JP6783518B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines.

As an example of a gaming machine, a gaming medium such as a gaming ball is launched into the gaming area by a launching device, and the gaming medium wins a prize in a winning area such as a winning opening provided in the gaming area. There is a pachinko game machine that can be granted. Further, as another example of the game machine, the player operates the start lever after setting a predetermined number of bets for one game using a game medium such as a medal, a coin, or a game ball similar to a pachinko game machine. There is a slot machine capable of starting variable display of a display symbol by a variable display device and giving a predetermined game value based on the derived display result.

In such a game machine, it has been proposed to output a confirmation signal from the central board to the peripheral boards, and if the reply cannot be confirmed, perform an error notification as a connection abnormality of the harness or the connector (for example, patent). Document 1). In addition, when an origin switch is formed on the movable body accessory that is a movable member, and a position error is determined such that the origin of the movable object accessory is not returned based on the origin switch signal, an accessory error occurs. An error notification may be performed (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2007-159646 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-151162

In the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example, in the manufacturing stage or the development stage, if the state of the movable member can be set to be uncontrollable and the abnormality notification of the movable member can be executed, the abnormality notification is frequently executed. .. Therefore, it is conceivable to avoid the execution of the abnormality notification by connecting a special peripheral device. However, there is a risk that the efficiency of manufacturing and development will decrease due to the increase in work processes such as the connection of peripheral devices.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of improving work efficiency in the manufacturing stage and the development stage.

(A) In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine according to the claim of the present application is a gaming machine capable of playing a game (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1) and a movable member (for example, a movable member) that performs an operation. 51 to 54, etc.) and a control means (for example, CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120) provided on the first substrate (for example, the effect control board 12), and the control means is the first substrate. And, when a second board different from the first board is connected, the movable member is movable based on a signal from a detecting means (for example, a movable member position sensor 61) capable of detecting the state of the movable member. When the abnormality notification of the member can be executed (see, for example, steps S58 to S60 of the effect control main process), and the first board and the second board are connected at the start of power supply to the game machine. In addition, a confirmation operation for confirming the origin position of the movable member and an initial operation for operating the movable member between the origin position and a predetermined position are performed, and when the power supply to the game machine is started, the first operation is performed . if said one substrate second substrate is not connected, and the confirmation operation of the movable member, and controls so as not to perform, and the initial operation, so as not to abnormality notification of said movable member It is possible to control and control the effect corresponding to the progress of the game based on the input from the first substrate and the third substrate different from the second substrate.
In such a configuration, work efficiency in the manufacturing stage and the development stage can be improved.
(1) In order to achieve the above object, the other gaming machine is a gaming machine capable of playing a game (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1), and is a movable member (for example, movable members 51 to 54, etc.) that performs an operation. ) And a control means (for example, CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120) provided on the first board (for example, the effect control board 12), the control means includes the first board and the first. When a second board different from the board is connected, an abnormality notification of the movable member is sent based on a signal from a detecting means (for example, a movable member position sensor 61) capable of detecting the state of the movable member. When it is feasible (see, for example, steps S58 to S60 of the effect control main process) and the first board and the second board (for example, the effect control relay board 16A) are not connected. Control is performed so that the abnormality notification of the movable member is not performed (see, for example, step S57 of the effect control main process).
In such a configuration, work efficiency in the manufacturing stage and the development stage can be improved.

(2) In the game machine of (1) above, the connectors (for example, connectors CN01, CN11, etc.) provided on the first board and the second board have connection confirmation terminals (for example, terminals TM22, TN22, etc.), respectively. Including, the control means may confirm the connection state between the first substrate and the second substrate based on the voltage at the connection confirmation terminal (see FIG. 14A and the like).
According to such a configuration, the connection state can be confirmed with a simple configuration, and the work efficiency at the manufacturing stage and the development stage can be improved.

(3) In the game machine of the above (1) or (2), the effect means (main image display device 5MA, sub image display device 5SU, speakers 8L, 8R, game effect lamp 9, movable members 51 to 5) capable of performing the effect. 54, light emitter units 71 to 74, etc.), a storage means for storing the effect data used for the effect (for example, ROM 121, effect data memories 123A to 123C, etc.), and a second substrate different from the first substrate and the second substrate. The control means includes three boards (for example, the main board 11 and the like) and display means, and the control means determines whether or not the effect data stored in the storage means is normal (for example, a memory inspection process). Is possible, and when both the second substrate and the third substrate and the first substrate are not connected, the determination result by the determination process can be displayed by the display means (for example, a memory). (Refer to step S206 of the inspection process), when either one of the second substrate and the third substrate and the first substrate are not connected, the determination result by the determination process is displayed by the display means. It may be controlled so as not to display (see, for example, step S54 of the effect control main process, step S205 of the memory inspection process, and the like).
According to such a configuration, the output for inspection can be appropriately suppressed, and the work efficiency in the manufacturing stage and the development stage can be improved.

(4) In any of the game machines (1) to (3) above, the control means is the first data stored in at least the first area (for example, the audio data first storage area R11 of the ROM 121). A first control means (for example, a voice processing circuit 143) that executes the first control using voice data, etc., and a second area (for example, image data storage of the effect data memory 123A) different from the first area. The second control means (for example, VDP140 or the like) that executes a second control different from the first control by using the second data (image data or the like) stored in the area R21 or the like is included. The 1 data is also stored in an area corresponding to a specific address range of the second area continuous from the final address of the first area (for example, the audio data second storage area R12 of the effect data memory 123A) (for example). (See FIG. 6 (A), FIG. 6 (B1), etc.).
According to such a configuration, the storage area can be effectively used, and the work efficiency in the manufacturing stage and the development stage can be improved.

It is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the case where a plurality of movable members are in the advanced state. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the effect movable mechanism. It is a block diagram which shows various control boards and the like mounted on the pachinko game machine. It is a block diagram which shows various circuits mounted on an effect control board. It is explanatory drawing which shows the setting example of the storage content. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a light emitting body control board. It is a figure which shows the setting example which divides into a plurality of blocks. It is a figure which shows the connection setting example of a serial output system and a light emitting body block. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of a light emitter driver. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a game control process process. It is a figure which shows the setting example of the fluctuation pattern. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the effect control main processing. It is a figure which shows the setting example of the terminal of a connector, a harness, and the input / output contents. It is a figure which shows the execution example of abnormality notification. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a memory inspection process. It is a figure which shows the display example of the operation content. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an effect control process process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the variable display start setting process. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the effect control pattern. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the effect processing during variable display. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the lighting data generation table. It is a figure which shows the composition example of audio data, and the operation example of playing music. It is a figure which shows the initial state and the operation pattern in the upper mechanism. It is a figure which shows the initial state and the operation pattern in the lower mechanism.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment, and shows an arrangement layout of main members. In FIG. 1, the effect movable mechanism 50 described later is shown by a broken line. The pachinko gaming machine (gaming machine) 1 is roughly divided into a gaming board (gauge board) 2 constituting the game board surface and a game machine frame (underframe) 3 for supporting and fixing the game board 2. The game board 2 is formed with a game area surrounded by guide rails and having a substantially circular outer edge. A game ball as a game medium is launched from a predetermined ball launching device into this game area.

A first special symbol display device 4A and a second special symbol display device 4B are provided at a predetermined position of the game board 2 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the lower right side of the game area). The first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B are each composed of, for example, 7 segments or dot matrix LEDs (light emitting diodes), and are identified in a special symbol game as an example of a variable display game. A special symbol (also referred to as a "special figure"), which is a plurality of types of possible identification information (special identification information), is variably displayed (variable display). For example, the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B each variably display a plurality of types of special symbols composed of numbers indicating "0" to "9" and symbols indicating "-". To do. Hereinafter, the special symbol variably displayed on the first special symbol display device 4A is also referred to as a "first special symbol", and the special symbol variably displayed on the second special symbol display device 4B is also referred to as a "second special symbol". ..

A main image display device 5MA is provided near the center of the game area on the game board 2. The main image display device 5MA is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like, and forms a display area for displaying various effect images. On the screen of the main image display device 5MA, the variable display of the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A and the variable display of the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 4B in the special symbol game are supported. In the decorative symbol display area, which is a plurality of variable display units such as three, decorative symbols, which are a plurality of types of identification information (decorative identification information) that can identify each of them, are variably displayed. The variable display of this decorative pattern is also included in the variable display game.

As an example, in the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R arranged in the display area of the main image display device 5MA, the corresponding decorative symbols are variably displayed. In this case, in the special symbol game, one of the fluctuation of the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A and the variation of the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 4B is started. , "Left", "Middle", and "Right", each of the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R starts to change the decorative symbol (for example, scroll display in the vertical direction). After that, when the confirmed special symbol is stopped and displayed as the variable display result in the special symbol game, the decorative symbol is variable in the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right". The final decorative symbol (final stop symbol) that is the display result is stopped and displayed.

As described above, on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, the special figure game using the first special figure in the first special symbol display device 4A or the second special figure in the second special symbol display device 4B is used. In synchronization with the special figure game, a plurality of types of decorative symbols that can be identified by each are variably displayed, and a definite decorative symbol that is a variable display result is derived and displayed (or simply referred to as "deriving"). In addition, to derive and display various display symbols such as a special symbol and a decorative symbol means to display identification information such as a decorative symbol as a stop display (also referred to as a complete stop display or a final stop display) and end the variable display. .. On the other hand, during the variable display from the start of the variable display of the decorative symbol to the derivation display of the final decorative symbol that is the variable display result, the fluctuation speed of the decorative symbol becomes "0" and the decoration is displayed. The design may be stagnant and displayed, and may be in a display state that causes slight shaking or expansion / contraction, for example. Such a display state is also called a temporary stop display, and although the display result in the variable display is not definitively displayed, the player can recognize that the change of the decorative pattern due to the scroll display or the update display is not progressing. It becomes. In addition, the temporary stop display does not cause slight shaking or expansion / contraction, and the decorative symbol is completely stopped and displayed in the period until a short stop time shorter than a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) elapses. May be included.

The decorative symbols that are variably displayed in the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R are, for example, eight types of symbols (alphanumeric characters "1" to "8" or Chinese numbers. It may be an English character, eight character images related to a predetermined motif, a combination of numbers, characters or symbols and a character image, and the character image may be, for example, a person or an animal, an object other than these, or an object other than these. It may be composed of a symbol such as a character or a decorative image showing any other figure). Each of the decorative symbols has a corresponding symbol number. For example, a symbol number of "1" to "8" is assigned to each of the alphanumeric characters indicating "1" to "8". The number of decorative patterns is not limited to eight, and may be any number (for example, seven or nine) as long as an appropriate number of combinations such as a jackpot combination and a loss combination can be configured.

After the variable display of the decorative symbol is started, until the final decorative symbol that is the variable display result is derived and displayed, each decorative symbol display area 5L, 5C, 5R of "left", "middle", and "right" In, for example, a scroll display is performed in which the symbol numbers flow from the upper to the lower in order from the smaller one to the larger one, and when the decorative symbol having the maximum symbol number (for example, "8") is displayed, the process continues. The decorative symbol having the smallest symbol number (for example, "1") is displayed. Alternatively, in at least one of the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R (for example, the "left" decorative symbol display area 5L, etc.), scroll display is performed from the one with the larger symbol number to the one with the smaller symbol number, and the symbol is displayed. When the decorative symbol having the smallest number is displayed, the decorative symbol having the largest number may be displayed subsequently.

The decorative symbol is not limited to the one that is variably displayed as a plurality of types of identification information, and an arbitrary effect image can be displayed on the screen of the image display device 5 in response to the fluctuation of the special symbol in the special symbol game. It suffices as long as it is. For example, on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, it may be possible to execute an effect of displaying the result of the story according to the variable display result of the special symbol by displaying the effect image having a story. As an effect by displaying the effect image, for example, a professional wrestling or soccer match or a battle effect in which enemy or ally characters fight may be performed. Then, when the variable display result is "missing", the effect of losing the match or battle is performed. On the other hand, when the variable display result is "big hit", the effect of winning the game or battle is performed. Alternatively, for example, on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, the display color change display and the stop display at a specific display portion are repeated. Then, when the variable display result is "missing", the stop display state is maintained with a predetermined display color (for example, white), or the predetermined display color is maintained in a hidden state. Derived display of decorative patterns. On the other hand, when the variable display result is a "big hit", the decorative design is derived and displayed by maintaining the stopped display state with a display color (for example, red) different from the predetermined display color. In this way, during the variable display of the decorative symbol, a predetermined (single) symbol may be switched between display and non-display, while the other symbols may be maintained in the non-display state. Then, as the final stop symbol (fixed decorative symbol) that results in the variable display of the decorative symbol, any one of a plurality of types of symbols may be derived and displayed (final stop display). Further, during the variable display of the decorative symbol, the display and non-display of the effect image showing the predetermined pattern may be repeated so that the other effect images are not displayed. Then, as a variable display result of the decorative symbol, the effect image showing the predetermined symbol used for the variable display is not stopped and displayed, and the effect image showing a specific number or symbol different from the predetermined symbol is displayed. By being displayed, the decorative pattern may be derived and displayed.

A start winning memory display area 5H is arranged on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. In the start winning prize storage display area 5H, a hold storage display is performed in which the variable display hold number (special figure hold memory number) corresponding to the special figure game is identifiablely displayed. Here, in the hold of the variable display corresponding to the special figure game, the game ball passes through the first starting winning opening formed by the ordinary winning ball device 6A and the second starting winning opening formed by the ordinary variable winning ball device 6B. It occurs based on the starting prize by (entering). That is, the start condition (also referred to as "execution condition") for executing the variable display game such as the special figure game or the variable display of the decorative symbol is satisfied, but the variable display game based on the previously satisfied start condition is being executed. When the start condition that allows the start of the variable display game is not satisfied due to the fact that the pachinko game machine 1 is controlled to the jackpot game state, the variable display corresponding to the established start condition is held. Will be done.

