JP6562247B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a ball game machine.

  In a conventional gaming machine, a gaming machine in which a game ball is paid out as the game progresses is known. For example, when a game ball enters a entrance provided on a game board surface, a predetermined number of games are played. The ball is paid out as a prize ball, and the game ball is paid out to a game ball storage section provided on the front side of the gaming machine. In addition, a gaming machine having a variable winning device having a mechanism for changing a probability of entering a game ball into a winning port is known. As a gaming state that is more advantageous to the player than a normal gaming state, There is known a gaming machine that increases a probability of entry and generates a gaming state (short-time state) in which a decrease in gaming balls hardly occurs.

JP 2002-224362 A

  In the conventional gaming machine described above, if the player visually recognizes a situation in which the game balls stored in the storage unit gradually decrease in a gaming state advantageous to the player, there is a risk of impairing the willingness to continue the subsequent game. There is still room for improvement.

  Accordingly, an object of the gaming machine according to the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the chance of visually recognizing a situation in which the number of game balls stored in a storage unit decreases in a predetermined gaming state.

In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided .
A payout device for paying out game balls;
Payout control means for controlling the payout device;
A ball approach device for causing a game ball paid out by the payout device to enter the game area according to a predetermined entry time interval under the control of the payout control means;
A main storage portion in which the ball approach device is provided on the downstream side and stores game balls paid out by the payout device;
Main storage for detecting whether the main storage portion is in a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage portion, or whether the game balls are in a main storage release state in which the game balls have decreased by a certain amount or more from the main storage expiration state State detection means;
A variable winning device capable of generating a first operation mode corresponding to a first game state and a second operation mode corresponding to a second game state in which a game ball is easier to enter than the first game state. Prepared,
The payout control means includes
Normal payout control means for paying out game balls by predetermined normal payout control before the main storage state detection means detects a state in which the game balls of the predetermined amount or more are stored;
A delay payout control means for performing a delay payout control for paying out at least a part of a game ball requiring payout with a delay from the normal payout control when the second gaming state is executed; It is a feature.
Further, the gaming machine according to claim 2 is:
A payout device for paying out game balls;
Payout control means for controlling the payout device;
A ball approach device for causing a game ball paid out by the payout device to enter the game area according to a predetermined entry time interval under the control of the payout control means;
A main storage portion in which the ball approach device is provided on the downstream side and stores game balls paid out by the payout device;
Main storage for detecting whether the main storage portion is in a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage portion, or whether the game balls are in a main storage release state in which the game balls have decreased by a certain amount or more from the main storage expiration state State detection means;
A variable winning device capable of generating a first operation mode corresponding to a first game state and a second operation mode corresponding to a second game state in which a game ball is easier to enter than the first game state. Prepared,
The payout control means includes
Normal payout control means for paying out game balls by predetermined normal payout control before the main storage state detection means detects a state in which the game balls of the predetermined amount or more are stored;
A gaming machine comprising delayed payout control means for performing delayed payout control in which at least a part of a game ball requiring payout is delayed from the normal payout control when the second gaming state is executed Because
A firing operation status detecting means for detecting whether or not the player is performing a predetermined firing operation;
The delayed payout control means includes
As the delayed payout control, when the second gaming state is being executed and when it is detected that the predetermined shooting operation is being performed by the shooting operation status detecting means, the entry It is characterized in that the control for paying out the game ball to the main storage unit is executed at a speed substantially equal to the time interval.

  With the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the chance of visually recognizing a situation in which the number of game balls stored in the storage unit decreases in the second gaming state.

Front side perspective view of a pachinko machine as an example of a gaming machine Perspective view showing pachinko machine in open state Perspective view showing the pachinko machine in another open state A perspective view showing the pachinko machine in yet another open state Front view of pachinko machine Front view of the pachinko machine with the front block removed Front view of game board Rear perspective view of pachinko machine Rear view of pachinko machine The figure which illustrated the composition of a guidance member, and the storage state of a game ball Partial enlarged view of the guide member The figure which illustrated the storage state of the game ball by a guide member The figure which illustrated the storage state of the game ball by a guide member Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine Flow chart showing an example of main control main processing Flow chart showing an example of main control interrupt processing A flowchart showing an example of a payout state monitoring process Flow chart showing an example of payout signal output processing Flow chart showing an example of payout control main processing Flow chart showing an example of command reception processing The figure which illustrated the display mode of the memory ball display device

  With respect to an embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention, a pachinko machine 100 as an example of a ball and ball gaming machine which is a kind of gaming machine will be described, and then a modified example and other types of gaming machines will be described. First, regarding the embodiment of the pachinko machine 100, a structural configuration, an electrical configuration, and various control processes will be described in order.

<Structural structure>
First, the structure of the structural part of the pachinko machine 100 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective views showing various states of the pachinko machine 100, FIG. 1 shows a closed state of the pachinko machine 100, and FIG. 2 shows that the front block 102 and the intermediate block 103 are integrated with the outer frame 101. 3 shows a state in which the front block 102 is opened with respect to the intermediate block 103, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the rear block 104 is opened with respect to the intermediate block 103. Show. 5 is a front view of the pachinko machine 100, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the front block 102 of the pachinko machine 100 is removed from the state of FIG. Various wirings are omitted in each figure, and a part of the configuration of the game board 400 is omitted in FIGS. 3 and 6.

  The pachinko machine 100 includes, for example, an outer frame 101, a front block 102, an intermediate block 103, and a rear block 104, as shown in FIGS. It is configured to be displaceable.

  The outer frame 101 has a function as a main body support means for supporting the main body portion of the pachinko machine 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 101 is a substantially quadrilateral frame in which a top plate portion 111, a bottom plate portion 112, a left side plate portion 113, and a right side plate portion 114 are assembled, and the pachinko machine 100 is installed. The game machine is installed in a game machine installation facility (island facility) provided in the game hall and is firmly fixed by a fixture (not shown). In the pachinko machine 100, the outer frame 101 is not an indispensable configuration, and the main body portion corresponding to the configuration of the pachinko machine 100 excluding the outer frame 101 has the same inner shape as the outer frame 101 or the outer frame 101. It is good also as a structure with which the island facility was equipped with the support mechanism to support, and a part of locking mechanism which locks the main-body part.

  Intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are provided on one side of the outer frame 101 in the left-right direction (on the left side plate portion 113 side). The outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103 are connected (coupled) by the intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122, and the main body portion of the pachinko machine 100 rotates one end side (left side) in the left-right direction in the front view of the pachinko machine 100. The base end side is configured to be capable of rotating forward with the other end side (right side) serving as a rotating front end side.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are provided separately at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the outer frame 101. Each of the intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122 is configured such that, for example, a shaft portion provided in the intermediate block 103 is supported from below by a shaft support portion provided in the outer frame 101, and a shaft portion is provided in a shaft hole provided in the shaft support portion. It is comprised so that rotation is possible by setting it as the state inserted. In addition, the structure which can rotate the main-body part of the pachinko machine 100 including the intermediate block 103 is not limited to the above structure, and a shaft hole is provided on the intermediate block 103 side and a shaft part is formed on the outer frame 101 side. Other configurations may be used.

  The intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are provided with a function of releasing the connection state between the outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103 by a predetermined removal operation, and the main body portion of the pachinko machine 100 including the intermediate block 103 is attached to the outer frame 101. Removably attached to it. For example, the connection state of the intermediate block 103 with respect to the outer frame 101 is released by performing a predetermined removal operation of opening the intermediate block 103 with respect to the outer frame 101 by a predetermined amount or more and moving it upward. The Thereby, the main body portion of the pachinko machine 100 can be removed from the outer frame 101.

  The front block 102 is disposed so as to overlap the front side with respect to the intermediate block 103, and the intermediate block 103 and the front block 102 are connected by front block support mechanisms 131 and 132 provided on the left side of the front view. The front block support mechanisms 131 and 132 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122, support the front block 102 so as to be pivotable forward with respect to the intermediate block 103, and remove it by a predetermined removal operation. Is configured to be possible.

  The rear block 104 is arranged on the rear side with respect to the intermediate block 103, and the intermediate block 103 and the rear block 104 are arranged by rear block support mechanisms 136, 137 (see FIG. 8) provided on the left side in front view. It is connected. The rear block support mechanisms 136 and 137 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121 and 122 and the front block support mechanisms 131 and 132, and support the rear block 104 so that the rear block 104 can be rotated rearward with respect to the intermediate block 103. And, it is configured to be supported so as to be removable by a predetermined removal operation.

  The pachinko machine 100 also includes an intermediate block locking mechanism that restricts the opening and closing of the intermediate block 103 relative to the outer frame 101, a front block locking mechanism that restricts the opening and closing of the front block 102 relative to the intermediate block 103, an intermediate block locking mechanism, and a front block There is provided a lock operating mechanism that is operated to unlock and lock the block locking mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate block 103 is provided with a key cylinder 141 as a lock operating mechanism that is exposed to the front side of the pachinko machine 100 through the opening of the front block 102.

  As a predetermined operation on the key cylinder 141, when a right rotation operation is performed with an operation key (not shown), the movable portion 143 of the intermediate block locking mechanism provided in the intermediate block 103 is activated. As a result, the engagement between the engaged portion 142 provided on the outer frame 101 and the movable portion 143 as part of the intermediate block locking mechanism is released, and the intermediate block 103 is in an open / close permitted state with respect to the outer frame 101. Become.

  On the other hand, the movable portion 144 of the front block locking mechanism provided in the intermediate block 103 is operated in response to a left rotation operation with a predetermined operation key on the key cylinder 141. As a result, the engaged portion 145 provided on the front block 102 as a part of the front block locking mechanism and the movable portion 144 are disengaged, and the front block 102 is in an open / close permitted state with respect to the intermediate block 103. Become.

  Further, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with a rear block opening / closing regulating mechanism that regulates opening / closing of the rear block 104 with respect to the intermediate block 103. By this rear block opening / closing restriction mechanism, the rear block 104 can be switched with respect to the intermediate block 103 between a state in which opening / closing is prohibited (open / close prohibited state) and a state in which opening / closing is permitted (open / close permitted state) by a predetermined operation. It is said that.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear block opening / closing restriction mechanism includes two opening / closing restriction portions 150A and 150B provided in the intermediate block 103 and one opening / closing restriction portion 150C provided in the rear block 104. . The three opening / closing regulating portions 150A to 150C are provided with rotating pieces 151A to 151C that can be rotated. The rotating pieces 151A to 151C change the engagement state with the opening portion arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction in the closed state of the rear block 104 due to the rotation operation, and thereby the open / close prohibited posture corresponding to the open / close prohibited state And an open / close permission posture corresponding to the open / close permission state can be switched. When all the rotating pieces 151A to 151C are in the opening / closing allowable posture, the rotating pieces 151A to 151C can pass through the openings, and the rear block 104 is in an opening / closing allowable state with respect to the intermediate block 103. The open / close prohibited posture and the open / close allowable posture may be switched between the open / close prohibited state and the open / close permitted state by at least one of the positions and orientations of the rotating pieces 151A to 151C. Alternatively, it may be configured to move in a certain direction, or may be configured to operate by a combination of movement and rotation. Hereinafter, the same applies to the change in posture when the constituent members in each apparatus move between a plurality of postures.

  Among the three rotating pieces 151A to 151C, two rotating pieces 151A and 151B corresponding to a part of them are formed in the rear block 104 in the open / close prohibited state of the rear block 104 as shown in FIG. One rotating piece 151C exposed to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 through the opening and corresponding to the remaining portion is exposed to the front side of the intermediate block 103 as shown in FIG. For this reason, it is not possible to switch all the rotating pieces 151A to 151C to the opening / closing allowable posture only by an operation from one side such as the back side of the pachinko machine 100 or the front side of the intermediate block 103. Has been increased.

  Further, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with a game ball movement restricting mechanism for restricting the movement of the game ball from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, for example, the game ball movement restriction mechanism is configured by a combination of a flow restriction piece 161 provided in the intermediate block 103 and a restriction changing unit 162 provided in the front block 102. The flow restricting piece 161 is biased by a coil spring (not shown) toward the front side where the front block 102 is located.

  In a state in which the front block 102 is closed with respect to the intermediate block 103 (a closed state of the front block 102), the flow-down restricting piece 161 is in a movement-permitted state that allows the game ball to flow down. The change unit 162 is pushed and pushed to the rear side of the intermediate block 103. The flow restricting piece 161 is arranged to be shifted rearward with respect to a guide passage (not shown) for guiding the game ball from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 in the movement-permitted state. Thereby, in the closed state of the front block 102, the movement of the game ball from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 is permitted.

  On the other hand, in the state where the front block 102 is opened with respect to the intermediate block 103 (open state of the front block 102), the pressure of the flow restricting piece 161 by the restriction changing unit 162 is released, and compared with the closed state of the front block 102. Accordingly, the movement restriction state in which the flow restriction piece 161 protrudes toward the front block 102 is set. The flow restriction piece 161 protrudes into the guide passage in the movement prohibited state, and prevents the game ball from flowing down to the downstream side. Thereby, the movement of the game ball from the intermediate block 103 to the previous block 102 is prohibited.

  Further, in the pachinko machine 100, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the intermediate block 103 is closed with respect to the outer frame 101 at the lower end portion on the rear side of the intermediate block 103 and on the rotation front end side (left side in rear view). An open / close detection switch 108 for detecting whether or not the intermediate block 103 is provided is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. An open / close detection switch 109 for detecting whether or not the front block 102 is closed with respect to 103 is provided.

  Next, each structure of the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, and the back block 104 is demonstrated in order.

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front block 102 forms a substantially entire front surface of the pachinko machine 100 and is a substantially rectangular member having a thickness in the front-rear direction, and decorates the front surface portion of the pachinko machine 100. It functions as a front decoration means. The front block 102 is mainly configured by a base frame 201 made of synthetic resin, and is configured by attaching a plurality of functional parts before and after the base frame 201. On the front side of the base frame 201, a front decorative body 210 that forms the front surface of the pachinko machine 100 surrounds the opening 210A along the outer edge of the opening 210A that is formed to include the front-view center portion of the front block 102. It is attached. In a state where the base frame 201 and the front decorative body 210 constituting the front block 102 are combined, the opening 210A is formed through the wide area excluding the outer periphery to which the front decorative body 210 is attached. The intermediate block 103 including the game board 400 located on the rear side of the front block 102 is configured to be visible to the player through the opening 210A.

  1 and 3, the front block 102 includes a central panel 220 provided on the back side of the base frame 201 so as to close the opening 210A, a main storage mechanism 230 for storing game balls, An auxiliary storage mechanism 240 that stores game balls and a launch operation device 250 that is operated by a player to launch game balls stored in the main storage mechanism 230 are provided.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the front block 102 has an opening peripheral portion 211 that surrounds the periphery of the opening 210A as a part of the front decorative body 210, and projects forward on the lower side with respect to the opening 210A. An upper projecting portion 217, a lower projecting portion 218 located below the upper projecting portion 217 and projecting forward, and an upper projecting portion 217 and a lower projecting portion on the right side of the lower projecting portion 218. A flat portion 219 is formed which is configured by a substantially flat region located on the back side from 218 and on which the firing operation device 250 is disposed. The main storage mechanism 230 is disposed on the upper protrusion 217, and the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 is disposed on the lower protrusion 218.

  The center panel 220 has a function as a cover body that allows the rear side to be visually recognized while closing the opening 210 </ b> A formed penetrating in the front-rear direction in a state where the base frame 201 and the front decorative body 210 are combined. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the center panel 220 includes a panel frame 221 (see FIG. 3) attached from the rear side of the base frame 201, and a light transmitting property fitted on the front side of the panel frame 221. 1 and a light transmitting rear plate 223 (see FIG. 3) fitted substantially parallel to the front plate 222 with a predetermined gap on the rear side of the panel frame 221. Yes.

  The main storage mechanism 230 has a function of storing game balls acquired as the game progresses and game balls lent out from the game hall. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the main storage mechanism 230 includes a storage portion 231, a ball removal mechanism (not shown), and a ball removal operation member 232 that operates the ball removal mechanism. The storage unit 231 includes an inflow port 231 </ b> A that allows game balls to flow into the storage unit 231 from the inside of the pachinko machine 100, and an outflow port (not shown) that allows game balls to flow out from the storage unit 231 into the pachinko machine 100. A discharge port (not shown) formed upstream from the outflow port is provided. By releasing the discharge port, the game ball is released from the storage unit 231 to the player side without being taken into the pachinko machine 100. The ball removal mechanism has a function of switching the discharge destination of the game ball between the outlet and the outlet.

  A game ball acquired according to the progress of the game and a game ball lent according to a lending operation to a lending operation device 292 described later mainly flow into the storage unit 231 through the inflow port 231A. The storage portion 231 is formed with an opening on the upper side, and a game ball owned by a player is manually inserted through the opening, or a game ball lent out at a game hall is supplied.

  Storage amount detection switches 249A and 249B (see FIGS. 10 and 14) for detecting the storage state of game balls in the storage unit 231 are provided behind the inflow port 231A with respect to the storage unit 231.

  The game balls that have flowed into the storage unit 231 are sequentially guided to the side where the outflow port and the discharge port are formed (upper right side in FIG. 1) while being aligned in a row. When a ball removing operation (for example, a pressing operation) is not performed on the ball removing operation member 232, the game ball is guided to a launching device 330 (see FIG. 3) described later through an outlet. On the other hand, when the ball removal operation is performed on the ball removal operation member 232, the game ball is guided to the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see FIG. 1) through the discharge port.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 opens and closes the storage unit 241 having the inflow ports 241A and 241C (see FIG. 5) and the discharge port 241B (see FIG. 1) of the game ball, and the discharge port 241B. And a ball removal operation member 242 for operating the ball removal mechanism 243. A game ball or the like acquired as the game progresses mainly flows into the main storage mechanism 230, but flows into the storage unit 241 through the inlet 241A if the storage unit 231 is full. Further, even in response to the ball removal operation on the ball removal operation member 232, the game ball flows from the storage unit 231 to the storage unit 241 through the inflow port 241C.

  The bottom surface of the storage unit 241 is inclined downward toward the discharge port 241B. When the discharge port 241B is opened by a ball removal operation (for example, a pressing operation) with respect to the ball removal operation member 242, all the game balls stored in the storage unit 241 can be sequentially released to the outside of the pachinko machine 100. In addition, when the discharge port 241B is completely opened by the ball removal operation on the ball removal operation member 242, the release state is kept until a return operation (for example, a pressing operation again) is performed on the ball removal operation member 242. Maintained. Behind the inflow port 241A, storage amount detection switches 249A and 249C (see FIGS. 10 and 14) for detecting the storage state of the game balls in the storage unit 241 are provided.

  Further, above the left end portion of the main storage mechanism 230 in the front block 102, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a storage ball display device 212 having a flat image display surface 213 facing the front side of the pachinko machine 100. Is provided. The memory sphere display device 212 is configured by a display device capable of displaying an image such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL. The memory sphere display device 212 is formed in a substantially pentagonal shape in which a corner portion on the upper right side when viewed from the front with respect to a substantially rectangular shape is cut into a triangular shape, and a central panel 220 is disposed on the cut side. For this reason, the area where the memory ball display device 212 overlaps in front of the center panel 220 is reduced, and a wide viewable area of the game ball moving on the back side of the center panel 220 can be secured.

  The memory ball display device 212 is configured to be able to display stored ball information corresponding to the number of game balls (the number of stored memory balls) executed with a delay in payout control among the game balls acquired by the player. Details of display contents of the sphere display device 212 will be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the firing operation device 250 includes a pedestal 251 projecting forward from the flat portion 219 of the front decorative body 210, a rotatable firing handle 252 provided around the pedestal 251, A variable resistor 253 (see FIG. 14) for detecting the rotational operation amount of the firing handle 252, a contact sensor 254 (see FIG. 14) for detecting that the player is in contact with the firing handle 252, and the firing handle 252 It includes a firing stop switch 255 (see FIG. 5) that invalidates the injection of the game ball accompanying the rotation operation by the player's operation. When the launch handle 252 is rotated by the player, a game ball is ejected from the launch device 330 (see FIG. 3) toward the game board 400 (see FIG. 3) with an intensity corresponding to the rotational operation amount. When the contact between the firing handle 252 and the player is not detected by the contact sensor 254, or when the firing operation is invalidated by the operation of the firing stop switch 255, the firing handle 252 is rotated. However, the game ball is not ejected from the launching device 330.

