds (see FIG. 22). During the period when the continuation display mode in the third fluctuation cycle is “1”, “2”, “3” is displayed on the upper sub-display unit 82 and clearly indicated to the player, a continuous effect (pseudo continuous effect) is provided. This is a period that selectively suggests whether to continue or end, and corresponds to an execution period of continuous production. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the period from T ₃₀ seconds to T ₃₃ seconds is the execution period of the continuous effect.

The effect control unit 210 selects image data for displaying the effect symbol in the third pseudo-continuous effect at T ₂₄ seconds. Specifically, based on the determined combination of effect symbols for temporary stop display or effect symbol combinations for stop display, the upper La and lower Lc are selected from the image data defined in the table shown in FIG. Image data suitable for each period of “variable display period”, “temporary stop display period”, or “stop display period” is selected for each effect symbol. On the other hand, as described above, the middle stage Lb is adapted to each period of “variable display period”, “temporary stop display period”, or “stop display period” from the image data defined in the table shown in FIG. The image data to be selected is selected for each effect symbol.

Here, in the third pseudo-rendition production, the image data for displaying the production design that fluctuates in the middle stage Lb is the image data in which the numeric design “1” and “3” are replaced with the numeric design “2” as described above. is there. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a period from T ₃₂ seconds when the numerical symbol “2” temporarily stops in the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc to when the effect symbol temporarily stops in the middle stage Lb. As shown in the figure, in the third pseudo-rendition effect, the variable display Mb3 with the numerical symbols “2” “2” “2” “4” is displayed in the middle stage Lb. This makes it easier for the player to temporarily stop the number symbol “2” in the middle stage Lb than in the second pseudo-rendition production. As a result, in the example shown in FIG. It seems that certain “2”, “2”, and “2” are easily formed. This arouses interest in the player's pseudo-continuous performance.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a display example in a state where the effect symbol is temporarily stopped in the middle stage Lb at T ₃₃ seconds. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the effect symbol D4b temporarily stopped in the middle stage Lb is the numeric symbol “4”, and the combination of the effect symbols formed thereby is “2” “4” “2”. This combination of effect symbols does not satisfy the effect condition displayed on the upper sub display unit 82, and therefore does not correspond to the continuous display mode but corresponds to the end display mode. Therefore, in this case, the pseudo-continuous effect ends with the fluctuation cycle. That is, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 18, the effect symbol is stopped and displayed in the subsequent T ₃₄ seconds, and the symbol variation game (1) is ended in the subsequent _TE seconds.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a period from the T ₃₂ seconds when the change in the effect symbol temporarily stops in the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc to the effect symbol temporarily stops in the middle stage Lb, as in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 26, the numerical symbol “1” (production symbol D1a) is temporarily stopped in the upper stage La, and the numerical symbol “3” (production pattern D3c) is temporarily stopped in the lower stage Lc. As described above, the variable display Mb3 with the numerical symbols “2”, “2”, “2”, and “4” is displayed on Lb. As a result, compared with the second time of the pseudo-continuous performance, it seems that the player can easily stop the numerical symbol “2” temporarily in the middle stage Lb, and as a result, the performance conditions included in the first condition group are changed. It seems that “1”, “2”, and “3”, which are satisfactory continuous display modes, are easily formed. In other words, it appears to the player that the number of end display modes that satisfy the performance conditions included in the second condition group is reduced as compared to the first pseudo-continuous performance.

In each variation cycle (each continuous effect) of the pseudo-continuous effect according to the present embodiment, the timing (T ₁₀ , T ₂₀ or T _{30 in} FIG. 17 or 18) at which the effect condition is displayed on the upper sub display unit 82. The timing of displaying the continuation display mode or the end display mode is before the display timing. Thereby, the player can visually recognize the production conditions necessary for satisfying the continuous display mode for each continuous production, recognize that the production conditions change, and the possibility that the pseudo-continuous production will continue. You can make your thoughts. Therefore, since the player's interest in the continuation of the pseudo-continuous effect (continuous effect) is further increased, the effect of the pseudo-continuous effect is enhanced.

<About various processing procedures>
Next, processing procedures of the various processes described above will be described with reference to FIG. 27 or FIG. In addition, since the description may be made by touching each component illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 26 described above, please refer to these drawings as appropriate.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the processing at the time of entering a ball. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the symbol variation start process.
Note that the processing procedures illustrated in these flowcharts do not limit the processing procedure of the present invention and the execution timing thereof. For this reason, when carrying out the processing relating to the present invention, the plurality of processing procedures can be changed within a range that does not hinder the contents, and some or all of the execution timings of the plurality of processing overlap each other. Also good.
Each process illustrated in FIG. 27 or 28 is a main process necessary for the description of the present invention, and does not indicate all processes executed by the gaming machine 10.