For example, when the first start prize is generated when the game ball passes (enters) the first start prize opening, the start condition of the special figure game using the first special figure by the first special symbol display device 4A (first start condition). ) Is satisfied, and if the first start condition for starting the special figure game using the first special figure based on the establishment of the first start condition is not satisfied, the number of stored first special figures is 1. It is added (incremented), and the execution of the special figure game using the first special figure is suspended. In addition, due to the occurrence of the second start prize in which the game ball passes (enters) the second start prize opening, the start condition of the special figure game using the second special figure by the second special symbol display device 4B (second start condition). ) Is satisfied, and if the second start condition for starting the special figure game using the second special figure based on the establishment of the second start condition is not satisfied, the second special figure hold storage number is 1. It is added (incremented), and the execution of the special figure game using the second special figure is suspended. On the other hand, when the execution of the special figure game using the first special figure is started, the number of stored special figures of the first special figure is decremented by 1, and the execution of the special figure game using the second special figure is executed. Is started, the second special figure reserved memory number is decremented by 1.

The variable display hold storage number obtained by adding the first special figure hold storage number and the second special figure hold storage number is also particularly referred to as a total hold storage number. The term "special figure holding memory number" usually refers to a concept including all of the first special figure holding storage number, the second special figure holding storage number, and the total holding storage number, but in particular, a part of these (for example, for example). It may also refer to the concept of including the number of reserved memories of the first special figure and the number of reserved memories of the second special figure, but excluding the total number of reserved memories).

A display for displaying the number of reserved special figures may be provided together with the start winning prize memory display area 5H or in place of the start winning prize memory display 5H area. In the example shown in FIG. 1, along with the start winning prize storage display area 5H, the first hold for identifiable display of the number of special figure hold storages on the upper part of the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B. A display 25A and a second hold display 25B are provided. The first hold indicator 25A displays the number of hold storages of the first special figure in a identifiable manner. The second hold indicator 25B displays the number of second special figure hold storage identifiable. The number of the first hold indicator 25A and the second hold indicator 25B corresponds to, for example, the upper limit values (for example, "4") of the first special figure hold storage number and the second special figure hold storage number, respectively (for example, 4). It is configured to include (1) LEDs.

On the right side of the main image display device 5MA, a sub image display device 5SU that displays various images including a plurality of types of effect images is provided separately from the main image display device 5MA. The location where the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU are installed is not limited to the vicinity of the center of the game area on the game board 2. For example, the main image display device 5MA is installed near the center of the game area, while The sub-image display device 5SU may be installed at an arbitrary position on the pachinko gaming machine 1 such as outside the gaming area, the upper front surface, the lower front surface, and the side surface of the gaming machine frame 3.

Below the main image display device 5MA, a normal winning ball device 6A and a normal variable winning ball device 6B are provided. The ordinary winning ball device 6A forms a first starting winning opening as a starting region (first starting region) that is always kept in a constant open state by, for example, a predetermined ball receiving member. The ordinary variable winning ball device 6B is an electric motor having a pair of movable wing pieces that are changed into a normal open state in a vertical position and an expanded open state in a tilting position by a solenoid 27 for an ordinary electric accessory shown in FIG. It is equipped with a tulip-shaped accessory (ordinary electric accessory) and forms a starting area (second starting area) and a second starting winning opening. The normally variable winning ball device 6B closes the second starting winning opening so that the game ball does not pass (enter) because the movable wing piece is in the vertical position. On the other hand, in the normal variable winning ball device 6B, the game ball passes (enters) the second starting winning opening because the movable wing piece is in the tilting position when the solenoid 27 for the normal electric accessory is on. ) Make it open.

The game ball that has passed (entered) the first starting winning opening formed in the ordinary winning ball device 6A is detected by, for example, the first starting opening switch 22A shown in FIG. The game ball that has passed (entered) the second starting winning opening formed in the normally variable winning ball device 6B is detected by, for example, the second starting opening switch 22B shown in FIG. Based on the detection of the game balls by the first start port switch 22A, a predetermined number (for example, 3) of game balls are paid out as prize balls, and the first special figure reserved memory number is a predetermined upper limit value (for example, "" 4 ”) If it is less than or equal to, the first starting condition is satisfied. Based on the detection of the game balls by the second start port switch 22B, a predetermined number (for example, 3) of game balls are paid out as prize balls, and the second special figure reserved memory number is a predetermined upper limit value (for example, "" 4 ”) If it is less than or equal to, the second starting condition is satisfied.

A special variable winning ball device 7 is provided below the normal winning ball device 6A and the normal variable winning ball device 6B. The special variable winning ball device 7 includes a large winning opening door that is opened and closed by a solenoid 28 for the large winning opening door shown in FIG. 4, and a specific area that changes between an open state and a closed state depending on the large winning opening door. Form a big prize opening as. In the special variable winning ball device 7, when the solenoid 28 for the large winning opening door is off, the large winning opening door closes the large winning opening, and the game ball cannot pass (enter) the large winning opening. On the other hand, in the special variable winning ball device 7, when the solenoid 28 for the large winning opening door is on, the large winning opening door opens the large winning opening and the game ball passes through (entering) the large winning opening. ) It becomes easier. In this way, the large winning opening as a specific area changes into an open state in which the game ball easily passes (enters) and is advantageous to the player, and a closed state in which the game ball cannot pass (enter) and is disadvantageous to the player. To do.

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

A normal symbol display 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the game board 2 (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the left side of the game area). As an example, the ordinary symbol display 20 is composed of 7 segments, dot matrix LEDs, and the like like the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B, and has a plurality of types of identification information different from the special symbol. The normal pattern (also called "normal figure" or "normal figure") is variably displayed (variable display). Above the normal symbol display 20, a normal map hold indicator 25C for displaying the number of normal figure hold storage as the number of effective passing balls that have passed through the passing gate 41 is provided.

In addition to the above configuration, the surface of the game board 2 may be provided with a windmill that changes the flow direction and speed of the game ball, a large number of obstacle nails, and a single or a plurality of general winning openings. At the bottom of the game area, there is an out opening for taking in a game ball that has not entered any of the winning openings.

The game board 2 is provided with an effect movable mechanism 50 as a movable member capable of executing a display effect according to a lighting mode of a plurality of light emitting bodies arranged in an aligned manner. The effect movable mechanism 50 has a plurality of (for example, four) movable members. The effect movable mechanism 50 changes into a retracted state in which a plurality of movable members are separately located at the top and bottom of the screen of the main image display device 5MA, and an advanced state in which the plurality of movable members are located in front of the screen of the main image display device 5MA. be able to. In the following description, the up / down / left / right / front / rear directions will be described with reference to the state of facing the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

The effect movable mechanism 50 shown in FIG. 1 is in the retracted state. In this embodiment, the game area of the game board 2 is formed by a transparent plate (not shown) made of, for example, resin, the effect movable mechanism 50 is arranged behind the transparent plate, and the game ball is produced. It flows down in front of the movable mechanism 50. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and at least one of the plurality of movable members of the effect movable mechanism 50 may be arranged in front of the transparent plate forming the game area.

FIG. 2 shows a case where a plurality of movable members provided in the effect movable mechanism 50 are in an advanced state located in front of the main image display device 5MA. FIG. 3 shows an operation example of the effect movable mechanism 50. The effect movable mechanism 50 includes an upper mechanism having two movable members 51 and 52 located on the upper side of the screen of the main image display device 5MA in the retracted state, and 2 located on the lower side of the screen of the main image display device 5MA in the retracted state. It can be separated into a lower mechanism including two movable members 53 and 54. That is, the effect movable mechanism 50 includes an upper mechanism and a lower mechanism that can be arranged apart from each other or close to each other. When the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism are separated from each other, the retracted state is set as the first state. On the other hand, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism are close to each other, the advanced state is set as the second state. The upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are provided with a driving means for changing between a retracted state and an advanced state. The left ends of the movable members 51 and 52 are pivotally supported by the decorative member 57, and the movable members 51 and 52 are configured to be rotatable with respect to the decorative member 57. The decorative member 57 moves up and down with the operation of the movable member 51 by outputting the power from the operation motor 60A shown in FIG. 4 to the movable member 51.

The movable member 51 includes a front surface portion and a base body arranged behind the front surface portion, and holds the movable member 52 between the front surface portion and the base body. The movable member 52 receives power from the operation motor 60B shown in FIG. 4 and rotates upward or downward with respect to the movable member 51. The operation motor 60B may be attached to the front surface of the base body included in the movable member 51. The operation motor 60B provides a driving force for operably driving the movable member 52. The movable members 53 and 54 are connected to a predetermined link mechanism or the like, and the power from the operation motor 60C shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted via a power transmission unit or the like engaged with the link mechanism to move up and down. While doing so, it can rotate around the left end.

A movable member position sensor 61 shown in FIG. 4 is provided at a predetermined position of the effect movable mechanism 50. The movable member position sensor 61 may be any as long as it can directly or indirectly detect the state of the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57. As an example, the movable member position sensor 61 may be configured to include the first to third position sensors provided corresponding to the operating motors 60A to 60C. The first to third position sensors are configured by using a photo interrupter, a rotary encoder, or the like, and from the operating states of the corresponding operating motors 60A to 60C, for example, the positions of the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57. Anything that makes it possible to detect the states of the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57. As a specific example, the first position sensor detects the amount of rotation of the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60A, or detects the rotation position of the drive gear connected to the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60A. It outputs a position detection signal that can specify the operating positions of the movable members 51 and 52 and the decorative member 57. The second position sensor detects the amount of rotation of the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60B, or detects the rotation position of the drive gear connected to the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60B, so that the movable member with respect to the movable member 51 A position detection signal that can specify the relative operating position of 52 and the like is output. The third position sensor detects the amount of rotation of the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60C, or detects the rotation position of the drive gear connected to the rotation shaft of the operation motor 60C, so that the movable members 53 and 54 Outputs a position detection signal that can identify the operating position.

As another example, the movable member position sensor 61 may be configured to include first to fifth position sensors provided corresponding to the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57, respectively. The first to fourth position sensors are provided corresponding to the movable members 51 to 54, and the fifth position sensor is provided corresponding to the decorative member 57, each of which is a photo interrupter, a linear encoder, or another infrared sensor. Anything may be used as long as it is configured by using. As a result, the first to fifth position sensors may detect the operating states of the corresponding movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57, and output a position detection signal or the like according to the detection result. As described above, the movable member position sensor 61 may be configured to include a plurality of position sensors provided corresponding to the plurality of movable members.

A plurality of light emitting bodies are arranged and arranged in each of the movable members 51 and 52 along a predetermined direction such as a vertical and horizontal direction (vertical and horizontal direction). The plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the movable member 51 constitute the illuminant unit 71 among the illuminant units 71 to 74 shown in FIG. The plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the movable member 52 constitute the illuminant unit 72 among the illuminant units 71 to 74 shown in FIG. As described above, the movable members 51 and 52 each include a plurality of light emitters arranged in a matrix.

The plurality of light emitting bodies arranged so as to form the light emitting body units 71 and 72 include a plurality of types of light emitting elements, each of which has a different light emitting color from each other. For example, as each light emitting body, a full-color LED having a light emitting element capable of emitting light in R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is used. As a result, the movable member 51 and the movable member 52 emit light from the light emitter unit 71, such as displaying various colors in a single color over the entire area and displaying a plurality of colors in a rainbow color by distinguishing them within the region. It is possible to perform a display effect according to the lighting mode of a plurality of light emitters arranged and arranged in the body unit 72. As described above, the illuminant unit 73 and the illuminant unit 74 can execute the display effect by changing the color and pattern of the display (emission) using the plurality of illuminants with the passage of time. In front of the plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the illuminant units 71 and 72 included in the movable members 51 and 52, a partition body formed in a grid pattern is provided so as to partition each of the plurality of illuminants. ing. Further, a front plate for decorating the movable members 51 and 52 is provided on the front surface of the compartments of the movable members 51 and 52.

The movable members 53 and 54, like the movable members 51 and 52, each include a plurality of light emitters arranged in a matrix. That is, a plurality of light emitters are aligned and arranged in each of the movable members 53 and 54 along a predetermined direction such as a vertical and horizontal direction (vertical and horizontal direction). The plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the movable member 53 constitute the illuminant unit 73 among the illuminant units 71 to 74 shown in FIG. The plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the movable member 54 constitute the illuminant unit 74 among the illuminant units 71 to 74 shown in FIG.

The plurality of light emitters arranged so as to form the light emitter units 73 and 74 include a plurality of types of light emitting elements, each of which has a different emission color from each other. For example, as each light emitting body, a full-color LED having a light emitting element capable of emitting light in R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is used. As a result, the movable member 53 and the movable member 54 emit light from the light emitter unit 73, such as displaying various colors in a single color over the entire area and displaying a plurality of colors in a rainbow color by distinguishing them within the region. It is possible to perform a display effect according to the lighting mode of the plurality of light emitters arranged in the body unit 74. As described above, the illuminant unit 73 and the illuminant unit 74 can execute the display effect by changing the color and pattern of the display (emission) using the plurality of illuminants with the passage of time. In front of the plurality of illuminants arranged in alignment with the illuminant units 73 and 74 included in the movable members 53 and 54, a partition body formed in a grid pattern is provided so as to partition each of the plurality of illuminants. ing. Further, a front plate for decorating the movable members 53 and 54 is provided on the front surface of the compartments of the movable members 53 and 54.