  In addition, frame light emitting devices 271 to 275 (see FIG. 14) are provided at the back of the front decorative body 210 in the front block 102. The frame light emitting devices 271 to 275 are arranged so as to overlap the opening peripheral portion 211 of the front decorative body 210 and are attached to the base frame 201. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening peripheral edge 211 includes an upper central edge 211A, an upper left edge 211B and an upper right edge 211C located on both the left and right sides of the upper central edge 211A, and an upper left edge. The left side edge portion 211D positioned below 211B and the right side edge portion 211E positioned below the upper right side edge portion 211C as light emitting portions, and frame light emission corresponding to each light emitting portion Devices 271 to 275 are installed.

  The frame light-emitting devices 271 to 275 include an upper center frame light-emitting device 271 corresponding to the upper central edge portion 211A, a left upper frame light-emitting device 272 corresponding to the left upper edge portion 211B, and an upper-right frame light emission corresponding to the upper right side edge portion 211C. The apparatus 273 includes a left frame light emitting device 274 corresponding to the left edge 211D, and a right frame light emitting device 275 (see FIG. 14) corresponding to the right edge 211E. Each of the frame light emitting devices 271 to 275 integrates and electrically connects a light emitting diode (LED) as one or a plurality of light emitting means, an electronic component such as a resistor for controlling the LED, and the electronic components. And a printed circuit board.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the front block 102 is provided with, for example, an upper left acoustic output port 211F and an upper right acoustic output port 211G at the upper portion of the opening peripheral edge 211, and these upper left acoustic output ports 211F. In addition, an upper left acoustic device 281 and an upper right acoustic device 282 (see FIGS. 3 and 14) are provided corresponding to each of the upper right acoustic output ports 211G. The upper left acoustic device 281 and the upper right acoustic device 282 are attached to the base frame 201 so as to be located behind (in the rear of) the opening peripheral edge 211 of the front decorative body 210.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the front block 102 is provided with a game ball lending device 290, for example, on the upper right portion of the upper protrusion 217. The game ball lending device 290 includes a frequency display device 291 that displays a numerical value corresponding to the remaining amount of banknotes, cards, and the like placed in a card unit (not shown) arranged side by side in the pachinko machine 100, and a game ball lending A lending operation device 292 operated by the player when receiving the card, and a return operation device 293 operated by the player when returning the bills, cards, etc. inserted into the card unit. When a lending operation is performed on the lending operation device 292 in a valid state in which bills or cards are inserted into the card unit and numerical values corresponding to those amounts are displayed on the frequency display device 291, the lending operation is performed. In response, a predetermined number of game balls are lent out from the payout device 540 (see FIG. 8) of the rear block 104, and the display of the frequency display device 291 is updated as the game balls are lent out. On the other hand, when a return operation is performed on the return operation device 293 in the valid state, a card in which the equivalent of the banknote corresponding to the remaining amount or the remaining amount is recorded is returned from the card unit according to the returning operation.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the front block 102 is provided with an input operation device 260 capable of an input operation different from the shooting operation by the player. The input operation device 260 includes, for example, a push operation device 261 that can perform a push operation, a rotation operation device 262 that can perform a rotation operation, and a selection operation device 263 that can perform an up / down / left / right direction operation. With these operation devices 261 to 263, an effect selection operation for selecting an effect to be executed in the pachinko machine 100, an apparatus setting operation for setting the volume and light amount of each device for executing the effect of the pachinko machine 100, or a player It is possible to execute a production setting operation or the like that enables execution of the performance of the pachinko machine 100 according to the game before the previous time by inputting information, and these operations can be performed by the player or the game hall manager as necessary. It is said that. Note that an input operation unit (for example, an annular rotation operation unit in the rotation operation device 262) that the player contacts in the input operation device 260 is rotated, moved up and down by an input operation unit driving means such as a motor or a solenoid, or It is preferable that an operation such as vibration is executed by control of the pachinko machine 100 (for example, control of the sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 14)), either before or after the input operation, or during the input operation, By operating the input portion at a plurality of timings, it is possible to diversify the effects accompanied by the input operation, such as actively prompting the input operation.

  Next, the intermediate block 103 will be described. The intermediate block 103 is a substantially rectangular member having substantially the same size as the front block 102, and the front block 102 and the rear block 104 are attached so that the main body of the pachinko machine 100 is integrated. have. The intermediate block 103 is configured by attaching a plurality of functional components including the game board 400 to the base frame 301.

  3 and 4, the intermediate block 103 includes a base frame 301 having an opening, a game board 400 (see FIG. 3) that is attached from the front side while covering the opening of the base frame 301, and a base frame A game board support mechanism that rotatably and detachably supports the game board 400 with respect to the 301, a game board fixing mechanism that fixes the position of the game board 400 with respect to the base frame 301, and a game ball on the game board 400. Based on a command from the launching device 330 (see FIG. 3) to be ejected, a main control device 370 (see FIG. 4) that is attached to the back side of the game board 400 and controls the progress of the game in an integrated manner. And a sub-control device 390 (see FIG. 4) for controlling game effects and state notifications.

  In the base frame 301, as shown in FIG. 3, a guide passage portion 301A in which a guide passage for guiding a game ball released from a payout device 540 (see FIG. 8) described later to the front block 102 is formed, A plurality of wirings (not shown) and an opening 301B where the signal relay device 311 is located are provided. The opening 301B has a shape penetrating in the front-rear direction below the game board 400, and a plurality of wires inserted into the opening 301B are various devices provided in the front block 102 (for example, frame light emitting devices 271 to 271). 275, an upper left acoustic device 281 and an upper right acoustic device 282) and devices (for example, the main control device 370 and the sub control device 390) provided on the back side of the intermediate block 103 and the rear block 104 The signal relay device 311 includes a wiring, and has a function as a relay board that relays a part of the wiring.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 400 includes a flat base 401 having a through-hole through which a game ball such as a discharge port 401A can pass back and forth, and an outer rail that curves smoothly from the lower left to the upper right of the base 401. 402, the inner rail 403 that curves smoothly from the lower right to the upper left of the base body 401, the return ball prevention mechanism 404 attached to the upper left end of the inner rail 403, and the upper right end of the outer rail 402 And a rebound preventing member 405 to be attached. The outer rail 402 guides a game ball launched from a launch device 330 described later into the game area. The return ball prevention mechanism 404 prevents the game ball once released into the game area from the launch passage 401B formed at a portion where the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403 are opposed in parallel from returning to the launch passage 401B. The recoil prevention member 405 has a shock absorption property that prevents a significant recoil of the game ball that has passed the upper center of the game board 400 and directed to the right side through the upper center and returns to the left side again. For example, it is made of a material such as vibration damping rubber.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a return ball passage portion 163 is formed in the lower portion on the back side of the front block 102. There is a gap between the guide member 335 for guiding the game ball from the launcher 330 in the direction of the launch path 401B and the outer rail 402, and the launcher 330 was launched but launched without exceeding the return ball prevention mechanism 404. The game ball returning backward in the passage 401B is returned to the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see FIG. 5) from the inlet 241A (see FIG. 5) via the return ball passage portion 163 arranged below the gap.

  The game ball that has advanced beyond the return ball prevention mechanism 404 reaches the game area, and moves (flows down) while falling in the game area by its own weight. The game area has a substantially circular outer peripheral shape, and is divided into a shape having a large area in the front-rear width slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. The game area is generally divided into an outer peripheral portion by the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403, the front side is substantially planar by the rear plate 223 of the central panel 220, and the rear side is substantially planar by the base body 401 of the game board 400. It is divided into. Various structures provided in the game area will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the launching device 330 sequentially sends out game balls stored in the main storage mechanism 230 to the launch position, and a ball feed solenoid 332 that drives the ball feed mechanism 331 (FIG. 14). A launching mechanism 333 for injecting a game ball arranged at the launch position, a launching solenoid 334 for driving the launching mechanism 333 (see FIG. 14), and a game ball launched from the launching mechanism 333 on the game board 400. And a guide member 335 for guiding to the firing passage 401B. As described above, the launch device 330 operates in response to the launch operation on the launch operation device 250, and the drive control of the launch solenoid 334 changes in accordance with the launch operation on the launch operation device 250 to adjust the launch force.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main control device 370 includes a main control board 920 (see FIG. 14) and a board case 371 having a split structure that accommodates the main control board 920. The main control board 920 is housed in a light-transmitting board case 371 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving a trace.

  Further, the main control device 370 is rotatably attached to the back side of the game board 400. Specifically, an attachment portion 372 is rotatably connected and fixed to the base 401 of the game board 400 on the back side, and the main controller 370 is attached to the attachment portion 372. As a result, not only the rear side (front side) of the main control device 370 but also the front side (back side) of the main control device 370 is operated on the game board 400 by rotating the mounting portion 372. It can be easily confirmed while attached. The main control device 370 may be connected to the attachment portion 372 so that it cannot be removed without leaving a trace, and the removal state of the main control device 370 may be easily managed.

  The sub-control device 390 includes a sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 14) and a board case 391 having a split structure that accommodates the sub-control board 940. For example, the sub-control board 940 is housed in a translucent board case 391 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving a trace, like the main control board 920. It is attached to the back side.

  Here, in the game board 400, various structures arranged in the game area will be described with reference mainly to FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of the game board 400.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the game board 400 includes a base body 401, flow-down changing members such as nails 411 and windmills 412 that change the flow direction and flow speed of the game ball, and a center disposed at the center of the base body 401. A structure 420, a starting device (specifically, an upper middle starting winning device 431A and a lower middle starting winning device 431B) according to a first special symbol disposed below the central structure 420, a center A starting device (specifically, a right starting winning device 432) according to a second special symbol arranged on the lower right side with respect to the structure 420, and a big winning device 433 arranged below the right starting winning device 432 434 (specifically, the lower prize-winning device 433 and the upper prize-winning device 434), the starting device 436 related to the normal symbol arranged on the upper side (upstream side) of the right starting winning-winning device 432, and the game board 400 On the top right and above and below Winning device that the winning combination communicating actuating device 435 which is arranged above (upstream side) with respect to 433, regular winning device 439A arranged on both left and right sides of the lower side middle starting winning device 431 B, and a 439B.

  In addition, the game board 400 is provided with a plurality of switches as detection means for detecting the passage of the game ball corresponding to the above-mentioned upper middle start winning device 431A and the like (see FIG. 14), and each switch corresponds to each switch. The entry of a game ball into a predetermined area can be detected. For example, a middle start winning switch (upper middle start winning switch 441A) that detects a game ball that has entered the upper middle start winning device 431A, and a middle start winning switch (lower) that detects a game ball that has entered the lower middle start winning device 431B. Side middle start winning switch 441B), right start winning switch 442 that detects a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432, lower large prize switch 443 that detects a game ball that has entered the lower large winning device 433, and a top large winning device. An upper prize switch 444 that detects a game ball that has entered 434, a combination operation switch 445 that detects a game ball that has entered the combination actuating device 435, a start switch 446 that detects a game ball that has entered the starter 436, and the bottom A non-specific passage switch 447 for detecting a game ball that has entered a non-specific passage (not shown) formed inside the grand prize winning device 433; A specific path switch 448 for detecting a game ball that has entered a specific path (not shown) formed inside the grand prize winning device 433, and a general prize switch 449A for detecting each of the game balls that have entered the general winning devices 439A and 439B. 449B and the like are installed on the game board 400.

  The entrance portion of the game ball of the central structure 420 and the starter 436 constitutes a ball entrance, and the game ball that has entered each ball entrance is discharged into the game area. Games of each winning device, specifically, upper middle starting winning device 431A, lower middle starting winning device 431B, right starting winning device 432, lower large winning device 433, upper large winning device 434 and general winning devices 439A, 439B The entrance portion of the ball constitutes a winning opening, and the game ball that has entered each winning opening is guided through a through hole formed in the base 401 to a recovery / discharge passage (not shown) formed on the back side of the base 401. . In addition, the game balls that have not entered each winning device are guided to the collection / discharge passage through the discharge port 401A provided in the most downstream portion of the game area. The game balls guided to the collection discharge passage are discharged from the pachinko machine 100 to a game ball circulation device (not shown) provided in the game hall. When a game ball enters one of the winning devices, a predetermined number of gaming balls corresponding to the type of the winning device are paid out from the payout device 540 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Each winning device may be configured separately from other winning devices, or an apparatus in which two or more winning devices (for example, the upper middle start winning device 431A and the lower middle start winning device 431B) are integrated. The starting device such as the upper middle starting winning device 431A may not necessarily be a winning opening through which a predetermined number of game balls are paid out when a game ball enters. It is good also as a entrance where a ball | bowl is discharge | released again to a game area, without paying out.

  Each of the upper middle start winning device 431A and the lower middle start winning device 431B and the general winning device 439A and the general winning device 439B according to the first special symbol does not change the probability of entering the game ball into them, and enters The played game ball is guided to the back side of the base body 401. Further, the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol has a mechanism for changing the entrance probability of the game ball into the inside. The mechanism for changing the probability of entering the game ball need not be provided only in the starting device related to the second special symbol. Instead of or in addition to that, the starting device and the general winning device related to the first special symbol. It may be provided in any one or a plurality of 439A and 439B. In addition, the mechanism for changing the entrance probability of the game ball may be constituted by a drive means such as an electrically driven solenoid, and is represented by a mechanism that operates by the weight of the game ball that has entered the predetermined area. You may comprise by the mechanism which operate | moves mechanically.

  The right start prize winning device 432 according to the second special symbol includes a right entry restriction mechanism 452 that changes an entry probability of a game ball to the inside by a transition between an entry allowable attitude and an entry prohibited attitude, and a right entry restriction mechanism And a right entry restriction solenoid 462 (see FIG. 14) for driving 452. The right entry restriction mechanism 452 includes two movable pieces that are driven by the right entry restriction solenoid 462. When the right entry restriction mechanism 452 is in the entry prohibition posture, the two movable pieces are the entrance (award opening). The game ball cannot enter the right start prize-winning device 432 by adopting an arrangement that narrows (or closes)), but when the right entry restricting mechanism 452 is in the approaching allowable posture, the two movable pieces are at their tips. The game ball can enter the right start winning device 432 by arranging the parts so that the interval between the parts is increased. The right entry restriction mechanism 452 enters the right when a game ball that has entered the starter 436 related to the normal symbol is won by a lottery based on detection by the start switch 446 (hereinafter also referred to as “normal symbol lottery”). In accordance with the drive by the restriction solenoid 462, the posture is allowed to enter the predetermined allowable number of times and for a predetermined time.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower grand prize winning device 433 includes a lower entry restriction mechanism 453 for restricting the entry of a game ball into the inside by a transition between an allowable entry position and an prohibited entry attitude, and a lower entry restriction mechanism. The lower entry control solenoid 463 (see FIG. 14) that changes the posture of the mechanism 453 and the transition between the non-guided posture and the guided posture causes the game ball that has entered the lower prize winning device 433 to be a non-specific passage or a specific passage. A sorting mechanism (not shown) for sorting and a switching solenoid 465 (see FIG. 14) for switching the guidance destination of the game ball by changing the attitude of the sorting mechanism are provided. When the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 is in the entry prohibition posture, the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 closes the entrance (winning entrance), so that the game ball cannot enter the lower outstanding prize device 433. When the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 is in the approach permitting posture, the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 opens the entrance, so that the game ball can enter the lower prize-winning device 433. In addition, the game ball that has entered the lower prize-winning device 433 is guided to a non-specific path when the distribution mechanism is in a non-guided posture protruding forward, and is in a guided posture in which the distribution mechanism is immersed backward. It is guided to a specific passage. The specific passage, the non-specific passage, and the distribution mechanism are provided to diversify the game state transition, and when a game ball enters the specific passage, an advantageous game state is given to the player as a privilege. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, the upper prize winning device 434 includes an upper entry restriction mechanism 454 that restricts the entry of a game ball into the inside by a transition between an entry allowable attitude and an entry prohibited attitude, and an upper entry restriction. An upper entry restriction solenoid 464 (see FIG. 14) that changes the posture of the mechanism 454 is provided. When the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is in the entry prohibition posture, the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 closes the entrance (winning port) so that the game ball cannot enter the upper prize winning device 434, but the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 Is in the allowance for entering position, the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 opens the entrance to allow the game ball to enter the upper prize winning device 434.

  In addition, as an approach allowable posture and an entry prohibition posture as a mechanism for changing the probability of entering a game ball into the right entry restricting mechanism 452 or the like, each mechanism is configured to receive a winning opening (or a winning opening) of each device. In response to a change in posture of the operation member that switches between a special state in which a game ball can enter and a normal state in which the game ball cannot enter, at least one of the position and orientation of the operation member differs depending on each posture I need it. Further, as a mechanism for changing the entrance probability of a game ball such as the right entry restriction mechanism 452, it is not always necessary to set the game ball in an inaccessible state, and the game ball is allowed to enter even in the normal state. In the state, the posture of the operation member may be changed so that the game ball can enter more easily than the normal state.

  A game ball can enter the lower prize-winning apparatus 433 and the upper prize-winning apparatus 434 when winning a lottery. Specifically, a game ball that has entered the upper middle start prize device 431A or the lower middle start prize device 431B according to the first special symbol is detected by the upper middle start prize switch 441A or the lower middle start prize switch 441B. When a lottery based on the above (hereinafter also referred to as “first special symbol lottery”) is won, or a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol is detected by the right start winning switch 442 When winning a lottery based on (hereinafter also referred to as “second special symbol lottery”), at least one of the lower entry restriction solenoid 463 and the upper entry restriction solenoid 464 is activated. By this operation, at least one of the lower approach restricting mechanism 453 and the upper approach restricting mechanism 454 takes the approach permitting posture for a predetermined time for a predetermined number of times. Further, the distribution mechanism shifts to the guidance posture in accordance with the operation of the switching solenoid 465 after a predetermined time from the transition of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 to the allowable entry posture, and further switches after the predetermined time from the transition to the guidance posture. The non-guided posture is returned in response to the stop of the solenoid 465.

  The combination operating device 435 is a device for setting conditions necessary for the lower prize winning device 433 and the upper prize winning device 434 to start operating. After winning the big win lottery, either the lower big prize device 433 or the upper big prize device 434 starts operation on condition that the game ball of the combination operating device 435 passes. For this reason, when a player wins a big hit, the player can start a special gaming state at the timing he / she intends. Note that it is not always necessary that either the lower prize-winning device 433 or the upper prize-winning device 434 start the operation on condition that the game ball of the combination actuating device 435 passes, instead of or In addition, either the lower prize-winning device 433 or the upper prize-winning device 434 may be activated when a predetermined time elapses.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the game board 400 is integrated with display devices 471 to 473 for displaying symbol change display and lottery results, and display devices 476 to 478 for displaying the number of times a game is held. A display device having a plurality of light emitting units is provided in a lower left portion corresponding to a part of the game board 400. The plurality of light emitting units are partitioned in advance into light emitting areas corresponding to each device, and the state of each device is displayed according to the light emitting state.

  Specifically, the first special symbol is variably displayed on the game board 400 in accordance with the first special symbol lottery, or the first special symbol is fixedly displayed with a stop symbol corresponding to the lottery result. The special symbol display device 471 related to the special symbol and the second special symbol are displayed in a variable manner in accordance with the second special symbol lottery, or the second special symbol is displayed with the stop symbol corresponding to the lottery result. Special symbol display device 472 related to the special symbol, special symbol hold display device 476 that displays the number of times the unit game is held according to the first special symbol, and special symbol hold that displays the number of times the unit game is held related to the second special symbol A display device 477 is provided. The right of the unit game related to the first special symbol and the right of the unit game related to the second special symbol are each reserved up to four times. Here, the unit game is a game for one time executed based on one start prize, and whether or not a lottery is executed based on one start prize and a lottery based on the determination A series of games including the start and end of variable display until the result is displayed.

  When the right of the unit game related to the first special symbol is held up to the maximum number of times, the game ball that has entered the start winning device 431 is the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 14) or the lower middle start winning switch. Even if it is detected by 441B (see FIG. 14), the right of the unit game related to the first special symbol is not added. Similarly, when the right of the unit game related to the second special symbol is held up to the maximum number of times, it is assumed that the game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 is detected by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 14). However, the unit game right related to the second special symbol is not added.

