JP6658811B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

A pachinko gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine, includes a gaming board, and a game ball is fired at a gaming area formed on the front of the gaming board. When a game ball wins in various winning holes provided in the game area, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out accordingly. In addition, the said game board, Ru mower which comprises a guide channel for deriving a game ball that ball entrance from the predetermined openings in different areas (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-236741 A

Here, the induced conductive path, there is still room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances and the like, and has as its object to provide a gaming machine having a good guidance passage .

The present invention
Launching means for launching a game ball so as to flow down the game area after passing through the guide rail;
A game ball flowing down the game area is capable of entering, and a guiding path for leading the entered game ball to a specific area,
With
The guide passage includes a first wall portion of the guide passage and a second wall portion intersecting the first wall portion, wherein the first position is a second position different from the first position. And a displaceable portion is provided for
The guide passage is in a first state in which a game ball cannot pass through when the displacement portion is displaced from the first position to the second position by receiving a force from a game ball entering the entrance of the guide passage. It is characterized in that it can be displaced to a second state in which a game ball can pass through from the second state.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the game machine provided with the favorable guideway .

It is a front view of the pachinko machine in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structure of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the main structure of a pachinko machine. It is a front view of a game board. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of a center frame. It is an explanatory view for explaining an outline of a warp passage. (A), (b) It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the warp passage on the left side. (A), (b) It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. (A)-(c) It is BB sectional drawing in FIG.8 (a). (A), (b) It is a front view of the left part of the center frame for demonstrating operation | movement of a vertical ball passage. (A), (b) It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display content on the display screen of a symbol display device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10. It is an explanatory view showing an outline of various counters used for game control. It is a perspective view showing the outline of the left warp passage for explaining the 1st modification in a 1st embodiment. (A) It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. 4 for demonstrating the 2nd modification in 1st Embodiment, (b1), (b2) Description for demonstrating operation | movement of a vertical spherical path. FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a warp passage for explaining a third modification of the first embodiment. (A), (b) It is a front view of the left part of the center frame for demonstrating the 4th modification in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the center frame in 2nd Embodiment. (A) It is a flowchart which shows the door control process performed by MPU of a main control apparatus, (b) It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of a sliding door and a door member. It is a flowchart for explaining the modification in 2nd Embodiment which shows the door control process performed by MPU of a sound light emission control apparatus. It is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the center frame in a 3rd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the door control process performed by MPU of a sound light emission control apparatus. It is a flowchart for explaining the modification in 3rd Embodiment which shows the door control process performed by MPU of a sound emission control apparatus. (A) It is a front view of the game board in 4th Embodiment, (b1), (b2) It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between a decoration member and a warp passage.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine (hereinafter, referred to as a “pachinko machine”) that is a type of gaming machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine 10, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views showing main components of the pachinko machine 10. FIG. 2, the configuration of the pachinko machine 10 in the game area is omitted for convenience.

  The pachinko machine 10 has an outer frame 11 forming an outer shell of the pachinko machine 10, and a game machine main body 12 rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 forward. The outer frame 11 is formed by connecting a wooden plate to four sides, and has a rectangular frame shape. The pachinko machine 10 is installed in a game hall by attaching and fixing the outer frame 11 to island facilities.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gaming machine main body 12 includes an inner frame 13, a front door frame 14 arranged in front of the inner frame 13, and a back pack unit 15 arranged behind the inner frame 13. And The inner frame 13 of the gaming machine main body 12 is rotatably supported with respect to the outer frame 11. More specifically, the inner frame 13 is rotatable forward with the left side being a rotation base end side and the right side being a rotation end side in a front view.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a front door frame 14 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13, and is rotatable forward with the left side as the rotation base end side and the right side as the rotation end side in front view. It has been. As shown in FIG. 3, a back pack unit 15 is rotatably supported by the inner frame 13. The back pack unit 15 is rotated rearward with the left side as the rotation base end side and the right side as the rotation end side in front view. It is possible to move.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the gaming machine main body 12 is provided with a locking device 16 at the tip end of its rotation, so that the gaming machine main body 12 can be unlocked from the outer frame 11 in a locked state. And has a function to lock the front door frame 14 so that it cannot be opened with respect to the inner frame 13. Each of these locked states is released by performing an unlocking operation using an unlocking key on the cylinder lock 17 exposed on the front of the pachinko machine 10.

  Next, the configuration of the front side of the gaming machine main body 12 will be described.

  The inner frame 13 is mainly composed of a resin base 21 whose outer shape is substantially the same as the outer frame 11. A substantially elliptical window hole 23 is formed in the center of the resin base 21. A game board 24 is detachably attached to the resin base 21. The game board 24 is made of plywood, and a game area PE formed on the front face of the game board 24 is exposed to the front side of the inner frame 13 through the window 23 of the resin base 21.

  Here, the configuration of the game board 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the game board 24.

  The gaming board 24 is formed with a plurality of large and small openings penetrating in the front-rear direction by being subjected to router processing. Each opening is provided with a general prize port 31, a variable prize device 32, an upper operation port 33, a lower operation port 34, a through gate 35, a variable display unit 36, a main display section 43, and an accessory display section 44. ing. In addition, a plurality of general winning openings 31 are provided, and a plurality of through gates 35 are also provided.

  Each of the general winning opening 31, the variable winning device 32, the upper working opening 33, the lower working opening 34, and each through gate 35 are in one-to-one correspondence with the detection sensors 31a, 31b, 31c, 32d, 33a, 34c, 35a and 35b are provided. These detection sensors 31a to 35b are all disposed on the back side of the game board 24, and the detection results are output to a main control device described later. In addition, as the detection sensors 31a to 35b, an electromagnetic induction type proximity sensor is used, but any sensor can be used as long as it can individually detect a winning of a game ball.

  When the occurrence of a ball entering the general winning opening 31, the variable winning device 32, the upper working opening 33 and the lower working opening 34 is detected, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out. More specifically, three prize balls are paid out when a ball enters the upper working port 33 and when a ball enters the lower working port 34, and a general winning is performed. When a ball enters the mouth 31, payout of 10 prize balls is executed, and when a ball enters the variable prize device 32, payout of 15 prize balls is executed. However, the number of these prize balls is arbitrary. For example, the number of prize balls of both operation ports 33 and 34 is larger than the number of prize balls of lower operation port 34 than the number of prize balls of upper operation port 33. They may be different. Further, the number of prize balls according to the variable prize winning device 32 is not limited to the configuration that is larger than other prize balls, and may be, for example, a configuration that is smaller than the number of prize balls according to the general winning opening 31.

  In addition, an out port 37 is provided at the lowermost portion of the game board 24, and game balls that have not entered various winning ports and the like are discharged from the game area PE through the out port 37. In addition, a large number of nails 38 are planted on the game board 24 for appropriately dispersing and adjusting the falling direction of the game ball, and various members (accessories) such as a windmill are provided.

  Here, the entering ball means that the game ball passes through a predetermined opening, and is not limited to the mode of being ejected from the game area PE after passing through the opening, but also the game area PE after passing through the opening. The aspect which is not exhausted from is also included. However, in the following description, in order to clearly distinguish the game ball from entering the out port 37, the general winning port 31, the variable winning device 32, the upper operating port 33, the lower operating port 34, or the through gate 35 are used. Entering a game ball is also referred to as winning.

  The upper working port 33 and the lower working port 34 are unitized as working port devices and installed on the game board 24. The upper working port 33 and the lower working port 34 are both open upward. The two working ports 33 and 34 are arranged in a vertical direction such that the upper working port 33 faces upward. The lower working port 34 is provided with an electric accessory 34a as a guide piece (support piece) composed of a pair of left and right movable pieces.

  The electric accessory 34a is connected to an electric accessory drive 34b mounted on the back side of the game board 24, and is driven by the electric accessory drive 34b to be in a closed state (unsupported state or non-guide state) and It is arranged in either the open state (support state or guide state). When the electric accessory 34a is closed, the game ball cannot enter the lower operating port 34, and when the electric accessory 34a is opened, the lower operating port 34 can be awarded.

  The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to change the state of the electric ball to a state in which a prize of the game ball to the lower operating port 34 is likely to occur and a state in which the prize is not easily generated but the prize is harder to occur than the state in which the prize is more likely to occur. The configuration may be such that the accessory 34a can be switched. Further, the electric accessory 34a may not be provided, and switching between a state in which a prize is more likely to occur and a state in which a prize is less likely to occur may be performed by the displacement of the lower working port 34 itself.

  The variable winning device 32 includes a large winning opening 32a communicating with the back side of the game board 24, and includes an opening / closing door 32b that opens and closes the large winning opening 32a. The opening / closing door 32b is connected to a variable winning drive unit 32c integrally provided as the variable winning device 32 (the connection portion is not shown), and is driven by the variable winning drive unit 32c to close and open. Placed in any of Specifically, the game ball is normally in a closed state where it cannot be won, and when an internal lottery wins the shift to the open / close execution mode, the game ball is switched to an open state where the game ball can be won.

  The variable winning device 32 is provided with a special winning opening detection sensor 32d at a position where a game ball that has won the variable winning device 32 via the special winning opening 32a always passes. The gaming balls that have won the variable winning device 32 are individually detected by the special winning opening detection sensor 32d.

  In the main display section 43, a change display of the pattern is performed with the winning of the upper operation port 33 or the lower operation port 34 as a trigger, and as a result of stopping the fluctuation display, the winning operation to the upper operation port 33 or the lower operation port 34 is performed. The result of the internal lottery performed based on this is clearly indicated by the display. That is, in the pachinko machine 10, the winning in the upper operating port 33 and the winning in the lower operating port 34 are not distinguished in the internal lottery, and the winning based on the winning in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34 is performed. The result of the drawn internal lottery is clearly shown on the main display unit 43 which is a common display area. When the result of the internal lottery based on the winning in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34 is a winning result corresponding to the shift to the open / close execution mode, the predetermined stop result is displayed on the main display unit 43. After the display and the fluctuation display are stopped, the mode shifts to the open / close execution mode.

  In addition, the main display unit 43 is configured by a segment display in which a plurality of segment light emitting units are arranged in a predetermined mode, but is not limited thereto, and includes a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, It may be constituted by another type of display device such as a CRT or a dot matrix display. In addition, the pattern variably displayed on the main display unit 43 includes a configuration in which a plurality of types of characters are variably displayed, a configuration in which a plurality of types of symbols are variably displayed, a configuration in which a plurality of types of characters are variably displayed, or a plurality of types. A configuration in which different colors are switched and displayed may be considered.

  In the display unit 44 for the character, the display of the variation of the picture is performed with the winning of the through gate 35 as a trigger, and as a result of stopping the display of the variation, the result of the internal lottery performed based on the winning of the through gate 35 is displayed. Specified by indication. If the result of the internal lottery based on the winning in the through gate 35 is a winning result corresponding to the shift to the electric open state, a predetermined stop result is displayed on the accessory display unit 44 and displayed in a fluctuating manner. Is stopped, the state shifts to the electric utility open state. In the power-operated state, the electric-operated object 34a provided in the lower working port 34 is opened in a predetermined manner.

  The variable display unit 36 is provided with a symbol display device 41 for variably displaying symbols on the display screen G in response to winning of the upper operation port 33 or the lower operation port 34 as a trigger. The symbol display device 41 is configured as a liquid crystal display device having an 8-inch size liquid crystal display, and the display content is controlled by a display control device described later. The symbol display device 41 displays symbols, for example, in an upper row, a middle row, and a lower row, and variably displays these symbols by scrolling in the left-right direction. The symbol display device 41 has a display screen of a 10-inch or 7-inch liquid crystal display other than 8 inches, a wide-screen display, or a CRT, dot matrix, 7-segment, or other type. May be configured. Further, the variable display unit 36 is provided with a center frame 42 having a stage portion and a warp passage, which will be described later, so as to surround the symbol display device 41.

  Here, the center frame 42 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the center frame 42.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the center frame 42 includes an upper base frame 100 that forms an upper portion of the center frame 42, and a lower frame that is assembled to the upper base frame 100 from behind and forms a lower portion of the center frame 42. And a base frame 110. The upper base frame 100 has a shape of a frame whose lower side is open, surrounds the symbol display device 41 from above, and places the upper portion from the lateral side above the middle position in the vertical direction of the symbol display device 41 from the side. (See FIG. 4). Further, the lower base frame 110 has a frame shape in which the upper side is opened, and surrounds the symbol display device 41 from below, and a portion below the intermediate position in the lateral side of the symbol display device 41 from the lateral side. (See FIG. 4). When the two base frames 100 and 110 are assembled together, the center frame 42 has a frame shape penetrating in the front-rear direction as a whole, and surrounds the symbol display device 41 on all sides (see FIG. 4).

  The upper base frame 100 has an upper decorative member 101 provided at an upper portion, a pair of lateral decorative members 102 formed by extending downward from both left and right ends of the upper decorative member 101, and a lower side opened. An upper frame 103 which has a frame shape and to which these decorative members 101 and 102 are assembled from the front. A flange 103a is formed on the peripheral edge of the upper frame 103, and the upper base frame 100 is screwed (fixed) to the game board 24 from the front through screw holes formed in the flange 103a. Each of the members 101 to 103 in the upper base frame 100 is formed of a non-transparent resin, and has a front surface subjected to printing or shaping as decoration (not shown).

  The upper decorative member 101 and the lateral decorative member 102 of the upper base frame 100 are formed in a housing shape having an internal space by bulging forward, and when the upper base frame 100 is assembled to the game board 24, both decorations are formed. The members 101 and 102 project forward from the front of the game board 24. This restricts the game ball from falling forward of the symbol display device 41. Further, the upper surface of the upper decorative member 101 is formed such that the central portion bulges upward, and game balls flowing down the game area PE are distributed to the left and right of the center frame 42.

  On the other hand, the lower base frame 110 includes a stage member 111 disposed at a lower portion, a passage unit 201 disposed at both left and right ends of the stage member 111 and formed upright in the vertical direction, and a frame having an open upper side. And a lower frame 112 which has a body shape and to which the stage member 111 and the passage unit 201 are assembled from behind. The upper base frame 100 and the lower base frame 110 are assembled by attaching the upper ends of the lower frame 112 to the upper frame 103 and the lower ends of the lateral decoration members 102 of the upper base frame 100 from the rear. A flange 112a is also formed on the periphery of the lower frame 112, and the lower base frame 110 is screwed (fixed) to the game board 24 from the front through a plurality of screw holes formed in the flange 112a. You. Each of the members 111, 112, and 201 in the lower base frame 110 is formed of a non-transparent resin, and the front surface is subjected to printing or shaping as decoration (not shown).

  The stage member 111 of the lower base frame 110 is formed so as to bulge rearward substantially across the entire width at the bottom of the lower base frame 110. When the lower base frame 110 is assembled to the game board 24, the stage The member 111 is disposed behind the front surface of the game board 24. The stage member 111 has a stage 111a on the upper surface of which a game ball can roll. A stage wall portion 113 is integrally formed on the stage member 111 behind the stage 111a so as to stand upward.

  The stage 111a has a symmetrical shape about the center. Specifically, the central portion is raised upward, the left and right are valley portions 111b located at the lowermost position on the upper surface of the stage 111a, and the left and right ends are located above the central portion. At the center of the stage 111a, a rear guide path 111c having a shape inclined downward toward the rear is formed. A lower ball path 114 is formed behind the rear guiding path 111c to guide the game ball above the upper operating port 33. Specifically, an upper opening 115 through which the game ball can pass is formed in the stage wall 113, and a lower opening 116 through which the game ball can pass is formed below the rear guide path 111c in the lower frame 112. I have. The lower ball passage 114 is a guide passage having the upper opening 115 as an inlet and the lower opening 116 as an outlet. The lower opening 116 as the outlet is turned up when the center frame 42 is assembled to the game board 24. It is arranged above the working port 33.