The plurality of light emitters are not limited to those using a full-color LED, and for example, a single color or a plurality of color LEDs may be used, or a light emitter other than the LED may be used. The compartment may be composed of members formed in a three-dimensional grid pattern, or may be composed of, for example, a grid pattern formed on a transparent or translucent plate material by printing or cutting. .. The compartment is not limited to one that is configured to partition a plurality of illuminants one by one, and may be configured to partition a plurality of illuminants by a predetermined number, or in a predetermined direction (for example, in the lateral direction). And vertically) may be configured to partition. Further, it is not necessary to provide such a compartment.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in the retracted state in which the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are separated from each other, the movable members 51 to 54 overlap the display screen (display area) of the main image display device 5MA. It doesn't become. At this time, each of the movable members 51 and 52 is located above the main image display device 5MA, and the movable member 52 is located behind the movable member 51, so that the player cannot or cannot see the movable member 52. It becomes. Further, each of the movable members 53 and 54 is located below the main image display device 5MA, and the movable member 53 is located behind the movable member 54, so that the player cannot see or has difficulty in seeing the movable member 53. Become. In this way, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the retracted state, the display screen of the main image display device 5MA becomes visible.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the movable members 51 to 54 overlap the display screen (display area) of the main image display device 5MA in the advanced state in which the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are close to each other. .. When changing from the retracted state to the advanced state, the movable member 52 moves downward with rotation from the back side of the movable member 51, and the movable member 53 moves upward with rotation from the back side of the movable member 54. To do. Further, the movable member 51 moves downward with the movement of the movable member 52, and the movable member 54 moves upward with the movement of the movable member 53. In this way, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the advanced state, the display screen of the main image display device 5MA becomes difficult to see or cannot be seen.

When the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the arrangement directions of the plurality of light emitters aligned and arranged on the movable members 51 to 54 are the same. do not do. On the other hand, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the advanced state, as shown in FIG. 3B, the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitters arranged in alignment with each of the movable members 51 to 54. Match. In this way, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the advanced state, the arrangement directions of the plurality of light emitting bodies aligned and arranged in each of the movable members 51 to 54 are aligned, so that the movable member 51 It is possible to give a sense of unity to the display effects in each of ~ 54. In particular, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the advanced state, the effect of the effect can be improved by executing the integrated display effect by the plurality of movable members 51 to 54. Further, since the visibility of the main image display device 5MA with respect to the display screen changes depending on the positions of the plurality of movable members 51 to 54, it is possible to prevent the effect from becoming monotonous and improve the interest of the effect.

Speakers 8L and 8R for reproducing and outputting sound effects and the like are provided at the upper left and right positions of the game machine frame 3, and game effect lamps 9 are provided around the game area. Each structure in the game area of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (for example, a normal winning ball device 6A, a normal variable winning ball device 6B, a special variable winning ball device 7, a frame member arranged on the peripheral portion of the main image display device 5MA, etc.) Decorative LEDs may be arranged in the surroundings. At the lower right position of the game machine frame 3, a ball striking operation handle (operation knob) operated by a player or the like to launch the game ball as a game medium toward the game area is provided. For example, the hitting ball operation handle adjusts the elastic force of the game ball according to the amount of operation (rotation amount) by the player or the like. The ball striking operation handle may be provided with a single-shot launch switch for stopping the drive of the launch motor included in the ball striking device, or a touch ring (touch sensor).

At a predetermined position of the game machine frame 3 below the game area, the game balls paid out as prize balls and the game balls rented by the predetermined ball lending machine are held (stored) so as to be able to be supplied to the hitting ball launching device. ) An upper plate (ball hitting plate) is provided. At the lower part of the gaming machine frame 3, a lower plate is provided to hold (store) surplus balls and the like overflowing from the upper plate so that they can be discharged to the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

A stick controller 31A that can be gripped and tilted by the player is attached to a member forming the lower plate, for example, at a predetermined position on the front side of the upper surface of the lower plate body (for example, the central portion of the lower plate). There is. The stick controller 31A includes an operation stick held by the player, and a trigger button is provided at a predetermined position of the operation stick (for example, a position where the index finger of the operator hangs when the player holds the operation stick). There is. The trigger button can be operated by pushing and pulling with a predetermined operating finger (for example, index finger) while the player holds the operating rod of the stick controller 31A with an operating hand (for example, left hand). It suffices if it is configured as follows. A trigger sensor that detects a predetermined instruction operation such as a push-pull operation on the trigger button may be built in the operation stick.

A controller sensor unit including a tilting direction sensor unit for detecting a tilting operation with respect to the operation stick may be provided inside the main body of the lower plate at the lower part of the stick controller 31A. For example, the tilt direction sensor unit is two transmissive photosensors (parallel sensors) arranged parallel to the board surface of the game board 2 on the left side of the center position of the operation rod when viewed from the side of the player facing the pachinko game machine 1. A pair of) and two transmissive photosensors (vertical sensor pair) arranged perpendicular to the board surface of the game board 2 on the right side of the center position of the operation rod when viewed from the player's side. It may be configured to include a photo sensor.

The member forming the upper plate includes a push button 31B that allows the player to perform a predetermined instruction operation by pressing, for example, at a predetermined position on the front side (for example, above the stick controller 31A) on the upper surface of the upper plate body. It is provided. The push button 31B may be configured so that a predetermined instruction operation such as a pressing operation from the player can be detected mechanically, electrically, or electromagnetically. A push sensor that detects the player's operation action performed on the push button 31B may be provided inside the main body of the upper plate at the installation position of the push button 31B. When an operation by the player is detected in the stick controller 31A and the push button 31B, the effect control board 12 shown in FIG. 4 changes the display effect in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, or produces an effect. It may be used in an operation (for example, a notice effect or a reach effect) in which an operation in the movable mechanism 50, an audio output from the speakers 8L and 8R, and a lighting operation (blinking operation) in a light emitting body such as a game effect lamp 9 are performed. Instead of the stick controller 31A and the push button 31B, or together with the stick controller 31A and the push button 31B, a sensor for detecting the movement of the player may be provided. For example, a jog dial that can be rotated, a touch panel that can be touched or pressed, may be provided with a configuration that directly detects the movement of the player, or an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a CCD sensor, or the like. Like the CMOS sensor, it may be provided with a configuration that indirectly (remotely) detects the movement of the player. The result of photographing a subject such as a player's hand using a predetermined camera may be analyzed (video type motion capture) so that an arbitrary motion can be detected. That is, it suffices to have an arbitrary configuration that can detect the operation of an arbitrary object mechanically, electrically, or electromagnetically.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 is equipped with various control boards such as a main board 11, an effect control board 12, an audio output board 13, and a lamp output board 14, as shown in FIG. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is also equipped with a relay board 15 for relaying various control signals transmitted between the main board 11 and the effect control board 12. Further, a drive control board 16B and a light emitter control board 16C are mounted as control boards connected to the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A. In addition, various boards such as a payout control board, an information terminal board, a launch control board, and an interface board are arranged on the back surface of the game board 2 and the like in the pachinko game machine 1.

The main board 11 is a control board on the main side, and is equipped with various circuits for controlling the progress of the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1. The main board 11 is mainly addressed to a sub-side control board including a random number setting function used in a special figure game, a function of inputting a signal from a switch or the like arranged at a predetermined position, and an effect control board 12. , It has a function to output and transmit a control command as an example of command information as a control signal, and a function to output various information to the hall management computer. Further, the main board 11 performs lighting control and extinguishing control of each LED (for example, segment LED) constituting the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B to perform the first special symbol and the second. It also has a function to control the variable display of a predetermined display symbol such as controlling the variable display of a special figure. For example, a game control microcomputer 100, a switch circuit 110, a solenoid circuit 111, and the like are mounted on the main board 11 shown in FIG. The switch circuit 110 takes in detection signals from various switches for detecting the game ball and transmits them to the game control microcomputer 100. The solenoid circuit 111 transmits a solenoid drive signal from the game control microcomputer 100 to the solenoid 27 for the ordinary electric accessory and the solenoid 28 for the winning door.

As shown in FIG. 4, detection signals from various switches such as a gate switch 21, a start port switch (first start port switch 22A and a second start port switch 22B), and a count switch 23 are transmitted to the main board 11. The wiring is connected. The various switches may have an arbitrary configuration that can detect a game ball as a game medium, such as a switch called a sensor.

The effect control board 12 is a control board on the sub side independent of the main board 11, and the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display are displayed based on the effect control command transmitted from the main board 11 via the relay board 15. For various effects such as device 5SU, light emitter unit 71 to 74, speakers 8L, 8R, game effect lamp 9, movable members 51 to 54 and decorative members 57 connected to operation motors 60A to 60C, and other effect devices. It is equipped with various circuits for controlling the production operation by electrical parts. That is, the effect control board 12 displays images in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, outputs audio from the speakers 8L and 8R, and lights up in a plurality of light emitters arranged in the light emitter units 71 to 74. Effects such as lighting of the light emitting members constituting the game effect lamp 9 and the decorative LED, which are different from the light emitter units 71 to 74, and driving operations of the operation motors 60A to 60C for moving the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57. It is equipped with a function of determining the control content for causing the electric component to execute a predetermined effect operation. The effect control board 12 shown in FIG. 4 is equipped with an effect control microcomputer 120, a ROM 121, a RAM 122, and effect data memories 123A to 123C.

The effect control board 12 is used for wiring for transmitting a video signal to the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, and for transmitting a voice signal (effect sound signal) to the voice output board 13. Wiring, wiring for transmitting an illumination signal to the lamp output board 14, and the like are connected. Further, wiring for transmitting various signals to the drive control board 16B and the light emitter control board 16C is also connected via the effect control relay board 16A. The information signal transmitted to the drive control board 16B may include a drive control signal indicating a command or control data for moving the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57 by driving the operation motors 60A to 60C. .. The information signal transmitted to the light emitting body control board 16C may include a lighting signal indicating light emission data for lighting a plurality of light emitting bodies with respect to the light emitting body units 71 to 74. From the drive control board 16B, a position detection signal as an information signal indicating the result of detecting the position of the movable members 51 to 54 by the movable member position sensor 61 is transmitted to the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A. Be transmitted. Further, as wiring for receiving an operation detection signal as an information signal indicating that the player's operation action on the stick controller 31A has been detected, or as an information signal indicating that the player's operation action on the push button 31B has been detected. The wiring for receiving the operation detection signal of the above may also be connected to the effect control board 12.

The audio output board 13 is a board for audio output provided separately from the effect control board 12, and is for outputting sound from the speakers 8L and 8R, which are sound output devices, in accordance with the sound signal from the effect control board 12. Various circuits are installed. The lamp output board 14 is a board for lamp output provided separately from the effect control board 12, and is a driver IC or the like that supplies a drive current to the game effect lamp 9 or the like according to an illumination signal from the effect control board 12. Is installed.

The effect control relay board 16A is installed on a back pack or the like attached to the back surface of the game board 2, and relays various signals transmitted from the effect control board 12 to the drive control board 16B and the light emitter control board 16C. .. The back pack may be attached to the central portion on the back surface side of the game board 2, and an opening facing the main image display device 5MA may be formed in the center thereof. The back pack may be provided so as to cover the main board 11, the audio output board 13, the lamp output board 14, the drive control board 16B, the illuminant control board 16C, and the like from behind. An effect control board box containing the effect control board 12 may be attached to the rear surface side of the back pack.

The drive control board 16B is a control board for controlling the effect movable mechanism provided separately from the effect control board 12, and the movable members 51 to 54 are rotated based on commands and control data from the effect control board 12. A driver IC or the like for controlling or controlling the movement of the decorative member 57 is mounted. The output signal from the drive control board 16B is transmitted toward the operating motors 60A to 60C. Further, if the drive control board 16B includes wiring for transmitting the position detection signal output from the movable member position sensor 61 to the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A. Good. The illuminant control board 16C is a control board for illuminant output provided separately from the effect control board 12, and is arranged in the illuminant units 71 to 74 based on commands and control data from the effect control board 12. It is equipped with various circuits for driving the light emitters for controlling the lighting of the plurality of light emitters.

The control signal transmitted from the main board 11 to the effect control board 12 is relayed by the relay board 15. The control command transmitted from the main board 11 to the effect control board 12 via the relay board 15 is, for example, an effect control command transmitted and received as an electric signal. The effect control commands include, for example, display control commands used to control image display operations in the main image display device 5MA and sub image display device 5SU, and audio used to control audio output from the speakers 8L and 8R. It includes control commands, lamp control commands used to control the lighting operation of the game effect lamp 9 and the decorative LED, and movable mechanism control commands used to control the operation of the effect movable mechanism 50. ..

The game control microcomputer 100 mounted on the main board 11 is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, which is a ROM (Read Only Memory) 101 for storing game control programs, fixed data, and the like, and a game control work. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 that provides the area, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 103 that executes the game control program to perform the control operation, and the numerical data indicating the random value are updated independently of the CPU 103. It is configured to include a random number circuit 104 to perform and an I / O (Input / Output port) 105. The random number circuit 104 is not limited to the one built in the game control microcomputer 100, and may be externally attached to the game control microcomputer 100.

As an example, in the game control microcomputer 100, a process for controlling the progress of the game in the pachinko game machine 1 is executed by executing the program read from the ROM 101 by the CPU 103. At this time, a fixed data read operation in which the CPU 103 reads fixed data from the ROM 101, a variable data writing operation in which the CPU 103 writes various variable data to the RAM 102 and temporarily stores them, and various variable data temporarily stored in the RAM 102 by the CPU 103. The variable data read operation, the CPU 103 receives input of various signals from the outside of the game control microcomputer 100 via the I / O 105, and the CPU 103 goes to the outside of the game control microcomputer 100 via the I / O 105. A transmission operation that outputs various signals is also performed. The random number circuit 104 may count numerical data indicating a part or all of various random number values used for controlling the progress of the game.