  Each of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol and the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol is composed of a plurality of light emitting units, and is controlled by the main control board 920 (see FIG. 14). . Each of the display of the first special symbol and the display of the second special symbol is represented by a light emission pattern of the plurality of light emitting units (a combination of a light emission state including a light emission color (off, on, flashing)). The special symbol hold display device 476 related to the first special symbol and the special symbol hold display device 477 related to the second special symbol have the number of times of holding depending on the combination of the light emission states (off, on, flashing) of the two single color light emitting units. indicate.

  In addition, the game board 400 includes a normal symbol display device 473 that displays a normal symbol in a variable manner or a normal symbol that is fixedly displayed in accordance with a lottery result according to the normal symbol. A normal symbol hold display device 478 for displaying the number of hold times of the right of the unit game is provided. The right to unit games related to normal symbols is reserved up to 4 times. When the right of the unit game related to the normal symbol is held up to the maximum number of times, the right of the unit game related to the normal symbol is not added even if the game ball that has entered the starter 436 is detected by the start switch 446.

  The normal symbol display device 473 includes a plurality of light emitting units, and is controlled by the main control board 920 (see FIG. 14). A normal symbol is expressed by a light emission pattern of a plurality of light emitting units. Further, the normal symbol hold display device 478 displays the number of hold times by a combination of the light emission states (off, on, flashing) of the two single color light emitting units.

  In addition, the game board 400 is displayed so as to overlap the rear of the central structure 420, so that the decorative symbols are displayed in a variable manner or the decorative symbols are displayed in a unit game related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol. A decorative symbol display device 479 is provided. The variation display and confirmation display of the decorative symbols are controlled by the sub-control board 940, and are synchronized with the variation display and confirmation display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol by the main control board 920. In the variation display of the decorative symbol, more complicated and various effects are executed than the variation display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol. It should be noted that the variation display and final display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol and the variation display and final display of the decorative symbol always start to change at the same timing or stop display as the final display. It is not necessary, and the setting may be such that the change is started at substantially the same timing while providing a slight time difference at each timing, and the final display is performed at substantially the same timing.

  In addition, the game board 400 includes a board surface light emitting device 490 (see FIG. 14) provided on the back side of various structures, and the board surface light emitting device 490 accompanies the progress of the game based on the control by the sub control board 940. Various light emission effects and state notifications by light emission are executed.

  Here, various game states and transitions between game states will be described. The normal game state (hereinafter abbreviated as “normal game state”) is a state in which the variable display time of the first special symbol, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol is long (hereinafter also referred to as “non-short state”). Correspond.

  When a big win is won in the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the game ball enters the specific passage (the internal passage of the lower grand prize winning device 433) during the special game state that shifts based on the win. Depending on whether or not, the game state to be transferred after the special game state is different. If the game ball does not enter the specific passage during the special game state, the variation display time of the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol is shorter than the non-short-time state (hereinafter referred to as the “short-time state”). And a gaming state (hereinafter also referred to as a “low-probability state”) in which the jackpot winning probability in the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is the same as the normal gaming state (hereinafter also referred to as “low probability state”). In the following, it is also referred to as “time saving gaming state”. On the other hand, when a game ball enters the specific passage during the special game state, the game is in a short-time state and the winning probability of the big hit in the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is higher than the normal game state. The game state (hereinafter also referred to as “probability game state”) is changed to a game state (hereinafter also referred to as “high probability state”).

  The short-time gaming state is maintained until the total number of unit games related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, 50 times), but thereafter returns to the normal gaming state. In addition, the probability variation gaming state is maintained until the total number of unit games related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times), but thereafter returns to the normal gaming state.

  Note that the transition between the gaming state and the gaming state is not necessarily configured as described above. For example, the high probability state may be continued until the next big win, or the gaming state may be changed depending on other contents. At least one may be configured, a configuration in which a gaming state different from the above-described gaming states is further included, or a configuration in which the gaming state is shifted by a condition different from the above-described conditions may be employed.

  Next, the operation of the main devices of the game board 400 will be described in chronological order. In the main control board 920, winning random numbers, jackpot symbol random numbers, stop pattern random numbers, various variation pattern random numbers related to special symbols (common to the first special symbol and the second special symbol) are generated, and various game states are generated. When a game ball that has entered one of the start winning devices 431A and 431B according to the first special symbol is detected by one of the medium start winning switches 441A and 441B (see FIG. 14), the start winning of the first special symbol is detected. It becomes. At the time of starting winning the first special symbol, if the unit game right related to the first special symbol is not reserved up to the maximum number of times, the winning random number, jackpot symbol random number and stop pattern random number relating to the special symbol are acquired, It is stored in a predetermined area of the main control board 920 RAM.

  The unit game based on the random number acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol is not in the special game state, not the unit game related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol, but the unit game related to the first special symbol. If the right is not reserved, it is started immediately after storing the random numbers. In addition, even when the game is not in a special game state, when the unit game right related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol is reserved during the unit game related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol. The unit game based on the current start winning is started after the end of the unit game relating to all the special symbols (the first special symbol and the second special symbol) held before the current winning. If each random number is acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol during the special gaming state, the unit game based on the random number is all of the units that were held before the current starting winning prize after the special gaming state. It starts after a unit game related to a special symbol.

  In addition, the unit game based on the random number acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol is started after the end of all the unit games related to the second special symbol. That is, when each random number is acquired based on the start winning of the second special symbol after the current start winning, the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is preferentially executed. The unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol does not necessarily have to be executed in preference to the unit game related to the first special symbol, and the first special symbol and the second special symbol in order of the start winning. The configuration may be such that unit advantage control is executed, or the two special symbols are not alternative but can be varied simultaneously.

  In the case of winning a jackpot in the first special symbol lottery based on the start winning of the first special symbol, the stop symbol corresponding to the jackpot winning in the first special symbol lottery is further based on the acquired jackpot symbol random number ( The type of jackpot symbol) is determined. The types of stop symbols correspond to the types of jackpots, for example, the number of rounds corresponding to the number of times the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 takes the entry allowable posture (for example, 6 rounds and 16 rounds), A plurality of types of jackpots are set corresponding to the type of gaming state such as a gaming state that shifts after the special gaming state (whether or not to shift to the probability variation gaming state), and a jackpot symbol is set for each type. In the first special symbol lottery, when a big win is not won, a lost symbol different from the big win symbol is set as a stop symbol.

  After the first special symbol lottery, based on the current gaming state, lottery result, stop pattern random number value, various variation pattern random number values, and the number of reserved unit rights related to the first special symbol, the first special symbol The design variation display time is determined, and the design variation pattern is selected. Thereafter, the first special symbol variation display on the special symbol display device 471 relating to the first special symbol and the decorative symbol variation display (variation effect) on the decoration symbol display device 479 are started, and the first special symbol variation is started. Variation display according to a certain pattern is continued over the display time, and variation display according to the variation pattern is continued over the variation display time in the decorative design. Thereafter, as the variable display time elapses, the stop symbol related to the first special symbol is fixedly displayed, and the symbol corresponding to the stop symbol of the first special symbol is fixedly displayed as a decorative symbol. The final display of the first special symbol and the decorative symbol is continued for at least a predetermined time.

  When the stop symbol related to the first special symbol is a jackpot symbol, the gaming state shifts to the special gaming state after the final display of the first special symbol. In the special gaming state, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 of the lower prize winning device 433 are allowed to enter the prescribed number of times in a predetermined order according to the type of the big hit. . When a predetermined number (for example, 8) of game balls are detected by the big winning switches 443 and 444 in each of the allowed entry postures in the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454, or a predetermined maximum When the allowable entry time (for example, 29.5 seconds) has elapsed, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 shifts to the entry prohibition posture. Thereafter, after a predetermined entry prohibition time has elapsed, either the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 returns to the entry allowable posture again. This entry restriction operation is repeated a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order corresponding to the type of jackpot.

  The lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 are configured such that only one of them takes an entry allowable posture during the special game state, and after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed from the start of the special game state (after the opening period) ) Will shift to the first allowed entry posture. In addition, the special gaming state ends after a predetermined entry prohibition time has elapsed since the last return to the prohibition posture and a predetermined standby time has elapsed thereafter (after the ending period). After the end of the special gaming state, as described above, the state shifts to the short-time gaming state or the probability variation gaming state.

  In various gaming states, when a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol is detected by the right start winning switch 442, the start special winning of the second special symbol is made. The control of the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is executed in the same manner as the control related to the first special symbol described above. That is, if the right of the unit game related to the second special symbol is not reserved up to the maximum number of times when starting the second special symbol, each random number related to the special symbol is acquired and the unit game based on the start winning is executed. Is done. Also, stop symbol determination according to the second special symbol lottery, decoration symbol variation pattern selection, variation display execution, game state transition control, etc. are executed in the same manner as the control related to the first special symbol. Is done.

  In various gaming states, when a game ball that has entered the starter 436 is detected by the start switch 446, the winning random number for the normal symbol is acquired unless the right of the unit game related to the normal symbol is reserved up to the maximum number of times. Then, it is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM of the main control board 920. At this time, if the unit game related to the normal symbol is not in progress, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol is started immediately after the storage. On the other hand, if the unit game related to the normal symbol is in progress, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol is started after the unit game based on the right of the unit game related to the already obtained normal symbol.

  In the unit game related to the normal symbol, it is determined whether or not the winning game is won based on the value of the winning random number, and when winning, a predetermined winning symbol is set as the stop symbol. On the other hand, when the normal symbol lottery is not won, a predetermined lose symbol is set as the stop symbol. After the normal symbol lottery, the normal symbol display device 473 starts the variable display of the normal symbol. In the non-time-short state, the variable pattern is continuously displayed over a predetermined variable display time, and in the time-short state. The variable display by a fixed pattern is continued over a predetermined variable display time shorter than the non-time-short state. As the predetermined time corresponding to the gaming state elapses, the stop symbol related to the normal symbol is fixedly displayed over a certain period of time.

  When the stop symbol related to the normal symbol is a winning symbol, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 of the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry allowable posture at least once after the normal symbol is confirmed and displayed. Specifically, when winning in a non-time-saving state (normal game state and special game state), the right start winning device 432 allows entry for a predetermined maximum entry allowable time (for example, approximately 0.1 seconds). In the case of winning in the time-short state (time-short game state and probability variable game state), the predetermined maximum entry allowable time (for example, approximately 4.8 seconds) is longer than that in the case where the right start winning device 432 is in the non-time-short state. ) Intermittently (for example, divided into three times) to allow the approach allowable posture. However, when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls are detected by the right start winning switch 442, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 shifts to the entry prohibition posture without waiting for the maximum allowable entry time to elapse. In addition, even if the number of times of transition to the permissible approach posture has not reached the predetermined number of times, the operation of the right start winning device 432 in the unit game related to the current normal symbol ends.

  Next, the playability of the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment will be described. In order to receive the second special symbol lottery, first, the normal symbol lottery must be won, and further, the game ball enters the right start prize winning device 432 in the permitted entry state of the right start winning device 432 based on the winning. Must. The winning probability of winning for the normal symbol in the normal gaming state is the same as the winning probability in the short-time gaming state, but the staying time (for example, approximately) 0.1 seconds) is set to be very short compared to the time spent in the short-time state (for example, approximately 4.8 seconds), so the opportunity per unit time for receiving the second special symbol drawing in the normal gaming state Is much smaller than the opportunity per unit time for receiving the first special symbol drawing. On the other hand, in the short-time state such as the short-time gaming state or the probability variation gaming state, the opportunity per unit time for receiving the second special symbol lottery is significantly larger than the opportunity per unit time for receiving the first special symbol lottery. .

  Therefore, the player plays a game aiming at the transition to the probability-changing gaming state by winning the big hit in the first special symbol lottery and then allowing the game ball to enter the specific passage in the subsequent special gaming state. On the other hand, in the short-time gaming state and the probability variation gaming state, the game is played aiming to win a big win in the second special symbol lottery before each gaming state ends.

  Specifically, the game board 400 is provided with a central structure 420 in the center of the game area where the game balls flow down, and a game technique (left-handed game) in which the game balls flow down mainly from the left side of the central structure 420. Method) and a game method (right-handed game method) in which a game ball flows down mainly from the right side of the central structure 420 can be selectively performed. A player plays a game using the left-handed gaming method in the normal gaming state, and plays a game using the right-handed gaming method in the short-time gaming state and the probability-changing gaming state. Further, since the lower prize-winning device 433 and the upper prize-winning device 434 are arranged on the right side with respect to the central structure 420, the game is played by the right-handed game technique even in the special game state.

  Next, the rear block 104 will be described. 8 and 9 are a rear perspective view and a rear view showing the pachinko machine 100, respectively. In FIG. 8, the outer frame 101 is omitted for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rear block 104 is configured by attaching other members and devices to the base 501. By connecting the base body 501 and the intermediate block 103 by the rear block support mechanisms 136 and 137, the rear block 104 is supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the intermediate block 103.

  The rear block 104 has a game ball tank 510 serving as a ball storage unit for storing game balls, and rectifies the game balls (for example, in one row) continuously on the downstream side of the game ball tank 510 and aligns them in one row. A tank rail 520 as a ball alignment portion, a case rail 530 as a ball guiding portion for guiding a game ball flowing in from the tank rail 520 on the downstream side of the tank rail 520, and a game ball payout on the downstream side of the case rail 530 A payout device 540 that lends out game balls, and guidance as a ball guide unit that guides game balls that have flowed out of the payout device 540 downstream of the payout device 540 to a guide passage (not shown) formed in the base 501. A member 550, a payout control device 560 for controlling the payout of game balls and the lending of game balls by the payout device 540, and external power A function as a power supply means for converting and outputting power of a predetermined voltage required for various types of devices and the like, and a game ball ejection based on a launch operation on the launch operation device 250 are controlled in cooperation with the main control board 920. A power supply / launch control device 570 having a function as a launch control means, a payout control device 560, a game ball lending device 290 (see FIG. 1), and a card unit (not shown) arranged on the side of the pachinko machine 100 And a relay device 950 that relays signals between them.

  The base body 501 is integrally formed of resin (for example, ABS resin), and includes a base portion 502 corresponding to the front side portion and a protective cover portion 503 positioned behind the base portion 502. The upper portion of the base portion 502 is formed in a substantially frame shape along the outer shape of the rear block 104, and the lower portion is formed in a substantially flat shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction. It has a function as a mounted part.

  The protective cover portion 503 is formed in a substantially plate shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction. The protective cover 503 is not shaped to cover the entire back surface of the intermediate block 103, but a part of the back surface of the intermediate block 103 that requires frequent inspection and confirmation, such as a part of the main controller 370, is attached to the back surface of the pachinko machine 100. It is set to a size that forms a window portion for exposure to the window. A large number of air holes 503 </ b> A having a function of improving the heat dissipation of heat generation in the main control device 370 and the sub control device 390 are formed on the back surface of the protective cover portion 503.

  The game ball tank 510 is a horizontally long box-shaped container that opens upward, and game balls supplied from a ball circulation device (not shown) of the island facility are sequentially supplied to one end side in the longitudinal direction. An opening (not shown) is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction different from the side where the game ball is supplied in the game ball tank 510. The bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 is gently inclined in the longitudinal direction, and the game ball supplied to the game ball tank 510 moves to the opening side by its own weight. Further, the bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 is inclined in a direction (front-rear direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction as compared with the longitudinal direction, and guides the game ball to the side where the opening is provided (for example, the front side). . Further, a metal antistatic plate (not shown) is attached to the bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 so as to overlap the game ball tank 510, and the antistatic plate is connected to the ground potential so that the inside of the game ball tank 510 and The static electricity of the game ball on the downstream side is removed.

  The tank rail 520 is attached to the side where the opening of the game ball tank 510 is formed, and the game ball flows through the opening of the game ball tank 510. The tank rail 520 gradually increases in height as a passage forming member 521 that forms a passage for a substantially bowl-shaped gaming ball having a width through which game balls pass in a row, and an upper surface of the passage formed by the passage forming member 521. And a rectifying member 522 that rectifies the game balls flowing down the passage from the height of the top and bottom to the first level gradually. The passage formed by the tank rail 520 is gently inclined toward the downstream side, and guides the game ball to the side opposite to the game ball tank 510.

  The case rail 530 is formed in a vertically long shape so as to continue to the lower side of the tank rail 520, and a game ball from the tank rail 520 flows in. The case rail 530 continues downward while curving left and right so that game balls do not flow vigorously. In addition, a ball break detection switch 539 is attached to an intermediate portion of the ball path of the case rail 530. The ball breakage detection switch 539 detects a ball breakage state in which a ball clogging or the like has occurred on the case rail 530 or its upstream side and the game ball is not normally replenished in the case rail 530.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the payout control device 560 and the power supply / launch control device 570 are attached so as to overlap the lower back surface of the base portion 502 of the base body 501 so as to be positioned at the lower back side of the rear block 104. It has been. The rear block 104 including the payout control device 560 and the power supply / launch control device 570 can be continuously used even when the game board 400 is replaced with another game board in a model change or the like.

  The payout control device 560 includes a payout control board 930 (see FIG. 14) and a board case that accommodates the payout control board 930. The payout control board 930 does not leave any trace of opening, like the main control board 920. The substrate case is sealed so that it cannot be opened.

  The power / fire control device 570 includes a power / fire control board 900 (see FIG. 14) and a board case that houses the power / fire control board 900. The power / fire control board 900 is the same as the main control board 920. Are accommodated in a sealed substrate case.

  Here, the payout device 540 and the guide member 550 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 10, 12, and 13 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the payout device 540 and the guide member 550 and the storage state of the game balls as seen from the back side of the pachinko machine 100, and a plurality of game balls that are corresponding to the payout state of the game balls The storage state of is illustrated. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part of the guide member 550. In addition, in FIG.10, FIG12 and FIG.13, the flow direction of the game ball and the operating state of the storage amount detection switch (second ball amount detection switch 249C) are indicated by arrows, and the stored game balls are also shown. The detection positions of the game balls by the storage amount detection switches 249A and 249B are indicated by alternate long and short dash lines.

  The payout device 540 is a device for paying out game balls by a send-out mechanism (not shown) for sending out game balls. The payout device 540 detects a game ball sent to the downstream side of the payout device 540 by the send-out mechanism, and sends it out. A payout motor 542 as drive means for driving the mechanism, and a payout case 543 made of resin, in which the feed mechanism, the payout count switch 541 and the payout motor 542 are integrated. In accordance with the operation of the payout motor 542 based on the control by the payout control device 560, the payout device 540 releases the game ball stored in the ball passage to the downstream side. A discharge path member 544 made of synthetic resin is continuous below the payout case 543, and the game ball paid out from the payout device 540 is discharged from a ball outlet provided at the lower end of the discharge path member 544. .

  The guide member 550 is mainly composed of a synthetic resin case member, and passages 551 to 553 are formed below the discharge passage member 544 by the case member. As the passages 551 to 553 formed by the guide member 550, the upstream common passage 551, the first branch passage 552 that continues below a part of the upstream common passage 551, and the upstream common passage 551 to the first passage. In addition to the branch passage 552, a second branch passage 553 that branches and continues downward is provided.

  At the lower end portion of the first branch passage 552, an outlet portion 552A of the passage of the game ball is formed by bending forward. The outlet portion 552A of the first branch passage 552 communicates with a storage portion 231 (hereinafter also referred to as an upper storage portion 231) of the main storage mechanism 230, and the game ball that has flowed down the first branch passage 552 to the upper storage portion 231. Flow down. As game balls are stored in the upper storage unit 231, game balls are gradually stored in the first branch passage 552. The storage portion of the game ball that leads from the upper storage portion 231 to the first branch passage 552 is referred to as a main storage portion ST, and an upstream portion of the main storage portion ST includes a part of the upstream common passage 551. And

  At the lower end portion of the second branch passage 553, an outlet portion 553A of the game ball passage is formed by bending forward. The outlet portion 553A of the second branch passage 553 communicates with a storage portion 241 (hereinafter also referred to as a lower storage portion 241) of the auxiliary storage mechanism 240, and the game ball that has flowed down the second branch passage 553 is the lower storage portion 241. Flow down. When a certain amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST, the game balls are stored in the lower storage unit 241 and gradually stored in the second branch passage 553. The storage portion of the game ball that leads from the lower storage portion 241 to the second branch passage 553 is referred to as an auxiliary storage portion HT, and a part of the upstream common passage 551 is included in the upstream portion of the auxiliary storage portion HT. Shall.

