JP6461554B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine capable of performing a predetermined game.

  In a pachinko machine, game media as a game ball is launched into a game area by a launcher, and the game medium is awarded in a prize area such as a prize opening provided in the game area, and the execution condition (start condition) is determined to be satisfied. Is done. At that time, an effect of improving the game entertainment is performed by variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information (hereinafter referred to as display symbols) on an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device. Such an effect using an image is performed by reproducing image data stored in the gaming machine.

  An effect using such an image is common not only in pachinko gaming machines but also in other gaming machines such as slot machines. While the effects using images in gaming machines are diversifying, the number of image data stored in gaming machines and the capacity per data are also increasing. By the way, various data stored in the gaming machine are shipped after testing whether they are normal data before shipping the gaming machine. The image data used for production is also the object of this test, and various tests using the checksum method or the like are performed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine that inspects storage means on condition that two kinds of inspection commands are input from a command transmitter in a predetermined order. By starting the inspection of the storage means using such conditions, it is possible to prevent the storage means from being inadvertently inspected while playing a game.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a gaming machine that calculates a checksum for each predetermined address range in a storage unit and displays the address of data determined to be damaged. According to such a gaming machine, even if a part of the data stored in the storage means is damaged, it is possible to know the range of the predetermined address where the damaged game data is stored, and to efficiently perform the repair work. Can be done.

JP 2007-54260 A JP 2012-10950 A

  In the data check (inspection) disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the inspector who performs the inspection needs to wait for the inspection to end during the period in which the data is checked in the gaming machine. In the conventional gaming machine, during the period of checking data, the gaming machine is exclusively used for checking data, and display related to the data check is performed on the display device. In addition, as described above, the number of image data used in a gaming machine tends to increase in number and capacity per data, so that the time required for data check tends to increase. The inspector could only look at the simple display device until the data check was completed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. By adopting the following means, the image data is reproduced during the period of checking the image data, so that the visual image data can be reproduced. It is possible to confirm this.

(1-1) The gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 in FIG. 1)
A storage unit (for example, data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 in FIG. 3) storing image data used for display;
A determination process for determining whether or not the image data stored in the storage unit is normal (for example, the checksum process in FIG. 16 (step S400)) and the image data stored in the storage unit are displayed on the display unit. A control unit (for example, the CPU 121 in FIG. 3) capable of executing a playback process (for example, the image playback process in FIG. 15 (step S303)) in parallel, and the control unit receives a predetermined input. The determination process is executed on the condition that image data for which the determination process has been completed and image data for which the determination process has not been completed can be identified .

  In the gaming machine according to the 1-1 means of the present invention, the determination process for the image data and the reproduction process for reproducing the image data are executed in parallel. Conventionally, a user such as an inspector waits for completion of determination of image data by looking at a simple display relating to determination of image data, but image data used in a gaming machine as in the present invention. By reproducing the image data, it is possible to visually confirm the image data during the period of waiting for the determination of the image data. In addition, even if the image data has no problem in terms of data, there may be a problem in display and expression. According to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform a data inspection on image data, a visual display, and an inspection on expression.

(1st-2 means) Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1) is the 1st-1 means,
The reproduction process is characterized in that image data designated by using an input unit (for example, the stick controller 31 in FIG. 1) is reproduced.

  In the gaming machine according to the first-second means of the present invention, a user such as an inspector can specify image data to be reproduced using the input unit, and selects image data to be viewed or confirmed. Can be played back.

(1-3 means) Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1) is the 1st-2 means,
The input unit is an operation unit (for example, the stick controller 31 in FIG. 1) used during a game.

  In the gaming machine according to the first to third means of the present invention, it is not necessary to newly provide an input unit for designating image data by using an operation unit used at the time of game for the input unit, thereby reducing the number of parts. It is possible to save space for the gaming machine.

(1-4 Means) Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 in FIG. 1) is any one of the 1-1 means to the 1-3 means,
Image data for which the determination process has been completed and image data for which the determination process has not been completed can be identified (for example, a check status displayed in the file selection field 506 in FIG. 19).

  In the gaming machine according to the first to fourth means of the present invention, a user such as an inspector can recognize and select image data for which determination processing has been completed and image data for which determination processing has not been completed.

(1-5 Means) Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 in FIG. 1) is any one of the 1-1 to 1-4 means,
The control unit executes the determination process during an idle time of the reproduction process ,
The reproduction process is characterized in that image data designated by using an input unit (for example, the stick controller 31 in FIG. 1) is reproduced.

  In the gaming machine according to the first to fifth means of the present invention, by executing the determination process during the idle time of the reproduction process, the reproduction process is performed with priority over the determination process, and image data reproduction At times, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of display defects.

(1-6 Means) Furthermore, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 in FIG. 1) is any one of the 1-1 to 1-6 means,
The control unit performs a first mode in which the determination process and the reproduction process are performed in parallel (for example, an image reproduction priority mode described in FIG. 18), and a second mode in which only the determination process is performed (for example, in FIG. 17). The data check priority mode to be described) can be selected.

  In the gaming machine according to the first to sixth means of the present invention, a user such as an inspector can select the first mode and the second mode. For example, when a user such as an examiner has time, the first mode is selected, and when the determination process is to be completed quickly, the second mode is selected. It becomes possible.

(1-7 Means) Further, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1) is any one of means 1-1 to 1-6 means,
When the control unit cannot perform predetermined communication with the outside when the power is turned on (for example, when a command is not received for a predetermined time in the flowchart of FIG. 13 (step S103: Yes)), the determination process and the reproduction process And executing.

  In the gaming machine according to the first to seventh means of the present invention, for example, a board (for example, the effect control board 102 in FIG. 2) on which the control unit is mounted is not connected to the game control board 11 with a cable. Then, the determination process and the reproduction process are started. For example, before the gaming machine is shipped, the determination process and the reproduction process can be started by a simple operation of turning on the power with the cable removed from the board. Also, under such conditions, it is possible to prevent the judgment process and the reproduction process from being performed carelessly when using a normal gaming machine (for example, the state where the effect control board 102 in FIG. 2 is connected by a cable). Figured.

(2-1st Means) In addition, the gaming machine according to the present invention (for example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1)
A gaming machine including a memory (for example, data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 shown in FIG. 3) and a control unit (for example, CPU 121 shown in FIG. 3),
The memory has a data area (for example, the data area shown in FIG. 6) and a redundant area (for example, the redundant area shown in FIG. 6).
The data area stores data for executing various processes in the gaming machine,
The redundant area includes alternative areas (eg, alternative areas A, B, and D shown in FIG. 6) that are used instead of defective areas (eg, defective areas A, B, and D shown in FIG. 6) in the data area. Have
The control unit performs various processes in the gaming machine based on data stored in the data area and data stored in the alternative area used in place of the defective area generated in the data area. Run,
The redundant area of the memory stores history information of the memory (for example, history information C shown in FIG. 6).

  According to the gaming machine according to the 2-1 means of the present invention, by storing the history information of the memory in the redundant area, there is no need to attach a barcode or the like for recycling management outside the memory, and the memory is stored in the memory. Recycling management can be accurately performed based on the stored history information. In the gaming machine industry, the programs and data stored in the memory must be the same between the same models in order to ensure fair games. In addition, the history information is expected to vary depending on the usage status of each memory. When history information is written in a normally used area, it is impossible to ensure the sameness of the normally used area. However, the history information is normally used by writing the history information in the redundant area as in the present invention. Does not affect the area. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the identity of programs and data in the areas normally used of a plurality of memories shipped as products.

(2-2 means) A gaming machine according to the 2-2 means of the present invention is a gaming machine according to the 2-1 means,
The history information includes at least one of model identification information (for example, model identification information shown in FIG. 7) and date information (for example, date information shown in FIG. 7) of the gaming machine where the memory has been used so far. It is characterized by including.

  According to the gaming machine according to the 2-2 means of the present invention, the history information includes at least one of the model identification information and the date information of the gaming machine in which the memory has been used so far. It is possible to determine the memory operation results by referring to the separately collected model operation information. By determining whether or not the memory can be reused based on the operation results of the memory, it becomes possible to appropriately manage the recycling of the memory.

(2-3 Means) The gaming machine according to the 2-3 means of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the 2-1 or 2-2 means, wherein the history information is stored in the memory. The store identification information (for example, the store identification information shown in FIG. 7) of the stores used until now is included.

  According to the gaming machine according to the second to third means of the present invention, based on the store identification information for each store, the model operation information in the store where the memory is used is referred to, and the operation results of the memory are more accurately determined. This makes it possible to appropriately manage memory recycling.

(2-4 Means) A gaming machine according to the 2-4 means of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the means from 2-1 to 2-3.
The memory stores control information (for example, arrangement information A, B, and D shown in FIG. 6) indicating the correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area. (For example, the control region shown in FIG. 6)
The control area stores arrangement information (for example, arrangement information C shown in FIG. 6) indicating a storage position of history information in the redundant area.

  According to the gaming machine according to the second to fourth means of the present invention, the storage position of the history information is stored in the control area that stores the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area. By storing the indicated arrangement information, it is possible to appropriately perform management of reading history information, as in the case of reading data from the alternative area.

(2-5 Means) A gaming machine according to the 2-5th means of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the means 2-1 to 2-3,
The memory stores correspondence information indicating correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area, and a memory control unit that reads data based on the correspondence information Have
The memory control unit stores position information indicating a storage position of history information in the redundant area.

  According to the gaming machine according to the second to fifth means of the present invention, the history information storage position is stored in the memory control unit that stores the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area. By storing the position information indicating the history information, it is possible to appropriately manage the reading of the history information, as in the case of reading data from the alternative area.

(2-6 means) A gaming machine according to 2-6 means of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of means 2-1 to 2-3,
The history information is attached with header information (modified example described in paragraph 0139) that makes it possible to determine a storage position in the data area.

  According to the gaming machine according to the 2-6th means of the present invention, the header information is added to the history information, so that the redundant area is not separately managed without managing the position information indicating the storage position of the history information in another area. It is possible to read the history information stored in the.

(2-7 means) A gaming machine according to the 2-7 means of the present invention is a gaming machine according to any one of the means 2-1 to 2-6,
The memory is a NAND-ROM (a specific example of the ROM 121).

  For the memory used in the gaming machine according to the second to seventh means of the present invention, it is effective to adopt a NAND-ROM having a redundant area in advance in terms of specifications.

(2-8 Means) The memory according to the 2-8th means of the present invention is:
A memory used in a gaming machine provided with a control unit,
A data area and a redundant area,
The data area stores data for executing various processes in the gaming machine,
The redundant area has an alternative area to be used instead of a defective area in the data area, and stores history information regarding recycling of the memory.

  According to the memory according to the second to eighth means of the present invention, it is not necessary to attach a barcode or the like for recycling management outside the memory by storing the history information of the memory in the redundant area. Recycling management can be accurately performed based on the stored history information. In the gaming machine industry, the programs and data stored in the memory must be the same between the same models in order to ensure fair games. In the memory according to the second to eighth means of the present invention, the history information is stored in a different form from the program or data to be processed in the gaming machine, so that the identity of the program or data is not affected. The history information can be managed in the memory.