In addition to the game control program, the ROM 101 included in the game control microcomputer 100 stores various selection data, table data, and the like used for controlling the progress of the game. For example, the ROM 101 stores data constituting a plurality of determination tables, determination tables, setting tables, etc. prepared for the CPU 103 to perform various determinations, determinations, and settings. Further, the ROM 101 is configured with table data that constitutes a plurality of command tables used by the CPU 103 to transmit control signals that are various control commands from the main board 11, and a variation pattern table that stores a plurality of types of variation patterns. The table data to be used is stored.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of various circuits mounted on the effect control board 12. For example, the effect control microcomputer 120, the ROM 121, the RAM 122, the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the like are mounted on the effect control board 12. The ROM 121, RAM 122, and effect data memories 123A to 123C may be partially or wholly built in the effect control microcomputer 120, or part or all of them may be outside the effect control microcomputer 120. It may be attached. The effect control microcomputer 120 shown in FIG. 5 is configured by using, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, and includes a CPU 130, a work memory 131, a host interface 132, a DRAM interface 133, and a data memory interface 134. There is. Further, the effect control microcomputer 120 includes a VDP (Video Display Processor) 140, a VRAM (Video RAM) 141, a display output system interface 142, an audio processing circuit 143, an audio interface 144, and a general-purpose output controller 145. It has. The VDP 140 may be a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a GCL (Graphics Controller LSI), or a microprocessor for image processing generally called a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The VDP 140, VRAM 141, display output system interface 142, audio processing circuit 143, audio interface 144, and general-purpose output controller 145 may be partly or wholly built in the effect control microcomputer 120, or partly. Alternatively, all of them may be configured as an external circuit of the effect control microcomputer 120.

The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 executes the control process according to the effect control program. The ROM 121 stores an effect control program, fixed data, and the like that are read out by the CPU 130 to execute the control process. The RAM 122 temporarily stores various effect data read from the effect data memories 123A to 123C. The effect data temporarily stored in the RAM 122 is provided to execute various processes by the CPU 130 and the VDP 140. In addition to the effect control program, the ROM 121 stores various data tables and the like used to control the effect operation. For example, in the ROM 121, a plurality of determination tables prepared for the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 to perform various determinations, determinations, and settings, table data constituting the determination tables, and various effect control patterns are configured. Pattern data etc. are stored. The effect control pattern includes, for example, effect control execution data (display control data, voice control data, lamp control data, movable member control data, operation detection control data, etc.) and an end code associated with the effect control process timer determination value. It consists of included process data. Various data used for controlling the effect operation are stored in the RAM 122.

The effect data memories 123A to 123C store fixed data for executing the effect. Of the effect data memories 123A to 123C, the effect data memories 123A and 123B have storage areas for preliminarily storing various image data (image element data) indicating the display image in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU. It suffices if it is provided. The effect data memory 123C includes a storage area for storing various motor data indicating the drive control contents of the operation motors 60A to 60C in advance, and various lighting control contents of the game effect lamp 9 and the light emitter units 71 to 74. A storage area or the like for storing light emission data in advance may be provided. The light emission data indicating the lighting control contents of the light emitter units 71 to 74 may be generated by using the image data. The effect data memories 123A to 123C may be, for example, non-rewritable semiconductor memories, rewritable semiconductor memories such as flash memory such as NAND-ROM, or non-volatile such as magnetic memory and optical memory. It may be configured by using any of the sex recording media.

The data for creating the lighting data (light emission data) of the light emitter units 71 to 74 is added to the image data of the effect image to be displayed on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU, and is either the effect data memory 123A or 123B. It may be stored in advance. Alternatively, the data for creating the lighting data of the illuminant units 71 to 74 is the effect data memory 123A to the effect data memory 123A to the effect data that is separate from the image data of the effect image to be displayed on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU. The display data stored in advance in any of the 123Cs and used to create the lighting data when the VDP 140 of the effect control microcomputer 120 executes the drawing process is the display of the effect image on the display screen of the sub image display device 5SU. It may be added to the data.

FIG. 6 shows a setting example of addresses, stored contents, and the like in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C. FIG. 6A shows an example of setting the storage contents in the ROM 121. A continuous address from the address MA00, which is the start address, to the address MA10, which is the final address, is assigned to the ROM 121. FIG. 6B1 shows an example of setting the storage contents in the effect data memory 123A. As the start address, the effect data memory 123A is assigned an address MA10 + 1, which is a continuous next address to the final address of the ROM 121, and a continuous address up to the address MA20, which is the final address. FIG. 6B2 shows an example of setting the storage contents in the effect data memory 123B. As the start address, the effect data memory 123B is assigned an address MA20 + 1, which is a continuous next address to the final address of the effect data memory 123A, and a continuous address up to the address MA30, which is the final address. FIG. 6B3 shows an example of setting the storage contents in the effect data memory 123C. As the start address, the effect data memory 123C is assigned an address MA30 + 1, which is a continuous next address to the final address of the effect data memory 123B, and a continuous address up to the address MA40, which is the final address. In this way, continuous addresses are assigned to the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the address next to the final address in the ROM 121 is the start address of the effect data memory 123A.

In the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, programs and data used for executing the effect by various effect devices are stored in advance as effect data (including binary codes constituting the program module). The ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C are provided with a plurality of storage areas (storage areas) according to the storage contents. For example, the ROM 121 has a first storage area in which a program for effect control and various management data are stored, a second storage area in which audio data is stored, and a reserve other than the first storage area and the second storage area. There is an area. For example, when the entire ROM 121 has a storage capacity of 8 gigabits, the first storage area may have a storage capacity of 1 gigabit and the second storage area may have a storage capacity of 6 gigabits. The first storage area may have a storage capacity of 1.5 gigabits or 2 gigabits. The effect data memory 123A is provided with a storage area for storing audio data and a storage area for storing image data. Table data of various tables prepared for the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 to perform various determinations, determinations, and settings, pattern data constituting the effect control pattern, and the like are stored in the ROM 121 as management data. Just do it. Audio data used for controlling sound output by the speakers 8L and 8R is stored in the ROM 121 and the effect data memory 123A. The effect data memories 123A and 123B store image data used for controlling the display of the effect image in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, and are further arranged and arranged in the light emitter units 71 to 74. Image data used for lighting control in a plurality of light emitters may be stored.

The ROM 121 is provided with a storage area for storing audio data, and at least audio data is stored. Therefore, the ROM 121 provides at least a first area for storing voice data as first control data used for voice control for outputting voice from the speakers 8L and 8R. The effect data memory 123A is provided with a storage area for storing image data. Therefore, the effect data memory 123A is used for display control for displaying an image on the main image display device 5MA and sub image display device 5SU, or for lighting control for lighting a plurality of light emitters arranged in the light emitter units 71 to 74. 2 Provide a second area for storing image data as control data.

In this embodiment, a storage area for storing audio data is provided not only in the ROM 121 but also in the effect data memory 123A. The storage area in which the audio data is stored in the ROM 121 is assigned from the address MA02 shown in FIG. 6A to the address MA10 which is the final address in the ROM 121. As shown in FIG. 6 (B1), the storage area in which the audio data is stored in the effect data memory 123A is allocated from the address MA10 + 1 to the address MA11, which is the start address of the effect data memory 123A. In this way, the effect data memory 123A that provides the second area stores audio data in a continuous specific address range from the next address MA10 + 1 to the address MA11 of the final address MA10 of the ROM 121 that provides the first area. Area is assigned. In the effect data memory 123A that provides the second area, voice data as the first control data is stored in the storage area corresponding to the specific address range that is continuous from the final address of the ROM 121 that provides the first area. That is, the audio data as the first control data is finally stored in the ROM 121 not only in the storage area provided in the ROM 121 providing the first area but also in the storage area provided in the effect data memory 123A providing the second area. It is also stored in the storage area to which consecutive addresses from the address MA10 + 1, which is the next address of the address MA10, to the address MA11 are assigned.

The effect data memory 123A originally provides a storage area for storing image data used for display control of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU. On the other hand, since it is necessary to prepare audio data corresponding to various musical pieces, the amount of control information data to be stored in order to control the production by various production devices in the ROM 121 or the like increases, and the storage capacity becomes insufficient. In some cases. In this case, if a separate new storage device is prepared, the manufacturing cost of the pachinko gaming machine 1 increases. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the pachinko gaming machine 1 can be reduced by providing the effect data memory 123A with a data storage area used for control different from the image data. When the audio data storage area is provided, the storage area corresponding to the specific address range continuous from the final address assigned to the audio data storage area in the ROM 121 is allocated to the effect data memory 123A. As a result, even if the audio data is stored across both the storage area of the ROM 121 and the storage area of the effect data memory 123A, the address is updated (incremented) and read out in the same manner as the other audio data. Therefore, the voice data can be appropriately read out.

The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 shown in FIG. 5 executes a process for controlling the effect operation by the effect control electric component according to the effect control program read from the ROM 121. At this time, a fixed data read operation in which the CPU 130 reads fixed data from the ROM 121 via the host interface 132, a variable data writing operation in which the CPU 130 writes various variable data to the RAM 122 via the DRAM interface 133 and temporarily stores the variable data, the CPU 130. Is a variable data read operation that reads various variable data temporarily stored in the RAM 122 via the DRAM interface 133, and the CPU 130 receives various signals from the outside of the effect control microcomputer 120 such as the main board 11 via the host interface 132 or the like. A reception operation for accepting input, a transmission operation in which the CPU 130 outputs various signals to the outside of the effect control microcomputer 120 via the host interface 132 and various other circuits are also performed. Further, the CPU 130 can access the effect data memories 123A to 123C via the data memory interface 134 and read the stored data.

The VDP140 of the effect control microcomputer 120 has image data processing functions such as a high-speed drawing function and a moving image decoding function for displaying various images on the screens of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU. This is an image processor that executes image data processing in accordance with a display control command from the CPU 130. The VDP 140 can access the effect data memories 123A to 123C via the internal bus of the effect control microcomputer 120 or the data memory interface 134, and can read out image data and the like. The image data stored in the image data memories 123A and 123B may be used when creating data (lighting data) for controlling lighting of a plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74.

The VRAM 141 provides a work area for temporarily storing image data read from the effect data memories 123A and 123B, and a virtual display in which display data of the effect image created by drawing processing by the VDP 140 is expanded and stored. Provide an area. If each area such as a palette area in which palette data is arranged, a character buffer in which character image data read from the image data memory 121 is stored, and a CG buffer is allocated to the storage area of the VRAM 141, for example. Good. The CG buffer temporarily stores palette data in which the display color of the character is defined when the drawing process by VDP140 is executed, and temporarily stores the display data of the effect image created by the drawing process. It is used to do things like that. The display data expanded and stored in the VRAM 141 may be, for example, pixel data (raster data) created by the VDP 140 based on vector data (vector data) such as points, lines, and polygons. The VRAM 141 contains, for example, an actual display area for storing display data of various images displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, and display data of various images not displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. A virtual display area to be stored may be included. Alternatively, display data for displaying a screen having the same size as the display screen of the main image display device 5MA is created in the virtual display area of the VRAM 141, and the display data of the virtual display area read by the VDP 140 is displayed and output. It may be output from the system interface 142 to the side of the main image display device 5MA.

An image display area and an image drawing area may be allocated to the storage area of the VRAM 141. In the image display area, display data for displaying an effect image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU is stored. The display data of each effect image created by the drawing process is stored in the image drawing area. The image display area and the image drawing area may be switched to each other each time a V blank occurs. The V blank is generated at a cycle of updating the image displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU. Every time the V blank is started, a V blank interrupt signal is output from the VDP 140 to the CPU 130, and various other interrupt signals are output from the VDP 140 to the CPU 130.

By switching between the image display area and the image drawing area each time a V-blank occurs, display data of each effect image is created in the storage area allocated as the image drawing area in a certain V-blank cycle (first drawing display period). The drawing process is performed, and in the next V blank period (second drawing display period), this storage area is switched to the image display area. Therefore, the display data created by the drawing process in the first drawing display period is output from the display output system interface 142 to the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU in the second drawing display period, and also. In the storage area to which the image drawing area is allocated in the second drawing display period, the display data created by the drawing process is stored.

A mainframe buffer and a subframe buffer may be allocated to each of the storage areas to which the image display area and the image drawing area are allocated in the VRAM 141. In the main frame buffer, display data for displaying an effect image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA is stored. In the sub-frame buffer, display data for displaying the effect image on the screen of the sub-image display device 5SU and display data for creating lighting data of the light emitter units 71 to 74 may be stored. In this way, lighting data for controlling lighting of a plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74 may be created by using a part of the display data stored in the subframe buffer.

The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 accesses the system register and the attribute register built in the VDP 140. Then, various commands and data are stored in the system register and the attribute register according to the process data such as the display control data included in the effect control pattern. In this way, in the effect control microcomputer 120, the display operation in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU and the lighting operation in the light emitter units 71 to 74 are indirectly controlled by the CPU 130.

The process data shows the setting contents that the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 performs on the system register and the attribute register of the VDP 140 each time a V blank occurs. The system register settings include drawing, data transfer commands, CG data and palette data for data transfer, and attribute settings. Further, the setting content of the attribute register may indicate an attribute as a parameter used in the drawing process of the effect image. In the process data, the attribute is set so that the image is updated every time a V blank occurs. As a result, the image can be updated every time a V blank occurs.

The display output system interface 142 displays a color signal (gradation control signal) corresponding to the display data output from the VDP 140 and a predetermined clock signal (dot clock signal) or scanning signal (drive control signal) as the main image display device 5MA. Various images can be displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA by outputting to. Further, the display output system interface 142 displays a sub-image of a color signal (gradation control signal) corresponding to the display data output from the VDP 140 and a predetermined clock signal (dot clock signal) or scanning signal (drive control signal). By outputting to the device 5SU or the like, various images can be displayed on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU.