  The discharge passage member 544 is arranged in a direction in which a game ball flows into an inlet portion that opens upward at the upstream end of the first branch passage 552 with respect to the upstream common passage 551. The game balls released to the upstream common passage 551 by the release passage member 544 preferentially flow down the first branch passage 552 as shown in FIG. When the game balls overflow from the upper storage portion 231 to the main storage portion ST continuing to the first branch passage 552, as shown in FIG. 12 (A), the first branch passage 552 and the second branch passage 553 are connected. The game ball passes over the upper end 554 of the wall to be branched, and the game ball flows down through the second branch passage 553.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (A), the upstream common passage 551, the first branch passage 552, and the second branch passage 553 have three storage amount detections that detect the storage state of game balls in the respective passages. Switches 249A to 249C are provided. Specifically, the storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C are configured by three switches of a storage expiration detection switch 249A, a first ball amount detection switch 249B, and a second ball amount detection switch 249C.

  The storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C are electrically connected to the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 via the power supply / launch control board 900 and the power supply monitoring board 910 (see FIG. 14). Game ball payout control is performed in accordance with the states of the detection switches 249A to 249C. The detection of the game ball in the storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C outputs a constant signal when the game ball is stopped at a location to be detected (for example, an ON signal with a constant voltage level) When the ball passes, another signal is output in the same manner as when there is no gaming ball (for example, an off signal with a voltage level below a certain level). The situation in which the game ball is stopped includes a situation in which the game ball is stopped without flowing down, and a situation in which the game ball slowly flows down to the downstream side by being launched by the launching device 330 (constant speed). In the following, the situation where the game ball flows down downstream) corresponds at least, and the situation where the game ball flows down at a higher speed than a certain speed, such as the game ball falling due to its own weight, corresponds to the passing of the game ball instead of stopping.

  The storage expiration detection switch 249 </ b> A detects the stopping of the game ball in the upstream common passage 551, and includes a non-contact sensor provided on the wall surface forming the upstream common passage 551. The game balls are sufficiently stored in both the upper and lower storage units 231 and 241, and an expired state (full tank state) is reached in which the game balls are sufficiently stored up to the upstream end of the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT. In the situation, the storage expiration detection switch 249 </ b> A is turned on, while in the situation where the game ball is not stopped in the upstream common passage 551, it is turned off.

  The first ball amount detection switch 249 </ b> B detects the stopping of the game ball in the first branch passage 552 and is configured by a non-contact sensor provided on the wall surface forming the first branch passage 552. The first ball amount detection switch 249 </ b> B is switched on / off depending on whether there is a certain amount or more of game balls upstream from the upper reservoir 231 or whether the number of game balls has decreased. Accordingly, the game balls are sufficiently stored in the upper storage portion 231 and the game balls are sufficiently stored up to the vicinity of the upstream end of the first branch passage 552 or upstream of the first branch passage 552. Whether the game ball is not stopped near the end can be determined in the control of the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930.

  The second ball amount detection switch 249 </ b> C detects the stopping of the game ball in the second branch passage 553, and includes a detection body 701 having a movable plate portion provided on a wall surface forming the second branch passage 553. , A non-contact type detection body sensor 702 whose output is switched in accordance with the state of the detection body 701.

  Here, the second ball amount detection switch 249C will be further described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. The detection body 701 constituting the second ball amount detection switch 249C is pivotally supported by the case main body of the guide member 550 so that the upper shaft portion 701A is pivotable, and is swingable in the left-right direction around the upper end portion. ing. A main body in which the second branch passage 553 is formed on one surface side is continuous below the shaft portion 701A of the detection body 701, and a compression coil spring 703 is attached to the opposite surface side of the main body. The detection body 701 is always in the advanced state where it has advanced into the second branch passage 553 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 703, and the detection body 701 has a force against the urging force of the compression coil spring 703. It will be in the leaving state where the main body has moved to the outside. Whether the detection body 701 is in the advanced state or the withdrawal state is determined by detecting the detected portion 701B provided in the detection body 701 by the detection body sensor 702, and whether the output of the detection body sensor 702 is on or off is detected. It switches corresponding to the state of 701.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the compression coil spring 703 is sufficient to prevent the detection body 701 from switching from the advanced state to the retracted state even if the game ball stays up to the height position of the upper end of the main body of the detection body 701. It is installed to generate a biasing force. As shown in FIG. 12B, when a certain number (for example, approximately 10) of game balls stop above the detection body 701 up to a position where game balls corresponding to the one-dot chain line are stored, the detection body 701. The weight from the game ball in contact with the game ball stopped at the upper end acts on the compression coil spring 703, whereby the compression coil spring 703 is compressed and the detection body 701 is in the retracted state. On the other hand, when the game ball is reduced to the height position of the detection body 701 from the state in which the detection body 701 is in the withdrawal state, the detection body 701 is moved to the second branch passage 553 side by the urging force of the compression coil spring 703. And the detection body 701 shifts to the advanced state.

  In the second ball amount detection switch 249C, the state of the detection body 701 is switched when a certain number of game balls are stopped upstream from the upper end of the detection body 701. Therefore, the second ball amount detection switch 249C is upstream from the installation position of the second ball amount detection switch 249C. The output state of the second ball amount detection switch 249C (detector sensor 702) can be switched in a situation where the game ball is stopped to the side. For this reason, the installation position of the second ball quantity detection switch 249C is limited to the downstream side due to restrictions such as securing an installation space and preventing malfunction due to installation away from the first ball quantity detection switch 249B. Even in such a situation, the amount of game balls stored in the second branch passage 553 can be easily secured to the vicinity of the upstream end.

  Next, referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, when the game ball is stored in the guide member 550 until it expires, and after the payout operation stops once in the expired state, the game ball Will be described when the payout operation is resumed.

  In a situation where there is no game ball in the guide member 550, the game ball is not stored to the extent that either the upper storage unit 231 or the lower storage unit 241 overflows. Under such circumstances, when a player rents out a game ball or pays out a game ball when a winning occurs, a certain amount or more of the game balls are paid out from the payout device 540 in a short time. Game balls are stored in

  The game ball paid out from the payout device 540 advances to the first branch passage 552 from the upstream common passage 551 to the upper storage portion 231 by the discharge passage member 544 (see FIG. 10A). When the upper storage portion 231 is in an expired state, the game ball is stored in the first branch passage 552 on the upstream side (see FIG. 10B).

  Further, when the game ball is paid out from the payout device 540, the game ball is stored up to the upper end of the first branch passage 552 and the main storage portion ST is expired, and thereafter, the first branch passage 552 and the second branch passage. The game ball passes over the upper end 554 of the wall portion for branching, and the game ball flows down to the second branch passage 553 side. When the flow continues and the lower storage portion 241 is in an expired state, game balls are stored in the second branch passage 553 on the upstream side (see FIG. 12A). In a situation where game balls are stored in the second branch passage 553, if the game balls are continuously being fired by the launching device 330, the game balls in the first branch passage 552 are reduced by the amount of the fired balls. The game balls corresponding to the decrease are preferentially replenished. When a certain amount or more of game balls are stored in the second branch passage 553, the second ball amount detection switch 249C is turned on (see FIG. 12B).

  Here, when the second ball amount detection switch 249C is turned on, the payout speed of the game ball is set to a low speed, and thereafter, the game ball is slowly paid out. As the normal payout control, the payout control board 930 switches the two stages of high speed setting and low speed setting and causes the payout device 540 to pay out the game ball. For example, the payout speed by the high speed setting is approximately 1 second. 150 is set, and the payout speed by the low speed setting is set to approximately 8 per second. The payout speed set at a low speed is less than approximately 0.6 seconds, which is the time interval at which game balls are fired by the launching device 330. Even if the game ball continues to be fired by the launching device 330 if the ball removal operation is not performed. The number of game balls is set to increase gradually.

  When game balls overflow in the first branch passage 552 and the second branch passage 553, the game balls are stored in the upstream common passage 551, and when the game balls continue to be paid out, the game is placed inside the guide member 550. The ball is stored to the maximum, and the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT are in an expired state in which the game ball is stored to the maximum (see FIG. 13A). In this expiration state, the storage expiration detection switch 249A is turned on, the payout motor 542 is controlled to stop, and the payout of the game ball by the payout device 540 is stopped. As a result, even if the required game balls are paid out, the payout is temporarily stopped, and a part of the game balls that need to be paid out is delayed with respect to the payout by the normal payout control.

  After the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT are both expired and the payout operation is temporarily stopped, either the main storage unit ST or the auxiliary storage unit HT is caused by the launch of a game ball by the launching device 330 or the like. When the game balls decrease and the storage expiration detection switch 249A is turned off, the payout of game balls is resumed. For example, when only the game balls in the main storage unit ST are decreased, the game balls are paid out to the main storage unit ST side (see FIG. 13B). Even when a game ball is extracted from the lower storage unit 241 by a ball extraction operation or the like, the payout of the game ball is resumed. That is, when any one of the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT decreases by a certain amount or more, and an area where the game ball can flow down is formed in at least one of the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT. , Game ball payout is resumed.

  Here, it is not always necessary to set the game ball payout speed in a plurality of stages, but in order to avoid a payout error due to sudden deceleration of the payout motor 542 or when a large number of game balls are to be stored in a limited area. It is preferable to switch and control the payout speed set in a plurality of stages. Further, as the control of the payout device 540 in the present embodiment, the ultra-low speed payout control for paying out the game ball at a super low speed (payout speed substantially equal to the firing time interval) lower than the payout by the low speed setting as the normal payout control. The details of the game ball payout control including the super-low speed payout control will be described later with reference to FIGS.

<Electrical configuration>
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100 will be described. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100. As shown in FIG. 14, the pachinko machine 100 includes control circuit devices such as a power supply / launch control board 900, a power supply monitoring board 910, a main control board 920, a payout control board 930, and a sub control board 940. In FIG. 14, a relay circuit device that only relays various signals is omitted. Hereinafter, these main control circuit devices will be individually described in detail.

  The power supply / launch control board 900 includes a power supply unit 901 that supplies power of a predetermined voltage to each part of the pachinko machine 100 via a power supply path (broken line in the figure), and a launcher according to the operation of the launcher 250. A launch control unit 902 that controls the driving of 330, and a signal relay unit 903 that relays an initialization signal from the initialization switch 907 and a ball overflow signal from the storage amount detection switch (storage expiration detection switch 249A). .

  The power supply unit 901 takes in external power (for example, AC 24 volts) supplied from the outside and converts it into internal power (for example, DC 24 volts), and generates various types of power from the internal power. The power generated by the power supply unit 901 is power of driving voltage (for example, DC 12 volts) for driving devices such as various solenoids and various motors, drives various switches, and executes control processing. Power of control voltage (for example, DC 5 volts) for backup, power of backup voltage for holding the contents of the RAM of the main control board 920, and the like.

  The power supply unit 901 supplies various power generated from the internal power to the power supply monitoring board 910, the main control board 920, the payout control board 930, the sub control board 940, and the like. Specifically, internal power, driving voltage, control voltage, and backup voltage power are supplied to the power monitoring board 910. The main control board 920 is supplied with power of a driving voltage, a control voltage, and a backup voltage, and these powers are supplied via the power supply monitoring unit 911 of the power supply monitoring board 910. The payout control board 930 is supplied with driving voltage and control voltage power. The sub-control board 940 is supplied with driving voltage and control voltage power. The firing control unit 902 and the signal relay unit 903 are supplied with driving voltage and control voltage power.

  A power switch 909 is connected to the power supply unit 901. When the power switch 909 is in an off state, the external power capture is stopped. It is to be noted that the power switch 909 is turned off or a power plug (not shown) connected to the power supply unit 901 via the power switch 909 is removed from an external power supply outlet (not shown). A state where the supply of power to the inside of the machine 100 is stopped and a state where the supply of external power itself is stopped are collectively referred to as a “power failure state”.

  The power supply unit 901 is configured to normally output the control voltage power over a predetermined period even after the transition to the power failure state. As a result, the main control board 920 can save the state and finish the control so that the current control state can be restored.

  The firing control unit 902 controls the driving of the ball feed solenoid 332 and the firing solenoid 334 of the launching device 330 in cooperation with the main control board 920. The ball feed solenoid 332 and the firing solenoid 334 are permitted to operate when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, it is detected that the player is touching the firing handle 252 (see FIG. 1) based on a contact sensor signal from the contact sensor 254, and a launch stop switch 255 for stopping the launch is provided. On the condition that it is not operated, the firing control unit 902 outputs a firing permission signal in an on state to the main control board 920. The main control board 920 outputs a firing solenoid control signal and a ball feed solenoid control signal to the firing control unit 902 based on the firing permission signal and the firing abnormality signal. The firing control unit 902 activates the ball feed solenoid 332 based on the ball feed control signal in the on state, and activates the launch solenoid 334 based on the reception of the launch solenoid control signal in the on state and the resistance value of the variable resistor 253. Let As a result, the game balls are sequentially fired from the launching device 330 with a strength corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor 253 (the rotational operation amount of the firing handle 252).

  The signal relay unit 903 outputs an on-state initialization signal to the main control board 920 when the initialization switch 907 is pressed. In the main control board 920, the storage information stored in the RAM of the main control board 920 is initialized in response to the reception of the ON state initialization signal. The initialization switch 907 is not necessarily configured to output a signal to the main control board 920 via the signal relay unit 903. For example, the initialization switch 907 is directly mounted on the main control board 920. The initialization switch 907 may be accommodated in the substrate case 371, and thus illegal signal input targeting a section in which a signal is transmitted can be suppressed.

  Further, the signal relay unit 903 outputs signals corresponding to the states of the initialization switch 907 and the storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C to the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930. The main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 that have received these signals execute control in accordance with the states of the initialization switch 907 and the storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C based on the respective signals. The control contents according to the states of the storage amount detection switches 249A to 249C by the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The power monitoring board 910 is a power monitoring section 911 that monitors the power supply status from the power / fire control board 900, and supplies power and transmits various signals between the power / fire control board 900 and the main control board 920. And a signal relay unit 912 for relaying. The power monitoring unit 911 also outputs a power failure signal to the main control board 920 in response to the transition to the power failure state, and monitors the voltage of 24 VDC which is the maximum voltage output from the power source unit 901. When the state where the voltage is less than 22 volts continues for a predetermined time, it is determined that the state is a power failure, and an on-state power failure signal is output to the main control board 920. The main control board 920 recognizes the transition to the power failure state by receiving the power failure signal in the on state.

  The main control board 920 comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine 100. On the main control board 920, an MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer is mounted. The MPU includes a CPU (not shown) as an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM (not shown) storing various control programs and fixed data executed by the CPU, and various data temporarily during execution of the control program. And a RAM (not shown) for storing and the like. In addition, various circuits such as a timer circuit (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generation circuit (not shown), a signal transmission / reception circuit (not shown) are mounted on the main control board 920. Yes. The RAM of the main control board 920 is configured to be able to maintain (back up) internal data by supplying a backup voltage from the power / fire control board 900 even after the transition to the power failure state.

  The payout control board 930 controls a game ball payout operation by the payout apparatus 540 according to an instruction from the main control board 920 and a game ball lending operation by the payout apparatus 540 according to an operation of the game ball lending apparatus 290. As with the main control board 920, the payout control board 930 is an MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer including a CPU (not shown), ROM (not shown), and RAM (not shown), a timer circuit. Various circuits such as (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generation circuit (not shown), a signal transmission / reception circuit (not shown) are mounted. Note that the RAM of the payout control board 930 may be configured to have a backup function that allows internal data to be maintained over a certain period in a power failure state, like the RAM of the main control board 920, or the RAM of the main control board 920. Unlike the case, the internal data may not be maintained in a power failure state. The details of the payout control by the payout control board 930 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

  The sub control board 940 controls operations of various rendering devices, various light emitting devices, various acoustic devices, and the like based on instructions from the main control board 920. The sub-control board 940 is equipped with an input / output port as a connection means for connecting to other devices so as to be able to communicate information. For example, the sub-control board 940 is connected to the main control board 920 so that only information input communication in only one direction is possible. The input operation device 260 is connected to be capable of information communication in both directions, and the decorative symbol display device 479 is connected to be capable of only one-way information output communication.

<Various control processes>
Next, various control processes executed by the main control board 920 will be described. The control processing in the main control board 920 can be broadly divided into main processing that is started upon recovery from a power failure state, and periodic execution (in this embodiment, with a cycle of 2 ms (milliseconds)). Timer interrupt processing.

  First, the main process executed by the main control board 920 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a main process of the main control board 920 (abbreviated as “main control main process” in FIG. 15).

  In the main process of the main control board 920, first, a series of control start processes (program start process S1001 to random number initial setting process S1019) for starting up the main control board 920 and initializing various information are executed only once. After that, the interrupt prohibition processing S1020 for prohibiting the interrupt, the winning random number initial value counter (partial area of the RAM), the jackpot symbol random number initial value counter (partial area of the RAM) and the normal symbol related to the special symbol Random initial value update processing S1021 for updating the value of the winning random number initial value counter (part of the RAM) and the first variation type counter to the fourth variation type for determining the variation time, variation pattern, etc. Fluctuation counter update processing S1022 for updating the value of the counter (part of the RAM), and interrupt permission processing S for permitting interrupts 023 and is repeatedly executed. When a timer interrupt request is generated before the interrupt permission process S1023, the timer interrupt process is executed immediately after the interrupt permission process S1023.

  In a series of control start processes, a program start process S1001 for setting an initial value to a stack pointer (part of the RAM) for controlling the execution of a program, an interrupt mode setting process S1002 for setting an interrupt mode, and a payout control board A stand-by standby process S1003 that waits for a predetermined time until 930, the sub-control board 940, and the like stand up is executed.

  After start-up standby process S1003, determination process S1004 of the output state of the initialization signal from initialization switch 907 of power supply / emission control board 900, determination process S1005 of the value of power failure information (part of RAM), storage Information storage state determination processing S1007 is performed, and it is determined based on these determination results whether or not to save the stored information in the RAM. Here, the stored information is information necessary for returning to the state of the game before the power failure, and corresponds to a part of the RAM that has been updated according to the progress of the game before the power failure. The counter value related to the unit game in the middle, the counter value stored by the start winning, and the like are exemplified.

  The storage state of the stored information is determined as follows. First, a checksum value for a storage area in a predetermined range of the RAM is calculated (checksum calculation process S1006), and the current checksum value and a power failure monitoring process S1202 (see FIG. 16) accompanying the transition to the previous power failure state. It is determined whether or not the exclusive OR with the RAM determination value that is the 2's complement of the checksum value calculated in (0) is “0” (determination processing S1007), and thereby the current checksum value and It is determined whether or not the checksum value at the time of transition to the power failure state is the same.

  When the initialization signal is in the on state (S1004: Y), when the power failure information is not a predetermined power failure value indicating that the stored information is stored and terminated when the transition to the power failure state is completed (S1005: N), or saved If the information is not normally held (S1007: N), a RAM clear process S1008 for erasing the stored information in the RAM is executed. After it is determined that the stored information is normally held (S1007: Y), or after the RAM clear process S1008 is executed, hardware for initializing various devices connected to the main control board 920 A hardware initialization process S1009 is executed.

  After the hardware initialization process S1009, a determination process S1010 of whether or not the power failure information is a power failure value is executed. When the power failure information is a power failure value (S1010: N), a RAM recovery setting process S1011 for initial setting of various types of information including a return of stored information and a recovery command indicating completion of the setting are set (return command). Output processing S1012). By returning the stored information in the RAM return setting process S1011, the control state of the main control board 920 is returned to the control state immediately before the transition to the previous power failure state.

  On the other hand, when the power failure information is not a power failure value (S1010: Y), various types of information are initialized without returning the retained information (RAM initial setting processing S1013), and an initialization command indicating the completion of the setting is output. (Initialization command output processing S1014).

  In the RAM recovery setting process S1011 and the RAM initial setting process S1013, the power failure information is set to a predetermined energization value different from the power failure value, and various error states such as fraud detection errors immediately before the transition to the previous power failure state. Even if has occurred, all those error states are cleared. Further, either the return command or the initialization command is output from the main control board 920 to both the payout control board 930 and the sub control board 940, and the payout control board 930 and the sub control board 940 that have received the return command or the initialization command. In each of these, a predetermined initialization process is executed.