First, the process at the time of entering will be described. Here, the entry process is a series of processes executed after a game ball has entered the first start port 58 or the second start port 59.
Until a ball entering the first start port 58 or the second start port 59 is detected (NO in step S102), the processing after step S104 is not performed and is on standby.
Even if a ball entering the first start port 58 or the second start port 59 is detected (YES in step S102), if the number of holds by the special figure hold control unit 115 reaches the upper limit (step S104). YES), the process after step S106 is on standby without being performed.

When a ball entering the first start port 58 or the second start port 59 is detected (YES in step S102), and the number of holds by the special figure hold control unit 115 has not reached the upper limit (NO in step S104). The number of holds by the special figure hold control unit 115 is added (step S106). In addition, the special figure hold control unit 115 acquires the random number M1 or the random number M2 and holds it in a dedicated storage area (step S108).
That is, affirmation in step S102 and negation in step S104 mean that the start condition is satisfied.

  A command including a series of processing results from step S102 to step S108 as control information is output from the information transmission unit 110 to the effect control unit 210 (step S110), and the entry process is terminated.

Next, the process procedure of the symbol variation start process will be described. Here, the symbol start process is a series of processes performed when starting a symbol variation game with a special symbol.
First, the special drawing lottery control unit 130 determines whether or not a change start condition is satisfied (step S202). Here, the variation start condition is (i) that the symbol variation game with the special symbol is not executed at the time of the determination in step S202, (ii) that the big hit game is not executed at the time of the determination in step S202, (iii) ) At the time of determination in step S202, there may be one or more reserved memories.
When the determination in step S202 is negative (NO in step S202), the process after step S204 is not executed, and the symbol variation start process ends.

When the determination in step S202 is affirmative (YES in step S202), the success / failure lottery unit 131 reads the random number M1 or the random number M2 held in the special figure hold control unit 115 (step S204).
In step S <b> 204, the success / failure lottery unit 131 may read the random number M <b> 1 or the random number M <b> 2 in the order stored in the special figure hold control unit 115, or may read one with priority over the other.

Each determination process is executed when a random number is read in step S204 (step S206).
Here, the processing included in step S206 specifically includes at least the above-mentioned lottery selection by the lottery selection unit 131 and the selection of special symbols by the special figure selection unit 132. In addition, the determination processing such as (i) whether or not a variable state is given, (ii) whether or not to stop the effect design at the reach eye, (iii) whether or not to perform a specific effect is performed in step S206. It may be included in the processing. Furthermore, the determination as to whether or not to perform the pseudo-continuous effect including the direction change suggestion or the direction change notification described above may be included as part of the determination as to whether or not to perform a specific effect.
Then, the fluctuation pattern processing unit 160 determines a fluctuation pattern using the processing result of Step S206 (Step S208).

A command including a series of processing results from step S202 to step S208 as control information is output from the information transmission unit 110 to the effect control unit 210 (step S210), and the symbol variation start process ends.
The command output in step S210 is used, for example, for information indicating the processing result of the determination executed in step S206, information indicating the variation pattern determined in step S208, or for an effect executed in association therewith. Information may be included.

  Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 27 or FIG. 28, the effect control unit 210 determines whether or not to execute the above-described continuous effect at least in a case where the command output in step S210 is input, or Determine the specific content of the continuous production. That is, the effect control unit 210 can execute the above-described continuous effect triggered by the execution of the symbol variation start process by the main control unit 100.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the gaming machine 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to avoid duplication of explanation, differences between the gaming machine 10 in the first embodiment and that in the second embodiment will be described. The main difference is that in the gaming machine 10 in the second embodiment, the production conditions included in the second condition group in one continuous production are the production conditions included in the first condition group in the other continuous production. It is a point to change to.
In this embodiment, a pseudo-continuous production will be described as an example of the continuous production.

<About continuous production and continuous production>
First, the production conditions will be described in detail with reference to the table shown in FIG. FIG. 29 is a table showing the concept of performance conditions in the second embodiment. Also in the second embodiment, in order to promote understanding of the concept of performance conditions, it is assumed that there are only four types of numeric symbols imitating “1” to “4”. Note that the types of effect symbols are not limited to four, and any number of effect symbols may be provided. Also, the table shown in FIG. 29 is shown for convenience of description of the performance conditions, and the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include this type of data table.