The voice processing circuit 143 is a processing circuit that executes voice signal processing. The voice processing circuit 143 accesses the ROM 121 via the internal bus or host interface 132 of the effect control microcomputer 120, or the effect data memory 123A to the effect data memory 123A via the internal bus or data memory interface 134 of the effect control microcomputer 120. By accessing 123C, it is possible to read audio data and the like. The audio processing circuit 143 may directly access the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, or may be read from the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C by access by the CPU 130, for example. It may be accessed indirectly by receiving the supply of voice data. The voice processing circuit 143 generates a voice signal (sound effect signal) using the voice data. The voice signal (sound effect signal) generated by the voice processing circuit 143 is output to the voice output board 13 via the voice interface 144.

The general-purpose output controller 145 is a control circuit for performing operation control in various production devices such as lighting control of the game effect lamp 9 and drive control of the operation motors 60A to 60C. The general-purpose output controller 145 can read out motor data and light emission data by accessing the effect data memories 123A to 123C via the internal bus of the effect control microcomputer 120 or the data memory interface 134. The general-purpose output controller 145 may directly access the effect data memories 123A to 123C. For example, the motor data and light emission read from the effect data memories 123A to 123C by the access by the CPU 130. It may be accessed indirectly by receiving the supply of data. The general-purpose output controller 145 outputs the motor data and light emission data read from the effect data memory 123C, or the display data supplied from the VDP 140, as serial signal system data (serial data). The serial data output from the general-purpose output controller 145 may be transmitted to the drive control board 16B and the light emitter control board 16C via the effect control relay board 16A.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the light emitter control board 16C. The illuminant control board 16C is equipped with various circuits for controlling the lighting mode of the illuminant units 71 to 74 by the plurality of illuminants. The illuminant control board 16C shown in FIG. 7 is equipped with a buffer memory 151, a lighting data generation circuit 152, a serial output circuit 153, and a illuminant drive unit 154.

The buffer memory 151 temporarily stores the data transmitted from the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A. The data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151 may be any data corresponding to the display data generated by the VDP 140 or the light emission data read from the effect data memory 123C. The lighting data generation circuit 152 reads the stored data of the buffer memory 151 and executes a predetermined conversion process to generate lighting data constituting the lighting control information. The lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 includes drive control data that is drive control information that specifies the drive timing of the light emitter and a floor that specifies the brightness (gradation) corresponding to each emission color of the light emitter. It suffices if the gradation data serving as the key control information is included.

The lighting data generation circuit 152 divides a region in which a plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74 are arranged in each of the movable members 51 to 54 into a plurality of blocks, and the light emitting body is divided into a plurality of blocks. Create lighting data for. In this embodiment, illuminant blocks B01 to B42 are preset as a plurality of blocks. The lighting data generation circuit 153 generates lighting data corresponding to each of the light emitter blocks B01 to B42.

FIG. 8 shows a setting example in which a region of the movable member 51 in which a plurality of light emitters are arranged and arranged is divided into a plurality of blocks. Areas in which a plurality of light emitters are arranged in the movable member 51 are divided into light emitter blocks B01 to B06 as shown in FIG. 8 (A) and light emitter blocks B07 to B15 as shown in FIG. 8 (B). It is divided. Similar to the movable member 51, the movable members 52 to 54 other than the movable member 51 are also set so that the region in which the plurality of light emitters are arranged is divided into a plurality of blocks. As a result, the entire illuminant units 71 to 74 provided in each of the movable members 51 to 54 are divided into illuminant blocks B01 to B42. The number of divisions of the light emitting body block may be arbitrarily set based on the number of movable members constituting the effect movable mechanism 50, the size of the area in which the plurality of light emitting bodies are arranged, and the like. ..

Each of the light emitter blocks B01 to B42 has a square shape such as a rectangle or a square as a basic shape. Therefore, due to the shape of the movable members 51 to 54, etc., the area in which a plurality of light emitters are arranged in each of the light emitter units 71 to 74 cannot be accommodated in the rectangular light emitter block, and one light emission is performed. There may be a surplus area where illuminants less than the body block are placed. Further, in the plurality of illuminant blocks, an empty area in which the illuminant is not arranged may occur in a part of the square shape. Therefore, by including the surplus area in which the illuminants less than one illuminant block are arranged in the empty area in any of the illuminant blocks, the processing load of the lighting control for the plurality of illuminants is reduced.

The serial output circuit 153 outputs a control signal including lighting control information corresponding to the lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 to the light emitting body driving unit 154 in a serial signal system. The control signal corresponding to the lighting data may include a drive control signal corresponding to the drive control data and a gradation data signal corresponding to the gradation data. The serial output circuit 153 has a plurality of signal output configurations (output circuit and output wiring) such as 21 systems as a serial output system for outputting a control signal. Serial signal wirings corresponding to each of the 21 serial output systems K01 to K21 are connected to the serial output circuit 153, and a control signal including lighting control information is output to each wiring in a serial signal system. In this way, the serial output circuit 153 outputs a control signal including lighting control information to a plurality of serial signal wirings in a serial signal system.

FIG. 9 shows an example of connection setting between the serial output system and the illuminant block. In the connection setting example shown in FIG. 9, two illuminant blocks out of the illuminant blocks B01 to B42 are assigned to each serial output system K01 to K21. For example, a illuminant driver for controlling lighting of the illuminant block B01 and the illuminant block B02 is connected to the serial output system K01 via serial signal wiring. A light emitter driver for controlling lighting of the light emitter block B03 and the light emitter block B04 is connected to the serial output system K02 via serial signal wiring. Also for the serial output system K03 or later, a light emitter driver or the like for lighting control of two light emitter blocks is connected to one serial output system. A plurality of light emitter drivers that control lighting of the light emitters included in the light emitter block assigned to the serial output system 1 may be connected by a serial bus method via serial signal wiring. Note that the connection is not limited to the serial bus method, and a plurality of light emitter drivers may be connected in series (connected by the daisy chain method).

The light emitting body driving unit 144 shown in FIG. 7 includes a plurality of driver ICs (light emitting body drivers) that control lighting of a plurality of light emitting bodies included in the regions divided into the light emitting body blocks B01 to B42. .. Each driver IC controls the lighting of a plurality of light emitters based on the lighting control information indicated by the control signal transmitted from the serial output circuit 153 via the serial signal wiring. Each driver IC is configured to include, for example, a shift register, converts data transmitted by the serial signal system into data of the parallel signal system, and outputs the data to a plurality of signal lines. Each of the plurality of illuminant drivers has a driver IC on the strobe side, which is a drive control circuit that controls the drive of the illuminant according to the drive control data indicated by the drive control signal, and the gradation data indicated by the gradation data signal. It is classified into one of the digit-side driver ICs, which is a gradation control circuit that controls the gradation of the light emitter according to the situation. In each of the light emitting body blocks B01 to B42, dynamic lighting control of a plurality of light emitting bodies is performed for each light emitting body block by using the driver IC on the strobe side and the driver IC on the digit side.

As a specific example, FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a light emitter driver using a driver IC corresponding to the light emitter block B11. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 10, as a plurality of illuminant drivers corresponding to the illuminant block B11, the illuminant driver 411S on the strobe side, the illuminant driver 411DU on the upper side of the digit, and the illuminant driver 411DD on the lower side of the digit are used. It is provided. The serial signal wiring of the serial output system K06 shown in FIG. 9 consists of a strobe-side illuminant driver 411S, a digit-upper illuminant driver 411DU, and a digit-lower illuminant driver 411DD corresponding to the illuminant block B11 from the serial output circuit 153. It suffices to be connected in the order of, and then to the illuminant driver provided corresponding to the illuminant block B12.

Different address information is assigned to each of the illuminant driver 411S, the illuminant driver 411DU, and the illuminant driver 411DD. The serial output circuit 153 outputs a control signal indicating lighting control information to which address information is added to the serial signal wiring included in the serial output system K06, so that any of the plurality of light emitter drivers corresponding to the light emitter block B11. Crab lighting Control information is transmitted.

The serial signal wiring may include a serial clock wiring in which the serial clock SC is transmitted and a serial data wiring in which the serial data SD synchronized with the serial clock SC is transmitted. The light emitter driver connected to the serial signal wiring takes in drive control data or gradation data transmitted as serial data SD synchronized with the serial clock SC, and controls lighting of a plurality of light emitters.

The illuminant block B11 includes a half block B11U composed of a plurality of illuminants whose gradation is controlled by the illuminant driver 411DU on the upper side of the digit, and a plurality of illuminants whose gradation is controlled by the illuminant driver 411DD on the lower side of the digit. It is composed of a combination with a half block B11D composed of. As described above, each illuminant block may be composed of a combination of half blocks that are modules smaller than the illuminant block. The plurality of illuminant blocks are not limited to those composed of a combination of two half blocks. For example, the plurality of illuminant blocks may include a illuminant block composed of only one half block in addition to the illuminant block composed of a combination of two half blocks. When the illuminant block B11 is composed of only one half block, the illuminant driver 411S on the strobe side and the illuminant driver 411DU on the upper side of the digit are provided, but the illuminant driver 411DD on the lower side of the digit is not provided. It may be configured. As described above, each illuminant block may be configured to include one illuminant driver on the strobe side and one or two illuminant drivers on the digit side.

The half block B11U and the half block B11D may be configured so that the number of illuminants is the same. For example, the illuminant driver 411S on the strobe side outputs a strobe signal that is a drive control signal for driving and controlling a plurality of illuminants arranged in 12 rows to which 12 strobe signal lines are connected. Eight digit signal lines are connected to each of the illuminant driver 411DU on the upper side of the digit and the illuminant driver 411DD on the lower side of the digit, and gradation data for controlling the gradation of a plurality of illuminants arranged in eight lines. Outputs a digit signal that becomes a signal. Therefore, both the half block B11U corresponding to the upper side of the digit and the half block B11D corresponding to the lower side of the digit are formed so as to include a total of 96 illuminants consisting of 12 columns on the strobe side and 8 rows on the digit side. There is. Similarly, the half blocks constituting the illuminant block other than the illuminant block B11 may be formed so as to include a total of 96 illuminants. As described above, each of the half blocks as a module constituting the illuminant block may be configured so that the same number of illuminants can be lit and controlled.

The number of illuminants included in one half block is not limited to 96 in total, and may be any number predetermined based on the specifications and design of the illuminant driver. For example, when a plurality of light emitters arranged in eight columns are driven and controlled with eight strobe signal lines, a total of 64 light emitters consisting of eight columns on the strobe side and eight rows on the digit side are used. It may be formed so as to be included in one half block. Further, the number of illuminants whose lighting can be controlled by one half block and the number of illuminants actually included in one half block do not necessarily have to always match. For example, while the number of illuminants whose lighting can be controlled by one half block is 96, the number of illuminants actually included in one half block depends on the arrangement of illuminants in the illuminant units 71 to 74 and the like. It may be less than 96 pieces. As described above, it suffices that the lighting is controlled so as to control the lighting of a predetermined number or less of the light emitting bodies for each half block as a module smaller than the plurality of blocks in which the area in which the plurality of light emitting bodies are arranged is divided.

The lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data for dynamically lighting control of a plurality of light emitters for each of the plurality of light emitter blocks B01 to B42. For example, as drive control data that serves as drive control information for designating the drive timing of the light emitter, control data for time-division driving a plurality of light emitters at different timings for each strobe signal line is generated. Further, gradation data as gradation control information for designating the brightness (gradation) for each emission color is generated by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control according to a plurality of light emitters connected to each digit signal line. The light emitter driver on the digit side is not limited to the one that controls the gradation of the light emitter according to the output period of the pulse signal as in the PWM control method. For example, the number of pulse signals to be output within a certain period ( The gradation of the illuminant may be controlled according to the physical amount (pulse amount) of the pulse signal, such as the number of pulses) and the amplitude (drive current value) of the pulse signal.

The serial output circuit 153 outputs the lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 to the serial signal wiring of the serial output system to which the light emitter block to be controlled by lighting is connected by the serial signal method. The strobe-side illuminant driver provided corresponding to each illuminant block drives and controls a plurality of illuminants connected to the strobe signal line by outputting a strobe signal based on drive control data. The illuminant driver on the upper side of the digit or the lower side of the digit provided corresponding to each illuminant block outputs a digit signal based on the gradation data to gradation a plurality of illuminants connected to the digit signal line. Control. In this way, in each of the light emitter units 71 to 74, the plurality of light emitters arranged in alignment emit light at a duty ratio corresponding to the digit signal during the light emission drive period when the strobe signal is turned on, and the plurality of light emitter blocks The lighting mode can be changed for each of B01 to B42 by a dynamic lighting method (also referred to as a pulse lighting method, a duty lighting method, or a time division lighting method). In this way, by configuring the illuminant blocks B01 to B42 to perform dynamic lighting control for each of the plurality of illuminant blocks B01 to B42, the illuminant drive unit 154 can execute lighting control in parallel using a plurality of illuminant drivers. ..

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, a predetermined game is performed using a game ball as a game medium, and a predetermined game value can be given based on the game result. As an example of a game using a game ball, a predetermined hit ball is launched based on a predetermined operation (for example, a rotation operation) of a ball hitting operation handle installed at the lower right of the front surface of the housing in the pachinko gaming machine 1. A game ball as a game medium is launched toward the game area by a launch motor or the like provided in the device. When the game ball passes (enters) the first start winning opening formed in the normal winning ball device 6A, the first starting ball is detected by the first starting opening switch 22A shown in FIG. The starting condition is satisfied. After that, for example, the first start condition is satisfied based on the fact that the previous special figure game or the jackpot game state has ended. In this way, the special figure game using the first special figure by the first special symbol display device 4A is started.

When the game ball launched toward the game area passes (enters) the second start winning opening formed in the normally variable winning ball device 6B, the game ball is detected by the second starting opening switch 22B shown in FIG. Will be done. The second start condition is satisfied based on the fact that the game ball is detected by the second start port switch 22B. After that, for example, the second start condition is satisfied based on the fact that the previous special figure game or the jackpot game state has ended. In this way, the special figure game using the second special figure by the second special symbol display device 4B is executed. When the normally variable winning ball device 6B is in the normally open state as the second variable state, it is difficult or impossible for the game ball to pass through the second starting winning opening.