  After the initial setting of the RAM according to the situation at the time of start-up (determination process S1004 to initialization command output process S1014), if the condition device is operating at the time of transition to the previous power failure state, the special gaming state is set. Preparation for returning is performed (special gaming state return preparation processing S1015). Specifically, in the special game state return preparation process S1015, the operating states of the condition device and the accessory continuous operation device are determined, and a process corresponding to the game situation in the power failure state is executed in the sub-control board 940. The

  After the special game state return preparation process S1015, it is determined whether or not the time-short state flag is set to determine whether it is a time-short state or a non-time-short state (determination process S1016). In the case (S1016: Y), a time reduction command is output (time reduction command output processing S1017). On the other hand, if it is in the non-time-short state (S1016: N), a non-time-short command is output (non-time-short command output processing S1018). Thereafter, the value of the winning random number counter (part of the RAM) related to the special symbol is initialized (random number initial setting process S1019).

  Next, timer interrupt processing executed by the main control board 920 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing timer interrupt processing (abbreviated as “main control interrupt processing” in the drawing) executed by the main control board 920.

  In the timer interrupt process of the main control board 920, first, an interrupt start process S1201 for starting a timer interrupt is executed. Specifically, a predetermined value is set in the interrupt control register. As a result, interrupts other than this timer interrupt are prohibited. Thereafter, a power failure monitoring process S1202 to an external information output process S1221 related to substantial control such as game progress control of the pachinko machine 100 and monitoring of various sensors are sequentially executed. However, when the game progress is stopped based on various fraud detections (S1207: Y), the control signal output process S1208 to the external information output process S1221 are not executed. Finally, an interrupt permission process S1222 that permits the next timer interrupt is executed, and the current timer interrupt process ends. In the following, various main processes will be described individually.

  In the power failure monitoring process S1202, the value of the power failure information (part of the RAM) is updated based on the output state of the power failure signal output from the power monitoring unit 911 of the power monitoring board 910. Specifically, the output state of the power failure signal is confirmed three times, and when the on state is detected at all three times, it is determined that the power failure state is present. If it is not determined in this determination that the power is out, the power outage information is maintained at the energization value.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the power failure monitoring process S1202 that the power is out, the following process is executed. First, the value of the power failure information is changed from the energization value set in the RAM recovery setting process S1011 or the RAM initial setting process S1013 (see FIG. 15) to a predetermined power failure value. Also, a checksum value for a storage area in a predetermined range of the RAM is calculated, and the 2's complement of the checksum value is set as the RAM determination value. As a result, the pachinko machine 100 enters an infinite loop that does not perform substantial control such as game progress or monitoring of various sensors, and the state of the RAM after the RAM determination value is set is held based on the backup power. The Since the output state of the power failure signal is confirmed three times, each process of timer interruption is executed twice after the first reception of the power failure signal is detected.

  In the random number update process S1203, the winning random number counter related to the special symbol, the big hit symbol random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter related to the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, when the value of the winning random number counter related to the special symbol is a value different from the specified maximum value (for example, “576”), the value is changed by “1” larger than the current value, and the special symbol is changed. When the value of the winning random number counter relating to is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value (“0”). However, if the value after the change is the same as the cyclic initial value for the winning random number counter related to the special symbol, the value of the winning random number counter related to the special symbol is the same as the winning random number initial value counter related to the special symbol. The cyclic initial value is also set to the same value as the winning random number initial value counter.

  The jackpot symbol random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter related to the normal symbol are also updated in the same manner as the winning random number counter related to the special symbol. However, as the update range determined by the specified maximum value and specified minimum value of each counter, a unique value is set for each counter, and a plurality of counters are updated asynchronously. Is referred to an initial value counter unique to each counter. For example, the winning random number counter related to the special symbol and the winning random number initial value counter related to the special symbol have the same value range, and the big hit symbol random number counter and the big hit symbol random number initial value counter have the same value range, The winning random number counter related to the normal symbol and the winning random number initial value counter related to the normal symbol have the same value range.

  In the random number initial value update process S1204, the winning random number initial value counter related to the special symbol, the big hit symbol random number initial value counter, and the winning random number initial value counter related to the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, if the value of the winning random number initial value counter related to the special symbol is different from the specified maximum value (for example, “576”), the value is changed to a value “1” larger than the current value, When the value of the winning random number initial value counter related to the symbol is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value (“0”). The initial random number counter for the special symbol and the initial random number counter for the normal symbol are also the initial random numbers for the special symbol, except that the specified maximum value and the specified minimum value are unique to those counters. It is updated in the same way as the value counter.

  In the variation counter update processing S1205, the values of the first variation type counter to the fourth variation type counter for determining the variation time, variation pattern, and the like are updated. Specifically, when the value of the first variation type counter is a value different from a specified maximum value (for example, “187”), the value is changed to a value that is larger by “1” than the current value, and the first variation When the value of the type counter is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value (“0”). The second variation type counter to the fourth variation type counter are also updated in the same manner as the first variation type counter except that the specified maximum value and the specified minimum value are values unique to those counters. Is done.

  Note that each winning random number counter, jackpot symbol random number counter, stop pattern selection counter and each variation type counter related to special symbols and normal symbols are not necessarily configured as described above, and at least a part of the counters as other configurations. For example, it may be configured to update from a constant initial value without using an initial value counter, or may be configured by a random number generating IC without using a program and refer to a value as necessary. .

  In the game stop determination process S1206, when the fraud detection information is a fraud detection value, it is updated to the game stop value and various information for stopping the progress of the game is set. On the other hand, if the fraud detection information is not a fraud detection value or if it is already a game stop value, the game stop determination process S1206 ends without executing each process for stopping the game progress. The fraud detection information is set to a fraud detection value when occurrence of various frauds is detected in the fraud detection processing S1211. In the determination process S1207, whether or not the game is stopped is determined based on whether or not the fraud detection information is a game stop value.

  In the control signal output process S1208, based on the control data stored in the output buffer, the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol, and the normal symbol related A signal for controlling various notification devices such as the normal symbol display device 473 is output. Based on the control data stored in the output buffer, various actuators such as a ball feed solenoid 332, a firing solenoid 334, a right entry restriction solenoid 462, a lower entry restriction solenoid 463, an upper entry restriction solenoid 464, and a switching solenoid 465 are provided. A control signal is output.

  In the switch reading process S1209, the middle start winning switch 441A, 441B, the right starting winning switch 442, the lower large winning switch 443, the upper large winning switch 444, the combination operation switch 445, the starting switch 446, the non-specific passage switch 447, the specific The signal state from each of the passage switch 448 and the general winning switches 449A and 449B is read, and a change in the detection state of the game ball by various switches is detected.

  Specifically, in the switch reading process S1209, signal states from various switches are read into the input buffer (part of the RAM) twice at predetermined time intervals, and signals from the various switches are read. Each time, the signal state read for the first time (hereinafter abbreviated as “first signal state”) and the signal state read for the second time (hereinafter abbreviated as “second signal state”) Based on the detection state detected by the previous timer interrupt (hereinafter abbreviated as “previous detection state”), changes in the detection state of various switches are detected. For each switch, when the previous detection state is the off state, the first signal state is the on state, and when the second signal state is the on state, it is determined that the switch is on. Thus, a detection flag (a partial area of the RAM) corresponding to the type of switch is set. As described in the power failure monitoring process S1202, even if the power supply is stopped, each process of the timer interrupt is executed twice, so that the various switches are turned on immediately after the power supply is stopped. Even when it is started, detection flags of various switches can be set accurately.

  In the timer update process S1210, various timers (predetermined areas of the RAM) used for special symbol and normal symbol variation display, control of each gaming state, fraud monitoring, and the like are updated.

  In the fraud detection process S1211, an illegal act such as forcibly entering a game ball into various winning devices or forcibly operating various winning devices is detected. Specifically, the right start winning device 432, the lower grand prize winning device 433, and the upper grand prize winning device 434 are forced to move into the allowable approaching posture, and the game ball is guided to a specific passage of the lower major prize winning device 433 by vibration. , The right start winning device 432 by radio waves, the lower winning device 433 and the upper winning device 434 are forcibly triggered, the game balls are guided to various winning devices by magnetic attraction, the upper middle starting winning device 431A, There is a high possibility that an illegal act such as guiding a game ball at an abnormal timing to the lower middle start winning device 431B, the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 is performed. Detect occurrence.

  In the winning detection response process S1212, control based on detection of a game ball by various switches provided in the game board 400 is executed. Specifically, when the middle start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of the game ball by the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 14) and the lower middle start winning switch 441B (see FIG. 14). The middle start winning counter (predetermined area of the RAM) and the first payout counter (predetermined area of the RAM) are updated. Further, when the right start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of the game ball by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 14), the first payout counter is updated. Further, when the lower prize winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of the game ball by the lower prize winning switch 443 (see FIG. 14), or when the game ball is detected by the upper prize winning switch 444 (see FIG. 14). If the upper prize winning switch detection flag is set on the basis, the big prize counter (predetermined area of the RAM) and the second payout counter (predetermined area of the RAM) are updated.

  In the launch control process S1213, launch related information for controlling the launch of the game ball by the launch device 330 is updated. Specifically, the operation flag of the ball feed solenoid 332 that drives the ball feed mechanism 331 and the operation flag of the firing solenoid 334 that drives the firing mechanism 333 are updated.

  In the input signal monitoring process S1214, an intermediate block for the outer frame 101 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is based on the output state of the signal from the open / close detection switch 108 (see FIG. 14) via the payout control board 930. It is detected whether 103 (refer FIG.1 and FIG.2) is closed. Further, based on the output state of the signal from the open / close detection switch 109 via the payout control board 930 (see FIG. 14), the front block 102 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to the intermediate block 103 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). 3) is detected.

  In the payout state monitoring process S1215, information indicating the payout control state output from the payout control board 930 and the game state are monitored, and various payout state commands corresponding to the payout control state are set as necessary. For example, the payout state command is transmitted to the sub control board 940, and the sub control board 940 that has received the payout state command notifies the storage ball display device 212, the decorative symbol display device 479, and the upper left. The audio device 281 and the upper right audio device 282 are executed. Details of the payout state monitoring process S1215 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the payout signal output process S1216, various prize ball commands are set based on the values of the first payout counter and the second payout counter as necessary, and output to the payout control board 930. Details of the payout signal output processing S1216 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, the first payout counter and the second payout counter will be described. The first payout counter and the second payout counter are updated according to the setting of the prize ball command. Basically, the first payout counter is incremented by one each time a game ball corresponding to one winning is detected, and decremented by one every time a winning ball command based on the winning is set. Each time the payout control board 930 executes control for paying out the number of game balls (for example, 3) corresponding to the winning (specifically, shortly before the payout is completed), the main control board 920 is awarded. In a situation where a ball command is requested and the payout of a prize ball is continuing, a further prize ball command is output from the main control board 920. The second payout counter is a counter that is updated in response to a winning (for example, 13) that has a different number of prize balls than the first payout counter, and outputs a prize ball command based on the value of the second payout counter. When the 930 is received, the payout control board 930 executes control for paying out a number of game balls corresponding to the prize ball command. In addition, the values of the first payout counter and the second payout counter are temporarily stored in the storage and storage unit (a part of the RAM of the main control board 920), and then a prize ball command is set with a delay from the normal payout. There is. Details of the updated contents of the first payout counter and the second payout counter will be described later with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

  In the special symbol-related process S1217, control for holding the right of the unit game related to the first special symbol and control of the unit game related to the first special symbol are executed. Specifically, operation control of the special symbol hold display device 476 related to the first special symbol is executed in the hold control of the unit game right related to the first special symbol. In addition, in the control of the unit game related to the first special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol is executed, and if the big win is won in the first special symbol lottery, Operation control of 433 and the top prize winning device 434 is further executed.

  Further, in the special symbol related process S1217, the unit game right holding control related to the second special symbol and the unit game control related to the second special symbol are executed. Specifically, the operation control of the special symbol hold display device 477 related to the second special symbol is executed in the hold control of the right of the unit game related to the second special symbol. In addition, in the control of the unit game related to the second special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol is executed, and when the big win is won in the second special symbol lottery, Operation control of 433 and the top prize winning device 434 is further executed.

  In the normal symbol related process S1218, the unit game right holding control related to the normal symbol and the unit game control related to the normal symbol are executed. Specifically, the operation control of the normal symbol hold display device 478 is executed in the hold control of the right of the unit game related to the normal symbol. Further, in the control of the unit game related to the normal symbol, the operation control of the normal symbol display device 473 related to the normal symbol is executed, and when the normal symbol lottery is won, the operation control of the right start winning device 432 is further executed. .

  In the display control processing S1219, the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol, the special symbol hold display device 476 related to the first special symbol in the special symbol related processing S1217, and Based on various information updated to control the operation of the special symbol hold display device 477 related to the second special symbol, output data for specifically operating these devices is synthesized. The synthesized output data is output to each device in the control signal output process S1208 based on the next timer interrupt.

  In the motor control process S1220, operation control of various motors is executed. In the external information output process S1221, output data to be output to an external device such as a data display device (not shown) or a management device (not shown) electrically connected to the pachinko machine 100 is set.

  Next, the payout control executed by the pachinko machine 100 will be further described. In the pachinko machine 100, a normal payout control in a normal game state and a delayed payout control in which a part of game balls that require payout in a predetermined game state are delayed and executed. Specifically, when the short-time state is executed, the payout of at least a part of the game ball that required payout in the special game state before the short-time state is delayed by the delayed payout control, and the payout is delayed. During the short-time state, the game balls that have been discharged are supercharged to the upper storage portion 231 side at a lower speed (super low speed that is substantially equal to or less than the game ball firing time interval) than the normal payout speed (high speed setting and low speed setting). Executes low-speed payout control. The pachinko machine 100 is set so that the game ball decreases little by little (for example, the rate of one ball every time the variable display is executed once) in the time-short state, and in the time-short state where the game ball decreases. By executing the ultra-low speed payout control, the situation in which the game balls stored in the upper storage section 231 in the time-saving state gradually decrease is reduced.

  As the game balls that are paid out in the short-time state by the ultra-low-speed payout control, a part of the game balls that need to be paid out in the special game state is used. A value corresponding to a quantity (approximately 150 in the present embodiment) corresponding to at least a part of the game balls that need to be paid out in the special game state is a memory storage unit (one of the RAMs of the main control board 920) in the special game state. Part). With respect to the game balls stored in the memory storage unit, in the special game state and the short-time state, the game ball is paid out to the main storage unit ST or the auxiliary storage unit HT (see FIG. 10) if it is normal payout control. Even so, the payout is not immediately executed by the delayed payout control, and the game ball is paid out later than the normal payout control. Note that paying out a game ball with a delay from the normal payout control means that the time (timing) at which the payout is actually made is delayed, and as the delayed payout control, the operation of the payout motor 542 is performed from the normal payout control. The game ball may be paid out with a delay at a low speed, or the game ball may be paid out with a delay by delaying the timing for operating the payout motor 542 from the normal payout control. In the present embodiment, delay payout control for delaying the timing for operating the payout motor 542 will be described.

  The delayed payout control of the pachinko machine 100 according to the present embodiment is realized by the control of the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930, and the control of the main control board 920 and the control of the payout control board 930 with reference to FIG. Will be described in the order. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout state monitoring process S1215 (see FIG. 17) executed as part of the main control interrupt process (see FIG. 16).

  In the payout state monitoring process S1215, it is first determined whether or not the special game state is in effect (S2001). If the special game state is in effect (S2001: Y), it is determined whether or not the storage storage unit valid flag is on. Is determined (S2002). The memory storage unit valid flag is provided to store whether or not the delayed payout control using the memory storage unit is executed, and is turned on when the delayed payout control is executed, and is turned off when not executed. .

  In the process of S2002, when it is determined that the storage storage unit effective flag is not on (S2002: N), it is determined whether or not the first ball amount detection switch 249B is on (S2003), and the first ball amount is detected. If the switch 249B is on (S2003: Y), the storage reservoir effective flag is set on (S2004). As a result, preparation for storing a part of the game balls that need to be paid out during the special gaming state as the delayed payout control is completed in the storage unit.

  In the processing of S2001 to S2003, when it is determined that the special gaming state is not being performed (S2001: N), when it is determined that the memory storage unit valid flag is on (S2002: Y), or the first ball amount detection If it is determined that the switch 249B is OFF (S2003: N), the process of S2004 is skipped and the process proceeds to S2011.

  In the processing of S2011, it is determined whether or not the storage storage unit effective flag is on (S2011). If the storage storage unit effective flag is off (S2011: N), the processing of S2012 to S2021 is skipped. , The process proceeds to S2031.

  In the processing of S2011, if the storage storage unit valid flag is on (S2011: Y), it is determined whether or not the time saving state is in effect (S2012). The time-short state corresponds to a time-short game state and a probability-changing game state, and corresponds to a game state that shifts after the special game state. Even if the pachinko machine 100 is set so that the game balls gradually decrease during the time-shortening state, the time-shortening state and the ultra-low-speed payout control using the memory storage unit are realized. It is possible to make it difficult for the player to notice a decrease in game balls in the state.

  If it is determined in the processing of S2012 that the time saving state is not in effect (S2012: N), it is either in the special gaming state or when the normal gaming state is started. In this case, It is determined whether or not the normal gaming state is started (S2013). When it is determined that the normal gaming state is not started in the processing of S2013 (S2013: N), the situation is in the special gaming state. In this case, the processing of S2014 to S2021 is skipped, and the processing of S2031 is performed. Migrate to

  If it is determined in the processing of S2012 that the time-short state is in effect (S2012: Y), it is determined whether or not the first ball amount detection switch is on (S2014), and the first ball amount detection switch is turned on. If this is the case (S2014: Y), the game ball is being stored in the main storage part ST (the part leading from the upper storage part 231 to the first branch passage 552) over a certain amount during the time-shortening state. In this case, it is determined whether or not the launch control of the game ball is being performed (S2015). In the processing of S2015, the launch handle 252 is rotated by the player, the contact between the launch handle 252 and the player is detected by the contact sensor 254, and the launch stop switch 255 is in a non-operating state. It is confirmed whether or not the firing operation is not invalidated.

  In the process of S2015, when it is determined that the game ball is being controlled for launching (S2015: Y), a launch stop monitoring timer (main control) for monitoring the launch stop time during which launch control is not executed. The value of a part of the RAM of the board 920 is set to “0” (S2016), and it is then determined whether or not it is the timing when the game ball is fired by the launching device 330 (S2017).

  In the process of S2017, when it is determined that it is the timing at which the game ball is fired (S2017: Y), the 1-ball fire execution flag (a part of the RAM of the main control board 920) is turned on (S2018). The one-ball launch execution flag is a flag for storing that one game ball has been launched in a situation where a game ball is sufficiently stored in the main storage unit ST during the short-time state, and one-ball launch execution is performed. A game ball is launched in synchronization with the flag being turned on, and the one-ball launch execution flag is turned off in synchronization with the launch. As a result, as the ultra-low speed payout control, the game balls can be replenished toward the upper storage portion 231 by the amount that the game balls are reduced by the launch operation. In the process of S2017, when it is determined that it is not the timing at which the game ball is fired (S2017: N), the process of S2018 is skipped and the process proceeds to S2031.

  In the process of S2015, if it is determined that the game ball is not being controlled for launching (S2015: N), “1” is added to the value of the firing stop monitoring timer (part of the RAM of the main control board 920). It is updated (S2019), and it is determined whether or not the updated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value (for example, “10000”) (S2020). During the period when game ball launch control is not in progress, the value of the launch stop monitoring timer is periodically updated by “1” (every timer interrupt processing executed every 2 ms). The main control board 920 can determine that the period during which emission control is not being performed has exceeded a certain time (for example, 20 seconds).

  In the process of S2020, when it is determined that the value of the firing stop monitoring timer has exceeded the threshold (S2020: Y), the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off (S2021), and the process proceeds to S2031. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value of the firing stop monitoring timer does not exceed the threshold (S2020: N), the process of S2021 is skipped and the process proceeds to S2031.

  Further, if it is determined in the processing of S2013 that the normal gaming state is started, the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off (S2021), and the processing proceeds to S2031. In the normal gaming state, the number of game balls decreases more quickly than in the short-time state, and the number of game balls stored in the upper storage unit 231 generally decreases at a speed close to the firing time interval. Therefore, during the normal gaming state, the player is less likely to feel dissatisfied even if the player sees a decrease in the number of game balls.In this case, the memory storage unit effective flag is turned off to cancel the delayed payout control, The process shifts to normal payout control.