In the table shown in FIG. 29, “pseudo-continuous” indicates the above-described pseudo-continuous effect. In the same table, three cells per line provided corresponding to “first pseudo sequence”, “second pseudo sequence” or “third pseudo sequence” are displayed on the main display unit 81 in order from the leftmost cell. The numbers included in the production symbols that are temporarily stopped or stopped are shown in the upper, middle, and lower stages.
In addition, combinations of numbers in the hatched rows in the same table are display modes (outcomes) included in the “first condition group” in the corresponding “pseudo consecutive nth”. On the other hand, a combination of numbers in a line not hatched is a display mode (outgoing) included in the “second condition group” in the corresponding “pseudo consecutive nth”.
Here, the “first condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the continuous display mode (continuation eye) that suggests that the continuous performance is continuously performed.
The “second condition group” is a set of performance conditions that can satisfy the end display mode (end eye) that suggests that the continuous performance is to be ended.
Here, the table includes display modes such as big hits such as “1”, “1”, “1”, etc., but in the case of big hits, the continuous effect ends, so the display mode is It is included in the two condition group.
Note that, in the table shown in FIG. 29, the portion corresponding to the “pseudo-continuous first time” is substantially the same as the table shown in FIG.

  Here, also in the second embodiment, as shown in the table, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is different between the first, second, and third pseudo-continuous effects. That is, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group differs between one continuous effect and another continuous effect that are executed in the same continuous effect.

Specifically, the number of production conditions included in the second condition group decreases as the number of pseudo-continuous productions executed in the same continuous production progresses (as the number of fluctuation cycles increases).
In the example shown in the table, the production conditions included in the second condition group in the first pseudo-continuous production, that is, the production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode are production conditions other than “1” “2” “3” In the second pseudo-continuous production, it is production conditions other than “1”, “2”, “3”, “3”, “2”, and “1”, and in the third pseudo-continuous production, they are “1”, “2”, “ Production conditions other than “3”, “2” “3” “4”, “3” “2” “1”, and “4” “3” “2”.
That is, in the present embodiment, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group, in other words, the number of effect conditions that can satisfy the end display mode, is 2 based on the number of effect conditions in the first pseudo-continuous effect. The first time decreases by one, and the third time decreases by three. That is, as the number of pseudo-continuous effects increases (as the continuous effects continue), it appears to the player that the number of effect conditions that can satisfy the end display mode decreases.
In addition, when reducing the number of performance conditions included in the second condition group in this way, the sameness of the performance conditions (outcomes) included in the second condition group is not questioned after the number is decreased. . For example, even if an effect condition that was not included in the second condition before reducing the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is included in the second condition group after decreasing the number, The number should just decrease.

In the present embodiment, the reduction in the number of performance conditions included in the second condition group is the effect included in the second condition group in the previous round, as shown in FIG. This is because the conditions are changed to the production conditions included in the first condition group in subsequent rounds.
That is, in the present embodiment, if n is a natural number, the production conditions included in the second condition group in the nth pseudo-continuous production (one continuous production) are changed to the (n + 1) -th (other + (Continuous production) is changed to the production conditions included in the first condition group. As a result, the production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode are reduced, and the production conditions that can satisfy the continuous display mode are increased, so that it seems to the player that the possibility of continuing the pseudo-continuous production is increased.
It should be noted that such a change from the second condition group to the first condition group is not necessarily performed, and a configuration in which the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is simply reduced may be employed.

<Third Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the gaming machine 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In order to avoid duplication of explanation, differences between the gaming machine 10 in the first embodiment or the second embodiment and that in the third embodiment will be described. The main difference is that the gaming machine 10 according to the third embodiment performs a “roulette effect (details will be described later)” in addition to the effect due to the change display of the effect symbol in the continuous effect described above.

Similar to the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above, also in the third embodiment, one continuous effect (for example, the first time of the pseudo continuous effect) executed in the same continuous effect (a series of pseudo continuous effects). ) And other continuous effects (for example, the second pseudo-continuous effect) differ in the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group.
Here, the roulette effect is a part of the continuous effect.
The “production condition” is a square in which the ball Ba of the roulette R displayed in the roulette production enters.
The “continuous display mode” is a display mode of the roulette R that satisfies the effect conditions displayed on the upper sub display unit 82.