(2-9 Means) Further, the recycling method of the gaming machine according to the 2-9th means of the present invention,
A gaming machine recycling method comprising a memory and a control unit,
The memory has a data area and a redundant area,
The data area stores data for executing various processes in the gaming machine,
The redundant area has an alternative area to be used instead of a defective area in the data area, and stores history information regarding recycling of the memory,
A writing step (for example, writing history information shown in FIG. 8) in which the history information is written into the redundant area when the gaming machine is disassembled and the memory provided in the gaming machine is recycled to another gaming machine. (S509)).

  According to the recycling method according to the second to ninth means of the present invention, the history information of the memory is written in the redundant area, so that it is not necessary to attach a barcode or the like for recycling management outside the memory, and the memory is stored in the memory. It becomes possible to perform recycling management accurately based on the history information. In the gaming machine industry, the programs and data stored in the memory must be the same between the same models in order to ensure fair games. In the recycling method according to the 2-9th means of the present invention, the history information is written in a different form from the program or data to be processed in the gaming machine without affecting the identity of the program or data. The history information can be managed in the memory.

(2-10 Means) Further, the recycling method for gaming machines according to the 2-10th means of the present invention is the recycling method according to the 2-9th means,
The history information includes model identification information of the gaming machine in which the memory has been used so far,
A determination step for determining whether or not the memory is recyclable based on the history information and the model operation information corresponding to the model identification information stored in the history information (for example, the determination process shown in FIG. 8 (S504)). I do.

  According to the recycling method according to the 2-10th means of the present invention, based on the history information including the model identification information of the gaming machine in which the memory has been used so far, and the model operation information tabulated for each model, It is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the memory can be recycled. Note that the determination step may be either a mode in which the apparatus determines the subject or a mode in which a person (user) determines.

(2-11 Means) Furthermore, the gaming machine recycling method according to the 2-11th means of the present invention is the recycling method according to the 2-10th means, wherein the history information includes date information. It is characterized by that.

  According to the recycling method of the 2-11th means of the present invention, by including date information in addition to the model identification information, it is possible to determine the memory usage period for each model of the gaming machine, and to improve the memory usage record. It becomes possible to determine accurately.

(2-12 Means) Moreover, the data writing device of the gaming machine according to the 2-12th means of the present invention,
A data writing device (for example, the data writing device 4 shown in FIG. 7) capable of writing various data in the memory,
The memory has a data area and a redundant area,
The data area stores data for executing various processes in the gaming machine,
The redundant area has an alternative area to be used instead of a defective area in the data area, and stores history information of the memory,
Write processing for writing the history information into the redundant area when the gaming machine is disassembled and the memory provided in the gaming machine is recycled to another gaming machine (for example, writing history information shown in FIG. 8) (S509)) can be executed.

  According to the data writing apparatus of the 2-12th means of the present invention, it is not necessary to attach a barcode or the like for recycling management outside the memory by writing the history information of the memory in the redundant area. The recycling management can be performed accurately based on the history information stored in the storage. In the gaming machine industry, the programs and data stored in the memory must be the same between the same models in order to ensure fair games. In the data writing device according to the 2-12th means of the present invention, the history information is written in a different form from the program or data to be processed in the gaming machine 1, thereby affecting the identity of the program or data. The history information can be managed in the memory without any influence.

Front view of pachinko machine Block diagram showing control circuit configuration of pachinko machine Block diagram showing the configuration of the production control board Schematic diagram showing the recycling process of this embodiment Schematic diagram showing the storage area of the data ROM Schematic diagram showing details of storage area of data ROM The figure which shows the composition of the data writing device Flow chart showing write processing executed in data writing device Diagram showing the data structure of history information Diagram showing data structure of model operation information The figure which shows the display part of a data writer (A) Flow diagram showing main processing executed by CPU of game control board (b) Flow diagram showing timer interrupt processing Flow diagram showing the power-on process executed on the production control board (A) Flow chart showing command reception standby process executed on effect control board (b) Flow chart showing timer interrupt process Flow chart showing data check process Flow diagram showing checksum processing Screen of image display device during data check processing (when data check is prioritized) Screen of image display device during data check processing (when image playback is prioritized) Image data selection screen during data check processing Image data selection screen during data check processing (during image playback) Image playback screen during data check processing (image data selection screen is not displayed) Checksum processing result display screen

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment and shows an arrangement layout of main members. The pachinko gaming machine 1 (gaming machine) is roughly divided into a gaming board (gauge board) 2 constituting a gaming board surface and a gaming machine frame 3 (base frame) for supporting and fixing the gaming board 2. The game board 2 is formed with a substantially circular game area surrounded by guide rails. In this game area, a game ball as a game medium is launched from a predetermined hitting ball launching device and driven. In addition, a coordinate system related to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is defined in the lower right of FIG. When the pachinko gaming machine 1 is viewed from the front, the left direction is the positive X-axis direction, the upward direction is the positive Y-axis direction, and the direction penetrating from the front to the back is the positive Z-axis direction.

  A first special symbol display device 9A and a second special symbol display device 9B are provided at predetermined positions of the game board 2 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, on the right side of the game area). Each of the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B is composed of, for example, 7-segment or dot matrix LEDs (light emitting diodes) and the like. Special symbols (also referred to as “special graphics”), which are a plurality of types of identification information (special identification information) that can be displayed, are variably displayed (variable display). For example, the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B each variably display a plurality of types of special symbols composed of numbers indicating "0" to "9", symbols indicating "-", and the like. To do. The special symbols displayed on the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B are limited to those composed of numbers indicating "0" to "9", symbols indicating "-", and the like. However, for example, a plurality of types of lighting patterns in which the combination of the LED to be turned on and the LED to be turned off in the 7-segment LED may be set in advance as a plurality of types of special symbols.

  A plurality of special symbols are assigned symbol numbers corresponding thereto. As an example, symbol numbers “0” to “9” are assigned to numbers indicating “0” to “9”, and symbol numbers “10” are assigned to symbols indicating “−”. Just do it. Hereinafter, the special symbol variably displayed on the first special symbol display device 9A is also referred to as "first special symbol", and the special symbol variably displayed on the second special symbol display device 9B is also referred to as "second special symbol". .

  Both the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B are formed in a square shape, for example. Note that the type of the first special figure and the type of the second special figure may be the same (for example, a number indicating “0” to “9” and a symbol indicating “−”), and the type may be different. May be different. The first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B may be configured to variably display numbers (or two-digit symbols) indicating, for example, “00” to “99”. .

  An image display device 5 is provided near the center of the game area on the game board 2. The image display device 5 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or the like, and forms a display area for displaying various effect images. In the display area of the image display device 5, in response to the variable display of the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 9A and the variable display of the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 9B in the special symbol game. For example, in a decorative symbol display area serving as a plurality of variable display units such as three, decorative symbols that are a plurality of types of identification information (decorative identification information) that can be identified are variably displayed. This variable display of decorative designs is also included in the variable display game.

  As an example, “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R are arranged in the display area of the image display device 5. And in response to the start of one of the fluctuations of the first special figure in the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special figure in the second special symbol display device 9B in the special figure game, In the “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R, the variation of decorative symbols (for example, vertical scroll display) is started. Thereafter, when the fixed special symbol is stopped and displayed as a variable display result in the special symbol game, the “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R in the image display device 5 are displayed. Then, the finalized decorative symbol (final stop symbol) that is the variable display result of the decorative symbol is stopped and displayed.

  As described above, in the display area of the image display device 5, the special game using the first special graphic in the first special symbol display device 9A or the special graphic using the second special graphic in the second special symbol display device 9B. In synchronism with the figure game, variable display of a plurality of types of decorative symbols that can be identified is performed, and a definite decorative symbol that is a variable display result is derived and displayed (or simply referred to as “derivation”). In addition, for example, deriving and displaying various display symbols such as a special symbol and a decorative symbol means that identification information such as a decorative symbol is stopped and displayed (also referred to as a complete stop display or a final stop display) and the variable display is ended. . On the other hand, during the variable display from the start of the variable display of the decorative pattern until the fixed decorative pattern that is the variable display result is derived and displayed, the variation speed of the decorative pattern becomes “0”, The symbol may be displayed in a stationary state, for example, in a display state that causes slight shaking or expansion / contraction. Such a display state is also called a temporary stop display, and although the display result in the variable display is not displayed deterministically, the player can recognize that the variation of the decorative pattern due to the scroll display or the update display is not progressing. It becomes. Note that the temporary stop display may include displaying the decorative symbols completely for a time shorter than a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) without causing slight shaking or expansion / contraction.

  The decorative symbols variably displayed in the “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R include, for example, eight types of symbols (alphanumeric characters “1” to “8” or Chinese characters). It may be any combination of numbers, English letters, eight character images related to a predetermined motif, a combination of numbers, letters, symbols, and character images. Character images may be, for example, people, animals, other objects, or , A decorative image showing a symbol such as a character or other arbitrary figure). A corresponding symbol number is assigned to each of the decorative symbols. For example, symbol numbers “1” to “8” are assigned to alphanumeric characters indicating “1” to “8”, respectively. Note that the number of decorative symbols is not limited to eight, and may be any number as long as an appropriate number of combinations such as a jackpot combination or a combination that is lost can be configured (for example, seven types or nine types).

  After the decorative symbol variable display is started, the “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R are displayed until the fixed decorative symbol that is the variable display result is derived and displayed. In FIG. 5, for example, scroll display is performed such that the symbol number sequentially flows from the top to the bottom from the smallest to the largest, and when the decorative symbol having the largest symbol number (for example, “8”) is displayed, The decorative symbol having the smallest symbol number (for example, “1”) is displayed. Alternatively, in at least one of the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R (for example, the “left” decorative symbol display area 5L), the symbols are scrolled from the largest symbol number to the smallest symbol symbol. When the decorative design having the smallest number is displayed, the decorative design having the largest design number may be displayed.

  In the display area of the image display device 5, a start winning storage display area 5H is arranged. In the start winning memory display area 5H, a hold memory display for displaying the variable display hold number corresponding to the special figure game (special figure hold memory number) is specified. Here, the variable display suspension corresponding to the special game is that the game ball passes through the first start winning opening formed by the normal winning ball apparatus 6A and the second starting winning opening formed by the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B. Generated based on the start winning by entering (entering). That is, the start condition (also referred to as “execution condition”) for executing a variable display game such as a special figure game or a variable display of decorative symbols has been established, but a variable display game based on the previously established start condition is being executed. When the start condition that allows the start of the variable display game is not satisfied due to the fact that the pachinko gaming machine 1 is controlled to the big hit gaming state, the variable display corresponding to the established start condition is suspended. Done.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, together with the start winning memory display area 5H, the first hold for displaying the special figure hold memory number in an identifiable manner on the upper part of the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B. A display 25A and a second hold display 25B are provided. The first hold indicator 25A displays the first special figure hold memory number so that it can be specified. The second hold indicator 25B displays the second special figure hold memory number so that it can be specified. The number of first special figure hold memory is the number of memory in which the execution of the special figure game using the first special figure is suspended. The second special figure hold memory number is the number of memories in which the execution of the special figure game using the second special figure is suspended. The variable display hold memory number obtained by adding the first special figure hold memory number and the second special figure hold memory number is also referred to as a total hold memory number. When simply referring to the “number of special figure hold memory”, it usually refers to a concept including any of the first special figure hold memory number, the second special figure hold memory number, and the total hold memory number. It may refer to a concept that includes the first special figure reserved memory number and the second special figure reserved memory number but excludes the total reserved memory number).