  Therefore, when a game ball jumped on the stage 111a passes through the lower ball passage 114, it easily enters the upper working port 33. The valleys 111b located on the left and right of the center of the stage 111a have a shape that is inclined downward toward the front. With such a configuration of the valley portion 111b, the game ball guided to the valley portion 111b is led forward.

  Further, the center frame 42 is provided with a warp passage 200 as a guide passage for guiding game balls to the stage 111a.

  First, an outline of the warp passage 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing an outline of the warp passage 200.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the warp path 200 is formed in the upper base frame 100 and guides the game balls flowing down the game area PE to the inside of the center frame 42. The side ball path 210 is formed in the lower base frame 110. A rear guiding portion 220 that guides the game ball that has passed through the side ball passage 210 backward, a vertical ball passage 230 that is also formed on the lower base frame 110 and guides the game ball that has passed through the rear guiding portion 220 downward, The game ball is led out to the stage 111a by the vertical ball passage 230. Therefore, the game balls flowing down the game area PE pass through the warp passage 200, and are led out to the stage 111a arranged behind the game area PE, and are led out of the stage 111a to the game area PE.

  The warp passage 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 in addition to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views schematically showing the warp passage 200 on the left side. In FIG. 7, the wall of the lateral decorative member 102 in the upper base frame 100 is partially cut away. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views taken along line AA in FIG. 7 and 8, some members are omitted.

  Here, the pair of warp passages 200 has a left-right symmetric shape. Therefore, in the following description, the left warp passage 200 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the side spherical passage 210 is provided in the interior space of the lateral decorative member 102 of the upper base frame 100 in front of the position where the lower base frame 110 is assembled.

  The side spherical passage 210 has front and rear walls formed by the front wall of the lateral decoration member 102 and the upper frame 103 of the upper base frame 100, and stands up and down in the internal space of the lateral decoration member 102. The ceiling portion 211 (see FIG. 5) and the floor portion 212 (see FIG. 7) formed above and below constitute upper and lower walls, and one game ball is formed so as to be movable laterally.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a lateral opening 104 is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the lateral decoration member 102 so as to open laterally as an entrance to the side ball passage 210 (an entrance of the warp passage 200). I have. The lateral opening 104 is formed below the lateral decorative member 102, and the pair of lateral decorative members 102 is formed to be inclined in a direction away from each other as it goes downward. Accordingly, when a game ball flowing down the game area PE collides with the lateral decoration member 102, the game ball is guided to the lateral opening 104 side by the inclination of the lateral decoration member 102, and the side ball passage 210 ( The ball easily enters the warp passage 200). Further, due to the inclination, the lower edge portion of the opening of the lateral opening portion 104 projects more outward than the upper edge portion, and the ball entering the side ball passage 210 (warp passage 200) is more likely to enter. It is easy.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the floor portion 212 of the side ball passage 210 is formed so that the upper surface thereof is inclined downward toward the inside of the center frame 42. Therefore, a game ball that has entered through the lateral opening 104 is guided to the inside of the center frame 42 by the side ball passage 210. The game ball guided to the inside of the center frame 42 by the side ball passage 210 comes into contact with the inner peripheral wall of the lateral decoration member 102, and the contact position is the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210.

  At the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210, a rear opening 105 is formed to penetrate the upper frame 103 constituting the rear wall of the side ball passage 210 in the front-rear direction. The rear opening 105 is formed in a size that allows one game ball to pass through, and the side ball passage 210 is communicated with the warp passage 200 on the lower base frame 110 side through the rear opening 105. I have. Further, at the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210, the upper surface of the floor portion 212 is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the rear, and the game ball that has passed through the side ball passage 210 is a lower base frame. It is guided to the warp passage 200 on the 110 side. In other words, the game ball that has moved sideways in the side ball passage 210 changes its direction at the lowermost part and moves backward.

  The rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230, which are the warp passages 200 on the lower base frame 110 side, are formed by the passage unit 201.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the passage unit 201 includes a fixed base member 250 and a movable door member 260. The base member 250 and the door member 260 allow the rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230 to be formed. This creates a passage space.

  First, a configuration for creating a passage space of the vertical ball passage 230 will be described.

  The base member 250 is provided on the back surface of the lower frame 112. The base member 250 is formed with a passage wall 251 that is provided so as to stand upright from the back of the lower frame 112 and extends in the vertical direction. The passage wall 251 causes an outer side wall of the vertical spherical passage 230 to be formed. Are formed. The door member 260 is provided so as to be located inside the center frame 42 relative to the passage wall 251. In a state where the door member 260 is disposed at a position where the vertical ball passage 230 is formed, the rear wall portion 261 facing the rear surface of the lower frame 112 from behind to form a rear wall in the vertical ball passage 230, and a passage wall portion 251 is integrally formed with a side wall portion 262 facing the side from the side to form an inner side wall of the vertical ball passage 230, and has a bent shape as a whole. The door member 260 has a passage forming position where the vertical ball passage 230 is formed so as to allow a game ball to pass therethrough, and a retreat to reduce the passage width (lateral dimension) to such an extent that the game ball cannot pass. It is provided so as to be displaceable between positions.

  A configuration in which the door member 260 can be displaced will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the upper member 252 and the lower member 253 are arranged so that the base member 250 stands behind the passage wall 251 and inside the center frame 42. Are integrally formed. The upper wall portion 252 and the lower wall portion 253 are vertically separated from each other, and a door member 260 is disposed between the upper wall portion 252 and the lower wall portion 253.

  An upper shaft portion 252a is formed on the lower surface of the upper step wall portion 252 so as to protrude downward, and an upper bearing portion 263 having a concave portion below the upper end of the door member 260 corresponding to the upper shaft portion 252a. Are formed. A lower shaft portion 253a is formed on the upper surface of the lower wall portion 253 so as to protrude upward, and a lower end of the door member 260 has a concave portion corresponding to the lower shaft portion 253a. A lower bearing 264 is formed. Then, by inserting both shaft portions 252a and 253a into both bearing portions 263 and 264, the door member 260 is rotatable about the vertical direction with respect to the base member 250 as a rotation axis. In the following description, the both shaft portions 252a and 253a are also referred to as a rotation shaft 265 of the door member 260.

  Here, the position of the rotation shaft 265 of the door member 260 and the rotation range of the door member 260 will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 9A to 9C are cross-sectional views taken along the line BB in FIG. 8A, and the position of the rotation shaft 265 of the door member 260 and the rotation range of the door member 260 will be described. FIG.

  The rotation shaft 265 of the door member 260 is formed on the back wall portion 261 of the back wall portion 261 that forms the back wall in the vertical ball passage 230 and the side wall portion 262 that forms the inner side wall in the vertical ball passage 230. I have. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9C, the rotation shaft 265 exists at a position near the passage wall 251 of the base member 250 when the door member 260 is located at the passage forming position. . Therefore, when the door member 260 is turned from the passage forming position shown in FIG. 9C to the retracted position shown in FIG. 9A, the door member 260 is located inside the center frame 42 with respect to the turning shaft 265. The existing region is displaced so as to approach the passage wall portion 251, and in the situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the retracted position, the lateral dimension of the vertical ball passage 230 is larger than that at the passage forming position. Become smaller.

  Note that, as shown in FIG. 9C, a position where the inner wall portion 261 of the door member 260 abuts against the passage wall portion 251 from behind, and further rotation of the door member 260 in the direction is prevented. Is a passage forming position, and as shown in FIG. 9A, the side wall portion 262 of the door member 260 abuts the passage wall portion 251 from the side, and the further rotation of the door member 260 in that direction. The position where the movement is blocked is the retreat position.

  In the configuration in which the rotation shaft 265 is formed on the back wall portion 261 as described above, the rotation shaft 265 is disposed at a position near the center in the width direction of the back wall portion 261. As a result, the vertical support portion of the door member 260 comes closer to the side wall portion 262 side of the door member 260, and when a game ball is received on the side wall portion 262 as shown in FIG. Of the door member 260 can be increased. In addition, since the rotation shaft 265 is disposed at a position near the center in the width direction of the back wall 261 in this manner, the amount of movement of the rotation front end of the side wall 262 when the door member 260 rotates. Is reduced.

  In a situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position, as shown in FIG. 9C, the side wall portion 262 of the door member 260 covers the entire side of the vertical ball passage 230 from inside the center frame 42. It is formed not to cover, but to cover only a part. More specifically, the part of the side wall portion 262 that is the most rotational tip side of the portion that comes into contact with the game ball falling in the vertical ball passage 230 while contacting the side wall portion 262 is the center frame 42 of the game ball. It is formed so that it may become outside the part located inside. From this point as well, the amount of movement of the pivotal tip of the side wall 262 when the door member 260 pivots is reduced. On the other hand, the surface of the side wall portion 262 that forms the passage surface of the vertical ball passage 230 is formed in a curved shape in accordance with the outer curved surface of the circular cross section of the game ball. Thereby, in a situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position, it is possible to secure a large contact area between the game ball falling down the vertical ball passage 230 and the side wall portion 262. It becomes easy to receive the power of the game ball.

  Incidentally, since the rotating shaft 265 is formed so as not to generate the passage surface of the vertical ball passage 230 in the inner wall portion 261, the shape of the rotating shaft 265 affects the game ball passing through the vertical ball passage 230. Can be reduced.

  As described above, the door member 260 that can be displaced between the passage forming position and the retreat position is urged toward the retreat position by the urging means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a spring receiving portion 252b is formed on the upper step wall portion 252 so as to project downward from the lower surface, and the spring receiving portion 252b, the upper shaft portion 252a, and the door member 260 are formed. The door member 260 is urged from the passage forming position toward the retracted position by the torsion spring 252c connected to. Then, in a situation where a force against the urging force of the torsion spring 252c is not applied, the door member 260 is held at the retracted position shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), in order to displace the door member 260 held at the retreat position toward the passage forming position using the operation of the game ball, a rear guiding portion is provided. 220 are provided.

  The configuration of the rear guiding section 220 that displaces the door member 260 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the guide member 221 is formed on the base member 250 so as to extend from the upper end of the passage wall 251 serving as the outer side wall of the vertical spherical passage 230 to the outside of the center frame 42. The floor of the rear guiding section 220 is formed by the guiding floor section 221. The guide floor 221 is connected to the floor 212 of the side ball passage 210 upstream of the rear guide 220 through the rear opening 105 of the upper frame 103. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the upper surface of the guiding floor 221 is a surface that is continuous from the upper surface of the floor 212 at the most downstream part of the side ball passage 210, and It is formed so as to incline downward. Due to this inclination, the game ball whose direction has been changed at the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210 is guided backward. The game ball guided rearward by the rear guiding section 220 has the pivoting tip of the side wall 262 hit against the passage wall 251 from the side in the situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the retracted position as described above. Since the door member 260 is in contact with the door member 260, the door member 260 collides with the pivotal tip of the side wall 262 from the front.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, the connection point between the guiding floor portion 221 and the passage wall portion 251 is located inside the center frame 42 with respect to the center of the game ball reaching the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210. Are located in Therefore, the game ball guided rearward as described above collides against the rotating front end of the side wall 262 from outside the center frame 42. That is, the force of the game ball is applied to the door member 260 rearward, and the force of the game ball is applied to the inside of the center frame 42. Further, as described above, since the rotating shaft 265 of the door member 260 is provided on the back wall portion 261 existing behind the side wall portion 262, the force of the game ball is applied to the side wall portion 262. This allows the door member 260 to be displaced toward the passage forming position. In particular, since the game ball guided backward collides with the turning tip of the side wall portion 262, the force of the game ball is applied to the position farthest from the turning shaft 265 of the door member 260. Therefore, the door member 260 can be easily displaced by the leverage principle.

  Further, as described above, the side wall portion 262 of the door member 260 is formed so as to cover only a part of the side portion of the vertical ball passage 230 from the inside of the center frame 42, and is formed at the most downstream side of the side ball passage 210. There is a space between the game ball that has reached the part and the pivotal tip of the side wall part 262. When the game ball changes direction in the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210, the flow speed of the game ball is reduced, but the space created between the rotation tip and the game ball accelerates again and turns. Collides with the tip. From this point, the force of the game ball is easily applied to the door member 260.

  As described above, the warp passage 200 of the present pachinko machine 10 is configured to lead a game ball flowing down the game area PE to the stage 111a arranged behind the game area PE. Reference numeral 230 denotes a configuration in which the width of the passage is expanded laterally by utilizing the backward movement of the game ball.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), a guide wall 222 is formed at the rear end of the guide floor 221 so as to stand upright, and the guide floor 221 is more upward toward the outside of the center frame 42. It is formed so as to be inclined toward. That is, the guide wall portion 222 restricts the further movement of the game ball backward, and the inclination of the guide floor 221 restricts the movement of the game ball to the outside of the center frame 42. Therefore, the game ball guided rearward while rotating the door member 260 by the rear guide part 220 moves rearward without moving outward and is guided to the vertical ball passage 230.

  It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the guide member 221 is temporarily moved to the outside of the center frame 42 by the rear guide portion 220 without tilting the guide floor portion 221 or at a reduced tilt angle, and then the door member 260 is rotated. However, in this case, since the lateral width of the rear guiding portion 220 is widened, it is preferable to move rearward without moving outward as described above from the viewpoint of making the guiding passage compact.

  The game ball led out to the vertical ball passage 230 falls while contacting the side wall portion 262 of the door member 260. In this case, since the contact area between the game ball falling down the vertical ball passage 230 and the side wall portion 262 is widened as described above, the urging force of the door member 260 acting on the game ball is reduced, and the vertical Ball clogging in the ball passage 230 is less likely to occur. In addition, the wall surface of each member constituting the vertical ball passage 230 is subjected to a low friction treatment, and from this point also, ball clogging in the vertical ball passage 230 is suppressed.

  When the game ball passes through the vertical ball passage 230, the door member 260 is displaced to the retreat position by the urging force of the torsion spring 252c. Further, the passed game ball is led out to the stage 111a, and is guided into the lower ball passage 114 as described above, so that the ball easily enters the upper working port 33.

  As described above, the vertical ball path 230 in the warp path 200 is located at the retracted position if the game ball does not enter the warp path 200, and the game ball enters the warp path 200 when the game ball enters the warp path 200. The passage is permitted by displacing the door member 260 to the passage forming position using the movement of the ball. When the game ball passes through the vertical ball passage 230, the door member 260 is again displaced to the retreat position by the urging force.

  In the following description, a state in which the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position in the vertical ball passage 230 is referred to as a passage forming state, and a state in which the door member 260 is disposed at the retracted position is also referred to as a passage non-forming state. .

  The relationship between the state transition of the vertical ball passage 230 and the symbol display device 41 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A is a front view of the left side of the center frame 42 in a state in which the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage forming state, and FIG. 10B is a view in a state in which the vertical spherical passage 230 is in a passage forming state. FIG. 5 is a front view of the left side of the center frame 42.

  As described above, the passage wall portion 251 is provided so as to stand upright from the back surface of the lower frame 112, and is arranged to be shifted laterally from the inner peripheral edge of the lower frame 112. The shift amount is set to be longer than the thickness of the door member 260 and shorter than the diameter of the game ball. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10A, in a situation where the door member 260 is located at the retracted position, the entire door member 260 is located behind the lower frame 112. In this case, the vertical ball passage 230 does not overlap the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 in the front-back direction, and the player can visually recognize the entire display screen G.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, in a situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position, a part of the door member 260 protrudes from the inner peripheral edge of the lower frame 112 to the inside of the center frame 42, and the door member 260 At the same time, a part of the game ball passing through the vertical ball passage 230 can be visually recognized. In this case, the vertical ball passage 230 overlaps the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 in the front-back direction.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to increase the size of the display screen in order to increase the degree of attention to the game, and in a limited game area, the game area in which the game ball flows down has been narrowed with the increase in the size of the display screen. . In such a situation, it is not preferable to provide a warp passage as a guide passage because one of the display screen and the game region is occupied. Thus, as in the pachinko machine 10, the vertical ball passage 230 of the warp passage 200 can be displaced between a passage forming state and a non-passage forming state, so that the game area can be widened while responding to an increase in the size of the display screen. It is possible to secure.