In the present embodiment, the second pseudo-continuous effect (other continuous effects) is performed after the first pseudo-continuous effect (one continuous effect) in the same continuous effect. The number of production conditions in the second condition group in the second production group is smaller than the number of production conditions in the second condition group in the first pseudo-continuous production (one continuous production).
Specifically, in the roulette effect (continuous effect) in the same continuous effect, the mass (effect condition) in the roulette R that can satisfy the end display mode decreases as it is performed later.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time chart of continuous effects (pseudo-continuous effects) in the third embodiment. 31 to 34 are diagrams showing display examples of roulette effects.
In the period in which the roulette effect is performed in the main display unit 81, the effect symbols of the upper stage La and the lower part Lc are temporarily stopped as shown in the time chart of FIG. Is temporarily stopped after being reduced.
Here, “reduction temporary stop”, as shown in FIG. 31 to FIG. 34, represents that the effect symbol displayed in the reduced display area LS is temporarily stopped display, and “reduction fluctuation display”. Means that the effect symbols that are reduced and displayed in the reduced display area LS are variably displayed. The effect symbols are reduced and displayed in the reduced display area LS in this way because the roulette R is displayed on the main display unit 81 to attract the player's attention to the roulette effect.
In addition, since the effect display etc. other than the execution period of the roulette effect is common to the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 31 shows an example of the roulette effect in the first pseudo-continuous effect. Specifically, FIG. 31 shows a display example of the main display unit 81 and the upper sub display unit 82 from T ₁₂ seconds to T ₁₃ seconds. In the period shown in FIG. 31, the effect symbols of the upper stage La and the lower stage Lc are temporarily reduced and the effect symbols of the middle stage Lb are displayed in a reduced variation manner. During this period, the roulette R is performed at the substantially central portion of the main display portion 81. In detail, in the roulette R shown in FIG. 31, the ball Ba is thrown into the rotating wheel, and the position of the ball Ba changes on the wheel. At this time, the upper sub display unit 82 displays the requirements that the roulette effect result of the roulette R should satisfy in order for the continuous effect to continue. In the example shown in FIG. 31, the upper sub-display unit 82 displays “Continue if 7!”, And if the ball Ba falls on the “7” cell on the wheel, the continuous production will continue. It is clearly shown to the person.

  Here, in the case where the effect control unit 210 continues the continuous effect, the roulette effect result of the roulette R is set as an image that satisfies the requirements displayed on the upper sub display unit 82, and is matched with the display of the image. Temporarily stop the middle stage design. Here, the combination of effect symbols to be temporarily stopped may be an outcome that satisfies the effect conditions included in the first condition group described in the first embodiment. Thereby, the continuation of the continuous production is suggested.

  In addition to the above aspect, when performing a roulette effect, the player may be instructed to continue or end the continuous effect only by the roulette effect result of the roulette R.

Specifically, when the time has elapsed from the state shown in FIG. 31 and the roulette effect in the roulette R is finished, in the example shown in FIG. 32, the ball Ba has a specific square (“7”) in the roulette R in T ₁₃ seconds. And the middle stage Lb is temporarily reduced and all stages are temporarily reduced.
In the example shown in the figure, the roulette effect result by the roulette R satisfies the requirements displayed on the upper sub-display unit 82, and the display pattern of the effect symbol is a continuous display mode (“1” “2” “3”). To be satisfied, the effect symbol (“2”) is temporarily stopped in the middle stage, and the player is suggested to continue the continuous effect.

  Here, also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, as the number of pseudo-continuous effects executed in the same continuous effect increases (as the number of variable cycles increases). The number of performance conditions included in the second condition group decreases. That is, by continuing the continuous performance, as a result, it seems to the player that the possibility of the continuous performance is increased. This will be specifically described below.

In the third embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 32, the display mode suggesting that the continuous effect is continued in the first roulette effect of the pseudo-continuous effect is such that the ball Ba falls on the square “7”. It is a display mode. Hereinafter, the display mode which suggests that the continuous production is continued in the roulette production in the second and third pseudo-continuous production will be described.
FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an effect image of a period from T ₂₂ seconds to T ₂₃ seconds in the second roulette effect of the pseudo-continuous effect. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an effect image in a period from T ₃₂ seconds to T ₃₃ seconds in the third roulette effect in the pseudo-continuous effect.

The display mode that suggests that the continuous performance continues in the second roulette performance of the pseudo-continuous performance is, for example, a display mode in which the ball Ba falls on any square of “1” to “7”. This is clearly indicated to the player by the effect control unit 210, as shown in FIG. 33, with the upper sub-display unit 82 displaying “Continue if 1-7!”.
In the upper sub display unit 82 shown in FIG. 33, the display of “Continue if 1 to 7!” Is an example in which the production conditions are displayed as the above-described “information that can identify one or more production patterns”. It is. Note that the display of “Continue if 7!” In the upper sub display unit 82 shown in FIG. 32 is an example of “one or more effect patterns themselves are displayed” described above.
The display of “1 to 7 if continuation!” Is displayed for the second time of the quasi-continuous production, for the player, “7 is continuation!” Specified as a condition for the continuous production to continue in the first quasi-continuous production. As compared with, the production conditions that can satisfy the continuation display mode are increasing, but since the total number of squares of the roulette R is not changed, the production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode are decreased, and as a result The player receives a reminder that the possibility that the continuation of the continuous production will fail (the possibility that the continuous production will end) has decreased. As a result, it seems to the player that the possibility of continuation has increased, and the player's interest is aroused.
Specifically, in the first pseudo-rendition production, only the display mode of the roulette R in which the ball Ba has fallen on the “7” cell is the continuous display mode, and the display of the roulette R in which the ball Ba has dropped on the other cell. All modes are end display modes. On the other hand, in the second pseudo-rendition production, the display mode of the roulette R in which the ball Ba has dropped on the squares “2” to “6”, which was the end display mode in the first time, has been changed to the continuous display mode. As a result, it seems to the player that the number of end display modes has decreased.