  Below the image display device 5, an ordinary winning ball device 6A and an ordinary variable winning ball device 6B are provided. The normal winning ball device 6A forms a first starting winning opening as a starting area (first starting area) that is always kept in a constant open state by a predetermined ball receiving member, for example. The normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B has an electric motor having a pair of movable wing pieces that are changed into a normal open state as a vertical position and an expanded open state as a tilt position by a solenoid 81 for a normal electric accessory shown in FIG. A tulip-shaped accessory (ordinary electric accessory) is provided, and a start area (second start area) and a second start winning opening are formed.

  As an example, in the normally variable winning ball apparatus 6B, the movable wing piece is in the vertical position when the solenoid 81 for the normal electric accessory is in the OFF state, so that the game ball passes (enters) the second starting winning opening. It is difficult to open normally. On the other hand, in the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B, the game ball passes through the second start winning opening by the tilt control in which the movable blade piece is tilted when the solenoid 81 for the normal electric accessory is in the ON state ( It will be in an expanded open state that is easy to enter. In the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B, although the game ball can enter the second start winning opening even in the normal open state, there is a possibility that the game ball may enter more than in the expanded open state. You may comprise so that it may become low. Alternatively, the normally variable winning ball apparatus 6B may be configured such that the game ball does not enter the second starting winning opening in the normally open state, for example, by closing the second starting winning opening. In this way, the second start winning port as the second start area is in an expanded open state in which game balls easily pass (enter) and in a normally open state in which game balls are difficult to pass (enter) or cannot pass (enter). To change.

  A game ball that has passed (entered) the first start winning opening formed in the normal winning ball apparatus 6A is detected by, for example, a first start opening switch 22A shown in FIG. A game ball that has passed (entered) a second start winning opening formed in the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B is detected by, for example, a second start opening switch 22B shown in FIG. Based on the detection of the game ball by the first start port switch 22A, a predetermined number (for example, three) of game balls are paid out as prize balls, and the first special figure holding memory number is set to a predetermined upper limit value (for example, “ 4 ") If the following, the first start condition is satisfied. Based on the detection of the game ball by the second start port 22B, a predetermined number (for example, three) of game balls are paid out as prize balls, and the second special figure holding memory number is set to a predetermined upper limit value (for example, “ 4 ") If the following, the second start condition is satisfied. The number of prize balls to be paid out based on the detection of the game ball by the first start port switch 22A and the number of prize balls to be paid out based on the detection of the game ball by the second start port switch 22B. May be the same number or different numbers.

  A special variable winning ball device 7 is provided below the normal winning ball device 6A and the normal variable winning ball device 6B. The special variable winning ball apparatus 7 includes a special winning opening door that is opened and closed by a solenoid 82 for the special winning opening door shown in FIG. 2, and the specific region that changes between an open state and a closed state by the special winning opening door. As a big prize opening.

  As an example, in the special variable winning ball apparatus 7, when the solenoid 82 for the special prize opening door is in the OFF state, the special prize opening door closes the big winning prize opening, and the game ball passes (enters) the big winning prize opening. Make it impossible. On the other hand, in the special variable winning ball apparatus 7, when the solenoid 82 for the big prize opening door is in the ON state, the big winning opening door opens the big winning opening and the game ball passes through the big winning opening (entrance). ) Make it easier. In this way, the special winning opening as a specific area changes into an open state in which a game ball easily passes (enters) and is advantageous to the player, and a closed state in which the game ball cannot pass (enters) and is disadvantageous to the player To do. Instead of the closed state where the game ball cannot pass (enter) through the big prize opening, or in addition to the closed state, a partially opened state where the game ball hardly passes (enters) through the big prize port may be provided.

  The game ball that has passed (entered) through the big prize opening is detected by, for example, the count switch 23 shown in FIG. Based on the detection of game balls by the count switch 23, a predetermined number (for example, 15) of game balls are paid out as prize balls. In this way, when the game ball passes (enters) through the large winning opening opened in the special variable winning ball apparatus 7, the gaming ball passes through other winning openings such as the first starting winning opening and the second starting winning opening, for example. More prize balls are paid out than when passing (entering). Therefore, if the special prize winning ball device 7 is in the open state, the game ball can enter the special prize winning opening, which is a first state advantageous to the player. On the other hand, when the special prize winning device 7 is closed in the special variable prize winning ball device 7, it becomes impossible or difficult for the player to get a prize ball by passing (entering) the gaming ball into the special prize winning port. This is a disadvantageous second state.

  A normal symbol display 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the game board 2 (on the left side of the game area in the example shown in FIG. 1). As an example, the normal symbol display 20 is composed of 7 segments, dot matrix LEDs, etc., like the first special symbol display device 9A and the second special symbol display device 9B, and a plurality of types of identification information different from the special symbols. Is displayed (variably displayed) in a variable manner. Such variable display of normal symbols is called a general game (also referred to as “normal game”).

  Above the normal symbol display 20, a universal figure holding display 25 </ b> C is provided. The general-purpose hold indicator 25C is configured to include, for example, four LEDs, and displays the general-purpose hold storage number as the number of effective passing balls that have passed through the passing gate 26.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the surface of the game board 2 is provided with a windmill for changing the flow direction and speed of the game ball and a number of obstacle nails. In addition, as a winning opening different from the first starting winning opening, the second starting winning opening, and the large winning opening, for example, a single or plural general winning openings that are always kept in a certain open state by a predetermined ball receiving member are provided. May be. In this case, a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls may be paid out as a prize ball based on the fact that a game ball that has entered one of the general prize openings is detected by a predetermined general prize ball switch. In the lowermost part of the game area, there is provided an out port through which game balls that have not entered any winning port are taken.

  Speakers 8L and 8R for reproducing and outputting sound effects and the like are provided at the upper left and right positions of the gaming machine frame 3, and a game effect lamp 10 is provided at the periphery of the game area. A decorative LED may be arranged around each structure (for example, the normal winning ball device 6A, the normal variable winning ball device 6B, the special variable winning ball device 7, etc.) in the game area of the pachinko gaming machine 1. At the lower right position of the gaming machine frame 3, there is provided a hitting operation handle (operation knob) operated by a player or the like to launch a game ball as a game medium toward the game area. For example, the hitting operation handle adjusts the resilience of the game ball according to the operation amount (rotation amount) by the player or the like. The hitting operation handle only needs to be provided with a single shot switch or a touch ring (touch sensor) for stopping the driving of a shooting motor included in the hitting ball shooting device.

  At a predetermined position of the gaming machine frame 3 below the gaming area, a game ball paid out as a prize ball or a game ball lent out by a predetermined ball lending machine is held (stored) so as to be supplied to a ball hitting device. )) Is provided. Below the gaming machine frame 3, there is provided a lower plate that holds (stores) surplus balls overflowing from the upper plate so as to be discharged to the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

  The stick controller 31 that can be held and tilted by the player is attached to the member that forms the lower plate, for example, at a predetermined position on the front side of the upper surface of the lower plate body (for example, the central portion of the lower plate). Yes. The stick controller 31 includes an operation rod 31A that is held by a player. The operation rod 31A can be tilted forward, backward, left and right with the lower axis as an axis, and a tilt direction sensor unit for detecting the tilt direction of the operation rod 31A is provided below the operation rod 31A (inside the main body of the lower plate). Is provided. For example, the tilt direction sensor unit includes two transmissive photosensors (parallel) arranged in parallel to the board surface of the game board 2 on the left side of the center position of the operation pole 31A when viewed from the player's side facing the pachinko gaming machine 1. A directional switch 31D combining a sensor pair) and two transmissive photosensors (vertical sensor pair) arranged perpendicularly to the board surface of the game board 2 on the right side of the center position of the operation rod when viewed from the player side. It is comprised including.

  A front button 31B and a rear button 31C for a player to perform a pressing operation are provided on the upper portion of the operation rod 31A. The front button 31B is located, for example, on the Z-axis positive direction side on the coordinate form of the game board 2, and is provided at a position where the index finger of the operator is hooked when the player holds the operation rod 31A. On the other hand, the rear button 31C is located, for example, on the positive side of the Y-axis on the coordinate form of the game board 2, and is provided at a position where the thumb of the operator can reach when the player holds the operation rod 31A. Inside the operation rod 31A, a pressure detection sensor for detecting a predetermined instruction operation by a pressing operation on the front button 31B and the rear button 31C is incorporated.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing various control boards and the like mounted on the pachinko gaming machine. The game control board 11 is a control board for controlling the overall flow of the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 103, a random access memory (RAM) 102, and a read only memory (ROM) 101. A basic circuit 100 including a one-chip microcomputer including an I / O (Input / Output) port 104 is mounted. The game control board 11 is equipped with a switch circuit 110, a solenoid circuit 111, and an information output circuit 112.

  The CPU 103 has a timekeeping function, a timer interrupt function, and a random number generation function, executes a program stored in the ROM 101 to control the progress of the game, and directly or directly controls each part of the control circuit of the pachinko gaming machine 1 Control indirectly. The CPU 103 has a function of transmitting various commands from the I / O port 104 to the effect control board 108 when executing the program. The RAM 102 is used as a work area when the CPU 103 executes a program. The ROM 101 stores programs executed by the CPU 103 and fixed data. The I / O port 104 inputs / outputs a control signal including a command to / from each circuit connected to the basic circuit 100.

  The switch circuit 110 includes a gate switch 21 for detecting a game ball that has passed through the passing gate 26, and a first start port switch 22A for detecting a game ball that has passed through a first start winning port formed in the normal winning ball device 6A. The second start port switch 22B for detecting a game ball passing through the second start winning port formed in the ordinary variable winning ball device 6B, and the game ball passing through the large winning port formed in the special variable winning ball device 7 It is connected to a count switch 23 for detection.

  The switch circuit 110 forms an input signal output from the gate switch 21, the first start port switch 22A, the second start port switch 22B, and the count switch 23 as a pulse wave through a low pass filter or the like, and then uses a buffer gate or the like. Amplified, output to the I / O port 104 and input to the CPU 103.

  The solenoid circuit 111 is connected to a solenoid 81 for operating the movable wing piece provided at the second start winning opening, and a special variable winning ball apparatus 7 for opening and closing the large winning opening door. ing. The solenoid circuit 111 outputs a drive control signal (excitation signal) to the solenoids 81 and 82 based on the control signal output from the I / O port 104.