  Here, for example, a configuration is also conceivable in which a display screen is arranged behind the guide path and the guide path is entirely formed of a transparent resin. Even in this case, the visibility of the display screen can be ensured because the guide path is formed of the transparent resin while securing a wide game area. However, what is called an accessory including a guide passage is required to function as a decoration of a pachinko machine. However, if the guide passage is formed of a transparent resin, the function as a decoration is impaired. Further, even if it is formed of a transparent resin, there is a concern that the visibility of the display screen may be reduced due to the material of the resin, reflection of light, and the like. On the other hand, in the present pachinko machine 10, the lower frame 112 constituting the front wall of the vertical ball passage 230 is formed of a non-transparent resin, and the display screen G of the display screen G is secured while ensuring decorativeness as an accessory. It is configured to ensure visibility.

  Further, as described above, when a game ball is passing through the vertical ball passage 230, the player can visually recognize the game ball. Thereby, it can be suppressed that the game ball entering the warp passage 200 is illusioned that the game ball has been ejected from the game area PE. On the other hand, before the game ball enters the warp passage 200, that is, when the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the vertical ball passage 230 cannot be visually recognized from the front. Therefore, it is difficult to identify in advance where the game ball that has entered the warp passage 200 will be guided thereafter, and it is possible to increase the unexpectedness when the vertical ball passage 230 becomes visible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the turning mechanism of the door member 260 is not visible from the side due to the passage decoration members 106 and 107 provided above and below the base member 250. Specifically, the upper upper passage decorating member 106 covers the upper shaft portion 252a, the upper bearing portion 263, the spring receiving portion 252b, and the torsion spring 252c from the inside of the center frame 42, and the side of the upper rotating mechanism. It is not allowed to be viewed from. The lower lower passage decorative member 107 covers the lower shaft portion 253a and the lower bearing portion 264 from the inside of the center frame 42, so that the lower rotating mechanism cannot be viewed from the side. Therefore, since the rotation mechanism of these door members 260 cannot be visually recognized, it is difficult to specify in advance that the door members 260 are rotated and displaced from the retreat position to the passage forming position, and the unexpectedness of the whereabouts of the game ball is reduced. It is possible to further increase.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 4, the upper decorative member 101 of the center frame 42 has a first holding lamp unit 45 corresponding to the main display unit 43 and the symbol display device 41 and a second holding lamp unit 45 corresponding to the accessory display unit 44. And a ramp section 46.

  The first holding lamp unit 45 is arranged at the upper left portion on the front side of the upper decorative member 101. The number of game balls winning in the upper operation port 33 or the lower operation port 34 is retained up to a maximum of four, and the number of the retained balls is displayed by turning on the first reservation lamp unit 45.

  The second holding ramp part 46 is arranged at the upper right part of the upper decorative member 101. The number of times the game balls have passed through the through gate 35 is held up to a maximum of four times, and the number of the held balls is displayed by turning on the second holding lamp unit 46. In addition, the function of each of the holding lamp units 45 and 46 may be performed by display in a partial area of the symbol display device 41.

  In the symbol display device 41, the variable display of the symbol is started based on the winning in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34. That is, when the variable display is performed on the main display unit 43, the variable display is performed on the symbol display device 41 in accordance with the variable display.

  The display contents of the symbol display device 41 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a view showing a display screen G of the symbol display device 41.

  The symbol, which is a kind of symbol, is composed of nine types of main symbols, each of which is numbered "1" to "9", and a sub symbol, which is a shell-shaped symbol. More specifically, a main symbol is configured by attaching numbers “1” to “9” to nine types of character symbols such as an octopus.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, on the display screen G of the symbol display device 41, three symbol rows Z1, Z2, Z3 of an upper row, a middle row, and a lower row are set as a plurality of display areas. Each of the symbol rows Z1 to Z3 is configured by arranging a main symbol and a sub symbol in a predetermined order. Specifically, in the upper symbol row Z1, nine types of main symbols “1” to “9” are arranged in descending order of numbers, and one sub symbol is arranged between each main symbol. . In the lower symbol row Z3, nine types of main symbols “1” to “9” are arranged in ascending numerical order, and one sub symbol is arranged between each main symbol.

  That is, the upper symbol row Z1 and the lower symbol row Z3 are composed of 18 symbols. On the other hand, in the middle symbol row Z2, nine types of main symbols “1” to “9” are arranged in ascending numerical order, and the main symbol “9” and the main symbol “1” are arranged. , A main symbol of “4” is additionally arranged, and one sub symbol is arranged between each of the main symbols. That is, only the middle symbol row Z2 is composed of 20 symbols with 10 main symbols arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, on the display screen G, three symbols are stopped and displayed for each symbol row, and as a result, a total of 9 symbols of 3 × 3 are stopped and displayed. It has become. Further, five effective lines, that is, a left line L1, a middle line L2, a right line L3, a right down line L4, and a right up line L5 are set on the display screen G.

  When an effect for playing a game is performed on the display screen G based on winning in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34, the symbols in the symbol rows Z1 to Z3 are scrolled in a predetermined direction with a periodicity. Is started to be displayed. Then, the display is switched from the variable display to the standby display in the order of the upper symbol row Z1 → the lower symbol row Z3 → the middle symbol row Z2, and finally a predetermined symbol is statically displayed in each of the symbol rows Z1 to Z3 for playing a game. Production ends.

  Also, when the effect for the game round ends, if the game round corresponds to the generation of the most advantageous jackpot result described later, a combination of symbols with the same odd number attached to one of the activated lines is formed. In the case of the game times corresponding to the occurrence of a low-probability jackpot result described later, a combination of symbols in which the same even number is attached to any one of the activated lines is formed.

  Note that, based on the winning of one of the operating ports 33, 34, the variable display is started on the main display unit 43 and the symbol display device 41, and a predetermined stop result is displayed until the variable display is stopped. This corresponds to one game time.

  In addition, the mode of the variable display of the symbol in the symbol display device 41 is not limited to the above-mentioned one, and is arbitrary. The number of symbol columns, the direction of the variable display of the symbol in the symbol column, the number of symbols in each symbol column, etc. Can be changed as appropriate. Further, the pattern variably displayed on the symbol display device 41 is not limited to the above-described symbol, and for example, a configuration in which only numbers are variably displayed as the symbol may be employed.

  An inner rail portion 48 and an outer rail portion 49 are attached to the game board 24, and the inner rail portion 48 and the outer rail portion 49 constitute a guide rail, and a game fired from the game ball firing mechanism 51. The ball is guided to the upper part of the game area PE. As shown in FIG. 2, the game ball firing mechanism 51 is attached below the window hole 23 in the resin base 21, and is stored in a firing rail 52 extending toward the guide rail and an upper plate 61a described later. A ball feeding device 53 for supplying game balls to the launch rail 52 and a solenoid 54 which is an electric actuator for launching the game balls supplied to the launch rail 52 toward the guide rail are provided. When the firing handle 55 provided on the front door frame 14 is operated, the driving of the solenoid 54 is controlled, and a game ball is fired.

  A front door frame 14 is provided so as to cover the entire front side of the inner frame 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the front door frame 14 is formed with a window portion 56 so that almost the entire game area PE can be visually recognized from the front. The window 56 has a substantially elliptical shape, and a window panel 57 is fitted therein. The window panel 57 is made of glass and is colorless and transparent, but is not limited to this. The window panel 57 may be made of colorless and transparent by synthetic resin, and the game area PE is formed through the window panel 57 from the front of the pachinko machine 10. It may be formed colored and transparent as long as it is visible.

  Around the window 56, light emitting means such as various lamps are provided. A display lamp section 58a is provided above the window section 56 as a part of the various lamp sections. In addition, a pair of left and right error lamps 58b is provided on both left and right sides of the display lamp 58a and on the upper corner of the front door frame 14. Further, a pair of left and right speaker units 59 for outputting a sound effect or the like according to a game state is provided adjacent to the error lamp unit 58b.

  Below the window 56 in the front door frame 14, an upper bulging portion 61 and a lower bulging portion 62 bulging toward the near side are vertically arranged side by side. An upper plate 61a that opens upward is provided inside the upper bulging portion 61, and a lower plate 62a that also opens upward is provided inside the lower bulging portion 62. The upper plate 61a has a function of temporarily storing game balls paid out from a payout device described later, and guiding the game balls to the game ball firing mechanism 51 side while aligning them in a line. The lower plate 62a has a function of storing surplus game balls in the upper plate 61a.

  Next, the configuration of the back side of the gaming machine main body 12 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the inner frame 13 (specifically, the game board 24), a main control device 71 that controls the main control of the game and a sound and a lamp display and a control of a display control device (not shown) are provided. And a sound emission control device 72 which controls the sound emission control device.

  The substrate box 71a of the main controller 71 may be provided with a trace means for leaving a trace of its opening or a trace structure for leaving a trace of its opening. As the trace means, a plurality of case bodies constituting the substrate box 71a are inseparably connected and a predetermined portion is required to be broken at the time of the separation (caulking portion). A configuration is conceivable in which a sealing sticker that leaves a trace of being peeled off by being left over is attached across a boundary between a plurality of case bodies. Further, as the trace structure, a configuration in which an adhesive is applied to a boundary between a plurality of case bodies constituting the board box 71a is conceivable.

  The back pack unit 15 is installed so as to cover the back side of the inner frame 13 including the main control device 71 and the sound emission control device 72. The back pack unit 15 includes a back pack 73 formed of a transparent synthetic resin, and a payout mechanism 74 and a control device assembling unit 75 are attached to the back pack 73.

  The payout mechanism 74 includes a tank 76 to which game balls supplied from island facilities in a game arcade are sequentially replenished, and a payout device 77 for paying out game balls stored in the tank 76. The game balls paid out from the payout device 77 are discharged to the upper plate 61a or the lower plate 62a through a payout passage provided on the downstream side of the payout device 77. The dispensing mechanism 74 is supplied with a main power of, for example, 24 volts AC, and is mounted with a back pack substrate having a power switch for performing ON and OFF operations of the power.

  The control device assembling unit 75 includes a payout control device 78 having a function of controlling the payout device 77, and a predetermined power required by various control devices is generated and output, and the game accompanying the operation of the firing handle 55 by the player is performed. A power supply and a launch control device 79 for controlling the launch of the ball. The payout control device 78 and the power supply and firing control device 79 are arranged one on top of the other so that the payout control device 78 is located behind the pachinko machine 10.

  The back pack 73 is provided with an external terminal plate 81 in addition to the payout mechanism 74 and the control device assembling unit 75. The external terminal board 81 is provided at the upper corner of the back side of the back pack unit 15 on the rear surface of the pachinko machine 10. The external terminal board 81 is a board for outputting a predetermined signal so that the state of the pachinko machine 10 is recognized by the management computer of the gaming hall.

<Electrical configuration>
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  An MPU 602 is mounted on a main control board 601 provided in the main control device 71. The MPU 602 is a memory for storing various control programs executed by the MPU 602 and fixed value data, and a memory for temporarily storing various data and the like when executing the control programs stored in the ROM 603. This is an element in which a RAM 604, an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, a data input / output circuit, various counter circuits as a random number generator, and the like are built. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which some of the functions of the MPU 602, such as the function of the ROM 603 and the function of the RAM 604, are provided as separate elements.

  The MPU 602 is provided with an input port and an output port. On the input side of the MPU 602, a power failure monitoring board 605 provided in the main control device 71, a payout control device 78, various detection sensors, and the like are connected. In this case, a power supply and a launch control device 79 are connected to the power failure monitoring board 605, and power is supplied to the MPU 602 via the power failure monitoring board 605. In addition, as a part of various detection sensors, a prize detection sensor 31a provided for the general prize port 31, the variable prize device 32, the upper operation port 33, the lower operation port 34, and the through gate 35 in the game area PE, 31b, 31c, 32d, 33a, 34c, 35a, and 35b (hereinafter collectively referred to as winning detection sensors 31a to 35b) are electrically connected via electric wiring, and the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 A prize-winning determination (ball-entry determination) for the ball-entering part is performed. In addition, the MPU 602 executes a jackpot generation lottery based on winning in the upper operating port 33 and the lower operating port 34, and executes a support generation lottery based on a winning in the through gate 35.

  To the output side of the MPU 602, a power failure monitoring board 605, a payout control device 78, and a sound emission control device 72 are connected. For example, a prize ball command is output to the payout control device 78 based on the result of the prize determination to the prize-corresponding ball entry portion. In this case, when the award ball command is output, the command information storage area of the ROM 603 is referred to. Then, when the winning in the general winning opening 31 is specified, a prize ball command corresponding to the payout of 10 game balls is output, and when the winning in the special winning opening 32a is specified, 15 game balls are specified. The prize ball command corresponding to the payout is output, and when the winning in the upper operating port 33 is specified, the prize ball command corresponding to the payout of the three game balls is output. If specified, a prize ball command corresponding to the payout of four game balls is output.

  Various commands such as a variation command, a type command, a variation end command, an opening command, and an ending command are output to the sound emission control device 72. In this case, when outputting these various commands, the command information storage area of the ROM 603 is referred to. Each of the commands is configured as information of a predetermined number of bytes, and includes various types of information as the information of the predetermined number of bytes. In particular, the variation command as a game time command includes, as the various information, information on a game result of each game time and information on a variable display time of each game time.

  The output side of the MPU 602 is connected to an electric accessory drive 34b for driving an electric accessory 34a attached to the lower working port 34, and a variable winning drive 32c for driving the opening / closing door 32b of the variable winning device 32. I have. The main display unit 43 and the accessory display unit 44 are electrically connected to the output side of the MPU 602 via electric wiring. The main control board 601 is provided with various driver circuits. Through the driver circuits, the MPU 602 controls the driving of the various driving units 32c and 34b and executes the display control of the various display units 43 and 44.

  That is, in the open / close execution mode, the drive control of the variable winning drive unit 32c of the variable winning device 32 is executed in the MPU 602 so that the large winning opening 32a is opened and closed. When the lower operating port 34 is opened (winning of support), the MPU 602 controls the driving of the electric accessory driving unit 34b so that the electric accessory 34a is opened and closed. In addition, at the time of each game, display control of the main display unit 43 is executed in the MPU 602. In addition, when the lottery result indicating whether or not the electric accessory 34a is to be opened is specified, the display control of the accessory display unit 44 is executed in the MPU 602.

  Further, an external terminal plate 81 is connected to the output side of the MPU 602. The external terminal board 81 is provided with a jackpot signal output terminal or the like as an output terminal for outputting a signal at the time of state transition. When the gaming result is a jackpot result, the MPU 602 can output a jackpot signal to the management control device on the gaming hall side through the jackpot signal output terminal. Specifically, a LOW level signal is output from the jackpot signal output terminal in a normal state, and an HI level signal is output when a jackpot result is obtained. The output form of this signal may be reversed.

  The power failure monitoring board 605 relays between the main control board 601 and the power supply and the launch control device 79, and monitors a DC stable 24 volt voltage which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply and the launch control device 79. The payout control device 78 controls the payout of the prize ball and the loaned ball by the payout device 77 based on the prize ball command input from the main control device 71.

  The power supply and the launch control device 79 are connected to, for example, a commercial power supply (external power supply) in a game arcade or the like. Then, based on the external power supplied from the commercial power supply, it generates the necessary operating power for the main control board 601 and the payout control device 78, etc., and supplies the generated operating power through a predetermined power path. I do. In addition, the power supply and launch control device 79 is responsible for launch control of the game ball launch mechanism 51, and the game ball launch mechanism 51 is driven when predetermined launch conditions are met.