And the display mode which suggests that a continuous production continues by the roulette production in the 3rd time of the pseudo-continuous production is a display mode in which the ball Ba falls on any odd square, for example. This is clearly indicated to the player by the effect control unit 210, as shown in FIG. 34, with the upper sub display unit 82 displaying "Continue if odd number!"
The display of “Continue if odd” on the upper sub display unit 82 shown in FIG. 34 is also the same as the information shown in FIG. It is the example displayed so that visual recognition was possible.
The display of “Continue if odd number!” Is displayed for the third time in the pseudo-continuous effect if the display mode of the roulette R is a display mode in which the ball Ba falls on an odd number of squares that occupy about half of all squares. This suggests that the rendition will continue. Therefore, compared with the display of “if 1 to 7 continue!” In the second pseudo-continuous performance, it appears to the player that the end display mode of the roulette R has been greatly reduced. As a result, the player seems to have increased the possibility of continuing the pseudo-continuous performance.

Note that the example described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 34 is an example, and the number of production conditions that can satisfy the continuous display mode does not have to change every time the number of continuous productions progresses. As long as the number of times progresses, it only needs to change at least once.
In addition, the performance condition that can satisfy the continuous display mode is a requirement that is clearly indicated to the player by the upper sub-display unit 82. As the number of continuous performances increases, the performance condition is relaxed for the player. It is preferable that it is visible.

<About the effect of continuous production of the present invention>
The structure, functional configuration, and processing procedure of the gaming machine 10 in each embodiment have been described above. Based on these explanations, the effect of the continuous production of the present invention will be described.
In the present invention, when suggesting the continuation of the continuous effect, the continuation display mode (continuation eye) that satisfies one or more effect conditions included in the first condition group is displayed in the continuation effect, and the end of the continuous effect is suggested. In this case, an end display mode (end eye) that satisfies one or more effect conditions included in the second condition group different from the first condition group is displayed in the continuous effect. Here, the number of effect conditions included in the second condition group is different between one continuous effect and another continuous effect executed in the same continuous effect.
Because of this feature, the number of production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode differs between one continuous production performed in the same continuous production and another continuous production, so the possibility of continuation of continuous production (continuation possibility) itself However, it seems as if it changes with each successive performance. Thereby, about the further continuation of the said continuous production, a player's interest is evoked more strongly and the production effect by a continuous production improves.
Furthermore, the other continuation effects are performed after the one continuation effect in the same continuation effect, and the number of the conditioned conditions in the second condition group in the other continuation effects is the second condition group effect in the one continuation effect. Less than the number of conditions.
Due to this feature, the continuous performance seems to the player to reduce the performance conditions that can satisfy the end display mode, so the player may fail to continue the continuous performance. You will receive a reminder as if (the possibility that the continuous production will end) has decreased. Accordingly, as a result, it seems that the player has a higher possibility of continuation, and the player's interest is aroused.

<Modification of the present invention>
Although the present invention has been described so far in accordance with the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 34, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, so long as the object of the present invention is achieved. Various modifications, improvements, etc. are also included.

In the same continuous production, a game with a proof (a proof as if the continuity has increased) that the possibility of the continuation of the continuous production has decreased as the continuous production in the later fluctuation cycle decreases. The following three configurations can be mainly given as a configuration to be given to a person.
(A) As the continuation effect in the later fluctuation cycle, the number of effect conditions (effect conditions included in the second condition group) that can satisfy the end display mode is reduced, and the effect condition that satisfies the continuation display mode ( A configuration that maintains the number of production conditions) included in the first condition group. This configuration is the configuration adopted in the first embodiment.
(B) As the continuation effect in the later fluctuation cycle, the number of effect conditions (the effect conditions included in the second condition group) that can satisfy the end display mode is reduced, and the effect condition that can satisfy the continuation display mode ( A configuration for increasing the number of production conditions) included in the first condition group. This configuration is the configuration adopted in the second embodiment.
(C) As the continuation effect in the later fluctuation cycle, the number of effect conditions (the effect conditions included in the second condition group) that can satisfy the end display mode is reduced, and the effect condition that satisfies the continuation display mode ( A configuration that reduces the number of production conditions) included in the first condition group.
As a specific example, a configuration in which the total number of cells of the roulette R in the roulette effect described above is reduced and the number of cells suggesting continuation can be reduced. For example, when the total number of squares in the initial roulette R is 32 and the number of squares suggesting continuation is 10, the total number is changed to 16 and the continuation suggesting continuation is performed in the continuous production in the later fluctuation cycle. This is an example in which the number of is changed to 8. As a result, it seemed that the ball Ba would fall to a square that suggests continuation with a probability of 10/32 at first, but in a later fluctuation cycle, the ball Ba would fall to a square that suggests continuation with a probability of 8/16. appear.
As described above, even if the number of cells suggesting continuation is reduced, the total number of cells in the roulette R is decreased so that the proportion of the number of cells corresponding to the continuous display mode in the total number of cells is increased. If so, it is possible to give the player a testimony as if the possibility that the continuation of the continuous performance would end was reduced (a testimony as if the continuation possibility was increased).