  Based on the control signal output from the I / O port 104, the information output circuit 112 is a jackpot information indicating that jackpot control is being performed due to the occurrence of jackpot, and a probability change indicating that probability variation control is being performed. Various information such as information, start information that is information related to the start of a special figure game, and prize ball information that is information related to paid prize balls is used for product inspection via a cable inserted in a terminal (not shown). Output to the computer and the management computer of the pachinko hall (amusement store).

  The effect control board 108 includes a control unit including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls various effects including special game and normal game based on commands sent from the game control board 11. The effect control board 108 is connected to the image display device 5 and displays images of the special game in the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R, and displays the reserved memory in the start winning memory display area 5H. The effect control board 108 is connected to the input / output driver board 109, and outputs a control signal for controlling other effects to the input / output driver board 109. Details of the effect control board 108 will be described later.

  The input / output driver board 109 is connected to the direction switch 31D, the front button 31B, and the rear button 31C of the stick controller 31, and outputs a detection signal detected by the player's operation to the effect control board 108. The input / output driver board 109 is also connected to the speakers 8R and 8L and the game effect lamp 10, and controls them according to a control signal from the effect control board 108.

  The payout control circuit 106 is connected to the ball payout device 107, and includes a control circuit for paying out game balls lent out to the ball payout device 107 or game balls to be paid out as prize balls upon winning.

  Next, the effect control board 108 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail the components on the effect control board 108. As shown in the figure, an effect control board 108 includes a CPU 121 including a RAM 122, a program ROM 123, three data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, a VDP (video processor) 125 including an attribute RAM 125a, a VRAM (video RAM) 126, a work piece. An ADP (audio processor) 127 including the RAM 127a is mounted. On the effect control board 108, a connector 120 for inserting a cable from the game control board 11 and physically connecting them is mounted.

  The CPU 121, the program ROM 123, the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, the VDP 125, the VRAM 126, and the ADP 127 are configured by individual semiconductor chips, and their pins are fitted into sockets formed in advance on the effect control board 108. It is mounted on the production control board 108. Each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is a 22-pin symmetrical semiconductor chip and has the same outer shape, but the data stored therein is different. Other chips have different pin numbers and outer shapes.

  On the effect control board 108, printed wiring is formed by etching or printing processing. Data (signals) are exchanged between the connector 120, the CPU 121, the program ROM 123, the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, the VDP 125, the VRAM 126, and the ADP 127 via the printed wiring as shown by arrows between the components in FIG. Is done.

  The CPU 121 executes a program stored in the program ROM 123 to perform processing related to the execution of the effect, and controls each circuit in the effect control board 108 and each circuit connected thereto. The CPU 121 has an internal timer. An arbitrary specific value (an address at which an instruction to be executed is stored) can be set in the program counter of the CPU 121 according to the program being executed. However, the value of the program counter is usually incremented by one.

  The CPU 121 also executes a program stored in the program ROM 123 to test each circuit in the effect control board 108. The production and the execution of the test are performed based on the control data set in the following control data queue. Setting of control data in the control data queue is performed based on a command received from the game control board 11 by the CPU 121 or based on the fact that no initialization command has been received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since power-on.

  The RAM 122 is used as a work area when the CPU 121 executes a program. The RAM 122 is provided with a first-in first-out control data queue for setting the control data. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the size of the control data queue is infinite. When the control data is set, the control data is added to the tail of the control data queue. When the CPU 121 finishes the process based on the control data, the next control data is fetched and the process based on the control data continues. Done. The program ROM 123 stores a program executed by the CPU 121.

  The data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 store fixed data for executing effects. Among the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, the data ROMs 124-1 and 124-2 are image data for displaying an image on the image display device 5, and the data ROM 124-3 is a sound source from the speakers 8 R and 8 L. Audio data for output and lamp data for causing the game effect lamp 10 to emit light are stored.

  The VDP 125 reads image data from the data ROMs 124-1 and 124-2 to the attribute RAM 125 a in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 121, and develops an image on the VRAM 126 based on the image data read to the attribute RAM 125 a. The VDP 125 outputs a video signal obtained by adding a synchronization signal to the image developed in the VRAM 126 to the image display device 5 and causes the image display device 5 to display the image.

  The ADP 127 reads audio data from the data ROM 124-3 to the work RAM 127 a according to an instruction from the CPU 121, generates an audio signal based on the audio data temporarily stored in the work RAM 127 a, and a speaker by the driver circuit of the input / output driver board 109. Audio is output from 8R and 8L. The ADP 127 also reads out the ramp data from the data ROM 124-3 to the work RAM 127a according to an instruction from the CPU 121, and outputs a control signal to the driver circuit of the input / output driver board 109 based on the ramp data temporarily stored in the work RAM 127a. The game effect lamp 10 is caused to emit light.

  The CPU 121 cannot directly read data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, but can read data temporarily stored in the attribute RAM 125a of the VDP 125 or the work RAM 127a of the ADP 127. When it is necessary to read data in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 in the data check described later, the CPU 121 uses the attribute RAM 125a or the work RAM 127a as will be described in detail later.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 1, various parts used in the pachinko gaming machine 1 are recycled (reused) for the purpose of reducing manufacturing costs and waste parts. Here, recycling of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 used in the effect control board 108 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. In this recycling, the models that have been used at the store are collected, the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are collected, then rewritten with the data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 of another model, and shipped to the store as a new pachinko gaming machine 1. It is done by doing. Each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 storing image data, audio data, etc. requires a large capacity. Usually, since a large-capacity memory is expensive, it is expected that recycling efficiency in the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be improved by recycling the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3. Note that various memories used in the pachinko gaming machine 1 such as the ROM 101 used in the game control board 11 may be recycled by the same method as the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3.

  As the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 of the present embodiment, NAND-ROMs that can be rewritten by a ROM writer as a data writing device are used. In NAND-ROM, it is known that defective areas occur when reading and writing are repeated. Therefore, the NAND-ROM is premised on correcting data errors by providing an ECC (Error Correction Code) function in order to prevent data loss due to a defective area. In addition, a redundant area is provided in addition to a normal storage area, and an area where a data error has occurred is substituted for the redundant area.

  In the recycling of gaming machines in the present embodiment, this redundant area is used as a storage area for history information related to recycling, and a dedicated data writing device 4 capable of writing history information in the redundant area is used. . By adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to add identification information to the outside, such as attaching barcodes to the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, as compared with conventional recycling management, and the identification information is peeled off. It becomes possible to suppress problems in recycling management due to falling. Further, in the industry that handles gaming machines, in order to ensure fairness, the contents stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 must be the same for each product (model) to be shipped. In the present embodiment, the storage contents of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 can be made the same for each product (model) by using a redundant area different from the normal data area as a storage area for history information. It becomes.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a recycling process of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in the present embodiment. After being shipped to the market, the used pachinko gaming machine 1a whose use period has ended in the store is collected by a contractor and disassembled into parts of units required for recycling. FIG. 4 illustrates any one of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 to be recycled in the present embodiment. Note that the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 to be recycled can be recycled as other species, for example, the one used with the data ROM 124-1 can be recycled as the data ROM 124-2. In the recycling process, the lower code of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is taken and described as the data ROM 124. The recycling of the pachinko gaming machine 1 can be made not only the data ROM 124 but also other parts to be recycled.

  Since the collected data ROM 124 is mounted on the new pachinko gaming machine 1b, the stored program and data are rewritten. In the present embodiment, a program and data writing process is executed by the data writing device 4 (ROM writer). The data ROM 124 for which the writing process has been completed is mounted on the new pachinko gaming machine 1b and shipped to the market. By repeating such a series of processes, the data ROM 124 is recycled.

  As described above, it is known that the NAND-ROM is deteriorated by reading and writing. If the deteriorated data ROM 124 continues to be used, it may be considered that trouble occurs during operation. In the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which the customer enjoys the game, it is necessary to avoid such troubles, so it is important to appropriately grasp the operation results of the data ROM 124 and determine whether or not it can be recycled. In the present embodiment, in the recycling of the data ROM 124 shown in FIG. 4, the history information is also written to the redundant area of the data ROM 124 when the writing process is executed on the data ROM 124. Usually, since the redundant area of the data ROM 124 is an area used in place of the defective area in the data area, writing cannot be performed by a normal ROM writer. In this embodiment, a dedicated data writing device 4 capable of writing data (history information) to the redundant area of the data ROM 124 is used. By using the dedicated data writing device 4, it is possible to prevent a redundant area from being used unnecessarily by a person other than a supplier related to recycling. In addition, it is possible to ensure the reliability of the history information and perform appropriate recycling.

  It is not always necessary to write history information in the data ROM 124 together with writing of programs and data used in the new pachinko gaming machine 1b. The data ROM 124 is recovered from the used pachinko gaming machine 1a. From time to time, it can be performed as appropriate during the period until it is mounted on the new pachinko gaming machine 1.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing the configuration of data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3, respectively. FIG. 5A shows the data structure of the image data stored in the data ROM 124-1. The management table and the image data are stored from address X to address X + n. FIG. 5B shows the data structure of the image data stored in the data ROM 124-2. The management table and the image data are stored from the Y address to the Y + m address. FIG. 5C shows the data structure of the sound data and lamp data stored in the data ROM 124-3, and the management table, sound data, and lamp data are stored from address Z to address Z + i. The addresses of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are configured not to overlap. The management table stored in each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is a table in which storage positions (storage addresses) for each data are stored for image data, audio data, and lamp data. By referring to this management table, it is possible to read designated image data, audio data, and lamp data.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the storage area 124a of the data ROM 124 (any one of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3) to be recycled in the present embodiment. The data ROM 124 of the present embodiment is configured to have a storage area 124a. The storage area 121a of the present embodiment is configured to have three areas (data area, control area, and redundant area). The management table and various data (image data, audio data, lamp data) described in FIG. 5 are stored in the data area and the redundant area in FIG.

  The data area is an area used for normal access of the data ROM 124, and programs and data used in the pachinko gaming machine 1 are written and used in this data area as long as there is no problem with access. The redundant area is an area for replacing an area (defective area) that hinders recording and reading in the data area. In a data area, a defective area that is determined to have an access problem is prohibited, and data to be stored in the defective area is stored in an area (alternate area) in the redundant area.

  The control area is an area for storing a relationship (correspondence information) between a defective area in the data area and an alternative area in the redundant area. In the present embodiment, it is stored as arrangement information that defines the relationship between the address of the data area and the address of the redundant area. The data area address and the redundant area address are defined by a start address and an end address, respectively. The address of the data area and the address of the redundant area can be defined by pages and blocks. For example, when defining by a page, it is possible to define the position of the defective area and the alternative area by defining the address indicating the start page and the number of pages.

  In the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, there are three defective areas A, B, and D in the data area. In this case, the redundant areas are provided with alternative areas A, B, D in place of these defective areas A, B, D. Arrangement information A, B, and D that define the relationship between the defective areas A, B, and D and the alternative areas A, B, and D are stored in the control area. In FIG. 6, the alphabets A to D shown at the end of the defective area, the alternative area, and the arrangement information indicate that they are in a correspondence relationship. In each of the arrangement information A, B, and D, the address of the defective area in the data area and the address of the alternative area in the redundant area are stored.