In the normal variable winning ball device 6B, based on the fact that the variable display result of the normal symbol by the normal symbol display 20 is "normal symbol hit", the opening control and the expansion opening in which the movable wing piece of the electric tulip becomes the tilt position Control is performed, and closing control or normal opening control that returns to the vertical position after a predetermined time is performed is performed. The opening control and the expansion / opening control make it easy or possible for the game ball to pass through the second starting winning opening when the normally variable winning ball device 6B is in the expanded / open state as the first variable state. The normal symbol start condition for executing the variable display of the normal symbol by the normal symbol display 20 is established based on the fact that the game ball that has passed through the passing gate 41 is detected by the gate switch 21 shown in FIG. After the normal symbol start condition is satisfied, for example, the normal symbol display 20 is used based on the fact that the normal symbol start condition for starting the variable display of the normal symbol is satisfied, such as the end of the previous normal symbol game. The figure game is started. In this normal symbol game, when a predetermined time elapses after starting the fluctuation of the normal symbol, the confirmed normal symbol, which is the variable display result of the normal symbol, is stopped and displayed (derived display). At this time, if a specific normal symbol (design per normal symbol) is stopped and displayed as the confirmed normal symbol, the variable display result of the normal symbol becomes "per normal symbol". On the other hand, if a normal symbol other than the normal symbol per symbol is stopped and displayed as a confirmed normal symbol, the variable display result of the normal symbol becomes "normal symbol loss".

When the special symbol game using the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A is started, or when the special symbol game using the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 4B is started, it is special. Whether or not to make the variable display result of the symbol a "big hit" as a predetermined specific display result is determined (predetermined) before the variable display result is derived and displayed. Then, the variation pattern is determined at a predetermined ratio based on the determination of the variable display result, and the effect control command for designating the variable display result and the variation pattern is the game control microcomputer 100 of the main board 11 shown in FIG. Is transmitted toward the effect control board 12.

After the special figure game is started based on the determination of the variable display result and the fluctuation pattern, for example, when a predetermined variable display time corresponding to the fluctuation pattern elapses, a definite special symbol that becomes the variable display result is derived. Is displayed. The "left", "middle", and "right" arranged on the screen of the main image display device 5MA corresponding to the variable display of the special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B. In the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R, variable display of decorative symbols (directed symbols) different from the special symbols is performed. The decorative symbols that are variably displayed in the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right" are also referred to as left symbol, middle symbol, and right symbol, respectively.

In a special symbol game using the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A and a special symbol game using the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 4B, a definite special that results in a variable display of the special symbol. When the symbol is derived and displayed, the main image display device 5MA derives and displays a fixed decorative symbol that is a variable display result of the decorative symbol. As the variable display result of the special symbol, the variable display result becomes "big hit" (specific display result) when the predetermined jackpot symbol is derived and displayed, and the variable display result is derived and displayed when the predetermined lost symbol is derived and displayed. It becomes "missing" (non-specific display result). Based on the variable display result being "big hit", it is controlled to the big hit game state as a specific game state which is advantageous for the player. That is, whether or not the variable display game state is controlled corresponds to whether or not the variable display result becomes a "big hit", and is determined (predetermined) before the variable display result is derived and displayed.

When the variable display result of the special symbol in the special symbol game is "big hit", a fixed decorative symbol which is a predetermined jackpot combination is derived and displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. As an example, the same decorative symbols are aligned and stopped and displayed on the predetermined effective lines in the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right", so that the jackpot combination is confirmed. It suffices if the decorative pattern is derived and displayed.

In the big hit game state, the big winning opening is opened and the special variable winning ball device 7 is in the first state which is advantageous for the player. Then, during a predetermined period (for example, 29.5 seconds) or a period until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls enter the large winning opening and a winning ball is generated, the large winning opening is continuously opened. A round game (also simply referred to as a "round") is executed. During the period other than the execution period of such a round game, the large winning opening is closed, and the winning ball is difficult or impossible to generate. When a game ball enters the big winning opening, the winning ball is detected by the big winning opening switch 23, and a predetermined number (for example, 15) of game balls are paid out as a prize ball for each detection. The round game in the jackpot game state is repeatedly executed until a predetermined upper limit number of times (for example, "16") is reached. Therefore, in the jackpot game state, the player can obtain a large number of prize balls very easily, which is an advantageous game state for the player. The pachinko gaming machine 1 may directly pay out the game balls to be prize balls, or may give points corresponding to the number of game balls to be prize balls.

After the big hit game state ends, the game state becomes the probabilistic state based on the satisfaction of the predetermined probability change control condition, and the probability that the variable display result becomes "big hit" (big hit probability) becomes higher than the normal state. Control may take place. In the probability change state, a predetermined probability change end condition is satisfied, such as the variable display being executed a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times), or the jackpot game state being started before the number of times the variable display is executed reaches the predetermined number of times. It is controlled to continue until it is done. The probability variation end condition may be satisfied when the next jackpot game state is started, regardless of the number of times the variable display is executed. After the jackpot game state ends, the game state becomes the time saving state, and the time saving control may be performed in which the average variable display time becomes shorter than the normal state. In the time saving state, a predetermined time saving end condition is satisfied, such as the variable display being executed a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times) or the jackpot game state being started before the number of times the variable display is executed reaches the predetermined number of times. It is controlled to continue until it is done.

In the probabilistic state or the time saving state, the normal variable winning ball device 6B is placed in the first variable state (open state or expanded open state) in an advantageous change mode in which the game ball is easier to pass (enter) through the second starting winning opening than in the normal state. And the second variable state (closed state or normally open state). For example, the normal symbol display 20 controls the fluctuation time of the normal symbol (normal symbol fluctuation time) in the normal symbol game to be shorter than that in the normal state, and the variable display result of the normal symbol in each normal symbol game is "normal". Control to improve the probability of "hit the figure" compared to the normal state, tilt control time to control the tilt of the movable wing piece in the normal variable winning ball device 6B based on the variable display result being "hit the normal figure" The normal variable winning ball device 6B is changed into the first variable state and the second variable state in an advantageous change mode by controlling to make the normal variable winning ball device 6B longer than in the normal state and by controlling to increase the number of tilts as compared with the normal state. Just do it. It should be noted that any one of these controls may be performed, or a plurality of controls may be combined and performed. As described above, the control for changing the normally variable winning ball device 6B into the first variable state and the second variable state in the advantageous changing mode is called high opening control (also referred to as “high base control”). By being controlled to such a probabilistic state or a time saving state, the time required for the next variable display result to become a "big hit" is shortened, and a special gaming state ("advantageous gaming state") that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. Also called). Even when the probability change control is performed in the probability change state, the high opening control may not be performed.

In the main image display device 5MA, the symbols other than the symbol that becomes the final stop symbol (for example, the middle symbol among the left symbol, the middle symbol, and the right symbol) are stopped in a state of being consistent with the jackpot combination for a predetermined time. A big hit occurs before the final result is displayed due to shaking, scaling or deformation, multiple symbols fluctuating synchronously with the same symbol, or the positions of the displayed symbols being swapped. An effect performed in a state where the possibility continues (hereinafter, these states are referred to as a reach state) is referred to as a reach effect. In addition, the reach state and its state are referred to as a reach mode. Further, the variable display including the reach effect is called the reach variable display. A plurality of types of reach modes are prepared in advance according to the variation pattern of the decorative pattern, and the possibility that the variable display result becomes a "big hit" (big hit expectation) differs depending on the reach mode. That is, the possibility that the variable display result will be a "big hit" can be different depending on which of the plurality of types of reach effects is executed. The reach effect may include a normal reach effect and a super reach effect that has a higher expectation of a big hit than the normal reach effect. Then, if the display result of the symbol that is variablely displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA is not a jackpot combination, a “miss” occurs and the variable display state ends.

A variable display of a decorative pattern is performed as an effect of a liquid crystal display on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. In addition, on the screens of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, for example, an effect using a character image and an effect of displaying a broadcast image based on a jackpot determination and a variation pattern determination result are also executed. To. Various effects performed during variable display in which special symbols and decorative symbols are displayed in a variable manner are also referred to as "effects during variable display". As an example of the effect during variable display, there is a possibility that the variable display state of the decorative symbol will be in the reach state, the possibility that the reach effect of the super reach will be executed, and the variable display due to the effect operation different from the variable display operation of the decorative symbol. A notice effect may be executed to suggest to the player in advance that the result may be a "big hit".

The effect operation that becomes the advance notice effect is the variable display state of the decorative symbol after the variable display of the decorative symbol is started in all of the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right". Is executed (started) before the reach state is reached (before the decorative symbols are temporarily stopped and displayed in the decorative symbol display areas 5L and 5R of the "left" and "right"). Further, the advance notice effect for notifying that the variable display result may be a "big hit" may include one executed after the variable display state of the decorative symbol is in the reach state. In this way, the notice effect can be in the big hit game state at a predetermined timing from the start of the variable display of the special symbol or the decorative symbol to the derivation of the finalized special symbol or the confirmed decorative symbol that is the variable display result. Anything that can foretell sex will do. A plurality of notice effect patterns are prepared in advance according to the content (effect mode) of the effect operation when executing such a notice effect.

When the lost symbol is stopped and displayed (derived) on the first special symbol display device 4A or the second special symbol display device 4B and the variable display result is "miss", the variable display mode is "non-reach" ("normal"). It includes a case where the variable display mode is "reach" (also referred to as "reach loss") and a case where the variable display mode is "reach loss". When the variable display mode is "non-reach", after the variable display of the decorative symbol is started, the variable display state of the decorative symbol does not become the reach state, and a predetermined combination of decorative symbols that does not reach the reach (non-reach). Reach combination) is displayed (derived) as a stop. When the variable display mode is "reach", the reach effect is executed after the variable display of the decorative symbol is started and then the variable display state of the decorative symbol is in the reach state, and finally the jackpot combination is A combination of predetermined decorative symbols (reach loss combination) that does not become is stopped and displayed (derived).

The game balls used as a game medium in the pachinko gaming machine 1 and the recorded information of the scores given according to the number of the balls may have valuable value that can be exchanged for special prizes or general prizes according to the quantity, for example. Just do it. Alternatively, the recorded information of these game balls and scores may have valuable value that can be used for another game in the pachinko gaming machine 1, although it cannot be exchanged for a special prize or a general prize.

Further, the game value that can be given by the pachinko game machine 1 is not limited to paying out the game ball as a prize ball and giving points, for example, controlling to a big hit game state or a special game state such as a probability change state. Controlling, the maximum number of rounds that can be executed in the jackpot game state is the number of first rounds (for example, "15") that is larger than the number of second rounds (for example, "7"), and it can be executed in a time-saving state. The upper limit of the variable display is the first number (for example, "100"), which is larger than the second number (for example, "50"), and the jackpot probability in the probability variation state is higher than the second probability (for example, 1/50). The number of consecutive chans, which is the first probability (for example, 1/20) and the number of times that the jackpot game state is repeatedly controlled without being controlled in the normal state, is larger than the number of consecutive chans (for example, "5"). It may include a more favorable gaming situation for the player, such as part or all of the number of first consecutive chans (eg, "10").

For example, NAND-ROM is used as a part or all of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C mounted on the effect control board 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the ROM writer which is a data writing device is used. The stored contents may be rewritable. Such a rewritable memory may include a data area and a redundant area. The data area stores programs and data for executing various processes in a gaming machine such as the pachinko gaming machine 1. The redundant area has an alternative area to be used in place of the defective area in the data area. The CPU 130 and VDP 140 execute various processes based on the data stored in the data area and the data stored in the alternative area used in place of the defective area generated in the data area. The history information of the memory may be stored in such a redundant area of the memory. The history information may be any information related to memory recycling. As an example, the history information may include at least one of model identification information such as pachinko gaming machine 1 whose memory has been used so far and date information. In addition, the history information may include store identification information for each game store whose memory has been used so far. By storing the history information in the redundant area of the memory in this way, it is not necessary to attach a barcode or the like for recycling management to the outside of the memory, and the material is accurately recycled based on the history information stored in the memory. Can be managed. Since the history information is stored in the redundant area, the history information does not affect the data area normally used, and the identity of the program and data can be ensured.

Alternatively, the rewritable memory may include a control area for storing correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area. The control area may store the arrangement information indicating the storage position of the history information in the redundant area. Alternatively, a memory control unit that stores correspondence information and reads data based on the correspondence information is built in the memory, and this memory control unit is arranged to indicate the storage position of the history information in the redundant area. Information may be stored. In this way, by storing the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the defective area in the data area and the alternative area in the redundant area and the arrangement information indicating the storage position of the history information, the data can be read out to the alternative area. Similarly, it is possible to appropriately manage the reading of history information.

Next, the operation (action) of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in this embodiment will be described.

When the power supply from the predetermined power supply board is started on the main board 11, the game control microcomputer 100 is started, and the CPU 103 executes a predetermined process which is the game control main process. When the game control main process is started, the CPU 103 sets the interrupt disabled and then performs the necessary initial settings. In this initial setting, for example, RAM 101 is cleared. In addition, the register of the CTC (counter / timer circuit) built in the game control microcomputer 100 is set. As a result, after that, an interrupt request signal is sent from the CTC to the CPU 103 every predetermined time (for example, 2 milliseconds), and the CPU 103 can periodically execute the timer interrupt process. When the initial setting is completed, interrupts are permitted and then loop processing is started. In the game control main process, a process for returning the internal state of the pachinko game machine 1 to the state at the time of the previous power supply stop may be executed, and then the loop process may be started.

When the CPU 103 that has executed such a game control main process receives the interrupt request signal from the CTC and receives the interrupt request, it sets the interrupt disabled state and executes a predetermined game control timer interrupt process. The game control timer interrupt processing includes, for example, switch processing, main side error processing, information output processing, game random number update processing, game control process processing, ordinary symbol process processing, command control processing, and other games in the pachinko gaming machine 1. It includes processing to control the progress of.