In the above-described embodiment, in the same continuous production, the number of production conditions that can satisfy the end display mode decreases as the continuous production in the later fluctuation cycle results in the continuous production. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration.
For example, you may comprise so that the number of production | presentation conditions which can satisfy an end display aspect may increase, so that the continuous production in a later fluctuation cycle in the same continuous production. Further, for example, an increase or decrease in the number of performance conditions that can satisfy the end display mode may be configured to change at least once among a plurality of fluctuation cycles.
If the production control unit 210 can execute a plurality of consecutive productions with different configurations listed above, until the production condition that can satisfy the end display mode is clearly indicated to the player, Since it becomes difficult to predict the continuation possibility of the subsequent continuous performance, the player's attention can be more strongly attracted to the continuous performance in the next fluctuation cycle.

  Although the above-described embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the pseudo-continuous effect is a continuous effect of the present invention, the same effect can be obtained even if the continuous effect of the present invention is executed based on so-called prefetch determination. This modification will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 35 is a functional block diagram showing a main control configuration of the gaming machine 10 in the modified example. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the ball entry process in the modification. FIG. 37 is an example of a time chart of continuous effects in the modification.
Note that, in the modified example described here, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment will be described with common element names and reference numerals.

The gaming machine 10 is different from the above-described embodiment in that the special figure holding control unit 115 includes a prior determination unit 118.
The pre-determination unit 118 determines whether or not the random number M1 or the random number M2 that is stored on hold is a winning value in the determination by the determination unit for lottery 131 (hereinafter, this determination is referred to as a first determination). Further, based on the determination as to whether or not the winning value is a pre-determining unit 118, the effect content (reach) determined by the effect control unit 210 in the special symbol variation game resulting from the random number M1 or the random number M2 to be determined The determination conditions of the presence / absence of the effect and the type of reach effect are determined (hereinafter, this determination is referred to as second determination).
The special figure hold control unit 115 can store the pre-determination information, which is the determination result by the pre-determination unit 118, in association with the random number M1 or the random number M2. The pre-determined information that is reserved and stored in the special figure reservation control unit 115 is output to the effect control unit 210 via the information transmission unit 110.

  Next, a description will be given of a process at the time of entering a ball in a modified example. Note that the processing from step S302 to step S308 in FIG. 36 is the same as that from step S102 to step S108 in FIG. 27, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

When the random number M1 or the random number M2 is stored on hold in step S308, the predetermination unit 118 performs predetermination processing (step S310).
The prior determination unit 118 has a determination table used for the first determination or the second determination described above, and performs each determination process based on the determination table. Note that the determination table used for the first determination stores at least a part of the winning values stored in the lottery table used in the winning lottery unit 131, and the random number M1 or the random number M2 to be determined is the determination table. The first determination can be performed based on whether or not the winning value stored in the table matches.

A command including a series of processing results from step S302 to step S310 as control information is output from the information transmission unit 110 to the effect control unit 210 (step S312), and the ball entry process in the modification is completed. .
If the command output in step S312 includes a determination condition corresponding to the continuous effect of the present invention, the effect control unit 210 that has input the command executes the continuous effect based on the determination condition. can do.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a time chart in the case of executing a continuous effect executed over a plurality of consecutive symbol variation games based on the determination by the above-described prior determination unit 118 (so-called prefetch determination). Here, the “symbol variation game (1)” is the first symbol variation game, and the “symbol variation game (2)” is the second symbol variation game. Here, the “notice effect (1)” is an effect that is executed with a change in the effect symbol in the first symbol variation game, and the “notice effect (2)” is the second symbol variation. This is an effect that is executed in the game with a change in effect design.
Here, the “same continuous effect” is an effect that has continuity over a symbol variation game with a plurality of special symbols, and a notice effect that is executed in a manner recognized by the player as a series. It is.
The time chart of FIG. 37 shows that a continuous display mode is displayed when continuing from the first symbol variation game to the second symbol variation game, as compared to the time chart assuming a pseudo-continuous effect as a continuous effect. Is different.
Since the determination by the prior determination unit 118 described above is performed at least before the second symbol variation game is executed (during or before the first symbol variation game is executed), a plurality of symbols as shown in FIG. 37 are performed. It is possible to perform a notice effect continuously in a variable game.
As illustrated in FIG. 37, the continuous effect in the present modification is described as not including the roulette effect described above, but the continuous effect including the roulette effect is executed based on the determination result of the prior determination unit 118. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the condition that satisfies the continuous display mode is displayed on the upper sub display unit 82 has been described. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the conditions may be displayed on the left sub-display unit 83, the right sub-display unit 84, etc., may be voice-guided from the speaker 33, or may not be displayed as the gaming machine 10 but may be described in the description. Good.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the vertical line located in the center of the main display unit 81 is an effective line, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, each effect symbol constituting the continuous display mode may be an array that forms a straight line in the left column or the right column, an array that forms a diagonal line across each column, or a part thereof May be an arrangement (so-called misalignment) that deviates from the straight line.

Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated in the aspect which performs the continuous production | presentation of this invention with a pachinko machine, it is applicable also to a slot machine. In this case, the privilege suggested by the continuous performance corresponds to an advantageous gaming state such as a so-called big bonus (a continuous action device for an accessory) or an assist replay time (ART).
When the continuous performance of the present invention is applied to a slot machine, the random number acquisition means can include detection of the operation of the start lever by the player as at least one of the start conditions. In addition, the slot machine includes a symbol display control means for executing a symbol variation game by rotating a plurality of reels on which a plurality of symbols are displayed in response to establishment of a start condition. Furthermore, the success / failure determination means determines, as a privilege, a transition to an advantageous gaming state that is advantageous to the player due to at least a part of the case where the winning determination is made. Further, at least a part of the case where the shift to the advantageous gaming state is determined by the success / failure determination means, the effect control means executes the continuous effect.

In the application example to the slot machine, the display area of the liquid crystal display device in which the effect display area in which the continuous display mode is displayed by the effect control unit is provided at a position different from the reel controlled by the symbol display control unit It may be. Further, the effect control means may continuously display the effect symbols in a plurality of columns during the continuous effect, and the continuous display mode may be formed by a combination of the effect symbols. Note that these effect symbols may be the numeric symbols used in the above-described embodiment.
Here, it is preferable that the effect symbols forming the continuous display mode are displayed larger than the symbols displayed on the reel and are easily visible to the player. Thereby, the player's interest can be gathered more in the continuous display mode, and the effect of the production by the continuous performance can be improved.

This embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
(1) Random number acquisition means for acquiring a random number when the start condition is satisfied, a success / failure determination means for determining success or failure of winning using the random number acquired by the random number acquisition means, and the winner determination means In at least a part of the case, the privilege granting means for granting a privilege advantageous for the player, the continuous effect suggesting the possibility that the privilege is granted, and the continuous effect is continued or ended. An effect control means that selectively suggests whether or not the continuous effect is to be performed during execution of the continuous effect, and when the effect control means suggests the continuation of the continuous effect, the first condition A second condition group different from the first condition group when a continuous display mode that satisfies one or more presentation conditions included in the group is displayed in the continuous effect and suggests the end of the continuous effect An end display mode that satisfies one or a plurality of effects included is displayed in the continuation effect, and the second continuation effect and the second continuation effect that are executed in the same continuous effect are the second A gaming machine characterized in that the number of performance conditions included in the condition group is different.
(2) The other continuous effect is performed after the one continuous effect in the same continuous effect, and the number of the effect conditions in the second condition group in the other continuous effect is the one continuous effect. The gaming machine according to (1), wherein the number is less than the number of performance conditions in the second condition group.
(3) The production condition included in the second condition group in the one continuous production is changed to the production condition contained in the first condition group in the other continuous production (2). The gaming machine described.
(4) The production control means continuously performs a variation display of a plurality of production symbols over a plurality of columns during execution of the continuous production, and the production condition is a combination of the production symbols (1) to ( The gaming machine according to any one of 3).
(A) The other continuous effect is performed after the one continuous effect in the same continuous effect, and the effect control means displays at least one when the continuous display mode is displayed in the one continuous effect. In the section, the number of the effect conditions included in the second condition group is determined by disabling at least a part of the plurality of effect symbols that can be displayed as the effect conditions in the one continuous effect. The gaming machine according to (4), wherein one continuation effect is different from the other continuation effect.
(B) The production control means includes a plurality of the production symbols that can be displayed as the production conditions in the one continuous production in at least a part when the continuous display mode is displayed in the one continuous production. Among them, in order to make the display impossible at least a part of the effect design that cannot satisfy the effect condition in the other continuous effect, the effect design is deleted or replaced with the effect symbol that can satisfy the effect condition. The number of the production conditions included in the second condition group in another continuous production due to the inability to display by the production control means is the production included in the second condition group in the one continuous production. The gaming machine according to (a), which is smaller than the number of conditions.
(C) The effect control means disables the display of the effect symbol corresponding to the column with the latest timing of switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display or the stop display among the plurality of columns (a) or (b). The gaming machine described.
(D) The game machine according to (c), wherein the effect control means prohibits a reach effect using the effect symbols that are disabled to be displayed.
(E) The random number acquisition means includes detection of operation of the start lever by the player as at least one of the start conditions, and rotates a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of symbols when the start condition is satisfied. And a symbol display control means for executing a symbol variation game by moving the game, and the winning / non-judgment determining means has an advantageous gaming state advantageous to a player due to at least a part of the case where the winning determination is made. The attraction control means executes the continuous effect (1) to (1) at least in a case where the shift to is determined as the privilege and at least part of the case where the success / failure determination means determines the shift to the advantageous gaming state. The gaming machine according to any one of 4).
(F) The gaming machine according to (e), wherein an effect display area in which the continuous display mode is displayed by the effect control unit is provided at a position different from the reel controlled by the symbol display control unit.
(G) The effect control means continuously performs a variable display of effect symbols over a plurality of columns during execution of the continuous effect, the continuous display mode is formed by a combination of the plurality of effect symbols, and the continuous display mode The gaming machine according to (f), wherein the effect symbol forming the symbol is displayed larger than the symbol displayed on the reel.