<About various counters>
Next, an electrical configuration for performing various lotteries in the MPU 602 of the main controller 71 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The MPU 602 uses a variety of counter information during the game to perform a jackpot occurrence lottery, set the display on the main display unit 43, set the symbol display on the symbol display device 41, and set the display on the accessory display unit 44. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the jackpot random number counter C1 used for the lottery of the jackpot occurrence, the jackpot type counter C2 used for determining the jackpot type, the presence / absence of the reach, and its type are sorted. A random number initial value counter CINI used for setting an initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1; a fluctuation type counter CS for determining a fluctuation display time in the main display unit 43 and the symbol display device 41; Is used. Further, an electric accessory opening counter C4 used for a lottery to determine whether or not the electric accessory 34a of the lower working port 34 is to be in the electric opening state is used.

  Each of the counters C1 to C3, CINI, CS, and C4 is a loop counter in which 1 is added to the previous value each time it is updated, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Each counter is updated at short time intervals, and the updated value is appropriately stored in a lottery counter buffer 631 set in a predetermined area of the RAM 604. Among them, in the lottery counter buffer 631, information corresponding to the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 is obtained information storage when a prize is generated in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34. It is stored in the reserved ball storage area 632 as a means.

  The reserved ball storage area 632 includes a reserved area RE and an execution area AE. The holding area RE includes a first holding area RE1, a second holding area RE2, a third holding area RE3, and a fourth holding area RE4, and matches the winning history to the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34. The numerical information of the jackpot random number counter C1, the jackpot type counter C2, and the reach random number counter C3 stored in the lottery counter buffer 631 is stored in any one of the holding areas RE1 to RE4 as holding information.

  In this case, the first holding area RE1 to the fourth holding area RE4 include a first holding area RE1 → a second holding area when a winning in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34 occurs continuously plural times. Each numerical information is stored in time series in the order of RE2 → third reserved area RE3 → fourth reserved area RE4. Since the four holding areas RE1 to RE4 are provided in this way, up to four winning histories of game balls to the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34 are stored on hold. Further, the holding area RE includes a number-of-holds storage area NA. The number-of-holds storage area NA specifies the number of the winning histories to be stored in the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34. Is stored.

  It should be noted that the number of items that can be held and stored is not limited to four, but may be any number, such as two, three, five or more, or a single number.

  The execution area AE is an area for moving each value stored in the first holding area RE1 of the holding area RE when starting the variable display of the main display unit 43. Based on various types of numerical information stored in the execution area AE, a determination as to whether or not a hit is made is made.

  More specifically, each of the counters is configured such that the jackpot random number counter C1 is incremented by one in the range of, for example, 0 to 599, and returns to 0 after reaching the maximum value. In particular, when the jackpot random number counter C1 makes one round, the value of the random number initial value counter CINI at that time is read as the initial value of the jackpot random number counter C1. The random number initial value counter CINI is a loop counter similar to the jackpot random number counter C1 (value = 0 to 599). The jackpot random number counter C1 is updated periodically, and is stored in the reserved ball storage area 632 of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball has won the upper operating port 33 or the lower operating port 34.

  The value of the random number for winning the jackpot is stored as a hit / fail table (hit / hit information group) in a hit / hit table storage area 621 as a hit / hit information group storage means in the ROM 603. Here, the contents of the success / failure table will be described. As the success / failure table, a success / failure table for a low probability mode (a success / failure information group for low probability) and a success / failure table for a high probability mode (a success / failure information group for high probability) are set. That is, in the pachinko machine 10, a low-probability mode (low-probability state) and a high-probability mode (high-probability state) are set as lottery modes in the winning / rejecting lottery means.

  Under the gaming state in which the winning / rejecting table for the low probability mode is referred to at the time of the above-mentioned lottery, the value of the random number (ie, winning information) for winning the jackpot is two. On the other hand, in the gaming state in which the winning / failing table for the high probability mode is referred to at the time of the above-mentioned lottery, there are 21 random number values for the jackpot winning. In this case, the value group of the jackpot random number counter C1 that wins the jackpot in the situation of the low probability mode is included in the value group of the jackpot random number counter C1 that wins the jackpot in the situation of the high probability mode.

  If the winning probability is higher in the high-probability mode than in the low-probability mode, the number and value of the random numbers to be won are arbitrary. The value group of the counter C1 may be a configuration in which only a part is included in the value group of the jackpot random number counter C1 that wins the jackpot in the situation of the high probability mode, or may not be included.

  In each lottery mode, the result of the lottery is a result other than the value of the random number that is a big hit.

  Next, the jackpot type counter C2 will be described. The jackpot type counter C2 is configured to be incremented by one in order within the range of 0 to 29, and to return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The jackpot type counter C2 is updated periodically, and is stored in the reserved ball storage area 632 of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball has won the upper working port 33 or the lower working port 34.

  Here, in the pachinko machine 10, (1) a success / failure lottery mode of the success / failure lottery means after the end of the opening / closing execution mode, and (2) a support mode of the lower operating port 34 on the electric accessory 34a after the completion of the opening / closing execution mode. By providing a difference between the two conditions, a plurality of types of jackpot results are set. The low probability mode and the high probability mode are set as the success / failure lottery mode as described above.

  As the support mode, the frequency at which the electric accessory 34a of the lower working port 34 is in the receiving state per unit time when compared in a state where the launch of the game ball is continued in the same manner with respect to the game area PE. The low frequency support mode (the low frequency support state or the low frequency guide state) and the high frequency support mode (the high frequency support state or the high frequency guide state) are set such that is relatively high and low.

  Specifically, in the low-frequency support mode and the high-frequency support mode, the probability of winning in the electric winning state in the electric auditors goods lottery using the electric auditors goods open counter C4 is the same (for example, both are 4/5). However, in the high frequency support mode, the number of times that the electric auditors product 34a enters the receiving state when the election winning state is won is set more than in the low frequency support mode, and one more reception is performed. The time is set long. In this case, in the high frequency support mode, in the case where the winning combination of the electric role is obtained and the receiving state of the electric accessory 34a occurs a plurality of times, the waiting from the end of one receiving state to the start of the next receiving state. The time is set shorter than one receiving time. Furthermore, in the high-frequency support mode, the minimum securing time set after the one draw for the electric accessory is performed and then the next lottery for the electric accessory is set, as compared with the low-frequency support mode. Have been.

  As described above, in the high-frequency support mode, the probability that a prize will occur in the lower operation port 34 is higher than in the low-frequency support mode. In other words, in the low frequency support mode, the probability of winning of the upper working port 33 is higher than that of the lower working port 34, but in the high frequency support mode, the winning of the lower working port 34 is higher than that of the upper working port 33. Is more likely to occur. When a prize is generated in the lower operating port 34, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out. Therefore, in the high frequency support mode, the player plays a game while not reducing the number of balls so much. be able to.

  Note that the configuration for increasing the frequency of receiving the electric utility per unit time in the high-frequency support mode more than the low-frequency support mode is not limited to the above-described configuration. It is good also as a structure which makes the probability of winning the electrification state in a high. Further, the number of times of switching to the receiving state is increased, the receiving time is lengthened, and it is ensured that at least one lottery for the electric accessory is performed after one lottery for the electric accessory is performed, and the minimum is secured after the lottery for the next electric accessory is performed. By shortening the time (that is, shortening the one-time fluctuation display time in the result display section for the accessory) and increasing the winning probability, one of the conditions or an arbitrary combination of conditions is applied to reduce the time. The advantage of the frequent support mode over the frequent support mode may be enhanced.

  The distribution destination of the game result to the jackpot type counter C2 is stored as a distribution table (distribution information group) in a distribution table storage area in the ROM 603 as distribution information group storage means. Then, as the distribution destination, a normal jackpot result (low-probability-compatible special game result) and a probable-change jackpot result (high-probability-specific special game result) are set.

  The normal jackpot result is that after the opening / closing execution mode ends, the winning / rejecting lottery mode becomes the low probability mode, and after the support mode shifts, the high frequency support is performed until the number of games reaches the end reference number (specifically, 100 times). It is a jackpot result that becomes a mode. After the end reference number has elapsed, the mode is shifted to the low frequency support mode.

  The probability change jackpot result is a jackpot result in which after the end of the opening / closing execution mode, the win / fail lottery mode becomes the high probability mode and the support mode becomes the high frequency support mode. The high-frequency support mode is continued until the lottery result in the winning / failing lottery becomes a jackpot state win and the mode shifts to the opening / closing execution mode.

  In the distribution table, “0 to 9” generally corresponds to the jackpot result, and “10 to 29” corresponds to the probable variable jackpot result, but the distribution of this numerical value is arbitrary. The distribution destination of the jackpot result is not limited to the above two types. For example, in the open / close execution mode, a plurality of modes are set so that the expected value of the game ball becomes high or low, and the open / close execution is performed. The type of the jackpot result may be increased from the above two types by providing a difference in the mode to which the mode is shifted.

  The reach random number counter C3 is configured to be incremented by one in order within a range of 0 to 238, for example, and to return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. Here, in the pachinko machine 10, an expected effect is set as a type of display effect on the symbol display device 41. The expected effect is that in the gaming machine in which the variable prize device 32 is in the opening / closing execution mode, the display of the symbol (picture) on the symbol display device 41 is started in the symbol display device 41 in the gaming machine in which the stop result after the variable display is the provisional result. In the stage before the stop result is derived and displayed from, the display state is to make the player think that the change display state is likely to be the above-mentioned provision result.

  Two types of expected effects are set: a reach display and a notice display for expecting the occurrence of the reach display and the generation of the assignment correspondence result at a stage prior to the occurrence of the reach display.

  In the reach display, a combination of reach symbols is displayed by stopping and displaying symbols in some of the symbol columns among the plurality of symbol columns displayed on the display screen G of the symbol display device 41, and displaying the remaining combinations in that state. A display state in which a symbol is fluctuated in the symbol row is included. In addition, in the state where the combination of the reach symbols is displayed as described above, while performing the variation display of the symbols in the remaining symbol columns, and performing a reach effect by displaying a predetermined character or the like as a moving image on the background screen, , A combination of reach symbols is reduced or displayed, and a reach effect is displayed by displaying a predetermined character or the like as a moving image on substantially the entire display screen G.

  In the notice display, a state in which symbols are variably displayed in all the symbol columns after the symbol variable display is started on the display screen G of the symbol display device 41, or a plurality of symbols in some symbol columns. In a situation in which symbols are variably displayed in the symbol row, a mode in which a character is displayed separately from the symbols on the symbol row is included. Further, the background screen may have a predetermined mode different from the previous mode, and the symbol on the symbol row may have a predetermined mode different from the previous mode. Such a notice display may occur in any of the game times when the reach display is performed and when the reach display is not performed, but the display when the reach display is performed is higher than that when the reach display is not performed. It is set to occur with probability.

  The reach display is executed regardless of the value of the reach random number counter C3 in the game that shifts to the open / close execution mode. Also, in the game time that does not shift to the opening / closing execution mode, the reach random number counter C3 acquired at a predetermined timing with reference to the reach table stored in the reach table storage area of the ROM 603 responds to the occurrence of the reach display. Will be executed if On the other hand, the determination as to whether or not to display the advance notice is made not by the main control device 71 but by the sound emission control device 72 or the display control device 170.

  The fluctuation type counter CS is configured to be incremented by one in order within a range of, for example, 0 to 198, and to return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The variation type counter CS is used in the MPU 602 to determine the variation display time on the main display unit 43 and the symbol variation display time on the symbol display device 41. The fluctuation type counter CS is updated once each time a normal process described later is executed once, and is repeatedly updated even within the remaining time in the normal process. The buffer value of the variation type counter CS is acquired when the variation display is started on the main display section 43 and when the symbol display device 41 starts to change the symbol.

  The electric accessory opening counter C4 is configured to be incremented by one in the order of 0 to 249, for example, and to return to 0 after reaching the maximum value. The electric accessory opening counter C4 is updated periodically, and is stored in the electric utility holding area 633 of the RAM 604 at the timing when the game ball wins the through gate 35. Then, at a predetermined timing, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not to control the electric accessory 34a of the lower working port 34 to the receiving state based on the stored value of the electric accessory opening counter C4. For example, if C3 = 0 to 199, the electric accessory 34a is controlled to the receiving state, and if C3 = 200 to 249, the electric accessory 34a is not controlled to the receiving state.

  As described above, the MPU 602 determines the variable display time in the main display unit 43 using at least the buffer value of the variable type counter CS. In the determination, the variable display time table storage area 623 of the ROM 603 is used. Can be Further, in the MPU 602, the stop result in the main display unit 43 is determined by using the value of the jackpot random number counter C1 and the value of the jackpot type counter C2 stored in the execution area AE. The result table storage area 624 is used.

<Electrical Configuration of the Audio Light Emission Control Device 72 and the Display Control Device 170>
Referring again to the block diagram of FIG. 12, the electrical configuration of the sound emission control device 72 and the display control device 170 will be described.

  The sound emission control device 72 controls the various lamp units 58 a and 58 b and the speaker unit 59 provided on the front door frame 14 based on various commands input from the main control device 71.

  The sound emission control device 72 includes a sound emission control board 651 on which an MPU 652 is mounted. The MPU 652 includes a ROM 653 storing various control programs and fixed value data, and various types of control programs stored in the ROM 653 when executing the control programs. A RAM 654, which is a memory for temporarily storing data, is incorporated.

  The MPU 652 has an input port and an output port. A main controller 71 is connected to the input side of the MPU 652, and receives various commands from the main controller 71. On the output side of the MPU 652, various lamp units 58a and 58b and a speaker unit 59 provided on the front door frame 14 are connected, and a display control device 170 is connected.

  The display control device 170 includes a display control board 701 on which an MPU 702 is mounted. The MPU 702 includes a program ROM 703 storing various control programs and fixed value data, and executes a control program stored in the program ROM 703. A work RAM 704 as a memory for temporarily storing various data and the like, a video display processor (VDP) 705, a character ROM 706 storing image data, and a video RAM 707 temporarily storing image data read from the character ROM 706. And so on.

  The MPU 702 of the display control device 170 executes the display control of the symbol display device 41 based on the command input from the sound emission control device 72. In this case, based on various commands input from the main control device 71, the display control device 170 determines the symbol variable display time on the symbol display device 41 and the type of symbol combination to be finally stopped and displayed, Determines whether or not reach has occurred and the content of the reach effect.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  The vertical ball passage 230, which is a part of the warp passage 200, is in a passage forming state in which the game ball can pass by the door member 260 being arranged in the passage forming position, and the door member 260 is arranged in the retreat position. The width of the passage is reduced and the passage is not formed. When the vertical ball passage 230 is in the non-passage formed state, the vertical ball passage 230 does not overlap the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 in the front-back direction. Thereby, when at least the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the entire display screen G can be visually recognized, and the warp passage 200 is provided within the limited game area PE, and the display screen G is visually recognized. A wide possible area can be secured.

  The vertical ball passage 230 cannot be viewed from the front when the passage is not formed, but becomes visible from the front when the passage is formed. Therefore, it is difficult to identify where the game ball that has entered the warp passage 200 will be guided thereafter, and it is possible to increase the unexpectedness when the vertical ball passage 230 enters the passage formation state.

  Further, the turning mechanism of the door member 260 constituting the vertical ball passage 230 cannot be visually recognized from the side by the upper and lower passage decoration members 106 and 107. Accordingly, it is difficult to specify in advance that the door member 260 will rotate and the vertical ball passage 230 will be in the passage formation state, and it is possible to further enhance the unexpectedness of the whereabouts of the game ball.

  The passage wall portion 251 constituting the outer side wall of the vertical ball passage 230 is disposed on the back surface of the lower frame 112 such that the lateral distance from the inner peripheral edge of the lower frame 112 is shorter than the diameter of the game ball. I have. Therefore, when passing through the vertical ball passage 230, the game ball protrudes from the inner peripheral edge of the lower frame 112 to the inside of the center frame 42, and the game ball can be visually recognized to the extent that the game ball protrudes. Thereby, it can be suppressed that the game ball entering the warp passage 200 is illusioned that the game ball has been ejected from the game area PE.