The switch process is a process of determining the state of detection signals input from various switches such as the gate switch 21, the first start port switch 22A, the second start port switch 22B, and the count switch 23 via the switch circuit 110. The error processing on the main side is a processing in which an abnormality diagnosis of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is performed, and a warning can be generated if necessary according to the diagnosis result. The information output process is a process of outputting data such as jackpot information, start information, and probability fluctuation information supplied to a hall management computer installed outside the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example. The game random number update process is a process for updating at least a part of a plurality of types of game random numbers used on the main board 11 side by software.

In the game control process process included in the game control timer interrupt process, the value of the game process flag provided in the RAM 102 is updated according to the progress of the game in the pachinko game machine 1, and the first special symbol display device 4A or Various processes are selected and executed in order to control the display operation in the second special symbol display device 4B and set the opening / closing operation of the large winning opening in the special variable winning ball device 7 according to a predetermined procedure. The normal symbol process process controls the display operation (for example, turning on and off of the segment LED) on the normal symbol display 20, and sets the variable display of the normal symbol and the tilting operation of the movable wing piece on the normal variable winning ball device 6B. It is a process that enables.

The command control process is a process of transmitting a control command from the main board 11 to a control board on the sub side such as the effect control board 12. As an example, in the command control process, the effect control board 12 among the output ports included in the I / O 105 corresponds to the setting in the command transmission table specified by the value of the transmission command buffer provided in the RAM 102. After setting the control data in the output port for transmitting the effect control command, set the predetermined control data in the output port of the effect control INT signal to turn the effect control INT signal on for a predetermined time and then turn it off. By doing so, it is possible to transmit the effect control command based on the setting in the command transmission table. After executing the command control process, the interrupt enable state is set, and then the game control timer interrupt process is terminated.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the game control process processing. In the game control process process shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 103 of the game control microcomputer 100 first determines whether or not a start winning prize has occurred (step S11). As an example, in step S11, the input state (on or off) of the start winning signal, which is the detection signal transmitted from the first start port switch 22A and the second start port switch 22B, is checked, and if it is on, the start is started. It may be determined that a prize has been generated.

If a start winning is generated in step S11 (step S11; Yes), a random number at the time of winning is stored (step S12). As an example, in the process of step S12, a random number circuit 104 built in (or externally attached) to the game control microcomputer 100, a random counter provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 102 in the game control microcomputer 100, and a game control micro A game random number (random number value for determining variable display result, game state determination) updated by at least a part of a random counter configured by using an internal register provided separately from the RAM 102 in the computer 100. Part or all of the numerical data indicating the random number value (random number value, random number value for determining the fluctuation pattern) is extracted. The random number value extracted at this time may be stored as hold data associated with the hold number in, for example, a hold random number value storage unit provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 102 in the game control microcomputer 100.

Following the process of step S12, various control commands corresponding to the start winning prize are transmitted (step S13). As an example, in the process of step S13, a setting for transmitting a start prize designation command for notifying the occurrence of the start prize to the effect control board 12 may be made. When the start winning is not generated in step S11 (step S11; No), or after the process of step S13 is executed, the value of the game process flag is determined (step S21). Then, the process according to the determination value is selected and executed from the plurality of processes described in advance in the computer program for game control.

For example, when the value of the game process flag is "0", it is determined whether or not the variable display of the symbol (variable display game) can be started (step S101). As an example, in the process of step S101, it is determined whether or not the number of holds of the variable display game is "0" by checking the stored contents of the hold random number value storage unit. At this time, if the number of holds is other than "0", the variable display is started because the variable display is held after the start condition of the variable display is satisfied and the start condition is not yet satisfied. Judge that it is possible. On the other hand, when the number of holdings is "0", it is determined that the variable display cannot be started. When the variable display cannot be started (step S101; No), the game control process process is terminated.

When the variable display can be started in step S101 (step S101; Yes), the definite symbol to be derived and displayed as the variable display result is determined (step S102). The variable display result of the special symbol in the special figure game is called the special figure display result. In the process of step S102, the game random number (random number value for determining the variable display result, the random number value for determining the game state, and the fluctuation) stored at the beginning (the storage area having the smallest hold number) in the hold random number value storage unit. Read the random number value for pattern determination, etc.). The game random number read from the hold random number value storage unit may be temporarily stored in a variable display random number buffer or the like provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 102 of the game control microcomputer 100. Then, using the random value for determining the variable display result and the variable display result determination table, it is determined at a predetermined ratio whether or not the variable display result is a "big hit". Here, when the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in the probabilistic state, the variable display result determination table is determined so that the variable display result is determined as a "big hit" at a higher rate than in the normal state or the time saving state. It suffices if the judgment value in is set.

When the variable display result is determined to be "big hit" in the process of step S102, the game state after the end of the big hit game state is said to be a probabilistic state by using the random number value for determining the game state and the game state determination table. Decide whether or not to enter the special game state. Corresponding to these determination results, a definite symbol to be derived and displayed as a variable display result may be determined.

Following the process in step S102, the internal flags and the like are set (step S103). As an example, in the process of step S103, when the variable display result is determined to be "big hit" in the process of step S102, the big hit flag provided in the predetermined area of the RAM 102 in the game control microcomputer 100 is turned on. set. Further, when it is determined that the gaming state after the end of the jackpot gaming state is set to the probabilistic state, the probabilistic confirmation flag provided in the predetermined area of the RAM 102 of the game control microcomputer 100 is set to the on state. , It may be identifiable that it will be in a probabilistic state. After that, the value of the game process flag is updated to "1" (step S104), and then the game control process process is terminated.

When the value of the game process flag is "1", the fluctuation pattern and the like are determined (step S111). FIG. 12 shows a setting example of a fluctuation pattern used in the pachinko gaming machine 1. Each variation pattern shows the required time (variable display time) from the start of the variable display to the derivation display of the definite symbol that is the variable display result, and the outline of the effect mode can be specified. In this embodiment, among the cases where the variable display result is "missing", the case where the variable display mode of the decorative symbol variably displayed on the main image display device 5MA is "non-reach" and the case where it is "reach". A plurality of fluctuation patterns are prepared in advance corresponding to each of the above and when the variable display result is a "big hit". As the fluctuation pattern, a plurality of patterns are prepared in advance for each fluctuation time (variable display time) in the special figure game and the variable display of the decorative symbol. Therefore, the variable display time of the special symbol or the decorative symbol can be determined by determining the variation pattern.

In the process of step S111, the variation pattern to be used is determined at a predetermined ratio by using the variation pattern determination random number value temporarily stored in the variable display random number buffer and the variation pattern determination table. At this time, by making the determination ratio of each fluctuation pattern different depending on whether or not the variable display result is determined as "big hit", there is a possibility that the variable display result becomes "big hit" corresponding to each fluctuation pattern. (Big hit reliability) can be different.

Further, in the process of step S111, it may be determined whether or not the variable display state of the decorative symbol is set to "reach" by determining the fluctuation pattern when the variable display result is determined to be "missing". .. Alternatively, before determining the fluctuation pattern, it may be determined whether or not the variable display state of the decorative symbol is set to "reach" by using the reach determination random value and the reach determination table. That is, in the process of step S111, it suffices that the fluctuation pattern can be determined to any one of a plurality of types based on the variable display result and the determination result of the presence / absence of reach.

Following the process of step S111, various control commands corresponding to the start of variable display are transmitted (step S112). As an example, in the process of step S112, as the variable display start command for designating the start of the variable display, the variable display result notification command for notifying the variable display result, the variable display time of the decorative symbol, the type of reach effect, and the like are variablely displayed. Settings may be made to send a variation pattern specification command or the like that notifies the variation pattern indicating the mode. Further, in response to the decrease in the number of holds due to the start of the variable display, a setting may be made to send a hold number notification command for notifying the number of holds after the decrease.

The variable display time is set in response to the determination of the variation pattern by the process of step S112. In addition, a setting may be made to start variable display of the special symbol by either the first special symbol display device 4A or the second special symbol display device 4B. As an example, variable display of symbols may be started by transmitting a predetermined drive signal to either the first special symbol display device 4A or the second special symbol display device 4B. Which special symbol display device uses the special symbol to execute the special symbol game is based on which of the first start winning opening and the second starting winning opening the game ball has passed. It may be set accordingly. More specifically, a special figure game by the first special symbol display device 4A is performed based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the first start winning opening. On the other hand, based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the second start winning opening, the special symbol game by the second special symbol display device 4B is performed. After that, the value of the game process flag is updated to "2" (step S113), and then the game control process process is terminated.

When the value of the game process flag is "2", it is determined whether or not the variable display time has elapsed (step S121). Then, if the variable display time has not elapsed (step S121; No), the variable display control of the special symbol is performed (step S122), and then the game control process process is terminated. On the other hand, when the variable display time has elapsed (step S121; Yes), the variable display of the special symbol is stopped, and control is performed to derive and display the finalized symbol (step S123).

Following the process of step S123, various control commands corresponding to the end of the variable display are transmitted (step S124). As an example, in the process of step S124, a variable display end command for instructing the end (stop) of the variable display and a big hit start specification command (fanfare command) for designating the start of the big hit game state when the variable display result is "big hit". ) Etc. may be set to be transmitted.

After executing the process of step S124, it is determined whether or not the variable display result is a "big hit" (step S125). Then, when the variable display result is "big hit" (step S125; Yes), the value of the game process flag is updated to "3" (step S126), and then the game control process process is terminated. On the other hand, if the variable display result is "missing" instead of "big hit" (step S125; No), the game process flag is cleared and the value is initialized to "0" (step). S127), the game control process process is terminated. When the process of step S127 is executed, it is determined whether or not to end the probability change state or the time saving state, and when it is determined to end based on the satisfaction of the predetermined condition, these gaming states are terminated. Settings for controlling to the normal state may be made.

When the value of the game process flag is "3", it is determined whether or not to end the big hit game state depending on whether or not the predetermined big hit end condition is satisfied (step S131). The jackpot end condition may be, for example, that all the rounds executed in the jackpot game state have been completed. If the jackpot game state is not terminated (step S131; No), the game motion control at the time of jackpot is performed (step 132), and then the game control process process is terminated. On the other hand, when the big hit gaming state is terminated (step S131; Yes), a setting for controlling the gaming state after the jackpot ending is made (step S133).

As an example, in the process of step S133, it is determined whether or not the probability change confirmation flag is on, and if it is on, the probability change flag provided in the predetermined area of the RAM 102 in the game control microcomputer 100 is turned on. Set to. As a result, when it is decided that the variable display result is "big hit" and it is decided that the game state after the end of the big hit game state is the probabilistic state, the game corresponds to this decision result. The state can be controlled to a probabilistic state. Even when controlling to a time saving state, a setting corresponding to this may be made. After that, the game process flag is cleared, the value is initialized to "0" (step S134), and then the game control process process is terminated.

Next, the operation on the effect control board 12 will be described. The effect control board 12 receives a power supply voltage from a power supply board or the like. In the effect control microcomputer 120 in which the power supply for activation is started, the CPU 130 executes the effect control main process.

In this embodiment, in the effect control main process, the memory inspection process may be executed when a predetermined memory inspection condition is satisfied. The memory inspection process is a determination process for determining whether or not the programs and data stored in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C are normal. In the memory inspection process, by executing the checksum process as the determination process, the stored contents of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C can be inspected, and the checksum as the inspection result can be displayed. Further, the effect control main process includes a process for controlling the effect by various effect devices, such as an effect control process process executed based on the occurrence of a timer interrupt for effect control.

Further, in the effect control main process, the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 may be confirmed by satisfying a predetermined origin confirmation condition. The origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 are, for example, positions corresponding to the retracted state as shown in FIG. 3A, and the movable members 51 and 52 are arranged above the main image display device 5MA, and the movable members 51 and 52 are arranged above the main image display device 5MA. Each of the movable members 53 and 54 may be predetermined as a position to be arranged below the main image display device 5MA. When the origin confirmation condition is satisfied, the initial operation of the movable members 51 to 54 is executed, and control is performed to set each of the movable members 51 to 54 as the origin position. At this time, based on the result of detecting the positions of the movable members 51 to 54 by the movable member position sensor 61, it is confirmed whether or not the movable members 51 to 54 could be stopped at the origin position. Then, if the vehicle cannot be stopped at the origin position, an abnormality notification is performed assuming that an origin abnormality has occurred.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the effect control main process executed by the CPU 130. In the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, the CPU 130 first confirms the connection state of the board (step S51). In step S51, for example, it is specified whether or not the effect control board 12 is connected to the main board 11 and whether or not the effect control board 12 is connected to the effect control relay board 16A. In order to confirm the connection with the main board 11, the CPU 130 may determine whether or not it has received the initialization command or the power recovery command transmitted from the main board 11 after starting the time counting by the internal timer. Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of timekeeping without receiving the initialization command or the power recovery command, it may be determined that the effect control board 12 and the main board 11 are not connected.

14 (A) and 14 (B) show a configuration example for connecting the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A. As shown in FIG. 14A, the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are physically connected by inserting a connector (plug) provided at one end of the harness HN1 into the effect control board 12. And a connector (socket) CN1 for electrical connection is provided. As shown in FIG. 14B, the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are formed by inserting a connector (plug) provided at the other end of the harness HN1 into the effect control relay board 16A. A connector (socket) CN2 for physically and electrically connecting the two is provided. The harness HN1 may be configured by bundling a large number of wiring cables. The connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12 includes terminals TM01 to TM24. The connector CN11 provided on the effect control relay board 16A includes terminals TN01 to TN24. The terminals TM01 to TM24 included in the connector CN01 and the terminals TN01 to TN24 included in the connector CN11 have terminals having corresponding numbers (for example, terminal TM01 and terminal TN01) when the harness HN1 is attached to the connector CN01 and the connector CN11. Any relationship may be physically and electrically connected.