10 gaming machine 15 outer frame 20 front frame 21 hinge mechanism 23 cylinder lock 25 transparent member 27 upper ball tray 29 lower ball tray 31 operation handle 32 upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) speaker 34, 36 left right frame portion 35 (35a) 35b, 35c) Illuminating device 37 Button 39 Ball removal mechanism 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 55 Big prize opening 58 First start opening 59 Second start opening 61 Ordinary electric accessory 63 Operating gate 65 Special electric accessory 67 (67a, 67b) Ordinary winning opening 69 Out port 70 Dispensing mechanism section 80 Effect display section 81 Main display section 82 Upper sub display section 83 Left sub display section 84 Right sub display section 90 Symbol display 91 Special design Display unit 93 Normal symbol display unit 100 Main control unit 110 Information transmission unit 115 Special figure hold control unit 116 Universal map hold control unit 118 Judgment unit 130 Special symbol lottery control unit 131 Pass / fail lottery unit 132 Special symbol selection unit 140 Game state control unit 141 Probability change control unit 143 Shortening control unit 145 Big hit control unit 150 Symbol display control unit 151 Special symbol display control unit 153 Normal symbol display Control unit 160 Fluctuation pattern processing unit 170 Universal drawing lottery control unit 171 Open lottery unit 172 Universal drawing selection unit 180 Normal electric role control unit 190 Special electric role control unit 210 Production control unit 230 Discharge control unit AC1, AC2 Actuator SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5 Count switch X First flow path Y Second flow path La Upper stage Lb Middle stage Lc Lower stage Mb1 Fluctuation display Mb2 Fluctuation display Mb3 Fluctuation display p1 First part p2 Second part p3 Third part p4 Fourth part R Roulette Ba ball LS reduced display area

Claims (3)

Random number acquisition means for acquiring a random number triggered by the establishment of the start condition;
A success / failure determination means for determining success / failure of winning using the random number acquired by the random number acquisition means;
In at least a part of the case where the winning is determined by the winning / failing determining means, a privilege granting means for giving a privilege advantageous to the player;
An effect control means for executing a continuous effect that suggests the possibility that the privilege is given and a continuous effect that selectively suggests whether the continuous effect is to be continued or ended during execution of the continuous effect. And comprising
The production control means includes
During the execution of the continuous production, continuously display the variation of the symbols over a plurality of columns
In the continuation effect suggesting continuation of the continuous effect, a combination of symbols satisfying the effect condition related to the continuation display mode is displayed.
In the continuation effect suggesting the end of the continuous effect, display a combination of symbols satisfying the effect condition related to the end display mode ,
Splicing and continued directing one to be performed in the same said continuous effect, comparing the other and continuous production which is performed after the continuous effect of the one part of the symbol that E appears varies continuously directing the one Is disabled in the other continuation effects, thereby reducing the number of patterns of symbol combinations that satisfy the effect conditions related to the end display mode . At least a part of the symbols that can be variably displayed in the one continuous effect is replaced with a symbol that constitutes a combination of symbols that cannot be displayed in the other continuous effect and satisfies the effect condition related to the continuous display mode. The gaming machine according to claim 1. The effect control means disables display of a part of the symbol corresponding to the slowest timing of switching from the variable display to the temporary stop display among the plurality of columns, and prohibits the reach effect using the disabled symbol. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.

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