  The vertical ball passage 230 is displaced from the non-passage-formed state to the passage-formed state when the door member 260 moves from the retracted position to the passage-formed position. The state displacement is configured to be performed using the operation of the game ball. Thus, the state displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 can be realized with a simple configuration without requiring electric drive control.

  In the warp passage 200 that guides the game ball flowing down the game area PE to the stage 111a disposed behind the game area PE, the vertical ball path 230 is a lateral path using the backward movement of the game ball. The width is enlarged. That is, instead of the game ball moving in the lateral direction in order to increase the lateral passage width, the lateral passage width is increased when the game ball moves backward. Thus, the width of the warp passage 200 can be reduced, and the area occupied by the warp passage 200 can be reduced.

  This embodiment can be modified as follows.

  Hereinafter, a first modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a perspective view schematically showing a left portion of the center frame 42 in the present modification. In FIG. 14, the front wall portion of the lateral decoration member 102 is cut away.

  In this modification, the entrance of the warp passage 200 is different. As shown in FIG. 14, an upper opening 108 through which one game ball can pass through in the vertical direction is formed in an upper portion of the outer peripheral wall of the horizontal decoration member 102. Corresponds to the entrance of the warp passage 200. The game ball entered from the upper opening 108 passes through the internal space of the lateral decoration member 102 and reaches the floor 212 of the side ball passage 210. The destination of the subsequent game balls is as described above.

  Next, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4 in the present modification. FIGS. 15 (b1) and 15 (b2) are cross-sectional views taken along the line CC in FIG. 15 (a) for explaining how the door member 260 rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, in this modification, the upper and lower passage decorative members 106 and 107 are not provided, but a door decorative member 266 is provided instead. In the drawing, the door decorative member 266 is indicated by a dot hatch. The door decorative member 266 is connected to the door member 260 from the side where the passage surface is not formed in the vertical ball passage 230, and operates integrally with the door member 260.

  Further, the door decorative member 266 is formed to extend over the entire height direction of the rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230. Further, the door decorative member 266 is formed so as to extend until the front end abuts on the rear surface of the lower frame 112 in a situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the retracted position, and has the rear end formed with the door member 260 and the turn. It is formed so as to extend until it is arranged behind the dynamic shaft 265. As a result, when the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the entire rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230 are covered by the door decorative member 266 from the inside of the center frame 42. Therefore, in this case, when the rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230 are viewed from the side, only the door decorative member 266 can be visually recognized, and the rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230 cannot be visually recognized.

  The surface inside the center frame 42 of the door decorative member 266 is subjected to printing or molding processing as decoration.

  Therefore, for example, even if the player sees the side of the center frame 42 obliquely in a situation where the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the player cannot see the rear guiding portion 220 and the vertical ball passage 230, and warp It is difficult to specify the passage configuration of the passage 200. Thereby, it is difficult to identify where the game ball that has entered the warp passage 200 will be guided thereafter, and it is possible to increase the unexpectedness when the vertical ball passage 230 enters the passage formation state. In this case, since the decorative member 266 for the door, which is visible, is decorated, the center frame 42 can be made flashy as a whole, and the desire to play can be improved. Becomes

  Incidentally, in the situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the retracted position, the inner end of the center frame 42 of the door decorative member 266 is more in the center frame 42 than the inner peripheral edge of the lower frame 112. It is formed so as not to protrude inward. Therefore, in a situation where the door member 260 is located at the retracted position, the door decorative member 266 cannot be visually recognized from the front.

  The operation of the door member 260 and the door decoration member 266 will be described.

  In a situation where the door member 260 is located at the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 15 (b1), the door decorative member 266 is also invisible from the front and does not overlap with the symbol display device 41 in the front-rear direction. In a situation where the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position, as shown in FIG. 15B2, the door member 260 and the door decoration member 266 can be visually recognized from the front, and can be viewed from the front and back with the symbol display device 41. Overlap.

  In this modification, the upper wall portion 252 is not provided with the spring receiving portion 252b, and the torsion spring 252c is connected to the upper shaft portion 252a. Thus, even if the door decoration member 266 is formed to extend rearward from the door member 260 as described above, the door decoration member 266 does not become a barrier to the integral operation with the door member 260.

  With the above configuration, the vertical ball passage 230 can be used as a movable decorative member. In particular, as described above, it is necessary for the gaming machine to increase the attention of the player by making the decoration flashy, and the operation becomes fancy because the decoration member is movable as in the present modification. It's easy to increase attention.

  Next, a third modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining the warp passage 200 in the present modification.

  In the present modification, the door member 260 exists only above the vertical ball passage 230 (indicated by a dot hatch in the figure). Specifically, the length of the game ball guided from the rear guiding portion 220 to the vertical ball passage 230 can be changed from the inward movement to the substantially downward movement (in this modified example, the length of the (Slightly longer than the diameter dimension). That is, the vertical ball passage 230 in the present modification is configured by the direction changing portion 231 provided with the door member 260 and the falling portion 232 in which the game ball is changed direction by the door member 260 and falls freely downward. It can be said that there is.

  In the drop unit 232, since the door member 260 is not provided, according to this modification, it is possible to reduce the area where the door member 260 and the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 overlap in the front-rear direction, The visibility of the display screen G can be improved. In addition, since the period during which the game ball passes through the direction changing unit 231 is also shortened, the period in which the door member 260 is disposed at the passage forming position and overlaps the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 is also shortened. Also from this point, the visibility of the display screen G is improved.

  Further, in the present modification, a lower guiding portion 267 is provided below the vertical ball passage 230 to receive a free-falling game ball and change its direction to the outside. Downstream of the lower guiding unit 267, a stage deriving unit 268 that redirects the game ball inward again and guides the game ball to the stage 111a is provided.

  The floor of the lower guiding portion 267 is formed of a floor member 267a (represented by a dot hatch in the figure) on which low resilience processing has been performed, and a game ball that falls when a game ball is received by the floor member 267a. Bouncing into the center frame 42 is suppressed.

  Next, a fourth modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 17A and 17B are front views schematically showing the left portion of the center frame 42 in this modification. In FIG. 17, the front wall of the lateral decorative member 102 is partially cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, in the present modification, an upper opening 108 is provided as an entrance of the warp passage 200 as in the first modification, and the upper opening 108 is directed downward from the upper opening 108. An extending upper spherical passage 270 is formed. Further, an inclined ball passage 271 is provided so as to communicate with the most downstream portion of the upper ball passage 270. The inclined ball passage 271 leads the game ball that has passed through the upper ball passage 270 to the side ball passage 210. The most downstream portion of the upper spherical passage 270 is located inside the center frame 42 relative to the side spherical passage 210, and the inclined spherical passage 271 is a passage that is inclined outwardly of the center frame 42 as it goes downward. I have.

  The configuration for generating the passage space of the inclined spherical passage 271 is substantially the same as that of the vertical spherical passage 230. That is, the outer side wall of the inclined ball passage 271 is formed by the second passage wall portion 272 formed to extend from the lower end of the outer side wall in the upper ball passage 270 to the floor portion 212 of the side ball passage 210. . The second door member 273 is provided so as to be located inside the center frame 42 with respect to the second passage wall portion 272. In a state where the second door member 273 is disposed at a position where the inclined ball passage 271 is formed, the second inner wall portion that opposes the rear surface of the lateral decorative member 102 from behind to form an inner wall in the inclined ball passage 271. (Not shown) and a second side wall portion (not shown) that is opposed to the second passage wall portion 272 from the side and forms an inner side wall in the inclined spherical passage 271 is integrally formed, and has a bent shape as a whole. It has been.

  The second door member 273 is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the second passage wall portion 272 by a shaft (not shown), and allows the passage of game balls similarly to the door member 260. It can be displaced between a passage forming position and a retreat position where the passage width is reduced to such an extent that a game ball cannot pass. Then, the second door member 273 is urged toward the retreat position by urging means (not shown). In this case, the second door member 273 overlaps the lateral decoration member 102 in the front-rear direction, and cannot be visually recognized from the front.

  The second door member 273 is formed so as to extend above the second passage wall portion 272, and the extended portion can receive a game ball that has fallen down the upper ball passage 270. . Then, the second door member 273 rotates by receiving the game ball, and is displaced to the passage forming position as shown in FIG. In this case, the second door member 273 protrudes inside the center frame 42 from the inner peripheral edge of the lateral decoration member 102 and overlaps the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 in the front-rear direction.

  Incidentally, the inner peripheral wall of the lateral decoration member 102 is opened corresponding to the rotation of the second door member 273 so as not to be a barrier for the rotation of the second door member 273.

  When the game ball enters from the upper opening 108, it passes through the upper ball passage 270 and collides with the second door member 273, displacing the second door member 273 to the passage forming position, and the inclined ball passage 271 is in the passage forming state. Becomes When the inclined ball passage 271 enters the passage forming state, the game ball passes through the inclined ball passage 271 and falls into the side ball passage 210. The game ball that has fallen into the side ball passage 210 is guided to the rear guiding unit 220.

  According to the present modified example, a movable passage can be provided according to the shape of the frame of the center frame 42 by connecting the two passages 230 and 271 at a predetermined angle to communicate with each other. Even when the game ball passes through such a warp passage 200, any one of the passages 230 and 271 is in a non-passage state, and the area overlapping with the display screen G can be reduced.

  It should be noted that by connecting a plurality of movable guiding passages more than in the present modification, a warp passage closer to a curve can be formed.

<Second embodiment>
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the guide passage is different from that of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the state displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 is performed without electric drive. However, in the present embodiment, the state displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 is performed by electric drive. Hereinafter, the configuration of the guide passage in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a front view of the center frame 42 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a door driving unit 260a is connected to each of the door members 260 of the left and right vertical ball passages 230 (connection portions are not shown). Then, the door driving unit 260a displaces the door member 260 between the passage forming position and the retreat position. The door drive unit 260a is electrically connected to the main control device 71, and the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 controls the drive of the pair of door drive units 260a. That is, by setting the door driving unit 260a to the driving state, the door member 260 is displaced from the retracted position to the passage forming position, and the vertical ball passage 230 enters the passage forming state. Then, when the driving state of the door driving unit 260a is released, the door member 260 is displaced from the passage forming position to the retracted position, and the vertical ball passage 230 is in a passage non-forming state. In the following description of the displacement of the door member 260, when the door member 260 is disposed at the retreat position, it is also referred to as a closed state, and when disposed at the passage forming position, it is also referred to as an open state.

  Further, in the warp passage 200 in the present embodiment, the sliding doors 104a are provided in the left and right lateral openings 104 as the entrances, respectively. The sliding door 104a can be displaced between an open state accommodated in the internal space of the lateral decorative member 102 and a closed state in which the sliding door is slid from the open state to close the lateral opening 104. I have. The left and right sliding doors 104a are connected to sliding door driving units 104b, respectively (connection points are not shown). The slide door drive unit 104b is electrically connected to the main control device 71, and the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 controls the drive of the pair of slide door drive units 104b. That is, the slide door 104a is opened by setting the slide door driving unit 104b to the driving state, and the slide door 104a is closed by releasing the driving state of the slide door driving unit 104b.

<Door control processing>
Next, the door control process executed by the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The door control process is executed by the MPU 602 at predetermined intervals (4 msec).

  First, in step S101, it is determined whether the numerical information of the door counter TC provided in the various counter areas 634 of the RAM 604 is "0". The door counter TC is a counter used for opening and closing the slide door 104a and the door member 260, and has a configuration that can be updated one by one from 0 to 1200. The door counter TC is set to “0” when the power is turned on.

  When the numerical information of the door counter TC is “0”, a process of opening the slide door 104a and the door member 260 is performed in a succeeding step S102. Specifically, output of drive signals to the slide door drive unit 104b of the slide door 104a and the door drive unit 260a of the door member 260 is started, and the drive units 104b and 260a are driven, so that the slide door 104a is driven. And the door member 260 will be in an open state.

  If a negative determination is made in step S101, or after the process in step S102 is performed, in step S103, a process of adding and updating the numerical information of the door counter TC by one is executed.

  In a succeeding step S104, it is determined whether or not the numerical information of the door counter TC is "400". If the numerical information of the door counter TC is “400”, a process of closing the slide door 104a is executed in step S105. Specifically, the output of the driving signal of the sliding door 104a to the sliding door driving unit 104b is stopped, and the sliding door driving unit 104b is set to the non-driving state, whereby the sliding door 104a is closed.

  If a negative determination is made in step S104, or after the processing in step S105 is performed, it is determined in step S106 whether the numerical information of the door counter TC is "700". When the numerical information of the door counter TC is “700”, a process of closing the door member 260 is executed in step S107. Specifically, the output of the drive signal to the door drive unit 260a of the door member 260 is stopped, and the door drive unit 260a is set to the non-drive state, whereby the door member 260 is closed.

  If a negative determination is made in step S106, or after the processing in step S107 is performed, it is determined in step S108 whether the numerical information of the door counter TC is "1200". If the numerical information of the door counter TC is “1200”, a process of clearing the door counter TC to “0” is executed in step S109. As a result, a process for opening the slide door 104a and the door member 260 is performed in step S102 in the next processing cycle. If a negative determination is made in step S108, or after the process of step S109 is performed, the door control process ends.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sliding door 104a that opens and closes the lateral opening 104 of the entrance in the warp passage 200, and the door member 260 that displaces the vertical ball passage 230 between the passage forming state and the passage non-forming state are as follows. In each case, the driving is controlled periodically. The cycle is set so that the sliding door 104a repeats the open state of 1.6 sec and the closed state of 3.2 sec, and the door member 260 repeats the open state of 2.8 sec and the closed state of 2 sec. The period in which the door member 260 is in the open state is longer than the period in which the slide door 104a is in the open state, and the door member 260 is in the closed state 1.2 seconds after the slide door 104a is in the closed state.

  Here, how the sliding door 104a and the door member 260 are switched between the open state and the closed state will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 19 (b-1) shows how the sliding door 104a is opened and closed, and FIG. 19 (b-2) shows how the door member 260 is opened and closed.

  When the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes “0” at the timing of t1, the slide door 104a and the door member 260 are switched to the open state. As a result, the game ball can enter the warp passage 200, and the vertical ball passage 230 of the warp passage 200 is also in a passage forming state, and can pass through the vertical ball passage 230. When the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes “400” at the timing of t2, the sliding door 104a is switched to the closed state. As a result, the game ball cannot enter the warp passage 200. On the other hand, the door member 260 is still open. Therefore, when the game ball is staying in the vertical ball passage 230, the door member 260 is suppressed from being caught in the vertical ball passage 230 due to the closed state.

  When the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes "700" at the timing of t3, the door member 260 is switched to the closed state, and the vertical sphere passage 230 enters the non-passage formed state. The period from the timing of t2 to the timing of t3 is a sufficient period until the game ball entered from the horizontal opening 104 passes through the vertical ball passage 230, and as described above, 1.2 seconds is the length of the period. Equivalent to

  When the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes "1200" at the timing of t4, the door counter TC is cleared to "0" and both the sliding door 104a and the door member 260 are switched to the open state. When the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes "400" at the timing of t5, the slide door 104a is switched to the closed state, and when the numerical information of the door counter TC becomes "700" at the timing of t6, the door member 260 is in the closed state. Is switched to.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

  The configuration in which the vertical ball passage 230 is shifted between the passage forming state and the passage non-forming state by electric driving is designed in comparison with the configuration in which the transition is performed in consideration of the operation of the game ball as in the first embodiment. The degree of freedom is improved.

  For example, the vertical ball passage 230 in the first embodiment rotates the door member 260 using its own weight when the game ball moves backward, and the inclined ball passage 271 in the fourth modification of the first embodiment. Has a configuration in which the second door member 273 is rotated using its own weight when the game ball falls. Therefore, it is necessary to select a location where the game ball performs such an operation as a location where the movable passages 230 and 271 are installed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the door member 260 can be displaced in the vertical ball passage 230 irrespective of the motion of the game ball, the degree of freedom of the installation location is improved.