  If it is determined in the processing of S2014 that the first ball amount detection switch is off (S2014: N), the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off (S2021), and the process proceeds to S2031. This situation is a situation in which the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned off during the short-time state. In this situation, the player executes a ball removal operation on the upper storage portion 231 to play the game. Examples are the case where the game is about to end, the case where a part of the game ball is taken out from the upper storage section 231, and the like. In these situations, the player may need the game balls that have been stored as soon as possible, so the delayed storage control is canceled by turning off the memory storage unit valid flag, and the processing shifts to normal payout control. To do.

  In the processes of S2031 to S2037, only when a plurality of determination conditions are satisfied, a process of storing a part of the game ball that needs to be paid out in the storage unit (S2035), and a value stored in the storage unit And a process (S2037) of transmitting a command for displaying the command corresponding to the command to the storage ball display device 212 to the sub-control board 940. The command corresponding to the value stored in the memory storage unit includes the stored ball information corresponding to the number of game balls (memory storage ball number) stored in the memory storage unit. A command including 1-byte storage ball information corresponding to a number corresponding to a sphere is exemplified. When the sub-control board 940 receives the command including the stored ball information, the sub-control board 940 executes control for displaying the number of game balls corresponding to the value stored in the storage storage unit on the storage ball display device 212. To do.

  In the process of S2031, it is determined whether or not the payout counter has been updated (S2031). If the payout counter has been updated (S2031: Y), it is determined whether or not the storage storage unit valid flag is on (S2032). When it is determined that the storage storage unit valid flag is on (S2032: Y), it is determined whether the value of the storage storage unit is “150” or more (S2033), and the value of the storage storage unit is “150” or more. If not (S2033: N), it is determined whether or not the first ball amount detection switch 249B is on (S2034). When it is determined that the first ball amount detection switch 249B is on (S2034: Y), the processing of S2035 to S2037 is executed.

  In the processing of S2035, the number corresponding to the updated payout counter is added and updated in the storage storage unit (S2035), and then “1” is subtracted from the updated payout counter value (S2036), and the sub-control board. In 940, a setting for outputting a command corresponding to the number of game balls (the number of stored storage balls) stored in the storage unit is executed (S2037). The set command is output to the sub-control board 940 in the control signal output process S1208 in the timer interrupt process after the next time, and the other commands set in the following description are also output in the control signal output process S1208. Is done.

  Here, the value of the storage storage unit added and updated in the processing of S2035 can be a value exceeding “150”. The value stored in the memory storage unit takes the maximum value when the maximum number of winning balls (for example, 13) is added in the case of “149”, and the value of the storage storage unit after the addition is “162”. "

  After the process of S2037, other processes necessary for the payout state monitoring process S1215 are executed (S2041), and the payout state monitoring process S1215 is ended.

  When it is determined that the payout counter is not updated in the process of S2031 (S2031: N), when it is determined that the storage storage unit valid flag is off in the process of S2032 (S2032: N), the process is stored in the process of S2033. When it is determined that the value of the storage unit is “150” or more (S2033: Y), or when it is determined that the first ball amount detection switch 249B is OFF in the processing of S2034 (S2034: N) ), Skips the processes of S2035 to S2037, executes other processes (S2041), and ends the payout state monitoring process S1215.

  Next, the payout signal output process S1216 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the payout signal output process S1216 executed as part of the main control interrupt process (see FIG. 16).

  In the payout signal output process S1216, it is first determined whether or not a request for a prize ball command has been issued from the payout control board 930 (S2101). If there is no request for a prize ball command (S2101: N), a payout instruction is executed. Since it is not the timing, the payout signal output process S1216 is terminated. The request for a prize ball command from the payout control board 930 is executed by a signal (for example, a constant level ON signal) indicating that the prize control command 930 can receive a prize ball command as a payout instruction. When the payout of the prize balls that have already received the payout instruction has been completed or just before the completion (for example, two or less unpaid portions of the prize balls that have received the payout instruction), the payout control board 930 A prize ball permission signal is output to the main control board 920 through a dedicated signal line.

  If it is determined in the processing of S2101 that there is a request for a prize ball command (S2101: Y), it is determined whether or not the value of the second payout counter is “1” or more (S2102), and “1”. If it is above (S2102: Y), “1” is subtracted from the value of the second payout counter (S2103), and a 13-ball payout prize ball command corresponding to the payout instruction for 13 prize balls is set. (S2104), payout signal output processing S1216 is terminated.

  In the processing of S2102, if it is determined that the value of the second payout counter is not “1” or more (that is, “0”) (S2102: N), is the value of the first payout counter “1” or more? It is determined whether or not (S2105) and if it is equal to or greater than “1” (S2105: Y), “1” is subtracted from the value of the first payout counter (S2106), and a payout instruction for the number of three prize balls is dealt with A three-ball payout prize ball command is set (S2107), and the payout signal output process S1216 is terminated.

  In the processing of S2105, when it is determined that the value of the first payout counter is not “1” or more (S2105: N), it is determined whether or not the value of the storage storage unit is “1” or more (S2111). ), If “1” or more (S2111: Y), it is determined whether or not the storage storage unit valid flag is on (S2112). In this way, the determination as to whether or not the value of the storage storage unit is “1” or more is configured to be executed later than the confirmation of the values of the first payout counter and the second payout counter, and delayed by delayed payout control. The game balls that are required to be paid out are set to be given priority over the paid out game balls.

  In the process of S2112, if the storage storage unit valid flag is on (S2112: Y), the process of S2113 to S2116 for executing the ultra-low speed payout control is executed. In the process of S2113, it is determined whether the one-ball launch execution flag is on (S2113). If it is on (S2113: Y), the one-ball launch execution flag is turned off (S2114), and one-ball payout prize ball A command is set (S2115), and "1" is subtracted from the value of the storage storage unit (S2116). On the other hand, in the process of S2113, when it is determined that the one-ball launch execution flag is OFF (S2113: N), the process of S2114 to S2117 is skipped and the payout signal output process S1216 is ended. As a result, in response to the turning on of the one-ball launch execution flag that is turned on in response to the time interval at which the game ball is fired, a payout instruction for the game ball is executed on the payout control board 930, and the game ball launch interval is set. Synchronized ultra-low speed dispensing control can be realized.

  If it is determined in the process of S2112 that the storage storage unit valid flag is off (S2112: N), it is determined whether the value of the storage storage unit is “10” or more (S2118), and “10” or more. If so (S2118: Y), a 10-ball payout prize ball command is set (S2119), and "10" is subtracted from the value in the storage unit (S2120). Thus, in a situation where the storage storage unit valid flag is off and the delayed payout control is released and the value of the storage storage unit is “10” or more, the payout control board 930 is divided into “10” balls. The game ball payout instruction is executed at the same time, and the payout device 540 is operated according to the normal payout control, so that the game ball can be quickly paid out.

  In the process of S2118, when it is determined that the value of the storage storage unit is “9” or less (S2118: N), a payout prize ball command corresponding to the value of the storage storage unit is set (S2121) and stored. The value of the reservoir is cleared to “0” (S2122). As a result, when the normal payout control is executed in a situation where the value stored in the memory storage unit is reduced to a certain number or less, the payout control board 930 is given a payout instruction for the game ball corresponding to the fraction, and the payout device 540 can be operated to complete the payout of game balls quickly up to the last one.

  After the processing of S2116, S2120, or S2122, a command corresponding to the value of the storage unit subtracted by execution of the payout instruction is output to the sub control board 940 (S2117). When the sub-control board 940 receives this command, the sub-control board 940 executes control for displaying the number of game balls corresponding to the value stored in the storage storage unit on the memory ball display device 212. Details of the display contents will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, payout control by the payout control board 930 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. The control process in the payout control board 930 can be broadly divided into a main process that is activated upon recovery from a power failure state, and a command reception that is executed by interrupting the main process when a command is received from the main control board 920. It consists of processing.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a main process (payout control main process) executed by the payout control board 930, and FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command receiving process.

  In the main process of the payout control board 930, first, as a process that is executed only once at the time of start-up, an initialization process for starting up the payout control board 930, various information, and initial setting of the payout motor 542 is executed. Then, an interrupt permission process for permitting an interruption of the command reception process is executed (S2202). Thereafter, the process proceeds to the processes after S2301, and the processes of S2301 to S2315 are repeatedly executed at regular intervals (2 ms in the present embodiment). That is, in the process of S2316, it is determined whether or not a fixed time (for example, 2 ms from the start of the process of S2301) has elapsed, and the process of S2316 is repeated until the fixed time elapses (S2316: N). When the time elapses (S2316: Y), the processing of S2301 to S2315 is started.

  Further, when the process of S2202 is executed, a command reception process executed by interrupting the main process can be executed. It should be noted that the interrupt control process S2202 is executed in the payout control board 930 at a timing earlier than the start of command transmission after the main control board 920 has performed the initialization process, and the command sent from the main control board 920 is paid out. The board 930 is set to be easily received.

  Here, the command reception process will be described with reference to FIG. In the command reception process, it is determined whether the command received from the main control board 920 is a prize ball command (S2401). If the command is a prize ball command (S2401: Y), a prize according to a payout instruction attached to the prize ball command is determined. The number of balls is added to the payout number counter (S2402). The payout number counter is constituted by a part of the payout control board RAM, and stores the number of prize balls that have not been paid out of the number of prize balls received from the main control board 920, and is played from the payout device 540. Every time a ball is paid out, “1” is subtracted.

  After the process of S2402, each process corresponding to another command is executed. For example, as a control corresponding to the open / closed state of the front block 102 and the intermediate block 103, a control for stopping the payout of the game ball from the payout device 540 is executed in a state where either one is open. When the command reception process ends, the payout control main process (see FIG. 19) that has been executed at the timing when the command reception process is started is resumed.

  Next, processing after S2301 of the payout control main processing will be described with reference to FIG. In the processing of S2301, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout number counter is “0” (S2301). If the value of the number-of-payout counter is “0”, there is no need to perform payout. Therefore, the processing from S2302 to S2314 for setting the operating state of the payout motor is skipped, and the process proceeds to S2315.

  If it is determined in the process of S2301 that the value of the payout number counter is “1” or more (S2301: N), it is determined whether or not the payout count switch detects the payout of the game ball (S2302). When the payout of the game ball is detected (S2302: Y), “1” is subtracted from the value of the payout number counter (S2303), and the process proceeds to S2304. On the other hand, if it is determined in the process of S2302 that the payout counting switch has not detected the payout of the game ball (S2302: N), the process proceeds to S2307.

  In the processing of S2304, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout number counter is “0” (S2304). If the value is “0” (S2304: Y), the winning ball that has received the payout instruction is determined. In this case, the payout motor 542 is stopped (S2313).

  In the process of S2304, if the value of the payout number counter is not “0” but “1” or more (S2304: N), it is determined whether the value of the payout number counter is “2” (S2305), “2”. If it is (S2305: Y), a prize ball permission signal for requesting a prize ball command is output to the main control board 920. By requesting the next payout instruction at the timing when the payout number counter value is less than a certain number other than “0”, the payout of game balls can be executed continuously, thereby realizing quick payout. Can do. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2305 processing that the value of the payout number counter is not “2” (S2305: N), the processing of S2306 is skipped and the processing proceeds to S2307.

  In the processing of S2307, it is determined whether or not the value of the payout number counter is “3” or more (S2307). If it is not “3” or more (S2307: N), the set speed of the payout motor 542 is reduced. Set to, and prepare for paying out game balls at low speed. Thus, before the payout is completely completed and the payout motor 542 is stopped, the payout motor 542 can be decelerated step by step, and an error is generated compared to when the stop control of the payout motor 542 is performed suddenly. It is difficult to realize a normal payout operation.

  If it is determined in S2307 that the value of the payout number counter is “3” or more (S2307: Y), it is determined whether or not the second ball amount detection switch 249C is on (S2308). When the two-ball amount detection switch 249C is on (S2308: Y), the set speed of the payout motor 542 is set to a low speed, and the game balls are paid out at a low speed. As a result, in a situation where a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the auxiliary storage portion HT that leads from the lower storage portion 241 to the second branch passage 553, the payout of the game balls at the low speed setting is executed, and the storage expiration detection switch 249A It is possible to reduce the storage variation of the game balls in the expired state where is turned on. Therefore, the payout of game balls can be stopped in an expired state close to the limit state where payout can be made, and a large number of game balls can be stored in a limited area.

  If it is determined in S2307 that the value of the payout number counter is “3” or more (S2307: Y), and it is determined that the second ball amount detection switch 249C is off (S2308: N) The set speed of the payout motor 542 is set to a high speed setting (S2310), and control is performed so as to quickly pay out the game ball with the payout instruction stored in the payout number counter.

  After the processing of S2309 or S2310, it is determined whether or not the ball break detection switch 539 is on (S2311). If it is not on (S2311: N), the storage expiration detection switch 249A is on. It is determined whether or not (S2312).

  When it is determined in the processing of S2311 that the ball break detection switch 539 is on (S2311: Y), or in the processing of S2312, it is determined that the storage expiration detection switch 249A is on (S2312). : Y), the payout by the payout device 540 cannot be continued. That is, a sufficient amount of game balls is not supplied to the payout device 540 or game balls are sufficiently stored downstream of the payout device 540. In this case, the payout motor 542 is stopped. (S2313).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the process of S2311 that the ball break detection switch 539 is off (S2311: Y), and in the process of S2312, it is determined that the storage expiration detection switch 249A is off. (S2308: Y) is a situation where the payout by the payout device 540 can be executed. In this case, the payout motor 542 is turned on (S2313), and the payout by the payout device 540 is continuously executed.

  After the processing for setting the operation of the payout motor 542 (the processing in S2313 and S2314), each processing such as a control corresponding to a lending operation, a control corresponding to an error state, etc. is executed (S2315), and then in S2316 The process proceeds to a process and waits until the next payout control execution timing.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 21, the aspect which displays the memory storage ball number with the memory ball display apparatus 212 is demonstrated. FIG. 21 is a diagram exemplifying the display mode of the memory sphere display device 212. FIG. 21A corresponds to the state where the value of the memory storage unit is “0”, and FIG. This corresponds to a state in which the value “150” is stored in the storage unit and the stored ball information corresponding to approximately 150 game balls is displayed. Note that in FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B, the game balls stored in the upper storage portion 231 are shown together with dotted lines.

  As shown in FIG. 21 (A), the memory ball display device 212 has a part of the image display surface 213 upward with respect to a part of the upper storage part 231 in the front view of the pachinko machine 100 viewed from the player side. Are arranged so as to overlap. Further, the image display surface 213 of the storage ball display device 212 is arranged so as to be continuous upward with respect to the upstream end side of the upper storage portion 231, as if there is an upstream portion of the upper storage portion 231. Display is possible.

  Further, the memory ball display device 212 is arranged so that a part of the image display surface 213 overlaps with the inflow port 231 </ b> A of the upper reservoir 231. On the image display surface 213 of the storage sphere display device 212, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, a sphere storage display unit 213A, a storage status display unit 213B, and the like are controlled by the sub-control board 940. The storage guideline display unit 213C is configured to be able to display.

  The sphere storage display unit 213A is a part for displaying information corresponding to the number of stored storage spheres, and is a part for displaying game balls that are scheduled to be paid out toward the upper storage part 231 but have not been paid out yet. is there. In the front view of the pachinko machine 100, the ball storage display unit 213A is displayed in the shape of a passage (flow path) of game balls in which the width on the back side is gradually reduced and is continuous toward the back side. In the ball storage display unit 213A, as stored ball information corresponding to the number of game balls (the number of stored storage balls) stored in the storage storage unit of the main control board 920 under the control of the sub control board 940, FIG. As shown, many sphere images TG may be displayed.

  Here, the sphere storage display unit 213A is located on the upper side when viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine 100 with respect to the upstream portion of the upper storage portion 231, and the first branch passage 552 that continues to the upstream side of the upper storage portion 231 (FIG. 10) is displayed at a position overlapping the front side. For this reason, display is made as if the number of game balls displayed on the ball storage display unit 213A is stored in a part of the main storage unit ST leading from the upper storage unit 231 to the first branch passage 552. can do. Therefore, it is possible to visually display to the player that the ball storage display unit 213A is related to the main storage unit ST.

  As shown in FIG. 21B, the sphere image TG in the sphere storage display unit 213A is displayed by overlapping a plurality of substantially spherical images imitating a game ball in a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction, and the sphere image TG. Is displayed in the same number as the number of stored storage balls. When the number of stored storage balls increases, the sphere image TG moves from the upstream side of the ball storage display unit 213A (the back side displayed on the upper side of the image display surface 213) to the downstream side (the upper side of the image display surface). It is composed of a sphere image TG that flows down toward the front side (displayed) and increases in order from the left side with respect to the uppermost stream end of the game balls that are displayed in a stationary manner. On the other hand, when the number of stored storage balls decreases, the sphere images TG that are stopped and displayed on the upstream end side of the sphere storage display unit 213A are sequentially erased from the right side, and the stored sphere information is stored by the gradually decreasing sphere images TG. Composed.

  In the sphere storage display portion 213A, as shown in FIG. 21B, a plurality of sphere images TG are arranged side by side so as to intersect with the continuous front-rear direction of the flow path, and are substantially the same as the number of side-by-side storage ball information. It is displayed with the width setting. The number of the side-by-side sphere images TG in the sphere storage display unit 213A is set to a fixed number (five) over the entire section, so that the player can easily grasp the number of displayed game balls. The number of side-by-side numbers need not be a constant number over the entire section of the ball storage display unit 213A, and may be random. However, when the game balls are aligned and displayed in a sequence or in a grid, the player can It is good also as a setting made to differ. In this case, the number on the back side may be set to a smaller number, such as 5 on the near side and 3 on the back side, so that when the number of stored memory balls increases, The displayed game balls can be displayed in a small size, and it can be difficult for the player to grasp when the number of game balls decreases.

  The outer shape (radius) of the sphere image TG displayed on the sphere storage display unit 213A is displayed with a size substantially the same as the radius of the actual game sphere TR in the largest sphere image TG displayed on the foremost side. The sphere image TG displayed on the screen is displayed in a size smaller than the radius of the actual game ball TR. Thereby, it can be displayed more easily that the ball image TG positioned at the bottom in the forefront corresponds to the game ball positioned on the upstream side of the upper reservoir 231.

  Setting the number of side-by-side sphere images TG displayed on the sphere storage display unit 213A to a multiple of “5” such as “5” or “10” may make it easier for the player to grasp the number of game balls. This is preferable. The ball storage display unit 213A may be configured so that the game balls overlap vertically, but when displayed in a single row, the player can grasp the approximate number of stored memory balls at a glance. It is preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the size of the largest sphere image TG located on the front surface side among the sphere images TG displayed on the sphere storage display unit 213A is displayed in substantially the same size as the actual game ball. In addition, the minimum sphere image TG displayed on the back side corresponding to the upstream side of the sphere storage display unit 213A in the sphere storage display unit 213A is sufficiently larger than the size of the maximum sphere image TG located on the front side. It is preferable that the display is small so that the player does not need to be excessively aware of the increase or decrease of the game balls, and it is preferable that the display is less than half, and it is preferable that the display is less than 1/3. More preferably, it is displayed at 1/5 or less.

  In addition, it is preferable to arrange the first ball amount detection switch 249B at a position that is turned on when a small amount of game balls are stored in a position that is not visible from the player upstream from the upper storage unit 231, The total of the number of game balls and the number of stored memory balls stored upstream from the upper storage unit 231 can be made closer to the number of ball images TG displayed on the ball storage display unit 213A. This small amount is preferably 20 balls or less, preferably 10 balls or less, and preferably 5 balls or less. Further, as the number of the sphere images TG displayed on the sphere storage display unit 213A, the number of the sphere images TG may be displayed more than the number of the stored storage spheres, instead of matching the number of the stored storage spheres. This increment is preferably displayed in correspondence with the number of game balls stored in a position invisible to the player upstream from the upper storage unit 231, and is upstream of the upper storage unit 231 in the main storage unit ST. Preferably, the number of balls stored on the side is detected by one or a plurality of sensors, and a ball image TG obtained by adding a number corresponding to the number of balls to the number of stored storage balls is displayed on the ball storage display unit 213A.