  Reading of data to the storage area 121a is executed by a control means (CPU 121 in the case of FIG. 3) provided outside the data ROM 124 or a memory control unit provided separately inside the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3. The The control means refers to the arrangement information in the control area, and determines whether to read data in the data area or to read data stored in the alternative area in the redundant area. For example, when the data to be read is data stored in the arrangement information A, the CPU 121 originally reads data stored in the defective area A in the data area and performs various processes based on the data. However, instead of this, the data stored in the alternative area A in the redundant area is read, and various processes are executed based on the read data. As described above, the data ROM 124 according to the present embodiment can provide highly reliable data reading even when a defective area occurs in the data area by providing the redundant area.

  As described above, the redundant area is an area for an alternative area that is used instead of the defective area in the data area. In the present embodiment, history information is written in this redundant area. The history information is information related to recycling of the data ROM 124, and includes date information, model identification information of the used pachinko gaming machine 1, and the like. In addition, you may have the identification information of the store in which the pachinko gaming machine 1 was introduced, or the identification information which shows the area where the pachinko gaming machine 1 was introduced. When recycling the pachinko gaming machine 1, it is possible to reuse the data ROM 124 (rewrite and use the stored data) by reading and referring to this history information, or whether it can not be reused Can be determined.

  In the example of FIG. 6, history information C is stored in the redundant area. In the control area, arrangement information C is stored corresponding to the history information C. Unlike other arrangement information indicating the relationship between the defective area and the alternative area, the arrangement information C includes a history flag indicating that the arrangement information is related to history information, and an address in a redundant area in which the history information is stored. Has been. The address can be defined in various forms such as a start address and an end address, or a start address and the number of pages (or the number of blocks). When the history information is read, it is possible to read the history information in the redundant area by finding the arrangement information in which the history flag is set in the control area and referring to the address of the arrangement information.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the history information is stored in the redundant area in which the alternative area is provided, so that the data ROM 124 can be managed for recycling without changing the data area. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform complicated management such as attaching a barcode to the outside of the data ROM 124, and it is possible to accurately perform recycling management as history information stored in the data ROM 124. In addition, since history information is not stored in the data area, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the same model can maintain the identity of data stored in the data area. Therefore, in the inspection at the time of shipment of the data ROM 124 or the pachinko gaming machine 1, it is possible to prove that the same model is a fair product by judging the identity of the program and data in the data area.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the arrangement information is stored in the storage area of the data ROM 124, thereby managing the arrangement relationship between the defective area and the alternative area and the arrangement of the history information in the redundant area. The control area may be managed outside the storage area 124a. For example, the data ROM 124 may be managed by a memory control unit provided separately from the storage area 124a. In the present embodiment, the arrangement of history information stored in the redundant area is stored in the control area. However, the history information may be managed without using the arrangement information. For example, it is conceivable that header information indicating history information is added to the history information for management. When reading the history information, the history information can be read by searching for this header information in the redundant area.

  FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the data writing device 4 for writing programs and data to the data ROM 124 and the like. In this embodiment, the program and data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be reused are written in the data ROM 124, and history information regarding recycling is written.

  The data writing device 4 is a CPU 41 that performs overall control of the entire device, a ROM 42 that stores programs and data necessary for executing various processes such as a writing process, and temporarily stores data when executing various processes. The user instructs the RAM 43, the time measuring unit 44 for measuring date information, the connector 47 for connecting the data ROM 124 to be written, the connector 48 for connecting the external storage medium 52, and the data writing device 4. An operation unit 51 for performing visual information, a display processing unit 45 for forming visual information, and a display unit 54 for displaying and outputting visual information.

  The external storage medium 52 stores the program and data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 that is newly targeted for reproduction. In the present embodiment, model operation information, which is market data, is stored in the external storage medium 52 in order to determine the operation results of the data ROM 124. The model operation information is information obtained by tabulating the operation status of the pachinko gaming machine 1 for each model during a predetermined period (for example, every week), and is information distributed to a store from a market researcher. In the store, based on this model operation information, the number of models for each model, such as replacement of the pachinko gaming machine 1, is managed. The model operating information stores the number of operating machines in the market for each model of the gaming machine, the operating time during the counting target period, the number of balls that have been driven (also called out), sales, and the like. Normally, in a store, the degree of popularity of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and the degree of attracting customers are determined based on this model operation information, and the number of pachinko gaming machines 1 in the store is managed. In the present embodiment, the external storage medium 52 is used to acquire necessary information (program, data, model operation information) from the outside, but the information acquisition form is not limited to this, and is acquired via communication. For example, various forms can be adopted.

  By connecting the data ROM 124 to be written to the connector 47 and selecting the program and data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be played back from the external storage medium 52, the writing process to the data ROM 124 is executed. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a writing process executed by the data writing device 4. When the writing process is started after the data ROM 124 is connected to the connector 47, the history information stored in the redundant area of the data ROM 124 is first read (S501).

  FIG. 9 shows the data structure of the history information of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, history information stored when the previous writing process has been performed, date information, model identification information indicating the model of the pachinko gaming machine 1 used, and the pachinko gaming machine 1 are introduced. Store identification information. Based on this history information, it is possible to determine to which model of the pachinko gaming machine 1 the data ROM 124 is used. It is also possible to determine the usage period of each model at intervals between date information. For example, for the model A, the program and data related to the model A are written on October 1, 2013, and the program and data related to the model B are written on December 15, 2013. Therefore, it can be determined that the period used for the model A is from October 1, 2013 to December 15, 2013. In addition, as for the usage period in the model that has been recently used, the period from the date information to the present is determined as the usage period.

  In the writing process, next, the model operation information is read from the external storage medium 52 (S502). FIG. 10 shows the data structure of the model operation information of this embodiment. The model operation information of the present embodiment is configured to include model identification information, an aggregation period, and an operation time of the pachinko gaming machine 1 that is an operation status for each aggregation period. Although this operation time is the national average, it may be more specifically the operation time for each region or each store.

  Operation result information is calculated based on the history information read from the data ROM 124 and the model operation information read from the external storage medium 52 (S503). The operation result information of this embodiment is an operation time in which the data ROM 124 is used by being mounted on the pachinko gaming machine 1. As described with reference to FIG. 9, the history information includes model identification information indicating the model for which the data ROM 124 has been used so far. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the model operation information includes an operation time for each counting period for the pachinko gaming machine 1. Based on the history information, the model and usage period of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in which the data ROM 124 is used can be determined. Based on the model operation information, the operating time in the usage period for each model is accumulated. The operation time (operation result information) of the target data ROM 124 is calculated. In addition, since the same model of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is often shipped and collected at the same time, it is possible to estimate the approximate usage period by specifying the model of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Therefore, the usage period can be determined by including at least model identification information in the history information.

  In the present embodiment, in the data writing device 4, it is determined whether or not the operation result information of the data ROM 124 is within an allowable range, that is, whether or not the data ROM 124 can withstand reuse (S504). In the present embodiment, the determination is made in comparison with the reference operating time. When the operation result information exceeds the reference operation time (S504: No), the data writing device 4 displays on the display unit 53 that it is impossible to newly write a program and data ( S512). FIG. 11 shows the state of the display unit 54 of the data writing device 4 during the writing process. FIG. 11B shows a case where data cannot be written, and a message “Writing is impossible. ROM to be discarded.” Is displayed on the display unit 53.

  On the other hand, when the operation result information does not exceed the reference operation time (allowable range) (S504: Yes), a message displayed in FIG. 11A and a write instruction cursor are displayed on the display unit 53. Display and wait for a user instruction from the operation unit 51. When a writing instruction is input by the user (S505: Yes), the program and data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be newly used are written in the data area of the data ROM 124 (S506). At the time of writing, the defective area in the data area is used in place of the alternative area in the redundant area. After the new program and data have been written, a verify process for confirming that the program has been written without fail may be performed. In the present embodiment, the collation process for collating the new program and data stored in the data area of the data ROM 124 in S506 with the master program and master data stored in the external storage medium 52 of the data writing device 4. Is executed (S307). This collation process is a process for the program and data stored in the data area in the storage area 124a of the data ROM 124, and is executed to ensure fair operation in the gaming machine. In this collation processing, areas other than the alternative area in the redundant area are not subjected to collation. Accordingly, the history information stored in the redundant area is not subject to the collation process. If they do not match as a result of the collation processing (S508: No), the data writing device 4 displays an error on the display unit 53 (not shown). The error-displayed data ROM 124 is excluded from the shipment target, and is subjected to writing processing again or disposed of.

  On the other hand, if it is determined as a result of the collation processing (S508: Yes), the data writing device 4 writes history information in the redundant area of the data ROM 124 (S509). As described with reference to FIG. 9, the history information according to the present embodiment includes date information, model identification information, and store identification information. Of these, the date information uses the current date measured by the timer 44 of the data writing device 4. In the present embodiment, the date is adopted as the date information, but the time and minute may be included in more detail. Note that the date information is not limited to the date when the history information is written, but may be a date that actually starts to be used at the store. In that case, a date is input by the user using the operation unit 51, or date information stored in advance in the external storage medium 52 is used.

  In the present embodiment, when writing the program and data of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to be newly used in the data ROM 124, history information is written. Therefore, when a program and data to be written in the data ROM 124 are selected, it is possible to automatically select model identification information corresponding to the program and data and write it to the history information. Thus, when writing the program and data to the data ROM 124, it is possible to maintain the consistency between the two by writing the model identification information in the history information. Note that the model identification information written as the history information may be information input from the operation unit 51 by the user.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the store into which the data ROM 124 is introduced is known in advance, and store identification information is written in the history information. As the store identification information, information input from the operation unit 51 can be used, or information stored in the external storage medium 52 can be used.

  After writing the history information (S509), the data writing device 4 displays a writing end display on the display unit 53 (S510) and ends the series of writing processes. FIG. 11C shows a writing end display displayed on the display unit 53. In the present embodiment, not only programs and data but also history information is written and then such a writing end display is displayed so that history information can be reliably written to the data ROM 124 and is based on the history information. It becomes possible to make the recycling management of the data ROM 124 highly accurate.

  As described above, the writing process has been described with respect to the recycling of the data ROM 124 of the present embodiment, but the writing of the new program and data and the writing of history information may be performed as separate steps. Further, when recycling the pachinko gaming machine 1, there is a case where a new program is not written in the data ROM 124. For example, the case of changing the version of the model corresponds to that. The version change of the model is scheduled, and a program and data necessary for each version are stored in the data ROM 124 in advance. At the time of recycling, changes such as changing the design of the game board 2 are performed, and new programs and data are not written to the data ROM 124. Even when changing the version of such a model, it is preferable to write history information to the redundant area of the data ROM 124. When the version of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is changed, it may be handled as a different model in the operation result information. In such a case, the model identification information whose version has been changed is stored in the history information, so that the operation results of the data ROM 124 can be grasped more accurately and appropriate recycling management can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the operation result information of the data ROM 124 is calculated based on the model identification information stored in the history information. However, the store identification information stored in the history information may be used. Good. In this case, the model operation information also requires a total period and operation time for each store. By using the store identification information, it is possible to calculate more accurate operation result information. For the history information and the model operation information, it is conceivable to calculate the operation result information for each area where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is introduced, in addition to the form of calculating the operation result information for each store. In this case, the history information includes information related to the introduction area of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the model operation information requires a counting period and an operation time for each introduction area.