  Here, while the transition of the vertical ball passage 230 is a transition having a certain regularity, the fairness of the game is ensured, but when the game ball passes through the vertical ball passage 230, the passage is not formed. There is a concern that the game ball may be clogged in the vertical ball passage 230. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inconvenience can be solved by providing a sliding door 104a at the entrance of the warp passage 200 to restrict the entry of game balls into the warp passage 200.

  This embodiment can be modified as follows. Hereinafter, this modified example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a door control process according to the present modification.

  In the present modification, the slide door drive unit 104b of the slide door 104a and the door drive unit 260a of the door member 260 are both electrically connected to the audio light emission control device 72, which is a sub-side control device. The drive control of each of the drive units 104b and 260a is performed by the MPU 652 of the device 72. Therefore, MPU 602 of main controller 71 does not perform the door control process.

  Here, in the sound emission control device 72, a command storing process for starting each command such as a variation command, a type command, a variation end command, an opening command, and an ending command received from the main control device 71 when the command is received. In the command storage area of the RAM 654. The command storage area of the RAM 654 is configured as a ring buffer that can store a plurality of commands individually and can read from the previously stored command. Even if a plurality of commands are received at the same time, Processing corresponding to each command can be favorably executed. In addition, the sound emission control device 72 periodically checks which command is being received (for example, a period of 4 msec), and by this checking processing, effects corresponding to the game results of each game time. And an effect corresponding to the opening / closing execution mode is performed by the various lamp units 58a and 58b and the speaker unit 59, and a corresponding command is transmitted to the display control device 170 to display the corresponding effect on the symbol display device 41. It is possible to do. The door control process is performed every time the command confirmation process is executed. That is, the door control process is also performed periodically (4 msec).

  In the door control process according to the present modification, first, in step S201, it is determined whether the reach display is being performed. In this processing, it is possible to determine whether or not reach display is being performed on the symbol display device 41 by checking whether or not “1” is set in the reach start flag storage area of the RAM 654. In the reach start flag storage area, “1” is set to the start timing of the reach display when the reach display is performed in the current game time based on the information included in the fluctuation command, and the game time Is cleared to "0" at the end of. Specifically, the start timing of the reach display is the timing at which the reach line is formed by the upper symbol row Z1 and the lower symbol row Z3.

  If the reach display is not being executed, the process of periodically opening and closing the slide door 104a and the door member 260 is executed in the processes of steps S202 to S210, similarly to the processes of steps S101 to S109. However, in step S202, step S204, step S205, step S207, step S209, and step S210, each process is executed using the door counter TC provided in the RAM 654 of the sound emission control device 72.

  If the reach display is being executed in step S201, the process proceeds to step S211. In step S211, it is determined whether or not the slide door 104a is open. If the door is in the open state, the driving state of the slide door driving unit 104b of the slide door 104a is stopped in step S212, regardless of the numerical information of the door counter TC, and the slide door 104a is closed.

  If a negative determination is made in step S211, or after the processing of step S212 is performed, the process proceeds to step S213. In step S213, it is determined whether or not the door member 260 is open. When the door member 260 is in the closed state, that is, when the vertical ball passage 230 is in the non-passage formed state, the present door control processing is ended as it is.

  When the door member 260 is in the open state and the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state, a process of adding and updating the numerical information of the reach door counter RC provided in the RAM 654 by 1 in step S214 is executed. I do. The reach door counter RC is a counter used for controlling the door drive unit 260a during reach display, and is configured to be able to be updated one by one from 0 to 300. The reach door counter RC is set to “0” when the power is turned on.

  In the following step S215, it is determined whether or not the numerical information of the reach door counter RC is “300” based on the processing result of step S214. If a negative determination is made in step S215, the main door control process ends. If the numerical information of the reach door counter RC is “300”, the driving state of the door driving unit 260a of the door member 260 is stopped in step S216 regardless of the numerical information of the door counter TC, and the door member 260 Is closed.

  In a succeeding step S217, a process of clearing the numerical information of the reach door counter RC and the door counter TC to “0” is executed, and the door control process ends.

  Therefore, in the present modified example, the slide door 104a and the door member 260 are in the closed state while the reach display is being performed by the symbol display device 41. In the reach display, since the degree of expectation of the jackpot result is increased thereafter, the degree of attention of the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 is higher than at other timings in the game. In this case, by setting the vertical ball passage 230 to the passage non-formed state, the entire display screen G can be visually recognized, and the player is able to visually recognize the reach display without the door member 260 obstructing the reach display. It becomes possible to be more immersed in the game. Further, in the reach display, it is general that a flashy effect is performed compared to the effect at other timings in the game time, and it is necessary to be concerned that this effect is hidden by the door member 260 in this configuration. This makes it possible to perform a more fancy effect using the entire display screen G.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the slide door 104a and the door member 260 are set to be in the open state during the execution of the reach display. For example, when the predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the reach display, the open state is set. The present invention may be configured to limit the occurrence of the reach display, or to limit the case where the reach display shifts to a predetermined advanced effect.

  The period during which the displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 is limited is not limited to the reach display. For example, the configuration may be such that the displacement of the vertical sphere passage 230 is limited when the notice display is performed, the displacement of the vertical sphere passage 230 is limited during the open / close execution mode, and the vertical sphere passage 230 is set during the high frequency support mode. The displacement of 230 may be limited. Further, in these cases, the configuration may be such that the displacement of the vertical sphere passage 230 is restricted with a predetermined probability.

<Third embodiment>
In the present embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the state transition of the vertical sphere passage 230 is electrically controlled. Hereinafter, the configuration of the vertical ball passage 230 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a front view of the center frame 42 for explaining the warp passage 200 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 21, in the present embodiment, similarly to the modification of the second embodiment, the door driving unit 260 a of the door member 260 is electrically connected to the sound emission control device 72 as the sub-side control device. And the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72 controls the drive of the door drive unit 260a. On the other hand, unlike the second embodiment, the sliding door 104a and the sliding door driving unit 104b that open and close the entrance to the warp passage 200 are not provided. Instead, an entrance detection sensor 104c for detecting a game ball passing through the side ball passage 210 is provided in the horizontal decorative member 102, and an exit detection sensor 260b for detecting a game ball passing through the vertical ball passage 230 is provided. , Provided below the door member 260.

  Next, a door control process executed by the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S301, it is determined whether or not the passage of a game ball has been detected by the entrance detection sensor 104c. If it is detected, in a succeeding step S302, a process of adding "1" to a passage counter K provided in the RAM 654 is executed. The passage counter K is a counter for monitoring the presence or absence of a game ball in the vertical ball passage 230, and is “0” when the power is turned on. In a succeeding step S303, a process of opening the door member 260 is executed. Specifically, the output of the drive signal to the door drive unit 260a of the door member 260 is started, and the door drive unit 260a is driven, whereby the door member 260 is opened.

  If a negative determination is made in step S301, or after the processing of step S303 is performed, the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, it is determined whether the exit detection sensor 260b has detected the passage of the game ball. If it is detected, a process of subtracting “1” from the passage counter K is performed in the subsequent step S305.

  If a negative determination is made in step S304, or after the processing in step S305 is performed, it is determined in step S306 whether or not the passage counter K is “0”. If the passage counter K is “0”, a process of closing the door member 260 is performed in the following step S307. Specifically, the output of the drive signal to the door drive unit 260a of the door member 260 is stopped, and the door drive unit 260a is set to the non-drive state, whereby the door member 260 is closed.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, only when the game ball enters the warp passage 200, the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state, and the period in which the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage non-forming state can be lengthened. . Thereby, the period in which the symbol display device 41 can be visually recognized as a whole can be lengthened.

  This embodiment can be modified as follows. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a door control process according to the present modification.

  As shown in FIG. 23, in step S401, it is determined whether or not the firing of the game ball by the game ball firing mechanism 51 is stopped. In such processing, any one of the firing stop command transmitted from the main control device 71 to the sound emission control device 72 when the firing is stopped and the firing start command transmitted when the firing is started is finally received. It is possible to determine whether or not the firing is stopped by checking whether or not the shooting is stopped. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be employed in which a power stop and a firing start command are transmitted from the power supply and the firing control device 79 to the sound emission control device 72, and are different between when firing and when not firing. A signal serving as an output mode may be output from the main control device 71 or the power and emission control device 79 to the sound emission control device 72.

  If the firing is stopped, it is determined in a succeeding step S402 whether or not the passage counter K is “0”. If the passage counter K is "0", it is determined in step S403 whether the reach display is being executed. If the reach display is being executed, it is determined in step S404 whether or not a fixed effect is to be executed during the reach display.

  Here, the confirmed effect is an effect that is executed during the reach display when the game result of the current game round is any of the jackpot results, and is a predetermined probability in the game round that is any of the jackpot results. (For example, 10%). In the confirmed effect, the premium character that does not appear during the normal reach display is displayed on the display screen G in an area where the vertical ball passage 230 overlaps when the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state.

  When the fixed effect is executed in step S404, the opening / closing process for effect of switching the driving state of the door driving unit 260a of the door member 260 in a predetermined period (for example, 0.5 sec) for a predetermined period (for example, 2 sec) in step S405. Execute

  If a negative determination is made in any of steps S401 to S404, or after the processing of step S405 is performed, the process proceeds to step S406. The processing in steps S406 to S412 is the same as the processing in steps S301 to S307, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Therefore, as in the present modification, the displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 can be used as an effect. In particular, the determined effect is displayed in an area where the vertical ball passage 230 overlaps when the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state on the display screen G, and the vertical ball passage 230 is repeatedly switched between the passage forming state and the passage non-forming state. Thus, the situation where the player can visually recognize the confirmed effect and the situation where the player cannot visually recognize the determined effect are repeated. This makes it easy for the player to notice the determined effect, and it is possible to prevent the player from overlooking that the determined effect is being performed.

<Fourth embodiment>
This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the configuration of the variable display unit 36. Hereinafter, different contents will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24A is a front view of the game board 24 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the variable display unit 36 of this embodiment includes a decoration member 90 in addition to the center frame 42 and the symbol display device 41. The decorative member 90 is assembled in a state where its peripheral portion is overlapped with the frame of the center frame 42 from behind. The front surface of the decorative member 90 other than the peripheral portion is visible from the front through a region surrounded by the center frame 42. A central opening 91 that is opened in the front-rear direction is formed at the visible portion of the decorative member 90, and the decorative member 90 has a frame shape as a whole. The central opening portion 91 is formed so as to leave a portion that can be viewed from the front at least on the left and right, and also to leave a portion that can be viewed from the front above. The display screen G of the symbol display device 41 is provided so as to be exposed forward from the central opening 91.

  A character 92 of the present pachinko machine 10 is printed as a decoration above the display screen G in the visible portion on the front surface of the decoration member 90. In addition, effect lamps 93 and 94 are disposed on both sides of the display screen G at the visible portion on the front surface of the decorative member 90, respectively.

  More specifically, on the left side of the display screen G on the front surface of the decorative member 90, a plurality of large and small circular bubble effect lamp portions 93 are vertically arranged. Have been. The bubble effect lamp unit 93 includes a lamp cover formed of a white or blue transparent resin, and an LED lamp (not shown) disposed behind the lamp cover. It is electrically connected. Then, the lighting is controlled in order from the lower bubble effect lamp unit 93 to the upper bubble effect lamp unit 93 at a predetermined timing as an effect for the game round, and an effect as if the bubbles float in the water is performed. This effect is also referred to as a bubble effect (first effect).

  On the right side of the display screen G on the front surface of the decorative member 90, a plurality of fish effect lamp portions 94 imitating the outer shape of the fish are arranged in a dotted manner in the vertical direction. The fish effect lamp unit 94 includes a lamp cover formed of a colorless transparent resin, and a three-color emission type (red, blue, green) LED lamp (not shown) disposed behind the lamp cover. The LED lamp is also electrically connected to the sound emission control device 72. Then, at a predetermined timing, the light emission control is performed for each color of red, blue and green as an effect for the game round, and whether a school of fish of three colors is waiting on the side (right side) of the display screen G. An effect like this is performed. This effect is also referred to as a fish school effect (second effect).

  The relationship between the decorative member 90 arranged as described above and the warp passage 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 (b1) and 24 (b2). FIGS. 24 (b1) and 24 (b2) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the warp passage 200 by the one-dot chain lines in FIG. 24 (a).

  When the vertical ball passage 230 in the warp passage 200 is in a non-passage formed state, the vertical ball passage 230 is hidden behind the lower frame 112 of the center frame 42 and cannot be visually recognized, as shown in FIG. . This is as described in the first to third embodiments. When the vertical ball passage 230 enters the passage forming state, as shown in FIG. 24 (b2), the door member 260 in the left vertical ball passage 230 overlaps a part of the bubble effect lamp unit 93 in the front-rear direction, and the bubble effect Part of the lamp unit 93 cannot be visually recognized from the front. Further, the door member 260 in the right vertical ball passage 230 overlaps a part of the fish effect lamp part 94 in the front-rear direction, and the part of the fish effect lamp part 94 becomes invisible from the front. When the vertical ball passage 230 is in a passage forming state, as described above, the door member 260 overlaps a part of each of the effect lamp portions 93 and 94 in the front-rear direction, but the end of the door member 260 on the display screen G side is at the center. The door member 260 is disposed outside the opening 91 and does not overlap the display screen G of the symbol display device 41 in the front-rear direction.

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state, the door member 260 forming a part of the vertical ball passage 230 is connected to a part of the effect lamp parts 93 and 94 in the decorative member 90. When the vertical ball passage 230 overlaps in the front-rear direction and the passage is not formed, the door member 260 does not overlap the effect lamp portions 93 and 94 of the decorative member 90 in the front-rear direction. Thereby, at least when the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the visibility of the effect lamp portions 93 and 94 is ensured. When the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state, the door member 260 overlaps a part of the effect lamp portions 93 and 94, but the door member 260 does not overlap the display screen G in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the vertical ball passage 230 can be provided in parallel with the display screen G without hindering the visibility of the display screen G.

  Here, both the bubble effect and the school of fish effect are set as effects that indicate that the jackpot winning is a game having a high degree of expectation. More specifically, the fish school production is set as a production that has a higher expectation of winning a jackpot than the bubble production. Therefore, the player expects that the current game round will be a big hit when each of the above-described effects is performed, and the degree of interest in performing each of the effects is increasing. Furthermore, depending on the degree of expectation, the player is expected to pay more attention to the effect when the fish school effect is executed than when the bubble effect is executed.

  Each effect by the effect lamp units 93 and 94 is executed at the start timing of the variable display of each of the symbol arrays Z1 to Z3 on the display screen G. When the bubble effect is performed by the bubble effect lamp unit 93, the bubbles are displayed on the display screen G at the timing when the reach lines are formed by the upper and lower symbol rows Z1 and Z3 in the variable display on the display screen G. An effect that floats vertically (from bottom to top) is performed. When a fish school effect is executed by the fish effect lamp unit 94, an effect is executed in which the school of fish passes in the horizontal direction (from right to left) on the display screen G at the timing when the reach line is formed. Is done. Each of the above-described effects performed on the display screen G may occur even in a game in which the effects in the effect lamp units 93 and 94 are not performed. In other words, when each of the above-mentioned effects is executed on the display screen G, the effects of the effect lamp units 93 and 94 are executed in advance with a predetermined probability. That is, the player can recognize the effect performed on the display screen G in advance by checking the effect by the effect lamp units 93 and 94.