  The storage status display part 213B is provided separately from the sphere storage display part 213A, and is a part where characters “not stored” or “being stored” are displayed under the control of the sub-control board 940. In the storage status display section 213B, “in storage” is displayed when the number of stored storage balls is “1” or more, and “not stored” is displayed in the case of “0”. In addition to displaying “in storage”, the number of stored memory balls may be displayed as a number. In this case, however, it is possible that the player will be excessively informed of the decrease in the number of game balls. Therefore, it is preferable that the number of stored storage balls is displayed by the number of sphere images TG instead of direct display.

  As shown in FIG. 21 (B), the storage indication display unit 213C has an alternate long and short dash line displayed so as to overlap the sphere storage display unit 213A, and a number “50” or “100” displayed next to it. It is comprised by the combination of. The numbers in the storage indication display unit 213C correspond to the number of sphere images TG displayed in the sphere storage display unit 213A. The height position of the alternate long and short dash line with the number of the storage guideline display unit 213C up to the quantity represented by the number of the storage guideline display unit 213C when the sphere image TG increases to the position in contact with the dashed line. It is set at a position where the number of stored memory balls increases. Based on the display of the storage guide display section 213C, the player can grasp the approximate number of stored storage balls at a glance.

  Next, operations and effects relating to the payout control and the launch control of the pachinko machine 100 will be described.

  In the pachinko machine 100, a game ball is paid out by the payout device 540 under the control of the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930, and the discharged game ball is fired in a game area in advance by the launching device 330. It is made to approach according to the interval (see FIG. 14). The game balls paid out by the payout device 540 are transferred to a storage portion (hereinafter also referred to as a main storage portion ST) of game balls that lead to the first branch passage 552 from the upper storage portion 231 provided with the launch device 330 on the downstream side. In a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST, or in a main storage release state in which the game balls are reduced by a predetermined amount or more from the predetermined storage state. It is detected by the storage expiration detection switch 249A and the first ball amount detection switch 249B (see FIG. 10).

  In the gaming area, a lower prize-winning device 433 and an upper prize-winning device 434 are provided (see FIG. 7). In the normal gaming state, the lower-ranking prize-winning device 433 and the upper-ranked prize-winning device 434 maintain an entry prohibition posture. When the big hit occurs and the special gaming state is reached, the operation mode is such that the entry allowable posture is made a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order. In the special game state, a large amount of game balls enter the lower prize-winning device 433 and the upper prize-winning device 434, and the second payout counter that pays out 13 game balls for the entry of one ball is repeatedly updated. . As a result, a large amount of game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST having the upper storage unit 231 on the downstream side.

  When a certain amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST and the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned on (see FIG. 12A), the storage storage unit valid flag is turned on and the main control board 920 is turned on. The number of game balls that need to be paid out is stored in the storage unit. In addition, on the ball storage display unit 213A of the memory ball display device 212, a large number of ball images TG corresponding to the number of game balls (memory storage ball number) stored in the memory storage unit are displayed (FIG. 21B). reference).

  When a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST and the number of stored storage balls becomes 150 or more, the payout device 540 is operated to pay out the game balls. The game balls are stored in the main storage unit ST from the lower storage unit 241. It is paid out to the auxiliary reservoir HT that leads to the two branch passage 553. In this case, even if a ball removal operation is performed on the lower storage unit 241, the game stored in the storage storage unit because the storage storage unit effective flag is turned on and the delayed payout control is enabled. The balls are not paid out to the lower storage portion 241 side because the payout is delayed.

  After the special gaming state, it shifts to the probability changing gaming state or the normal gaming state, and the right start winning device 432 has a high ratio of entering the allowed entry state, and constitutes a mode in which the game ball is more likely to win than the operation mode in the normal gaming state Take possible modes of operation. Thus, in the normal gaming state, the game ball can hardly enter the right start winning device 432, while in the short time state, the game ball frequently enters the right start winning device 432. The first payout counter from which three game balls are paid out is updated. As a result, if an appropriate launch operation is performed in a short time state, the number of balls to be paid out is slightly less than the launch time interval by the launch device 330.

  Here, the payout control of the game ball is performed by the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930. In the normal game state, the memory storage unit valid flag is off, and the game ball that needs to be paid out due to the occurrence of a prize. When this occurs, the payout control of the game ball is performed by the normal payout control without being stored in the storage storage part of the main control board 920.

  When a special gaming state occurs and the number of gaming balls increases to an amount at which the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned on in the main storage unit ST, the memory storage unit valid flag is turned on (the process of S2004 in FIG. 17). When the memory storage unit valid flag is ON, when a game ball that needs to be paid out is generated due to a winning, the number of game balls is added to the memory storage unit (processing of S2035 in FIG. 17). If the game balls once stored in the memory storage unit are not satisfied with the delayed payout control release condition that can hardly occur in a normal game, the payout is delayed until the short-time state after the special game state. Examples of the delay cancellation condition include a situation in which the player does not perform a firing operation for a certain period of time or the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned off and the number of game balls in the main storage unit ST decreases.

  After a certain amount or more (150 or more) of game balls are stored in the memory storage unit, when a game ball that needs to be paid out is generated due to a winning, without storing it in the memory storage unit of the main control board 920 Game ball payout control is performed by normal payout control. In this way, the payout of game balls is executed in the order of the main storage unit ST, the virtual storage storage unit, and the auxiliary storage unit HT. When the storage expiration detection switch 249A is turned on when a certain amount or more of the game balls are stored in the upstream common passage 551 corresponding to the upstream portion of the main storage portion ST and the auxiliary storage portion HT by the storage expiration detection switch 249A When the motor 542 is stopped (the processing of S2312 and S2313 in FIG. 19), the payout of the game ball by the payout device 540 is stopped. Thereby, even if a player pulls out the game balls of the auxiliary storage unit HT during the special game state, the number of game balls stored in the main storage unit ST and the number of stored memory balls stored in the memory storage unit are added. A few minutes of game balls can flow down to the launching device 330 through the main storage unit ST.

  In the short time state after the special game state, the game balls decrease from the main storage unit ST every time the game balls are launched by the launching device 330. However, in the short time state in which the memory storage unit valid flag is turned on during the special game state and is started thereafter, the one-shot launch execution flag is turned on at the timing when the game device launches the game ball (S2018 in FIG. 17). ), A one-ball payout prize ball command is transmitted to the payout control board 930 by a payout signal output process S1216 (see FIG. 18) executed thereafter. When the payout control board 930 receives a one-ball payout prize ball command, the number is added to the payout number counter (the process of S2402 in FIG. 20), and one game ball is paid out by the payout control main process. By repeating this control, the ultra-low speed payout control is executed, and the game balls consumed by launching into the game area in the short-time state are paid out and replenished to the main storage unit ST in synchronization with the launch operation. .

  In the short-time state, the number of game balls stored in the memory storage unit may be less than a certain amount (less than 150) due to the consumption of game balls due to launch, but payout by winning to the right start winning device 432 Minutes are once added to the memory storage unit (the processing of S2033 and S2035 in FIG. 17), and then paid out in synchronism with the game ball launching operation by ultra-low speed payout control.

  In this way, the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 delay the payout of a part of the game balls that need to be paid out during the special game state, and put the game balls in which the payout is delayed into the short-time state. By paying out, the game balls stored in the main storage unit ST in the short-time state are not reduced. Therefore, in the short time state in which the game ball is easier to win the right start winning device 432 than in the normal game state, the amount of the game ball in the main storage unit ST is set to be equal to or greater than a certain amount where the upstream end is located upstream from the upper storage unit 231. Easy to maintain. For this reason, the player can visually recognize the decrease of the game balls in the upper storage portion 231 and be discouraged, and can reduce the possibility that the willingness to continue the game after the end of the time-saving state is impaired.

  Further, when the time-short state is being executed and it is detected that the shooting operation is being performed (the processing of S2012 and S2015 in FIG. 17), one-ball shooting is executed as the delayed payout control. The flag is turned on (S2018), and control for paying out the game ball to the main storage unit ST is executed at substantially the same speed as the firing time interval. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately replenish the main storage unit ST with the game balls at a speed substantially synchronized with the speed at which the game balls decrease in the main storage unit. In addition, since the operation of the monotonous payout device 540 can be performed at substantially the same time interval in the short-time state, it is possible to suppress the disturbance of the game due to the operating sound of the payout device 540 or the collision sound between the paid-out game balls. Can do.

  When the time saving state is completed, the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off (the processing in S2013 and S2021 in FIG. 17), the delayed payout control is canceled, and the process proceeds to the normal payout control. For this reason, the normal payout control is started in synchronization with the end of the short-time state, and the remaining number of stored storage balls is quickly paid out. When the short-time state ends and the normal gaming state is started, the increase or decrease in the number of game balls is significantly different from the short-time state, and the start of the situation is easily suggested to the player by paying out the game balls. .

  Further, when the main control board 920 detects that the storage expiry detection switch 249A is turned on, the main control board 920 detects that the game balls are stored in a predetermined amount or more in both the main storage unit ST and the auxiliary storage unit HT. Then, the payout motor 542 is temporarily stopped and the payout is delayed (the processing of S2312 and S2313 in FIG. 19), and the game ball is reduced from the storage expiration state in either the main storage unit ST or the auxiliary storage unit HT. When the storage expiration detection switch 249A is turned off, one of the storage release states is detected, the dispensing motor 542 is turned on, and the dispensing is resumed. Thereby, even when the number of game balls in the main storage unit ST has decreased by a certain number in the storage expiration state of the main storage unit ST or the auxiliary storage unit HT, it is possible to execute the payout of game balls by the normal payout control. In a situation where game balls can be paid out, the required game balls can be quickly paid out.

  In addition, the main control board 920 outputs a command corresponding to the value of the storage storage unit to the sub control board 940 (processing of S2037 in FIG. 17), and the number of balls stored in the storage storage unit by the control of the sub control board 940. The spherical display (spherical image TG) corresponding to is displayed in a sphere storage display unit 213A of the memory sphere display device 212 so as to be connected to the pachinko machine 100 in the depth direction side (see FIG. 21B). . For this reason, a large amount of game balls can be easily displayed in a small area. In addition, the back-side sphere image TG can be displayed in a small area by overlapping with the near-side sphere image TG, and the back-side sphere image TG can be displayed small due to perspective. For this reason, since the number of stored and stored spheres is expressed with the back side as the upstream side, even if the number of stored and stored spheres decreases and the display of the upstream end changes and the number of sphere images TG decreases, The reduction can be difficult for the player to understand. Therefore, it is possible to increase the chances of occurrence of a situation where a small number of game balls expressed in different sizes are reduced, thereby reducing the occurrence of disgust that the player has with respect to the decrease in game balls Can do.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, For example, you may deform | transform and implement as described below. In this case, each configuration described below may be applied to the above embodiment, or a plurality of configurations described below may be combined and applied to the above embodiment.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the pachinko machine 100 has been described with respect to the configuration having a plurality of reservoirs of the upper reservoir 231 and the lower reservoir 241, but only one reservoir corresponding to the upper reservoir 231 is provided. It is good also as a structure to have. In this case, the path through which the game ball is discharged out of the pachinko machine by the ball removing operation mechanism from the storage section is set in the path upstream of the dish-shaped part opened upward at the top where the player can visually recognize (in the pachinko machine) 1) so as to detect the stopping of the game ball in the passage leading from the branch to the storage part. It is preferable to install a ball quantity detection switch.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the storage expiration detection switch 249A is installed in the upstream common passage 551 corresponding to the upstream portion common to both the upper storage portion 231 and the lower storage portion 241, and the upper storage portion 231 is installed. The situation in which the number of game balls in either the lower storage unit 241 or the lower storage unit 241 can be detected by one switch and the on / off of the payout motor 542 is switched according to this detection status has been described. You may perform control which switches on / off of the payout motor 542 using the switch (1st ball amount detection switch 249B and 2nd ball amount detection switch 249C) set with respect to each channel | path with the storage part 241. FIG. For example, a fixed number (for example, 10 pieces) of game balls after two switches of the first ball amount detection switch 249B and the second ball amount detection switch 249C are turned on or the main control board 920 or Detected by the payout control board 930, when the fixed number of payouts is executed, the payout motor 542 is turned off as the storage expiration detection, and either the first ball amount detection switch 249B or the second ball amount detection switch 249C The payout motor 542 may be turned on and the payout device 540 may be operated at the timing when it is turned off.

  (3) In the above embodiment, in the passage of the game ball detected by each switch according to the on / off state of the storage expiration detection switch 249A, the first ball amount detection switch 249B, and the second ball amount detection switch 249C Although each control according to the state of the switch is executed, the state in the passage is not detected only by the ON / OFF state of each switch, but a certain number (for example, 10) after any switch is turned ON. The control state may be switched by paying out the game ball, or the payout motor 542 is kept off even after the storage expiration detection switch 249A is turned off from the on state, and a certain amount of operation of the launching device 330 is executed. At least, the storage expiration state or the storage cancellation state is determined by a combination of on / off of the switch and control, such as determining the storage cancellation state by the payout control board 930. It may be detected either.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the launching device 330 launches a game ball upward from a position below the game board 400, and describes a configuration that makes it possible to adjust the flow start position in the game area by the launch force. However, it may be configured by another mechanism capable of causing the game ball to enter the game area. For example, the game ball supplied from the upper storage unit 231 is conveyed to the upper side of the game board 400 by a belt or the like. The game balls may be released from the positions set at a plurality of positions corresponding to the player's operation, and the game balls start to flow down.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the launching device 330 is configured to allow the game ball to enter the game area according to a predetermined launch time interval. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of times less than a certain launch time interval. It is good also as a launching device in which the player can select the firing time interval in the interval, and every time the player performs a predetermined launch operation, the game ball is played in the game area for every one or two or more predetermined numbers. It is good also as a launching device to enter.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the configuration of the payout device 540 that pays out the game ball by the payout motor 542 has been described. However, a payout device that pays out the game ball by another mechanism may be used. A configuration may be adopted in which a flow restricting piece protruding into the flow path of the game ball is retreated by a solenoid that operates the movable portion so that the game ball can flow downstream and a required number of game balls are paid out.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the payout control is executed by the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 has been described. However, the payout control by the main control board 920 and the payout control board 930 is the same as the above embodiment. Another configuration may be used. For example, the payout control board 930 is provided with a backup function, and a payout instruction corresponding to the number of prize balls required for payout is immediately transmitted from the main control board 920 to the payout control board 930, and the payout control board 930 performs normal payout control and Switching of delayed payout control may be executed.

  (8) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the value of the memory storage unit corresponding to the number of game balls displayed on the memory ball display device 212 is subtracted in synchronization with the execution of the payout instruction from the main control board 920. However, the value of the memory storage unit may be subtracted in synchronization with the actual payout instead of subtracting the value of the memory storage unit according to the game ball payout instruction. For example, instead of the process of updating the value of the storage unit in S2116, S2120, and S2122 in the above embodiment, each time the payout counting switch 541 corresponding to the completion of payout of the game ball is received from the payout device 540, the payout You may make it subtract the numerical value for the number by which this was performed from a memory | storage storage part.

  (9) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the game ball is paid out at approximately the same time interval as the game ball firing time interval as the ultra-low speed payout control, but it is not always necessary to set the speed. However, the game ball payout control speed is set such that the decrease of the game ball in the short time state is difficult for the player to visually recognize, and the game ball upstream of the upper storage portion 231 when the big hit is not won in the short time state. It is preferable to set the speed at which the end is positioned. For example, the speed at which the game ball is paid out during the short-time state is preferably at least about 0.5 times the game ball firing time interval. It is preferable to set it to be twice or more.

  (10) In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the ultra-low speed payout control is executed when the time reduction state is executed. However, the ultra low speed payout control may be executed in a gaming state other than the time reduction state. As a gaming state in which the ultra-low speed payout control is executed, the number of game balls to be paid out to the player (the number of payout balls) compared to the number of game balls (the number of game area entering balls) entered by the launching device 330 into the game area. It is preferable to apply to a gaming state with approximately the same number or slightly fewer settings. Even if they are set to approximately the same number, there may be situations where the number of game balls gradually decreases due to individual differences in gaming machines and game situations. Opportunities for visually recognizing the situation in which the game balls stored in the section ST decrease can be reduced.

  Here, as a setting where the number of payout balls is substantially the same as the number of game area approaching balls, the difference in the number of balls may be within about 20%, preferably within about 10%, preferably within about 5%. It is preferable to do. In addition, the setting in which the number of payout balls is slightly smaller than the number of game area approaching balls may be set so that the difference in the number of balls is within a range of approximately 3% to approximately 30%, approximately 5% to approximately 20%. It may be set within the range, and is preferably within a range of about 7% to 15%. If the number of payout balls is set to be slightly smaller than the number of game area approaching balls, the probability of occurrence of a special game state or a probability change game state is set high by the amount of game state where game balls gradually decrease, etc. A game ball decrease can be assigned to another game state. In addition, by setting the length of the gaming state in which the game ball gradually decreases (total number of unit games where the short-time state returns to the normal gaming state and the probability of winning in the probability-changing gaming state), Other models, such as the number of balls that can be returned can be set and the number of returned balls can be added to the special game state to set a larger number of game balls that can be temporarily acquired by the player. And can be easily differentiated.

  (11) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the ultra-low speed payout control is executed to make it easier for the game balls to flow down to the main storage portion ST, but instead of the configuration in which the ultra-low speed payout control is executed, the memory storage portion The game balls stored in the game may always flow down to the main storage part ST. For example, among the three switches of the storage expiration detection switch 249A, the first ball amount detection switch 249B, and the second ball amount detection switch 249C, the first ball amount detection is performed for the game ball stored in the memory storage unit. The game ball may be paid out by turning off the switch 249B as a necessary condition. That is, when it is determined in the payout signal output process S1216 that the value of the storage unit is “1” or more (S2111: Y), the state of the first ball amount detection switch 249B is confirmed to detect the first ball amount. As a necessary condition that the switch 249B is OFF, the process shifts to S2114 to execute a game ball payout instruction, while if the first ball amount detection switch 249B is ON, the payout signal output process S1216 is ended. Also good. In this case, in the process of S2014 of the payout state monitoring process S1215, it is necessary to delete the configuration in which the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off immediately after the first ball amount detection switch 249B is detected to be off. Instead, when a certain time (a time sufficient for paying out one ball by the payout device 540, for example, 3 seconds) has elapsed after the first ball amount detection switch 249B is detected to be off, the storage storage unit valid flag is set. It is preferable that the configuration is turned off.

  (12) In the above embodiment, in the special gaming state, when the condition for storing the game ball in the main storage unit ST is satisfied up to a predetermined amount at which the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned off, the memory storage unit The configuration in which the effective flag is turned on and the delayed payout control is enabled has been described. However, the conditions for enabling the delayed payout control are not limited to the above-described conditions, and instead of at least a part of these conditions, In addition to at least a part, other conditions may be set.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the start of the normal gaming state after the time-shortening state, the operation of launching the gaming ball has not been executed for a certain period of time, or the gaming ball stored on the upper storage unit 231 side is the first If any of the conditions is met, whether or not the ball amount detection switch 249B is paid out to a predetermined amount at which the ball amount detection switch 249B is turned off, the storage storage unit valid flag is turned off to release (invalidate) the delayed payout control, The configuration for shifting from delayed payout control to normal payout control has been described. However, the delayed payout control is not limited to the above-described conditions, but instead of at least a part of these conditions or in addition to at least a part of these conditions. Other conditions may be set.

  For example, when the special game state is started during the short-time state, the storage and storage unit valid flag is temporarily turned off after the start of the special game state to release the delayed payout control, and then stored as the number of stored and stored balls. On the condition that the number of game balls that have been paid out is required, the delayed storage control may be enabled by turning on the storage storage unit valid flag during the special game state. The start of the special game state during the short-time state can be easily suggested to the player by the change in the payout speed of the game ball synchronized with the start.

  At least one of the setting of validity / invalidity of the delayed payout control may be selectable by at least one of the player or the game hall manager, and the selection operation is performed from the front side of the gaming machine such as the input operation device 260 It is also possible to operate from the back side of the gaming machine, such as providing a switch on the payout control board 930. As the effective / invalid setting control of the delayed payout control, for example, the storage storage unit effective flag may be switched on and off in response to an input signal by a selection operation of a player or a game hall manager. For example, a touch panel is provided so as to overlap the image display surface 213 of the memory ball display device 212, the touch panel is connected to the payout control board 930, and an input operation signal to the touch panel is input to the main control board 920 through the payout control board 930. . The main control board 920 switches at least one of ON and OFF of the storage reservoir effective flag by operating the touch panel, and transmits a signal corresponding to the switching to the sub control board 940. The sub control board 940 displays the memory ball display The mode of the storage status display unit 213B on the image display surface 213 of the device 212 is switched and displayed. As this switching display, for example, the mode of “reservable” and “unreservable” is switched corresponding to ON / OFF of the storage storage unit effective flag, or the background color of the storage status display unit 213B is set to blue and red. You may switch to. This makes it easy to deal with situations such as paying out the required number of game balls to the lower storage unit 241 at the timing intended by the player in a short time state, and exchanging only some of the game balls for prizes. Can do.