  In the present embodiment, the operation result information of the data ROM 124 is calculated based on the history information and the model operation information, and whether or not the data ROM 124 can be reused is automatically determined. The determination may be made by a person (user). For example, it is conceivable that the history information in the data ROM 124 is read out and displayed on the display unit, and whether or not a person (user) is reused based on the history information displayed on the display unit. Alternatively, the operation result information described in the writing process may be calculated as a process of the apparatus, and the person may determine the operation result information.

  As described above, the data ROM 124 to be recycled in the present embodiment originally stores the history information without affecting the data area of the data ROM 124 by using a redundant area for storing data instead of the defective area. In addition, the data ROM 124 can be appropriately recycled. In particular, in the gaming machine industry, from the viewpoint of fairness, it is necessary to have the same program and data stored in the data ROM 124 between the same models, so that different history information depending on the usage status of the data ROM 124 is stored in the redundant area. Thus, it is important to appropriately manage the recycling of the data ROM 124 so as not to cause a difference in the stored information due to the history information in the normally used data area.

  Next, the data check of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 will be described. The data check of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is performed by checking whether the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are inserted at the correct positions in the sockets for mounting the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 of the effect control board 108. Further, it is checked whether the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 mounted in each socket is correct. In the present embodiment, a checksum method is used in which data in a predetermined address range of each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is added to the data check and collated with the checksum data. Instead of the checksum method of the present embodiment, other methods can be used for checking data. As described with reference to FIG. 6 and the like, when a defective area exists in the data area, it is stored in the alternative area of the redundant area stored in the defective area area. Therefore, when a data check is performed on the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 mounted on the pachinko gaming machine 1, the defective area in the data area is replaced with the data of the alternative area.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the CPU 103 in the basic circuit 100 of the game control board 11. When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on, the main process shown in FIG. 12 (a) is executed.

  In the main process, an initial setting process is first performed (step S11). In the initial setting process, a process of setting a timer interrupt time (for example, 2 msec) that defines timing for executing an interrupt process to be described later in the CPU 103 is performed. As a result, the time measurement for defining the timing at which the first interrupt process is executed after the reset due to power-on or the like is started. In addition, in the initial setting process, processes for setting various timers are also performed.

  When the initial setting process is completed, it is determined whether or not the state is not backed up when the power is shut down due to a power error that occurs before the power is turned on (step S12). If the state is backed up when the power is shut off, the backed up state is restored, and the state before the power error is restored. At this time, a power restoration command is first transmitted to the sub-boards such as the effect control board 108 and the payout control circuit 106. Further, various commands for resuming processing from the state before the power error are transmitted as necessary (step S13). And the process (step S16, S17) from the state before the returned power supply error is performed continuously.

  If the state is not backed up when the power is shut off, processing such as initialization of the RAM 102 and initialization of various flags is performed (step S14). Next, an initialization command is transmitted to sub boards such as the effect control board 108 and the payout control circuit 106, and the states of these sub boards are initialized (step S15).

  When the sub-board is initialized, a process for updating the display pattern random number for determining the fixed symbol (scheduled stop symbol) and the variation pattern determining random number for determining the variable display pattern of the special-purpose game is performed. (Step S16). Furthermore, a process of updating an initial value determining random number for determining an initial value to be set as a jackpot random number for determining whether or not to win in the special game is performed (step S17). After the initialization of the sub board is completed in step S15, the processes in steps S16 and S17 are repeatedly executed in an infinite loop. If a timer interrupt occurs during this time, the timer interrupt process of FIG. 12B is executed, and when the timer interrupt process ends, the infinite loop process of steps S16 and S17 is executed again.

  In the timer interrupt process, first, the state of the gate switch 21, the first start port switch 22A, the second start port switch 22B, the count switch 23, etc. is input, and a switch for determining whether or not there is a win for each winning port or passing gate. Processing is performed (step S21). When a start winning is detected by the first start port switch 22A, a start storing process is executed in this switch process. Specifically, when a start winning is detected by the first start port switch 22A, a random number value for jackpot determination is extracted at that timing, and the extracted value is stored in a special symbol determination bank for starting storage. . As a result, the start memory is stored. The special symbol determination bank for starting memory is composed of four locations from the 0th bank to the third bank, and a maximum of four starting memories can be made by these four banks. Therefore, when the start winning is detected, if there is a memory in all the banks, the start winning is invalidated.

  Next, various abnormality diagnosis is performed by a self-diagnosis function provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and error processing including processing such as generating an alarm according to the result is performed (step S22). .

  Further, processing for updating the jackpot random number is performed (step S23), processing for updating the initial value determining random number is performed (step S24), and processing for updating the display symbol random number and the variation pattern determining random number is performed (step S24). Step S25). Here, the initial value determination random number is, for example, a timer interrupt process that is first performed after the jackpot random number reaches the maximum value in order to avoid periodically updating the jackpot random value. It is a random number for determining the initial value set as the value of.

  When the update of various random numbers in steps S23 to S25 is completed, special symbol process processing is performed (step S26). In this special symbol process, after the winning confirmation processing is performed, the above-mentioned various random numbers are extracted and the result of the special game is set as a jackpot display mode, or the final symbol in the special game is selected. Or a process for determining the variation display pattern of the special symbol in the special symbol game by lottery, a processing for variably displaying the special symbol by the variation display pattern, and a special symbol that is variably displayed. Processing to stop and execute jackpot is included.

  Next, normal symbol process processing is performed (step S27). In this normal symbol process, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to the normal symbol process flag for controlling the normal symbols in a predetermined order. Specifically, the normal symbols are variably displayed in a predetermined order, and when the normal symbol variability is displayed, the movable wing piece of the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B is opened for a certain period. The value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.

  Next, special symbol command processing is performed (step S28). This special symbol command process is a process of transmitting a special symbol display command from the basic circuit 100 to the effect control board 108 if a special symbol display command is generated in step S26. The command transmitted here includes information relating to a variable display pattern and a fixed symbol. Next, normal symbol command processing is performed (step S29). This normal symbol command processing is processing for transmitting a command for display control of a normal symbol from the basic circuit 100 to the effect control board 108.

  Next, an information output process for outputting information such as probability variation information, jackpot information, starting information, prize ball information, etc. to the outside via the information output circuit 112 is performed (step S30). Next, a solenoid output process for outputting a control signal for exciting and controlling the solenoids 81 and 82 to the solenoid circuit 111 is performed (step S31). Next, a prize ball number signal and a prize ball possible signal are transmitted from the basic circuit 100 to the payout control circuit 106, and a prize ball process for issuing a prize ball payout command is performed (step S32).

  Next, a hold storage process is performed (step S33). In this reserved memory process, the number of reserved memories has changed, for example, when a game ball wins at the first start winning opening and the reserved memory increases, or when the special symbol changes and the reserved memory decreases. In this case, a process for transmitting a reserved memory number command for instructing to change the display of the reserved memory number from the basic circuit 100 to the effect control board 108. When the process of step S33 is completed, the process returns to the loop process of steps S16 and S17 described above.

  Through the processing described above, on the game control board 11 side, a lottery is performed by a special figure game, and when the result is a big hit, the special variable winning ball device 7 is intermittently released as a big hit control for a certain period. Also, by paying out a game ball, the game state is shifted to a specific game state in which jackpot control is performed or a probability variation state based on a probability variation jackpot.

  The process shown in FIG. 12 is a process performed when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed in a game store after being shipped and the player is operated to play a game. On the other hand, before the pachinko gaming machine 1 is shipped from a factory or the like, various products are tested. In the following, data check for the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 mounted on the effect control board 108, that is, whether the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are mounted in the correct socket on the effect control board 108, A test for checking whether the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is correct will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the data check for the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is performed in a state where the game control board 11 is not connected to the connector 120 of the effect control board 108. That is, when the data check is performed, the cable from the game control board 11 is disconnected from the connector 120 of the effect control board 108. An inspector who inspects the pachinko gaming machine 1 confirms that no cable is connected to the connector 120 of the effect control board 108 and turns on the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

  The CPU 121 of the effect control board 108 controls the effect related to the game based on the command sent from the game control board 11 during the game, but during the test, the CPU 121 of the effect control board 108 performs an original test. Do. When the power is turned on, a specific process is performed. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing power-on processing executed by the CPU 121 of the effect control board 108 when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on.

  In the power-on process, time measurement is first started by an internal timer (step S101). After starting the timing, it is determined whether an initialization command transmitted from the game control board 11 in step S15 or a power recovery command transmitted from the game control board 11 in step S13 is received (step S102). If neither the initialization command nor the power recovery command has been received, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the internal timer (step S103). If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of timing, the process returns to step S102, and the processes of steps S102 and S103 are repeated until an initialization command or a power recovery command is received or until the predetermined time elapses.

  If a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the internal timer without receiving an initialization command or a power recovery command, it is determined that the cable from the game control board 11 is not connected to the connector 120, and the data check Set the control data in the control data queue. Since the control data queue is empty when the power is turned on, the control data for data check is put at the head of the control data queue (step S104). Then, the power-on process is terminated. In this embodiment, when the cable from the game control board 11 is not connected to the connector 120, control data for data check is set in the control data queue and data check processing is executed. As a condition for starting the check process, in addition to such a form, the data check process is started by connecting a test board to the effect control board 108 (for example, the connector 120) and receiving a predetermined signal from the test board. Alternatively, it may be performed every time the gaming machine 1 is turned on in a normal use state (a state where the game control board 11 and the effect control board 108 are connected by a cable). Alternatively, an operation unit for starting the data check process may be provided in a normal use state, and the operation may be started by operating the operation unit. A plurality of start conditions of these various data check processes may coexist, or may be set to any one.

  When an initialization command or a power recovery command is received before the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of timing of the internal timer, the internal register of the CPU 121 and the RAM 122 are initialized, and further, according to an instruction from the CPU 121, the VDP 125, the VRAM 126, and the ADP 127 Is also initialized (step S105). The reason why such initialization processing is performed even in the case of a power recovery command is to prevent inconsistency between the processing on the game control board 11 side and the processing on the effect control board 108 side. Then, the power-on process is terminated.

  When the power-on process is completed, the CPU 121 performs a normal process. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process executed by the CPU 121 of the effect control board 108 after the end of the power-on process. The CPU 121 performs the command reception standby process shown in FIG. 14A and the control data check process shown in FIG. 14B in parallel. These processes are executed by switching at regular intervals by, for example, timer interruption.