  In the configuration in which the operation ports 33 and 34 are disposed below the center frame 42 in the game area PE and the arrangement of the left and right accessories is targeted, the game balls are fired so as to flow down the right side of the center frame 42. In general, it is easier to cause the game balls to flow down the left side of the center frame 42 so as to easily enter the operating ports 33 and 34 because the variation tends to occur in the downflow direction. Therefore, it is basically assumed that the player fires the game ball so as to flow down the left side of the center frame 42 unless there is another factor such as adjustment of the nail. In this case, of the warp passages 200 provided on the left and right of the center frame 42, it is assumed that the frequency of game balls entering the left warp passage 200 is higher than that of the right warp passage 200. Therefore, it can be said that the vertical ball passage 230 on the left is more likely to be in a passage forming state than the vertical ball passage 230 on the right. In other words, it can be said that the bubble effect lamp unit 93 on the left side is more invisible than the fish effect lamp unit 94 on the right side. In other words, as described above, the fish school effect is set to be more noticeable than the bubble effect. However, when the fish school effect is performed, the right vertical ball passage 230 is in a passage forming state and the fish school effect is performed. The occurrence of inconveniences such as the inability to visually recognize is suppressed.

  According to the present embodiment described above, at least the vertical ball passage 230 is in a passage non-formed state, and thus overlaps with the decorated region (each of the effect lamp portions 93 and 94 of the decorative member 90) in the front-rear direction. Instead, visibility of the area in which the decoration is applied can be secured.

  Further, even when the vertical ball passage 230 is in the passage forming state, the door member 260 overlaps the area on which the decoration is provided in the front-rear direction, but does not overlap the display screen G in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the vertical ball passage 230 can be provided in parallel with the display screen G without hindering the visibility of the display screen G.

  Further, the above decoration on the right side is provided on the assumption that generally, the frequency of game balls entering the right warp passage 200 is lower than the frequency of game balls entering the left warp passage 200. The effect performed in the area (fish school effect) was set to have a higher degree of expectation than the effect (foam effect) performed in the decorated area on the left. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience such that the effect cannot be seen by the door member 260 even if an effect with a high degree of expectation is executed.

  Note that the state transition of the vertical ball passage 230 of the present embodiment may be realized using the own weight of the game ball as in the first embodiment, and may be realized in the second and third embodiments. As described above, it may be realized by electric drive.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above embodiments, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Incidentally, each of the following configurations may be independently applied to the configuration of each of the above embodiments, or a predetermined combination may be applied to the configuration of each of the above embodiments.

  (1) The location of the warp passage 200 is not limited to the location of each of the above embodiments. For example, the vertical ball passages (inclined ball passages) 230 and 271 are located in the game area PE of the game board 24 and are in the passage formation state. Even if it does, it may be arranged at a position that does not overlap with the display screen G. Even in this case, for example, a pair of vertical ball paths 230 and 271 are provided in the game area PE, and the distribution of the game balls does not pass through the vertical ball paths 230 and 271 at the same time by a distribution device or the like, so that they approach each other. When the door members 260 and 273 are provided in the respective directions, it is not necessary to secure twice the area for forming the passage, and the installation area can be narrowed.

  Further, in the first to third embodiments, instead of the configuration in which the warp passage 200 is in the passage forming state and overlaps the display screen G, an area (decoration area) to be decorated as in the fourth embodiment is provided. On the other hand, it is good also as a structure which overlaps in the front-back direction. Even in this case, the visibility of the area where the decoration is applied can be ensured by setting the passage to the non-formed state.

  Further, the entrance of the warp passage 200 is not limited to the lateral opening 104 or the upper opening 108. For example, an opening may be provided on the peripheral wall of the upper decoration member 101, and the opening may be used as the entrance of the warp passage 200. Good. Further, the outlet of the warp passage 200 is not limited to the stage 111a. For example, an outlet may be provided so as to lead to an area where it is difficult to enter the working ports 33 and 34.

  (2) The vertical ball passages 230 and 271 can be transitioned between a passage formation state in which one game ball can pass and a passage non-formation state in which game balls cannot pass. In this case, the passage width may be equal to or more than two game balls, and two game balls may be allowed to pass at the same time. When the passage is not formed, the passage width is equal to or more than one game ball and the game balls can pass. There may be. However, from the viewpoint that the area occupied by the warp passage 200 is a minimum necessary region for leading the game ball to the stage 111a, the passage width in the passage formation state is equal to or more than one game ball. It is preferable that the width of the passage is less than two game balls. When the passage is not formed, the passage width is preferably less than one game ball.

  (3) When the vertical ball passages 230 and 271 are in a passage forming state, a part of the game ball passing through the vertical ball passages 230 and 271 together with the door members 260 and 273 is configured to be visible. Any configuration may be used as long as the door members 260 and 273 are at least in the passage forming state so that the door members 260 and 273 are more visible than in the passage non-forming state. Even in this case, it is possible to specify that the game ball is passing through the movable guiding passage by making the door members 260 and 273 easily visible.

  (4) The configuration in which the vertical ball passages 230 and 271 transition between the passage formation state and the passage non-formation state is not limited to the configuration in which the door members 260 and 273 are rotated. For example, the door members 260 and 273 may have a wall that contacts the passage walls 251 and 272 from inside the center frame 42 and a wall that contacts the passage walls 251 and 272 from behind. The door members 260 and 273 may be slid and moved so as to form a passage. In this case, the displacement of the door members 260 and 273 may be controlled by electric drive as in the second and third embodiments.

  (5) In the first embodiment, the vertical ball passage 230 has a configuration in which game balls fall substantially vertically downward, but the vertical ball passage 230 may be inclined. For example, when the left and right vertical ball passages 230 are inclined downward toward the outside of the center frame 42 as in the inclined ball passage 271 in the fourth modification, the vertical ball passages 230 are provided substantially vertically. As compared with, the direction in which the own weight of the game ball is transmitted to the door member 260 changes, and a greater force is transmitted. In this case, since the force transmitted from the game ball to the door member 260 increases, for example, even if the urging force of the torsion spring 252c is changed to a stronger force than in the first embodiment, the door member 260 is moved to the passage forming position. Can hold.

  (6) In the second embodiment, by controlling the opening and closing of the slide door 104a, the door member 260 is prevented from being closed while the game ball is passing through the vertical ball passage 230. A switching device that guides to a detour passage different from the vertical ball passage 230 when a predetermined period elapses after the opening of the vertical ball passage 230 may be installed on the upstream side of the vertical ball passage 230.

  (7) In the second embodiment, the vertical ball passage 230 is configured to be periodically displaced. However, the configuration may be such that the cycle differs depending on a game state or the like. Specifically, for example, after the opening / closing execution mode based on one of the jackpot results, the period may be generally longer and the period in which the passage is formed may be longer. A configuration in which the period of the formation state is shortened may be employed. Further, after the displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 has been performed a predetermined number of times, it may be configured to return to the same cycle as the normal gaming state. In this case, the game ball that has passed through the warp passage 200 has a higher probability of entering the upper operating port 33 where the winning / non-prize lottery is performed. If the period of the formation state is short, it is disadvantageous for the player, and the displacement of the vertical ball passage 230 can change the degree of advantage for the player. Thereby, a game can be made various.

  (8) In the third embodiment, the exit detection sensor 260b confirms that there is no game ball in the vertical ball passage 230. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the game ball is detected by the entrance detection sensor 104c. The door member 260 may be configured to be in a closed state after a predetermined period of time has passed after the passage of is detected. Even in this case, the inconvenience of closing the door member 260 during the passage of the game ball in the vertical ball passage 230 can be suppressed.

  (9) In the modification of the third embodiment, the effect opening / closing process is performed when the fixed effect is performed. However, the timing at which the effect opening / closing process is performed is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that the warp passage 200 in the center frame 42 is provided only on the right or left side, and the effect opening / closing process is performed when a game ball is fired on the side where no warp path 200 is provided. In this case, by monitoring the firing intensity of the game ball, it is possible to confirm in which direction the game ball is fired. It is good to have no configuration.

  (10) In the fourth embodiment, the effect lamps 93 and 94 of the decorative member 90 and the door member 260 of the vertical ball passage 230 overlap each other in the front-rear direction, but instead of the effect lamps 93 and 94 or In addition, a configuration in which a decorative pattern or a shaping process is performed and the door member 260 may overlap in the front-rear direction. Even in this case, since at least the vertical ball passage 230 is in a non-passage formed state, the visibility of the portion on which the pattern or the shaping process has been performed is ensured.

  Further, a movable member may be arranged in a region overlapping with the door member 260 in the front-rear direction. In this case, the vertical ball passage 230 may be in a non-passage formed state so that the door member 260 and the movable member do not overlap or reduce the amount of overlap in the front-rear direction.

  Further, although the door member 260 is configured to overlap a part of each of the effect lamps 93 and 94 in the front-rear direction, the door member 260 may be configured to overlap all of the effect lamps 93 and 94 in the front-rear direction. Further, one or all of one of the effect lamp portions 93 and 94 may overlap the door member 260 in the front-rear direction, and the other may not overlap the door member 260 in the front-rear direction.

  (11) In the fourth embodiment, the state transition of the vertical ball passage 230 is realized by electric drive as in the second and third embodiments, and the vertical ball passage 230 is in a passage non-formed state. Under at least one condition, each effect lamp unit 93, 94 may be configured to execute an effect. In this case, at least during the period in which the effect is performed in each of the effect lamp units 93 and 94, the visibility of the effect is ensured.

  Further, for example, after performing the light emission control of the LED lamp in the fish effect lamp unit 93, the right vertical ball at the timing when the fish school starts to pass the effect of passing horizontally in the display screen G (timing when the reach line is formed). The fish production lamp 93 may be hidden by the door member 260 with the passage 230 in the passage formation state. In this case, it can be seen that the fish school waiting on the side of the display screen G starts moving by the operation of the door member 260, and the effects of the fish effect lamp unit 93 and the display screen G are associated with each other. Can also be associated with the state transition of the vertical ball passage 230.

  (12) In the fourth embodiment, assuming that a game ball is more likely to enter the warp path 200 on the left side in general, the degree of expectation of an effect performed in each of the effect lamp units 93 and 94 is determined. For example, if the operation ports 33 and 34 are provided on the left side of the center frame 42 in the game area PE, in order for game balls to enter the operation ports 33 and 34, the left side of the center frame 42 flows down. Thus, the necessity of firing a game ball arises, and the significance of setting the degree of expectation of the effect as described above can be increased.

  Further, for example, when the variable winning device 32 is provided on the right side of the center frame 42, it becomes necessary to fire the game ball so as to flow down the right side of the center frame 42 during the open / close execution mode. In this case, at least during the opening / closing execution mode, the possibility that the game ball enters the left warp passage 200 is reduced, and the effect in the opening / closing execution mode is performed using the left bubble effect lamp unit 93. Also, the visibility of the effect does not decrease.

  (13) Another type of pachinko machine different from the above-described embodiment, such as a pachinko machine in which the electric accessory is opened a predetermined number of times when a game ball enters a specific region of the special device, or a game ball in a specific region of the special device The present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine that becomes a jackpot when a right is entered and a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine equipped with another accessory, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball and the like.

<About the invention group extracted from each of the above embodiments>
Hereinafter, features of the invention group extracted from each of the above-described embodiments will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configuration in each of the above embodiments is appropriately shown in parentheses or the like, but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses or the like.

  The following features are described as follows. "A pachinko game machine, which is a kind of gaming machine, includes a gaming board, and a game ball is fired at a gaming area formed on the front of the gaming board. A predetermined number of game balls are paid out when a game ball is won in the various winning holes provided.In addition to the various winning holes, a large number of nails and the like are provided on the game board in order to make the flow path of the game ball various. There is also a type of accessory, which is provided with a guide path for guiding a game ball entered from a predetermined opening to a different area, for example, in a center frame. A center frame is provided substantially at the center of the game board so as to surround the display surface of the liquid crystal display device, and a stage is provided below the display surface as a rolling area for game balls. To The warp path is formed, for example, so as to allow game balls to be led out onto the stage from the side of the center frame, etc. Here, the game area is a limited area. For this reason, it is preferable that the guide passage be compact, and there is still room for improvement in this respect. "

Features 1. Launching means (playing ball launching mechanism 51) for launching the playing ball toward the game area,
A guide path (warp path 200) through which game balls flowing down the game area can enter, and guide the entered game balls to a specific area;
With
The guide passage has at least a part thereof (the vertical ball passage 230 or the inclined ball passage 271) in a first state (passage forming state) through which a game ball can pass, and a second state in which the passage width is narrower than the first state. (A state in which a passage is not formed).

  According to the feature 1, when the guidance passage is in the first state, the game ball is guided to the specific area. When the guide passage is in the second state, the passage width is smaller than in the first state, so that the area occupied by the guide passage can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suitably realize a compact guide passage.

  Features 2. When the guidance passage is in the first state, the passage width is equal to or more than one game ball and less than two game balls, and when the guidance passage is in the second state, the passage width is 3. The gaming machine according to feature 1, wherein the number is less than one game ball.

  According to the feature 2, although the game balls cannot pass when the guide path is in the second state, the game balls can pass one by one by setting the guide path to the first state. Therefore, the area occupied by the guidance passage can be the minimum necessary area for guiding the game ball to the specific area.

Features 3. The specific area corresponds to a predetermined area (display screen G or each effect lamp unit 93, 94) where an effect is executed by the effect executing means (symbol display device 41) or a decoration is applied by the decoration means (decorative member 90). A stage (stage 111a) having a rolling surface on which the game ball rolls, provided below the stage;
The guide path is arranged in parallel with the predetermined area at a position above the stage, and guides the entered game ball to the stage,
When the guidance passage is in the first state, the displacement portions (door members 260 and 273) forming a part of the guidance passage overlap in the front-rear direction with respect to the predetermined area, and the guidance passage is in the second state. 3. The game according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the displacement part overlapping the predetermined area in the front-rear direction decreases or the displacement part does not overlap the predetermined area in the front-rear direction. Machine.

  According to the third feature, the guide path is provided so as to guide the game ball to the stage by being juxtaposed with a predetermined area where the effect is performed (directing area) or a predetermined area where the decoration is applied (decoration area). Even in the case where the displacement portion overlaps the predetermined region in the front-rear direction in the case of the state, at least the guide path is in the second state, so that the overlapping amount of the displacement portion and the predetermined region is reduced or the displacement is made Since the portion and the predetermined area do not overlap, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the visibility of the effect or decoration.

  In particular, in the effect execution means, in recent years, the effect execution means has been increasing in size in order to increase the degree of attention to the game, and in a limited game area, the game balls have flowed down accordingly with the enlargement of the effect execution means. The playing game area is getting smaller. In such a situation, when the guide path is arranged in parallel with a predetermined area where the effect is performed by the effect executing means, in order to suppress a decrease in the visibility of the effect of the effect executing means, the game area is further narrowed, It is necessary to make a choice between reducing the size of the effect execution means, which is not preferable.

  Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the guide passage can be displaced to the second state as in the present configuration, the area occupied by the guide passage can be reduced, and the guide passage can be reduced while responding to an increase in the size of the effect execution unit. It can be provided.

Features 4. The specific area is provided below a predetermined area (each of the effect lamps 93 and 94) to which decoration is applied by the decoration means (the decoration member 90), and has a rolling surface on which a game ball rolls. (Stage 111a).
An effect area (display screen G) of effect execution means (symbol display device 41) is provided above the stage in parallel with the predetermined area,
When the guidance passage is in the first state, the displacement portion (the door member 260) that forms a part of the guidance passage overlaps the predetermined region in the front-rear direction, and the displacement portion overlaps the effect region. The gaming machine according to Feature 3, wherein the game machine does not overlap in the front-rear direction.

  According to the feature 4, in the gaming machine of the feature 3, the displacement portion forming a part of the guidance passage overlaps the predetermined area in the front-rear direction, but does not overlap the effect area in the front-rear direction. Thereby, it is possible to arrange the guide path in parallel with the effect area and guide the game ball to the stage without hindering the effect of the effect execution means in the visibility of the effect area.