  (13) In the above embodiment, when the storage storage unit valid flag is on and the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned on, the winning is made until the value of the storage storage unit becomes a certain value or more. However, only a part of the number of prize balls (for example, approximately half) is stored in the memory storage part, and part of the game balls are game balls. It is good also as a setting to pay out. If all of the game balls that need to be paid out are added to the memory storage unit, the game balls will not be paid out for a certain period of time, so that the player may generate an error such as a failure of the payout device 540 or a ball jam. There is a possibility of calling a store clerk at the amusement hall by mistake. On the other hand, by adopting a configuration in which the game ball is paid out in a situation where the value of the memory storage unit is added and updated, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player will mistake the occurrence of an error.

  In addition, after the first ball amount detection switch 249B is turned on during the special gaming state, the number of prize balls that need to be paid out by winning is added to the storage unit. However, the first ball amount detection switch 249B Only a part of the number of winning balls that need to be paid out before being turned on (for example, approximately half or the number of winning balls corresponding to a part of a plurality of winnings) is stored in the memory storage unit. The department may be set to pay out game balls. The value of the memory storage unit can be gradually increased over a long period of time, and it is easier to maintain the game ball payout speed by the payout device 540 compared to a configuration in which the value of the memory storage unit is increased in a short period of time. The possibility of having anxiety about the operation of the pachinko machine 100 such as a failure can be reduced.

  (14) In the above embodiment, the display of the stored ball information on the memory ball display device 212 may be omitted, and the memory ball display device 212 may not be provided. Even in this case, in a situation where a game ball cannot be stored in the main storage unit ST and a situation in which a game ball can be stored in the auxiliary storage unit HT has occurred, It is possible to store the game balls in a pseudo manner in the storage storage unit without performing payout for a part of the game balls that require dashi.

  (15) In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the stored ball information is displayed by the ball image TG so that the player can visually grasp the number of stored stored balls. However, the player directly uses the stored ball information as the stored ball information. It may be displayed by information that the quantity cannot be grasped (for example, a barcode including the value of the number of stored and stored balls), and the stored ball information is read with a camera attached to a portable terminal such as a mobile phone possessed by the player In this case, a sphere image TG corresponding to the sphere storage display unit 213A and the number of stored storage spheres may be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal. Even in this case, it is preferable that the stored ball information is displayed on the upper side of the upstream end with respect to the upper side storage unit 231, thereby allowing a game to be performed on the upstream side of the upper storage unit 231 using the screen of the mobile terminal. The sphere image TG can be displayed as if the sphere was stored. For the pachinko machine 100, the portable terminal may be provided with an information output unit capable of wireless communication by infrared rays or the like, and the number of stored and stored balls may be transmitted to the portable terminal, whereby the number of stored and stored balls remains. When a player tries to leave the seat, a specific operation such as vibrating the mobile terminal can be performed, and a ball clogging occurs on the upstream side of the upper storage unit 231, and a lot of prize balls are stored as the number of stored storage balls However, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player moves without being paid.

  (16) In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the maximum value (the maximum number of stored storage balls) of the storage storage spheres that can be stored in the storage storage unit is “162”, but other numerical values may be used. You may set the determination value (determination value of the process of S2033 of FIG. 17) of the number of memory storage balls to a value different from the said embodiment. In this case, the maximum value of the stored storage ball number may be set corresponding to the average number (the set decrease number) at which the game balls decrease in the short time state, and the setting may be set to be more than half of the set decrease number. It is preferable to set the number to 75% or more of the set decrease number, and it is preferable to set it to 2 times or less of the set decrease number, and it is preferable to set it to 1.5 times or less. In addition, a numerical value corresponding to the number of balls that can be acquired in the special gaming state, such as a numerical value that is larger than the maximum number of balls that can be acquired in the special gaming state for a predetermined number of times (for example, one time). May be set.

  Further, the maximum number of stored memory balls may be selectable by a player or a manager of the game hall, and at least two or more different values can be set as the maximum number of stored memory balls. A determination value for the maximum number of stored storage balls selected by the user's selection operation may be set, or a setting display unit that displays the set maximum number of stored storage balls may be provided. For example, a touch panel is provided so as to overlap the image display surface 213 of the memory ball display device 212, and the upper limit of the game balls that can be stored in the ball storage display unit 213A by sliding up and down the inner side of the ball storage display unit 213A, for example, It is possible to set in multiple stages (50, 100, 150,...) By dividing each 50 balls, and displays a combination of straight lines and numbers corresponding to the maximum number of stored balls as in the above-described storage guide display unit 213C. May be.

  (17) In the above embodiment, on the image display surface 213 of the memory sphere display device 212, the sphere storage display unit 213A is displayed as a passage shape continuous to the back side of the pachinko machine 100, and the sphere image TG is in the back. Although the description has been made of the configuration in which the side is displayed smaller and continuous, the configuration may be such that the sphere storage display portions having substantially the same width are continuous in the vertical direction and the sphere images TG having substantially the same size are displayed in the vertical direction.

  (18) In the above embodiment, the memory ball display device 212 is displayed so as to be positioned on the upper side with respect to the upper storage portion 231, but it may be installed at other positions, and the memory ball display device is displayed on the game board 400. 212 may be installed, and at least one of the ball storage display unit 213A, the storage status display unit 213B, and the storage guideline display unit 213C is displayed on a part of the display screen of the decorative symbol display device 479. Also good.

  (19) In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the player can visually recognize the stored ball information corresponding to the number of stored stored balls by the memory ball display device 212. However, instead of this, the stored ball information is stored by another display device. Sphere information may be displayed. For example, a reflection part by a half mirror provided with a light-transmitting mirror is installed on the back side of the upper storage part 231, and light emission for switching whether or not the upper storage part 231 is reflected by the reflection part on the back side. A plurality of bodies are installed side by side, the number of light emission of the illuminant is made different according to the number of stored storage balls by the control of the sub-control board 940, and the reflection range of the reflecting portion expands corresponding to the increase of the number of stored memory balls, You may make it narrow according to a reduction | decrease. Even in this case, it is possible to make the player visually aware of the amount of the game ball stored separately from the upper storage unit 231.

  (20) You may implement this invention in the pachinko machine etc. of a type different from the said embodiment. For example, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine in which the big hit expectation value is increased until the big hit state is generated a plurality of times (for example, twice or three times) including the big hit. Further, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine that enters a special gaming state on the condition that a ball wins a predetermined area after a big hit symbol is displayed. Moreover, you may implement in the enclosed pachinko machine with which a ball | bowl circulates. Further, in addition to the pachinko machine, the present invention may be implemented as various game machines such as an arrangement ball type pachinko machine and a sparrow ball. Further, the present invention is not limited to a pachinko machine and may be applied to a slot machine, or may be applied to a game machine such as a parrot of a type in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are integrated.

<Invention extracted from the above embodiment>
Hereinafter, the characteristics of the invention group extracted from the above-described embodiment will be described while showing problems and effects as necessary. In the following, for easy understanding, the corresponding configuration in each of the above embodiments is appropriately shown in parentheses, etc., but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses. In addition, the meanings and examples of terms described in each feature may be applied as the meanings and examples of terms described in other features described in the same wording.

<Feature 10>
A payout device (payout device 540) for paying out game balls;
Payout control means (main control board 920 and payout control board 930) for controlling the payout device;
A ball approach device (launching device 330) for causing the game balls paid out by the paying device to enter according to a predetermined entry time interval (launch time interval) under the control of the payout control means;
A main storage portion (main storage portion ST leading from the upper storage portion 231 to the first branch passage 552) in which the ball approach device is provided on the downstream side and the game balls paid out by the payout device are stored;
Main storage for detecting whether the main storage portion is in a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage portion, or whether the game balls are in a main storage release state in which the game balls have decreased by a certain amount or more from the main storage expiration state State detection means (storage expiration detection switch 249A and first ball amount detection switch 249B);
A first operation state corresponding to the first gaming state (non-time-saving state) (switching operation pattern between an entry prohibition posture and an entry-permitting posture in the non-time-saving state) and a game ball enters from the first gaming state. A variable winning device (right start winning device 432) capable of generating a second operation mode (switching operation pattern between an entry prohibition posture and an entry allowable posture in the time reduction state) corresponding to an easy second gaming state (time reduction state); With
The payout control means includes
Normal payout control means (main control board 920 and payout control board 930) for paying out game balls by predetermined normal payout control before the main storage state detection means detects a state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored. Each process for executing the normal payout control in FIG.
Delayed payout control means (main control board 920 and payout) that performs delayed payout control in which at least a part of game balls that need payout is delayed from the normal payout control when the second gaming state is executed. A game machine comprising: a control board 930 for executing delayed payout control).

  In a conventional gaming machine, a gaming machine in which a game ball is paid out as the game progresses is known. For example, when a game ball enters a entrance provided on a game board surface, a predetermined number of games are played. The ball is paid out as a prize ball, and the game ball is paid out to a game ball storage section provided on the front side of the gaming machine. In addition, a gaming machine having a variable winning device having a mechanism for changing a probability of entering a game ball into a winning port is known. As a gaming state that is more advantageous to the player than a normal gaming state, There is known a gaming machine that increases a probability of entry and generates a gaming state (short-time state) in which a decrease in gaming balls hardly occurs.

  In the conventional gaming machine described above, if the player visually recognizes a situation in which the game balls stored in the storage unit gradually decrease in a gaming state advantageous to the player, there is a risk of impairing the willingness to continue the subsequent game. There is still room for improvement.

  According to the gaming machine described in feature 10, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the chance of visually recognizing a situation in which the number of game balls stored in the storage unit decreases in a predetermined gaming state. In other words, the delayed payout control by the delayed payout control means delays the payout of at least a part of the game balls that need to be paid out before the second gaming state, and the game ball whose delay has been delayed becomes the second It is paid out to the storage unit during the game state. For this reason, in the 2nd game state, it becomes difficult to produce the reduction | decrease of the game ball stored by the main storage part. Therefore, in the second gaming state, the amount of game balls in the main storage unit can be easily maintained at a certain level or more, and the player is discouraged by visually observing the decrease in game balls in the main storage unit, and the second It is possible to reduce the possibility of losing the willingness to continue the game after the game state.

  As the second gaming state, the number of game balls (the number of payout balls) to be paid out to the player is substantially the same as the number of game balls (the number of game area entering balls) that have been entered into the game area by the ball approach device. The game state may be set to be slightly less, or as a substantially equal number, the difference in the number of balls may be within about 20%, preferably within about 10%, preferably within about 5%. Is preferred. Further, as a slightly smaller setting, the difference in the number of balls may be set within a range of approximately 3% to approximately 30%, or may be set within a range of approximately 5% to approximately 20%, approximately 7% to It is preferable to be within the range of 15%.

<Feature 11>
A gaming machine according to feature 10, wherein
An auxiliary storage section (from the lower storage section 241 to the second branch passage) that is a part where the game balls are paid out when a predetermined number or more of game balls are stored in the main storage section and where the ball entry device does not exist on the downstream side Auxiliary storage part HT leading to 553),
Auxiliary storage for detecting whether the auxiliary storage is in an auxiliary storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the auxiliary storage section, or whether the game ball is in an auxiliary storage release state in which the number of game balls has decreased by a predetermined amount or more from the auxiliary storage expiration state State detection means (storage expiration detection switch 249A and second ball amount detection switch 249C),
The payout control means includes
A predetermined delayed payout when the main storage portion is detected as being in the main storage expiration state and the auxiliary storage portion is in the auxiliary storage expiration state by the main storage state detection means and the auxiliary storage state detection means. Control
The main storage state detection unit and the auxiliary storage state detection unit detect whether the main storage unit is in the main storage release state or the auxiliary storage unit is in the auxiliary storage release state. When this is done, the predetermined delayed payout control is canceled and the normal payout control can be started.

  According to the gaming machine described in the feature 11, when the number of game balls is reduced by a certain number in either the main storage unit or the auxiliary storage unit, the game ball can be paid out by the normal payout control. In a situation where payout is possible, it is possible to quickly pay out the necessary game balls.

<Feature 12>
The gaming machine according to feature 10 or 11,
A ball number storage unit (memory storage unit of the main control board 920) for storing the number of game balls to be paid out with delay by the delayed payout control means;
A display unit capable of displaying a plurality of substantially spherical sphere displays (sphere images TG) at least on the depth direction side of the gaming machine, wherein the display unit corresponds to the number of game balls stored in the ball number storage unit. A gaming machine comprising a memory ball number display unit (ball storage display unit 213A) that displays a different number of ball displays.

  According to the gaming machine described in the feature 12, a substantially spherical ball display corresponding to the number of balls stored in the ball number storage unit is displayed in a plurality in a row in the depth direction side of the gaming machine in the memory ball number display unit. Therefore, a large amount of game balls can be displayed easily in a small area. In addition, the back-side sphere display overlaps with the near-side sphere display and displays a small visible area, and the back-side sphere display from the near-side can be displayed with a small perspective. For this reason, the number of game balls stored in the ball number storage unit can be expressed with the back side portion as the upstream side, and the number of game balls stored in the ball number storage unit is reduced and the display of the upstream end is displayed. Even if it changes and the number of ball displays decreases, the decrease can be difficult for the player to understand. Therefore, it is possible to increase the chances of occurrence of a situation where a small number of game balls expressed in different sizes are reduced, thereby reducing the occurrence of disgust that the player has with respect to the decrease in game balls Can do.

<Feature 13>
A gaming machine according to any one of features 10 to 12,
The gaming machine is characterized in that the memory ball number display unit overlaps at least on the front side with respect to at least a part of the main storage unit or is positioned on the upper side when viewed from the front side of the gaming machine.

  According to the gaming machine described in feature 13, the ball display displayed on the memory ball number display unit is displayed as if it is stored in a part of the main storage unit or continuously stored upstream. can do. For this reason, it can be easily visually recognized by the player that the memory ball number display section is related to the main storage section.

<Feature 14>
A gaming machine according to any one of features 10 to 13,
It is provided with firing operation status detection means (processing of S2015 in FIG. 17) for detecting whether or not the player is performing a predetermined firing operation.
The delayed payout control means includes
As the delayed payout control, when the second gaming state is being executed and when it is detected that the predetermined shooting operation is being performed by the shooting operation status detecting means, the entry A gaming machine that executes a control of paying out a game ball to the main storage unit at a speed substantially equal to a time interval (a game ball payout control by turning on and off a one-shot launch execution flag).

  According to the gaming machine described in the feature 14, it is possible to appropriately replenish the main storage unit with the game balls at a speed substantially synchronized with the speed at which the game balls decrease in the main storage unit. In addition, since the operation of the payout device can be made monotonous at substantially the same time interval according to a certain control in the time-short state, it suppresses the disturbance of the game due to the operation sound of the payout device or the collision sound between the game balls that have been paid out. can do.

<Feature 15>
A gaming machine according to any one of features 10 to 14,
The payout control means executes control to cancel the delayed payout control by the delayed payout control means and shift to the normal payout control when the second gaming state ends (S2013 and S2021 in FIG. 17). A game machine characterized by that.

  According to the gaming machine described in the feature 15, by executing the normal payout control in synchronization with the end of the second gaming state, a situation in which the increase / decrease in the number of gaming balls has greatly changed from the second gaming state is determined. It can be easily understood by paying out the game balls.

<Feature 16>
A gaming machine according to any one of features 10 to 15,
The payout control means is when the second gaming state is being executed, and when the number of game balls stored in the main storage portion has decreased below a predetermined amount, the delayed payout control means A game machine that executes the control to cancel the delayed payout control and shift to the normal payout control (the processes of S2014 and S2021 in FIG. 17).

  According to the gaming machine described in the feature 16, even if the second gaming state is being executed, the gaming balls stored by the player can be quickly removed by, for example, extracting the gaming balls from the main storage unit. When necessary, the game ball can be returned quickly to the player by the normal payout control.

  Note that at least one feature described in the features 10 to 16 may be applied in combination with any one or a plurality of features. The basic configuration of the gaming machine to which the above-described features can be applied is shown below.

  Pachinko machine: launch operation means operated by a player, game ball launch means for launching a game ball based on the operation of the launch operation means, a passage section for guiding the launched game ball to a predetermined game area, A gaming machine that includes each gaming component arranged in a gaming area, and gives a bonus to a player when a gaming ball passes through a predetermined passing portion of each gaming component.

  A spinning machine such as a slot machine: the rotation of the circulating body is started based on the operation of the start operation means, the rotation of the circulating body is stopped based on the operation of the stop operation means, and the player is made according to the pattern after the stop. A gaming machine that grants bonuses.

  As described above, the present invention is suitable for a gaming machine such as a ball game machine.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Pachinko machine, 213A ... Sphere storage display part, 231 ... Upper storage part, 241 ... Lower storage part, 249A ... Storage expiration detection switch, 249B ... 1st ball quantity detection switch, 249C ... 2nd ball quantity detection switch, 330 ... Launching device, 432 ... Right start winning device, 540 ... Dispensing device, 552 ... First branch passage, 553 ... Second branch passage, 920 ... Main control board, 930 ... Dispensing control board, ST ... Main reservoir, HT ... auxiliary storage part, TG ... sphere image

Claims (2)

A payout device for paying out game balls;
Payout control means for controlling the payout device;
A ball approach device for causing a game ball paid out by the payout device to enter the game area according to a predetermined entry time interval under the control of the payout control means;
A main storage portion in which the ball approach device is provided on the downstream side and stores game balls paid out by the payout device;
Main storage for detecting whether the main storage portion is in a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage portion, or whether the game balls are in a main storage release state in which the game balls have decreased by a certain amount or more from the main storage expiration state State detection means;
A variable winning device capable of generating a first operation mode corresponding to a first game state and a second operation mode corresponding to a second game state in which a game ball is easier to enter than the first game state. Prepared,
The payout control means includes
Normal payout control means for paying out game balls by predetermined normal payout control before the main storage state detection means detects a state in which the game balls of the predetermined amount or more are stored;
Wherein when the second game condition is executed, the delay payout control means and gaming machine and a performing delay payout control to pay out at least a portion of the payout required game ball the normal delays from dispensing control Because
A ball number storage unit for storing the number of game balls to be paid out with delay by the delayed payout control means;
A display unit capable of displaying a plurality of substantially spherical sphere displays at least in the depth direction side of the gaming machine, wherein the number of the sphere displays corresponding to the number of game spheres stored in the sphere number storage unit; A gaming machine comprising a memory ball number display unit for displaying differently . A payout device for paying out game balls;
Payout control means for controlling the payout device;
A ball approach device for causing a game ball paid out by the payout device to enter the game area according to a predetermined entry time interval under the control of the payout control means;
A main storage portion in which the ball approach device is provided on the downstream side and stores game balls paid out by the payout device;
Main storage for detecting whether the main storage portion is in a main storage expiration state in which a predetermined amount or more of game balls are stored in the main storage portion, or whether the game balls are in a main storage release state in which the game balls have decreased by a certain amount or more from the main storage expiration state State detection means;
A variable winning device capable of generating a first operation mode corresponding to a first game state and a second operation mode corresponding to a second game state in which a game ball is easier to enter than the first game state. Prepared,
The payout control means includes
Normal payout control means for paying out game balls by predetermined normal payout control before the main storage state detection means detects a state in which the game balls of the predetermined amount or more are stored;
A gaming machine comprising delayed payout control means for performing delayed payout control in which at least a part of a game ball requiring payout is delayed from the normal payout control when the second gaming state is executed Because
A firing operation status detecting means for detecting whether or not the player is performing a predetermined firing operation;
The delayed payout control means includes
As the delayed payout control, when the second gaming state is being executed and when it is detected that the predetermined shooting operation is being performed by the shooting operation status detecting means, the entry A gaming machine that executes control for paying out a game ball to the main storage section at a speed substantially equal to a time interval .