  In the command reception standby process of FIG. 14A, the CPU 121 determines whether or not a command sent from the game control board 11 has been received (step S201). Until the command is received, the process of step S201 is repeated and the reception of the command is awaited. Note that the initialization command and the power recovery command are not determined here because the processing based on the initialization command and the power recovery command is performed in step S102. However, the various commands transmitted following the power recovery command are subject to determination here. When any command is received from the game control board 11, control data corresponding to the received command is set at the end of the control data queue.

  In the control data check process of FIG. 14B, the CPU 121 checks the control data queue and determines whether any control data is set (step S251). Until the control data is set in the control data queue, the process of step S251 is repeated to wait for the control data to be set. If control data is set in the control data queue, the head control data is extracted from the set control data (step S252). Then, it is determined what kind of control data has been extracted (step S253).

  If the extracted control data is data for data check, a data check process, which will be described later in detail, is performed, and the data ROM 124 is inserted into each socket in which the data ROMs 124-1 to 130-3 of the effect control board 108 are to be mounted. Data check processing is performed to check whether -1 to 3 are correctly mounted and whether the data in the mounted data ROMs 124-1 to 12-3 are correct (step S254). When the data check process ends, the process returns to step S251.

  When the extracted control data is other types of control data, processing corresponding to the type of each control data is executed. That is, if the control data is related to a test other than the data check, the test indicated by the control data is executed. If it is control data related to the effect, an instruction is sent to the VDP 125 and / or ADP 127 in accordance with the control data, and the effect is executed using the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 (step S255). Thereafter, the process returns to step S251.

  Next, the data check process in step S254 will be described in detail. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the data check process in detail. In the data check process of the present embodiment, a determination process for determining whether various data (image data, audio data, lamp data, management table) stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is normal. The reproduction processing for displaying the image data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-2 on the image display device 5 is performed in parallel. In the conventional data check process, only the data check is performed in the pachinko gaming machine 1 that is the target of the data check. Currently, the image data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-2 requires a considerable amount of time for the data check process because of the large amount of data and the large number of image data. The inspector does not need to operate during the period of the data check process, and therefore only has to wait for the end of the data check process.

  The data check process of the present embodiment is based on such a conventional situation, and the image display apparatus 5 can reproduce the image data that is the target of the data check process during the data check process. Thus, the inspector can wait for the end of the data check process while viewing the image data reproduced on the image display device 5. In addition, the inspector can visually confirm the image data to be subjected to the data check process, and can confirm a defect in the display of the image data.

  When the data check process starts, first, mode determination (step S301) is performed. In the present embodiment, it is possible to select an image reproduction priority mode in which image data reproduction is prioritized and a data check priority mode. The image reproduction priority mode is a mode in which reproduction of image data is prioritized over data check. The data check is executed using the remaining image data reproduction capacity in the CPU 121. On the other hand, in the data check priority mode, the CPU 121 executes a data check from start to finish.

  The mode is selected by receiving an input from an inspector or the like from the operation unit provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1 during the data check process. The initial state immediately after starting the pachinko gaming machine 1 may be set to either the image playback priority mode or the data check priority mode. The mode set as the initial state can be changed by the operation of the inspector or the like using the operation unit. In the present embodiment, during the game, various inputs in the data check process can be performed using the operation unit operated by the player. In this embodiment, the stick controller 31 is used as the operation unit. In addition to the stick controller 31, various switches and handles used by the player during the game can be used for the operation unit. By using the operation unit used by the player during the game as the input unit used during the data check process, there is no need to provide an extra input unit such as an input unit dedicated to the data check process. In addition, since the operation unit used at the time of the game is provided on the image display device 5 side, at the time of the data check process, the inspector operates the operation unit while facing the image display device as in the game. Is possible.

  FIG. 17 shows the state of the image display device 5 during the data check process. On the screen of the image display device 5, an overall progress status 501, a mode setting field 502, a cursor 503, an individual progress status 504, and an operation guide 505 are displayed. The overall progress status indicates the data check completion rate for the three data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3. The mode setting field 502 displays the currently set mode (in the case of FIG. 17, the data check priority mode is set). The mode is set using the stick controller 31. In this embodiment, when the image reproduction priority mode is selected, it is possible to select the image data to be reproduced (in the case of FIG. 17, since the data check priority mode is selected, the image data cannot be selected). )

  In the individual progress status 504, the data check completion rates of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are displayed. The operation guide 505 displays an operation method by the stick controller 31. In the present embodiment, the cursor 503 can be moved up and down by tilting the operation rod 31A of the stick controller 31 in the depth direction and the front direction. In addition, the mode can be changed by operating the front button 31B. In the operation guide 505, operations that are not related to the input of the data check process are indicated by broken line frames.

  As shown in FIG. 17, when the data check priority mode is set (S301: data check priority), determination processing for determining whether or not the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is normal. Is executed (step S400). In the present embodiment, checksum processing is employed for determination processing. FIG. 16 shows checksum processing (step S400) as determination processing. In the data check process, it is first determined whether or not there is an interruption state (step S401). The suspended state and its restart will be described later. When not in an interrupted state, that is, when the checksum processing is performed for the first time (step S401: No), loop processing is performed on each data ROM 124-1 to 124-3 (steps S402 to S414). For example, when the data ROM 124-1 is to be determined, the value of X (the leading address of the data ROM 124-1) is substituted for the variable M (step S403). Then, data at address M is read from the data ROM 124-1 (step S405). The read data is stored in the RAM 122 via the attribute RAM 125a of the VDP 125. The CPU 121 calculates a value (check sum) obtained by adding the word strings constituting the data for the read data (step S406).

  On the other hand, the CPU 121 reads the checksum data corresponding to the address M from the program ROM 123 (step S407). The checksum data is data stored in advance in the program ROM 123 and serves as a reference for determining the storage contents of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3. On the condition that the checksum calculated in step S406 matches the checksum data, it is determined that the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is normal. In step S408, determination is performed by comparing the checksum data corresponding to the address M read from the program ROM 123 with the checksum calculated by reading from the address M.

  If the data is normal, that is, if the checksum data matches the checksum (step S409: Yes), the variable M is incremented by one and the next address is determined (step S411: Yes). At this time, if the determination is completed up to the final address of the target data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 (step S413: Yes), the target data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 are changed and changed. The loop of steps S402 to S414 is executed for the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3. If the determination of the last data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 is completed (step S414), the process exits the loop and ends the checksum processing.

  On the other hand, if the data is abnormal, that is, if the checksum data and the checksum do not match (step S409: No), the data abnormality at address M is stored in the RAM 122 (step S410). In the present embodiment, when there is a data abnormality, the fact is displayed on the image display device 5 and notified in units of files such as image data. In the present embodiment, when there is a data abnormality, the remaining data in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 to be determined is continuously determined. However, the data ROM 124- having a data abnormality is used. As for 1-124-3, determination may be stopped when an abnormality is found.

  In the loop of steps S402 to S414, when the mode is changed by a user operation, the CPU 121 stores the variable M in the RAM 122 and temporarily stops the checksum process. In the suspended state (step S401: Yes), the stored variable M is read (step S404), checksum calculation from the address M, and comparison with the checksum are resumed.

  As described above, in the checksum processing, whether or not the stored data is normal by calculating the checksum of the data stored in the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 to be determined and comparing it with the checksum data. It is possible to determine whether or not. In this embodiment, the checksum is calculated for each address data. However, the checksum is calculated not only for the first address as described above, but also for the data of a plurality of addresses, or the data ROM 124. Various forms such as calculating a checksum in units of image data, audio data, and lamp data stored in −1 to 124-3 can be adopted. As a data determination method, not only checksum processing but also various methods can be adopted.

  Next, processing when the image reproduction priority mode is designated (step S301: image reproduction priority) will be described. In the present embodiment, in the image reproduction priority mode in which image data is reproduced, it is possible to select image data to be reproduced by an operation by a user such as an examiner. FIG. 18 shows the state of the image display device 5 during the data check process. This state is a state in which the image reproduction priority mode is set as displayed in the mode setting field 502. In this image reproduction priority mode, a user such as an examiner can reproduce the image data, audio data, and lamp data stored in each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 by moving the cursor. ing. The user operates the operation rod 31A in the depth direction and the near direction to the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 to be reproduced, aligns the cursor 503, and operates the operation rod 31A in the right direction so that the data Data (file names) stored in the ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 can be confirmed and specified.

  FIG. 19 shows an image data selection screen at the time of data check processing. This image data selection screen is a screen for selecting image data in the data ROM 124-1. This is the state when the cursor 503 in FIG. On this image data selection screen, it is possible to specify image data (file unit) stored in the data ROM 124-1. In this image data selection screen, a file selection field 506 is provided, and the image data stored in the data ROM 124-1 is displayed in units of files. The file selection field 506 displays the check status for each image data, that is, the status of checksum processing (completed or incomplete, whether there is an abnormality for completed data). The user can specify image data to be reproduced. In the present embodiment, by operating the operation rod 31A in the depth direction and the front direction, the cursor 503 is moved to the file name of the image data to be reproduced, and the image data is reproduced by operating the front button 31B. It is displayed on the display device 5. In particular, in this embodiment, since the check status is displayed in the file selection field 506, the user can select an image file to be reproduced by referring to the check status. For example, after the checksum process is completed, data is reproduced with no abnormalities, and visual confirmation is performed, or visual confirmation is performed, or reproduction is performed with abnormal image data as a target. It is possible to confirm whether there is any abnormality. In addition, instead of selecting image data for a user such as an examiner in this way, it is possible to adopt various reproduction modes such as sequentially reproducing image data in a predetermined order or randomly reproducing the image data. is there.

  FIG. 20 shows a state in which the reproduction of the image data is designated by the operation of the front button 31B on the image data selection screen and the reproduction of the image data is started. In the present embodiment, various characters constituting the image data selection screen are displayed superimposed on the image data reproduced on the image display device 5. In FIG. 20, the reproduced image data is shown by broken lines so that the characters can be easily identified. As described above, when the interface for selecting image data and the reproduced image data are displayed on the same screen, they are displayed in a superimposed manner or displayed in divided areas. There will be constraints. Therefore, in this embodiment, the interface (image data selection screen) for selecting image data can be deleted by operating the rear button 31C.

  FIG. 21 shows a state of the image display device 5 in which characters and the like in the image data selection screen are hidden by the operation of the back button 31C and only reproduced image data is displayed. In this way, by displaying only the image data, the user can confirm the reproduced image data without being blocked by characters or the like on the image data selection screen. If it is desired to display the image data selection screen again, it is possible to return to the screen state of FIG. 20 by operating the rear button 31C again.

  In the image reproduction process, the image data to be reproduced may be only the image data for which the checksum process has been completed. For image data for which checksum processing has not been completed, an interface may be used in which the cursor 503 does not move or playback does not start even when the front button 31B is operated.