Features5. A side partition (passage unit 201) provided so as to bulge forward from the predetermined area on the side of the predetermined area;
The guide passage is formed so as to pass through the side partition, and when the guide passage transitions from the second state to the first state, a displacement unit (partly forming a part of the guide passage) Door member 260) is configured to be displaced from the side of the side partition portion on the predetermined region side toward the predetermined region side,
When the guide passage is in the second state, a decoration (decoration by the passage decoration members 106 and 107 or decoration by the door decoration member 266) is formed on the side of the side partition portion on the predetermined region side. The gaming machine according to feature 3 or feature 4, wherein:

  According to the fifth feature, the side partition portion where the displacement portion is displaced when the guide passage transitions from the second state to the first state is provided on the side of the predetermined region and ahead of the predetermined region. It can be said that the player can visually recognize the predetermined area by obliquely viewing the predetermined area. In such a configuration, at least when the guide passage is in the second state, the decoration is formed on the side of the side section on the predetermined area side, so that the decorativeness of the guide passage can be enhanced.

  Features 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising a covering portion (a door decorative member 266) that covers the displacement portion from the side of the predetermined region when the guiding passage is in the second state and generates the decoration. Gaming machine.

  According to the feature 6, since the displacement portion is covered by the covering portion, when the guidance passage is in the second state, the displacement portion can be hidden while the covering portion that causes the decoration is shown. This makes it possible to further enhance the decorativeness of the guide passage. In addition, when the guide path is in the second state, since the displacement portion is not visible, it is difficult to predict in advance that the guide path will be in the first state. Then, it is difficult to predict where it is derived, and it is possible to increase the unexpectedness of being derived to the stage.

Features 7. When the displacement portions (the door members 260 and 273) forming a part of the guide passage are displaced in the width direction of the guide passage, the guide passage transitions between the first state and the second state. Configuration
When the guidance passage is in the second state, the displacement portion is hidden behind a decorative portion (lower frame 112) visible from the front of the gaming machine. Gaming machine.

  According to the feature 7, when at least the guide passage is in the second state, the displacement portion displaced in the passage width direction is hidden by the decorative portion, and therefore cannot be visually recognized from the front. As a result, it is difficult to predict in advance that the guidance passage will be in the first state, and it is difficult to predict where the game ball that has entered the guidance passage will be derived thereafter, and it is derived to the stage. Can be made more unexpected.

  Furthermore, since the decoration part is arranged in front of the displacement part, the decorativeness of the area where the displacement part is arranged in the game area is not impaired. For example, as one method of securing a wide game area while providing a guide path, a configuration in which the front surface of the guide path is formed of a transparent resin and disposed behind the game area can be considered. However, in this case, since it is formed of a transparent resin, it may be difficult to decorate the area. On the other hand, by adopting the configuration of the feature 6, it is possible to realize the compactness of the guide passage as described above while ensuring the decorativeness of the guide passage.

  Features 8. The game according to claim 7, wherein when the guidance passage is in the first state, at least a part of the displacement portion is displaced outward from the decoration portion and is not hidden behind the decoration portion. Machine.

  According to the feature 8, in the gaming machine of the feature 7, at least a part of the displacement portion can be visually recognized by the guide path being in the first state, and the player can recognize that the first state has been achieved. . Therefore, the player can recognize the presence of the guidance passage at least when the guidance passage is in the first state. This makes it difficult to predict the whereabouts of the game ball that has entered the guidance passage, and allows the user to play the game with confidence without misunderstanding that the game ball has been ejected from the game area.

Features9. The guide passage is configured to transition between the first state and the second state by displacing a displacement portion forming a part of the guide passage in a passage width direction of the guide passage,
The displacement portion is moved from the position in the second state to the position in the first state by receiving a force of a game ball having entered the entrance (the lateral opening 104 or the upper opening 108) of the guide passage flowing down. The gaming machine according to any one of features 1 to 8, characterized in that the gaming machine is displaced.

  According to the feature 9, the guide portion can be set to the first state by displacing the displacement portion in the passage width direction by using the force of the game ball flowing down. Therefore, the transition of the guide passage can be realized with a simple configuration without requiring electric control.

Features 10. The guide passage has an upstream region (the most downstream portion of the side ball passage 210 and the rear guide portion 220) in which a game ball flows down in a direction including a component in the front-rear direction, upstream of the displacement portion. ,
The gaming machine according to claim 9, wherein the displacement portion is configured to be displaced in a lateral direction by receiving a force from a game ball flowing down the upstream area.

  According to the feature 10, in the configuration in which the displacement portion is displaced in the lateral direction by using the force of the game ball flowing down, the displacement portion is not displaced by using the force of the game ball flowing down in the lateral direction, but is moved back and forth. The displacement portion can be displaced by using the force of the game ball flowing down in the direction including the direction component. Therefore, the lateral width of the guide passage can be reduced as compared with the configuration using the force of the game balls flowing down in the lateral direction.

  Features 11. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the upstream area has a path length larger than one game ball.

  According to the feature 11, for example, even when the flow speed of the game ball that has reached the upstream region is decreasing, it is possible to accelerate again in the upstream region. Therefore, it is possible to suitably apply the force of the game ball to the displacement portion, and it is possible to make the transition of the guidance passage smooth.

Features12. The displacement portion is configured to be displaced between a position in the first state and a position in the second state by rotating.
When the game ball that has entered the entrance of the guidance passage presses the rotating tip of the displacement unit disposed at the position of the second state, the displacement unit moves toward the position of the first state. The gaming machine according to any one of features 9 to 11, wherein the gaming machine is configured to rotate.

  According to the feature 12, in the configuration in which the displacement portion is rotated by using the force of the game ball flowing down, a force is applied to the tip of the rotation of the displacement portion, so that the displacement portion is rotated based on the principle of leverage. The force required to move can be reduced. Thereby, the displacement of the displacement portion can be made easy and the transition of the guidance passage can be made smooth.

Features 13. The guide passage is configured to transition between the first state and the second state by displacing a displacement portion forming a part of the guide passage in a passage width direction of the guide passage,
A driving unit (door driving unit 260a) that drives the displacement unit to be displaced between the position in the first state and the position in the second state;
Drive control means for driving and controlling the drive means (a function of executing a door control process in the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 or the MPU 652 of the audio light emission control device 72);
The gaming machine according to any one of Features 1 to 8, comprising:

  According to the feature 13, it is possible to realize the transition of the guidance passage by performing displacement of the displacement portion by electrical control, and to displace the displacement portion using the force of the game ball flowing down, The degree of freedom in design is improved.

  Specifically, if the displacement portion is displaced by using the force of the game ball flowing down, it is necessary to select a place where the game ball flows down in a flow-down manner in which the game ball can displace the displacement portion as an installation location of the guide path. Occurs. On the other hand, according to the feature 13, since the displacement of the displacement portion of the guidance passage can be performed irrespective of the flow-down state of the game ball, the degree of freedom of the installation location is improved.

  Features 14. The drive control unit includes a periodic control unit (MPU 602 of the main control device 71) that controls the drive unit such that the displacement unit is periodically displaced from the second state position to the first state position. , Or a function of executing the processing of steps S202, S203, and S207 to S210 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72). The gaming machine according to feature 13, characterized in that:

  According to the feature 14, since the displacement portion is periodically displaced from the position in the second state to the position in the first state, the guide path periodically transitions from the second state to the first state. Therefore, the timing at which the guide path transitions becomes clear to the player, so that the opacity of the game can be eliminated and the distrust of the game hall or the like can be eliminated.

  Features15. Means for allowing the game ball to escape to a side different from the displacement portion side so that the game ball does not stop upstream of the displacement portion when the displacement portion is located at the position of the second state (for example, , The function of executing the processing of steps S104 and S105 in the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 or the function of executing the processing of steps S205 and S206 in the MPU 652 of the audio emission control device 72). The gaming machine according to feature 13 or feature 14.

  According to the feature 15, when the displacement portion is arranged at the position of the second state, the game ball flows down to a side different from the displacement portion side, and the game ball does not stop on the upstream side of the displacement portion. For example, if the configuration is such that the game balls stop at the upstream side of the displacement portion, there is a concern that the ball may become clogged if a large number of game balls flow down to the upstream side when the displacement portion is disposed at the position in the second state. On the other hand, according to the present configuration, since the game ball does not stop on the upstream side of the displacement portion, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned inconvenience.

Features16. Grasping means for grasping the presence or absence of a game ball in the guidance passage (in the second embodiment, the function of executing the processing of step S106 in the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 or the function of the step S207 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72) The third embodiment has a function of executing the processing of step S306 or step S411 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72).
The drive control means does not displace the displacement portion from the position in the first state to the position in the second state when the grasping means grasps that a game ball is present in the guidance passage. The limiting means for controlling the driving means as described above (in the second embodiment, the function of making a negative determination in the processing of step S106 in the MPU 602 of the main control device 71 or the function of making a negative determination in step S207 of the MPU 652 of the audio emission control device 72) In the third embodiment, the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72 has a function of making a negative determination in the processing of step S306 or step S411). 2. The gaming machine according to item 1.

  Since the guide passage has a smaller passage width in the second state than in the first state, if the displacement portion is displaced to the position of the second state while the game ball is passing through the guide passage, the game ball is stuck in the guide passage. There is a concern that such inconveniences may occur. On the other hand, according to the feature 16, when the game ball is present in the guidance passage, the displacement portion is not displaced to the position in the second state, so that the occurrence of the above-mentioned problem can be suppressed. Become.

In addition, as a specific configuration of the grasping means,
"A detection means (entrance detection sensor 104c) provided upstream of the displacement portion in the guide passage and detecting the passage of a game ball,
Grasp the lapse of a predetermined period since the passage of the game ball is detected by the detection means,
"A first detection means (entrance detection sensor 104c) provided upstream of the displacement portion in the guidance passage and detecting passage of a game ball;
A second detection unit (exit detection sensor 260b) that is provided downstream of the displacement unit in the guidance passage and detects passage of a game ball;
With
The number of times that the passing of the game ball is detected by the second detecting means and the number of times that the passing of the game ball is detected by the first detecting means are grasped,
"Variable ball entry means (sliding door 104a) capable of transitioning between an open state in which a game ball can enter the guide path and a closed state in which the game ball cannot enter or is difficult to enter;
A variable ball entry control unit (a function of executing a door control process in the MPU 602 of the main control unit 71 or the MPU 652 of the audio light emission control unit 72) for switching the variable ball entry unit to the open state or the closed state;
With
A configuration in which a predetermined period of time has passed since the variable ball-in means has been closed by the variable ball-in control means is considered.

Features 17. The specific area is a stage having a rolling surface on which a game ball rolls, provided side by side with respect to the effect area of the effect executing means,
The guide path is provided in parallel with the effect area at a position above the stage, and guides the entered game ball to the stage,
When the guidance passage is in the first state, the displacement portion forming a part of the guidance passage overlaps in the front-rear direction with respect to the effect area, and when the guidance passage is in the second state, the displacement portion The configuration is such that the amount of overlap in the front-rear direction with respect to the effect area decreases or the displacement portion does not overlap in the front-rear direction with the effect area,
The drive control unit is configured to determine whether the displacement of the displacement unit from the position of the second state to the position of the first state is performed when a specific effect (for example, a reach display) is being performed by the effect execution unit. Any of features 13 to 16, characterized by having special limiting means (a function of executing the processing of steps S211 to S216 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72) for controlling the driving means so as not to be performed. 2. The gaming machine according to item 1.

  According to the feature 17, when a specific effect is being performed in the effect execution means, control is performed by the special restriction means so that the guidance passage does not enter the first state. When the guidance path is in the first state, the displacement portion and the effect area overlap in the front-rear direction. Thus, when the specific effect is being performed, the first state is not set so that the visual recognition in the specific effect is performed. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suitably execute the effect in the effect region even if the guide path is provided in juxtaposition with the effect region and is configured to be in the first state and overlap the effect region.

Features18. Launch stop specifying means (a function of executing the process of step S401 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72) for specifying that the game ball is not fired by the firing means,
The drive control unit displaces the displacement unit between the position in the second state and the position in the first state when it is determined that the game ball has not been fired by the fire stop specifying means. 18. The apparatus according to any one of features 13 to 17, further comprising a special control unit (a function of executing the processing of step S405 in the MPU 652 of the audio emission control device 72) for controlling the driving unit so as to perform the operation. Gaming machine.

  According to the feature 18, when the launching of the game ball by the launching means is not performed, there is no possibility that the game ball enters the guide path, so that even if the guide path is arbitrarily transitioned, the guide path is kept in the guide path. There is no clogging of game balls. In this case, for example, the transition of the guidance passage can be used for an effect or the like. As a result, a new function of the guidance passage can be found, and a novel gaming machine can be provided.

Features 19. The specific area is a stage having a rolling surface on which a game ball rolls, provided side by side with respect to the effect area of the effect executing means,
The guide path is provided in parallel with the effect area at a position above the stage, and guides the entered game ball to the stage,
When the guidance passage is in the first state, the displacement portion forming a part of the guidance passage overlaps in the front-rear direction with respect to the effect area, and when the guidance passage is in the second state, the displacement portion The configuration is such that the amount of overlap in the front-rear direction with respect to the effect area decreases or the displacement portion does not overlap in the front-rear direction with the effect area,
The special control means is a case where it is specified by the firing stop specifying means that the game ball is not fired, and a specific effect (for example, reach display) is performed by the effect execution means. At the same time, the special effect corresponding control means for controlling the driving means so as to displace the displacement portion between the position in the first state and the position in the second state (Step S403 in the MPU 652 of the sound emission control device 72 and The gaming machine according to Feature 18, further comprising Step S404).

  According to the feature 19, when the game ball is not fired by the firing means and when a specific effect is performed by the effect executing means, the guidance path is switched between the first state and the second state. Transition between When the guidance passage is in the first state, the displacement part and the effect area overlap in the front-rear direction, and when the guidance path is in the second state, the displacement part and the effect area do not overlap in the front-rear direction or the amount of overlap is reduced. A player who is paying attention to the effect execution means can easily notice the transition of the guidance path. Therefore, for example, a new effect can be created by associating a specific effect with the transition of the guidance passage.

  Hereinafter, a basic configuration of a gaming machine to which the above features can be applied will be described.

  Pachinko gaming machine: operating means operated by a player, gaming ball firing means for firing a game ball based on the operation of the operating means, a ball path for guiding the fired game ball to a predetermined game area, A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of game components arranged in a region; and a bonus is provided to a player when a game ball passes through a predetermined passage portion of the game components.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pachinko machine, 33 ... Upper working port, 41 ... Symbol display device, 42 ... Center frame, 51 ... Game ball launching mechanism, 71 ... Main control device, 72 ... Sound emission control device, 90 ... Decoration member, 93 ... Foam Effect lamp unit, 94: fish effect lamp unit, 104: lateral opening, 104a: slide door, 104b: slide door drive unit, 104c: entrance detection sensor, 111a: stage, 200: warp passage, 201: passage unit, 210: side ball passage, 220: rear guide portion, 230: vertical ball passage, 252c: torsion spring, 260: door member, 260a: door drive unit, 260b: exit detection sensor, 261: back wall portion, 262: side wall Part, 265: rotating shaft, 271: inclined ball passage, 272: second passage wall, 273: second door member, 602: MPU, 652: MPU, G: display screen, PE: game Pass.

Claims (2)

Launching means for launching a game ball so as to flow down the game area after passing through the guide rail;
A game ball flowing down the game area is capable of entering, and a guiding path for leading the entered game ball to a specific area,
With
The guide passage includes a first wall portion of the guide passage and a second wall portion intersecting the first wall portion, wherein the first position is a second position different from the first position. And a displaceable portion is provided for
The guide passage is in a first state in which a game ball cannot pass through when the displacement portion is displaced from the first position to the second position by receiving a force from a game ball entering the entrance of the guide passage. A game machine having a configuration capable of being displaced to a second state through which a game ball can pass . 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a launch operation means for performing a launch operation so that a game ball is launched by said launch means.

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