  As described above, when the image data is designated in the image reproduction priority mode (step S302: Yes), an image reproduction process for reproducing the designated image data is executed (step S303). When the reproduction of the designated image data is finished (step S304: Yes), the completion of the checksum process is determined (step S307), and when the checksum process is not completed yet (step S307: No). Return to the top of the data check process and continue the process. In the present embodiment, the designated image data is continuously reproduced until the reproduction is finished. However, the reproduction of the image data can be interrupted by an operation of the stick controller 31 or the like. . By the way, in the image reproduction process for reproducing the image data, a free time for performing the checksum process is confirmed during the execution (step S305). The image data may be either a still image or a moving image. However, in the case of a still image, a free time occurs once reading of the image data is completed. Even in the case of a moving image, in the image data compressed according to the MP4 standard or the like, an image is constituted by a difference with respect to the previous image, so that a free time occurs when the moving image is in a still state.

  In this embodiment, when an idle time occurs during the image reproduction process (step S305: Yes), the above-described checksum process (step S400) is executed. In the checksum process (step S400), when it is determined that the free time has expired (S412: Yes), the variable M is stored in the RAM 122 (step S415), and the checksum process is interrupted. When the checksum process is resumed (step S401: Yes), the variable M is read and the checksum process is resumed. On the other hand, if no image data is designated on the image data selection screen or the like (step S302: No), checksum processing (step S400) is executed. As described above, in the image reproduction priority mode, the reproduction of the image data is prioritized, so that the reproduction of the image data and the checksum processing (step S400) proceed in parallel without any trouble in the reproduction of the image data. Is possible.

  When the checksum process (step S400) is completed (step S306: Yes), the result of the checksum process is displayed on the image display device 5 (step S307). FIG. 22 shows a checksum processing result display screen. On the result display screen, in addition to the overall progress status 501, a result display column 507 indicating the presence / absence of abnormality is shown for each of the three data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 (in this example, there is no abnormality). A user such as an examiner can confirm whether or not there is an abnormality in each of the data ROMs 124-1 to 124-3 by visually recognizing the result display screen. This result display screen is continuously displayed until an instruction from the user (operation of the previous button 31B) is given. When the end instruction by the operation of the front button 31B is detected (step S308: Yes), the series of data check processing is ended. In this embodiment, immediately after the checksum processing is completed, the data check processing is completed and the result of the checksum processing is displayed. However, in the data check processing, the image is displayed even when the checksum processing is completed. It may be possible to continue the reproduction process. In such a form, after completion of the checksum process, the inspector uses the operation unit such as the stick controller 31 to instruct the result display to display the result of the checksum process. This is preferable because it does not get in the way of visual recognition of the image data being reproduced.

  As described above, in the data check process executed in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, the determination process for determining whether the image data is normal and the reproduction process for reproducing the image data are performed in parallel. During the period until the processing is completed, it is possible to reproduce the image data and display it on the image display device 5, and a user such as an inspector visually recognizes and confirms the reproduced image while waiting for the completion of the determination processing. It becomes possible to do. In the present embodiment, only the image data for the effect at the time of the game is to be reproduced as the reproduction process, but the data ROM 134-3 stores audio data and lamp data used for the effect. In the reproduction process, not only image data but also audio data and lamp data may be reproduced. When the inspector reproduces the sound data, he / she listens to the sound emitted from the speakers 8R and 8L for confirmation, and when the lamp data is reproduced, the inspector turns on the game effect lamp 10 which is turned on according to the lamp data. Check visually. Further, during a game, there may be an effect that combines image data, audio data, and lamp data. In the reproduction process, a plurality of data (at least two of the image data, audio data, and lamp data) may be reproduced in combination so that the actual effect can be confirmed.

  In the present embodiment, the screen for displaying the various menus described in FIG. 17 is displayed at the start of the data check process. However, at the start of the data check process, such a screen is not displayed. Similar to the conventional data check process, the image display device 5 may be configured to display nothing or display only numerical values, symbols, and the like indicating the progress of the data check. In such a form, by performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit such as the stick controller 31, a screen for displaying various menus shown in FIG. 17 is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the image data specified by the operation is reproduced. However, the image data is stored in the data ROM 124, for example, in a predetermined order or randomly without specifying the image data. Existing image data may be reproduced. Further, the image data for which the checksum process has been completed may be reproduced. Each time checksum processing of a predetermined number of image data is completed, it is conceivable to reproduce the image data for which the checksum processing has been completed. As described above, in the form of automatically selecting and reproducing the image data without designating, the image display process and the checksum process are alternately executed at regular intervals or at a predetermined rate during the data check process. By doing so, the image display process and the checksum process can be performed in parallel.

  In the present embodiment, the following configuration may be adopted as a modification. In the above embodiment, in order to notify the effect control board 12 of the change pattern indicating the change mode such as the change time, the type of reach effect, and the presence or absence of the pseudo-continuous, one change pattern command is given when the change starts. Although an example of transmission is shown, the variation pattern may be notified to the effect control board 12 by two or more commands. Specifically, in the case of notifying by two commands, the gaming control microcomputer 100 uses the first command to indicate whether there is a pseudo-continuity, whether there is a slip effect, etc. before reaching reach (so-called if not reach). A command indicating the variation time and variation mode before the second stop) is transmitted, and the second command has reached the reach such as the type of reach and presence / absence of re-lottery effect (if the reach does not reach, the so-called first You may make it transmit the command which shows the fluctuation | variation time and fluctuation | variation aspect (after 2 stop). In this case, on the side of the effect control board 12, the effect control in the change display may be performed based on the change time derived from the combination of the two commands. The game control microcomputer 100 notifies the change time by each of the two commands, and the effect control board 12 selects the specific change mode executed at each timing. Also good. When sending two commands, two commands may be sent within the same timer interrupt. After sending the first command, a certain period of time has passed (for example, the next timer interrupt). The second command may be transmitted. Note that the variation mode indicated by each command is not limited to this example, and the order of transmission can be changed as appropriate. In this way, by notifying the variation pattern by two or more commands, the amount of data that must be stored as the variation pattern command can be reduced.

  In addition, the device configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the data configuration, the processing shown in the flowchart, the various display operations including the display operation of the display image in the display area of the image display device 5, etc. depart from the spirit of the present invention. Changes and modifications can be made arbitrarily without departing from the scope. In addition, the gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to a payout type gaming machine that pays out a predetermined number of prize balls in response to detection of a winning ball, but responds to detection of a winning ball by enclosing the gaming ball. It can also be applied to an enclosed game machine that gives a score or a game machine that is controlled to a big hit game state when passing a specific passing gate. In this case, what is necessary is just to alert | report the frequency | count that it became a big hit game state continuously by having passed the said passage gate as a continuous big hit number notification effect. Furthermore, the game can be started by setting a predetermined number of bets for one game using the gaming value, and a variable display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified. One game is completed by deriving the display result, and the present invention can also be applied to a slot machine in which a winning can be generated according to the display result derived by the variable display device.

  For example, the gaming state in the slot machine includes, for example, a regular bonus, a big bonus, and a normal gaming state. In addition, as a gaming state having a higher advantage for the player than the normal gaming state, for example, a reel derivation condition ( For example, a gaming state (so-called assist time or AT) in which an operation procedure that satisfies a derivation condition of a notification target winning that occurs on condition that the stop order or stop timing is satisfied, or a specific winning (for example, a replay winning or single) There is a gaming state (so-called replay time or RT or concentration state) in which the probability that the occurrence of a bonus prize or the like is permitted is increased, and a gaming state in which these are combined. In addition, after the replay time is reached, when the predetermined symbol combination is won and the end symbol combination corresponding to the falling symbol is derived to end the replay time, the symbol combination after the replay time is reached On the condition that a predetermined number of games have been digested without being derived, control may be performed in a notification period (ART) for notifying information for avoiding the falling combination when winning the falling combination. Alternatively, the ART control may be started immediately after the big bonus or the regular bonus ends. The continuous jackpot number notification effect shown in the above embodiment may be, for example, the number of times of transition to a special gaming state such as a regular bonus or a big bonus, or what is the ART control with 10 times as one set. You may perform as an effect which displays whether it is performed continuously.

  The program and data for realizing the present invention are not limited to a form distributed and provided by a detachable recording medium with respect to the computer device or the like included in the pachinko gaming machine 1; It is also possible to adopt a form that is distributed by pre-installing the storage device. Furthermore, the program and data for realizing the present invention are distributed by downloading from other devices on a network connected via a communication line or the like by providing a communication processing unit. It doesn't matter.

  The game execution mode is not only executed by attaching a detachable recording medium, but can also be executed by temporarily storing a program and data downloaded via a communication line or the like in an internal memory or the like. It is also possible to execute directly using hardware resources on the other device side on a network connected via a communication line or the like. Furthermore, the game can be executed by exchanging data with other computer devices or the like via a network.

1 (1a, 1b): Pachinko gaming machine 48: Connector 2: Game board 51: Operation unit 3: Gaming machine frame 52: External storage medium 4: Data writing device 53, 54: Display unit 5: Image display device 81 82: Solenoid 5L, 5C, 5R: Symbol display area 100: Basic circuit 5H: Start winning memory display area 101: ROM
6A: Ordinary winning ball device 102: RAM
6B: Ordinary variable winning ball device 103: CPU
7: Special variable winning ball device 104: I / O port 8R, 8L: Speaker 106: Dispensing control circuit 9A: first special symbol display device 107: ball dispensing device 9B: second special symbol display device 108: effect control board 10 : Game effect lamp 109: Input / output driver board 11: Game control board 110: Switch circuit 20: Normal symbol display 111: Solenoid circuit 21: Gate switch 112: Information output circuit 22A: First start port switch 120: Connector 22B: Second start switch 121: CPU
23: Count switch 121a: Storage area 25A: First hold indicator 122: RAM
25B: Second hold indicator 123: Program ROM
25C: Universal map hold indicator 124: Data ROM
26: Pass gate 124-1-3: Data ROM
31: Stick controller 124a: Storage area 31A: Operation rod 125a: Attribute RAM
31B: Previous button 126: VRAM
31C: Back button 127a: Work RAM
31D: Direction switch 501: Overall progress status 41: CPU 502: Mode setting column 42: ROM 503: Cursor 43: RAM 504: Individual progress status 44: Timekeeping unit 505: Operation guide 45: Display processing unit 506: File selection column 47 : Connector 507: Result display field

Claims (3)

A storage unit storing image data used for display;
A control unit capable of executing in parallel a determination process for determining whether image data stored in the storage unit is normal and a reproduction process for displaying the image data stored in the storage unit on a display unit; With
The control unit executes the determination process on condition that a predetermined input has been made,
A gaming machine characterized in that image data for which the determination process has been completed and image data for which the determination process has not been completed can be identified . The control unit executes the determination process during an idle time of the reproduction process ,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction process reproduces image data designated by using an input unit . The storage unit has a data area and a redundant area,
The data area stores data for executing various processes in the gaming machine,
The redundant area has an alternative area to be used instead of a defective area in the data area,
The control unit performs various processes in the gaming machine based on data stored in the data area and data stored in the alternative area used in place of the defective area generated in the data area. Run,
The redundant area of the storage unit stores history information of the storage unit.
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2.