FIG. 14C shows an example of setting input / output contents corresponding to terminals TM01 to TM24 included in the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12. The terminals TM01 to TM24 included in the connector CN01 can provide various voltages such as ground (GND), VSL (rectifying and smoothing AC24V), VDC (DC12V), and VCL (DC5V). Further, the terminals TM01 to TM24 transmit and receive various data by the serial signal method and the terminals TM03 and TM04 that supply the data signal and the clock signal for the driver IC mounted on the drive control board 16B and the light emitter control board 16C. Terminals TM05 to TM08 for this purpose are included. Further, the signal SM1 used for confirming the connection with the effect control relay board 16A can be input to the terminal TM22 among the terminals TM01 to TM24. As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the voltage of the VCL output from the terminals TM20 and TM21 of the connector CN01 is the terminal of the connector CN11 provided on the relay board 16A for effect control via the harness HN1. It is supplied to TN20 and TN21. The terminals TN20 to TN22 of the connector CN11 may be short-circuited on the substrate of the effect control relay substrate 16A. Therefore, when the harness HN1 is connected, a voltage corresponding to VCL is supplied from the terminal TN22 of the connector CN11 to the terminal TM22 of the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12 via the harness HN1. To. On the other hand, when the harness HN1 is not connected and is not connected, the voltage is not supplied to the terminal TM22 of the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12.

In step S51 shown in FIG. 13, in order to confirm the connection state with the effect control relay board 16A, the CPU 130 determines the input state of the signal SM1 at the terminal TM22 of the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12. Then, if the signal SM1 is in a high voltage state corresponding to VCL, it is determined that the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected via the harness HN1. On the other hand, if the signal SM1 is in a low voltage state corresponding to the non-supply of voltage, it is determined that the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected. In this way, the connection state between the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A may be confirmed based on the voltage at the terminal TM22 which is the connection confirmation terminal.

Based on the confirmation result of the connection state in step S51, it is determined whether or not there is a connection with the effect control relay board 16A (step S52). In step S52, when the signal SM1 at the terminal TM22 is in a high voltage state corresponding to VCL, it is determined that there is a connection with the effect control relay board 16A, whereas the signal SM1 at the terminal TM22 corresponds to the non-supply of voltage. When it is in a low voltage state, it may be determined that there is no connection with the effect control relay board 16A. If it is determined in step S52 that there is no connection (step S52; No), the relay non-connection flag is set to the on state (step S53). If the relay non-connection flag is prepared in advance in a predetermined area (such as an effect control flag setting unit) of the work memory 131 built in the effect control microcomputer 120 or the RAM 122 externally attached to the effect control microcomputer 120. Good. If it is determined in step S52 that there is a connection, the relay unconnected flag is maintained in the off state by not executing the process of step S53.

Subsequently, based on the confirmation result of the connection state in step S51, it is determined whether or not there is a connection with the main board 11 (step S54). In step S54, if an initialization command or a power recovery command is received before the predetermined time elapses from the start of timekeeping, it is determined that there is a connection with the main board 11, whereas the initialization command or the power recovery command is used. When a predetermined time elapses without reception, it may be determined that there is no connection with the main board 11. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the one that determines the presence / absence of connection according to the presence / absence of command reception, and is mainly based on the voltage at the predetermined terminal that serves as the connection confirmation terminal, as in the connection state with the effect control relay board 16A. It may be determined whether or not there is a connection with the substrate 11. If it is determined in step S54 that there is no connection (step S54; No), the memory inspection process (step S55) is executed, and then the loop process is executed to wait.

In this embodiment, when the power supply is started in a state where the harness that binds the cables as command lines for transmitting various control signals between the main board 11 and the effect control board 12 is not connected. , The memory inspection condition is satisfied, and the memory inspection process is executed in step S55. On the other hand, when the power supply is started with the harness connected between the main board 11 and the effect control board 12, the memory inspection condition is not satisfied and the memory inspection process in step S55 is not executed. In this way, the memory inspection condition is satisfied by turning on the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 with the cable (harness) serving as the command line attached between the main board 11 and the effect control board 12 disconnected. You may do so.

The memory inspection condition is not limited to the one that is satisfied when the power is turned on with the command line removed, and is, for example, the one that is satisfied when the power is turned on while the push button 31B is pressed. There may be. Alternatively, for example, the memory inspection condition may be satisfied by turning on the power with the openable and closable gaming machine frame 3 open. In addition, the memory inspection condition may be satisfied by detecting an arbitrary predetermined state.

In the memory inspection process in step S55, a checksum calculation or the like is performed using the stored data of the ROM 121 or the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the calculation result or the like may be displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. When the memory inspection process is executed, the power switch of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned off once, and then the power switch is turned on again with the cable (harness) as the command line connected. The control may be in a state where it can be executed. Alternatively, by connecting a cable (harness) as a command line and pressing the reset switch, it may be possible to control the effect without turning on the power again. Alternatively, the effect can be controlled by turning off the power switch of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and then turning on the power while the push button 31B is not pressed. In addition, when a predetermined effect control condition is satisfied, the process may proceed to step S56 so that the effect control can be executed.

If it is determined in step S54 that there is a connection (step S54; Yes), the initial setting process (step S56) is executed. In the initial setting process of step S56, for example, the storage area in the RAM 122 is cleared, various initial values are set, and the CTC (counter and timer circuit) register setting for generating a timer interrupt for effect control is performed. This initial setting process may include an effect data transfer process. The effect data transfer process is a predetermined data (binary code constituting the program module, etc.) among the programs and data stored in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C and used for executing the effect by various effect devices. (Including) may be a process for transferring to RAM 122, VRAM 141, or the like. Further, in the initial setting process, the execution control of the initial operation by the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57 may be performed together with the transfer of the effect data by the effect data transfer process. The initial operation performed at this time is, for example, an operation of changing (moving) the movable members 51 to 54 from the retracted state to the advanced state, stopping the movable members in the advanced state until a predetermined time elapses, and then returning to the retracted state. And so on.

After executing the initial setting process in step S56, it is determined whether or not the relay unconnected flag is on (step S57). When the relay non-connection flag is off (step S57; No), the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 and the like are confirmed corresponding to the state in which the relay board 16A for effect control is connected (step S57; No). Step S58). In this case, it is determined whether or not there is an origin abnormality (step S59), and if there is an origin abnormality (step S59; Yes), the origin abnormality is notified (step S60), and the process returns to step S58. After notifying the origin abnormality in step S60, the process may proceed to step S61.

In step S58, for example, in order to confirm the origin position of the movable members 51 to 54, a detection signal by the movable member position sensor 61 is acquired as a position detection signal of the movable members 51 to 54. The detection signal by the movable member position sensor 61 shows the result of detecting the positions of the movable members 51 to 54. In the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12 shown in FIG. 14A, the signal input to the serial reception terminal TM07 may include the detection signal by the movable member position sensor 61. By confirming the detection signal by the movable member position sensor 61 acquired by the general-purpose output controller 145, the CPU 130 determines whether or not the movable members 51 to 54 are at the origin position based on the position detection signals of the movable members 51 to 54. I just need to be able to confirm. The notification of the origin abnormality by step S60 is, for example, an image display on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU, audio output from the speakers 8L and 8R, a notification lamp included in the game effect lamp 9, or a game effect lamp. It may be feasible by lighting a notification lamp provided separately from the 9th, a notification operation using another effect device, or a combination of a part or all of them. Further, the signal output from the specific terminal provided on the effect control board 12 may be in a different output state depending on the presence or absence of the origin abnormality. As described above, the abnormality notification of the movable member may be feasible by controlling an arbitrary output.

When it is determined in step S57 that the relay non-connection flag is on, the connector CN01 provided on the effect control board 12 is connected to the connector CN11 provided on the harness HN1 and the effect control relay board 16A. The effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected to each other. In this case, the terminal TM07 of the connector CN01 does not input the detection signal by the movable member position sensor 61. Therefore, even if the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 and the like are confirmed, it is determined that there is an origin abnormality, and the abnormality notification is executed. In particular, in the manufacturing stage or the development stage, for the purpose of confirming the operation of the effect control microcomputer 120, for example, the power is turned on when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected. is there. In order to prevent such frequent occurrence of abnormality notification in the manufacturing stage and the development stage and improve work efficiency, steps S58 to S60 are performed in response to the determination in step S57 that the relay unconnected flag is on. Do not run. As a result, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected, the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 are not confirmed, and the abnormality notification due to the occurrence of the origin abnormality is not executed. ..

When it is determined in step S57 that the relay unconnected flag is on (step S57; Yes), or when it is determined in step S59 that there is no origin abnormality (step S59; No), the effect control main In the process, the effect random number update process (step S61) is executed, and the numerical data indicating the random number value to be the effect random number is updated by the software. The effect random numbers are counted as various random number values used for effect control. It should be noted that the random number for effect that is updated by the hardware using the random number circuit built in (or externally attached) to the effect control microcomputer 120 does not have to be updated in the effect random number update process. Alternatively, the production random number may be updated by software using numerical data indicating a random number value updated by hardware.

After executing the effect random number update process in step S61, it is determined whether or not the timer interrupt flag is on (step S62). The timer interrupt flag is set to the ON state when a timer interrupt for effect control occurs. When it is determined that the timer interrupt flag is on (step S62; Yes), after the timer interrupt flag is cleared and turned off (step S63), the command analysis process (step S64) and the effect control process After sequentially executing the process (step S65), the process returns to the process of step S61. The command analysis process in step S64 and the effect control process process in step S65 are included in the timer interrupt process for effect control. If it is determined that the timer interrupt flag is off (step S62; No), the process returns to step S61 without executing the processes of steps S63 to S65.

FIG. 15 shows an execution example of abnormality notification in step S60 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. In the execution example shown in FIG. 15, the occurrence of the origin abnormality is notified by displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. At this time, which of the upper mechanism (upper accessory) and the lower mechanism (lower accessory) of the effect movable mechanism 50 is abnormal based on the position detection signal indicating the detection result by the movable member position sensor 61? An error message that can identify is displayed. In this way, the movable member is in a notification mode in which the clerk of the amusement park or the like can recognize which type of accessory is abnormal among the plurality of types of accessory configured by using the plurality of movable members. Abnormality notification may be performed.

The display screen of the main image display device 5MA is difficult or invisible when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are in the advanced state. Therefore, when an abnormality is notified of the movable member by displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, the clerk of the amusement park or the like may have difficulty or cannot recognize the occurrence of the abnormality. Therefore, along with the image display by the main image display device 5MA or the like, or instead of the image display, an abnormality notification of the movable member is performed by using a notification unit that can be visually recognized regardless of the state of the upper mechanism or the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50. May be done. As such a notification unit, for example, a plurality of notification light emitting members provided at an upper position of the game machine frame 3 and included in the game effect lamp 9 or separately provided from the game effect lamp 9 are used. May be done. These notification light emitting members may be configured by using, for example, LEDs. Abnormality notification of movable members is performed in a notification mode that allows a game hall clerk or the like to recognize which type of accessory has an abnormality depending on the combination of lighting modes by a plurality of notification light emitting members. It may be. As an example, when the notification unit includes the first notification light emitting member and the second notification light emitting member, in step S60 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, an abnormality occurs in the upper mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50. For example, the lighting control of the notification unit may be performed so that the first notification light emitting member lights up, while the second notification light emitting member lights up when an abnormality occurs in the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50. In this way, by performing abnormality notification of the movable member using a notification unit that can be recognized regardless of the state of the movable member, even if there is a configuration in which recognition is difficult or unrecognizable depending on the state of the movable member, the movable member It is possible to identifiablely notify that an abnormality has occurred in the moving member and which movable member has an abnormality.

The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 can execute an interrupt process for command reception in addition to the timer interrupt process for effect control, and issues an effect control command transmitted from the main board 11 via the relay board 15. , It suffices if it can be obtained from the host interface 132. The effect control command acquired at this time may be temporarily stored in a reception command buffer provided in a predetermined area of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122, for example. In the command analysis process of step S64, it is determined whether or not the effect control command has been received, and if it is received, the setting and control corresponding to the received command are performed. In the effect control process process of step S65, for example, the image display for effect on the screen of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, the audio output from the speakers 8L and 8R, and the light emitter units 71 to 74 are arranged. Lighting in a plurality of arranged light emitting bodies, lighting in various light emitting members such as game effect lamps 9 and decorative LEDs different from the light emitting body units 71 to 74, and operation motors 60A to 60C for moving movable members 51 to 54. Regarding the operation control contents using various effect devices such as the drive operation, determination, determination, setting, etc. are performed according to the effect control command or the like transmitted from the main board 11.

FIG. 16A is a flowchart showing an example of the process executed in step S55 of FIG. 13 as the memory inspection process. In the memory inspection process, as checksum operations using the stored data of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, the first checksum operation using the stored data in the plurality of storage areas provided in the ROM 121 and the stored data in the ROM 121 are performed. The second checksum calculation using all of the above, the third checksum calculation using the stored data in the plurality of storage areas provided in the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and all the stored data in the effect data memories 123A to 123C. Of the fourth checksum operation using the above, some or all of the operations may be executed. In this embodiment, after the second checksum operation is executed following the first checksum operation, an operation using all of the stored data in each of the effect data memories 123A to 123C is executed as the fourth checksum operation. Then, each calculation result and the like are displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA.

In the memory inspection process shown in FIG. 16A, the CPU 130 first sets the memory inspection setting table (step S201). The memory check setting table is a table for setting the checksum calculation start address and the calculation end address by the checksum calculation. The table data constituting the memory inspection setting table may be stored in advance in, for example, a predetermined area (for example, the first storage area) of the ROM 121.

FIG. 16B shows a configuration example of the memory inspection setting table. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 16B, the checksum calculation start address and the calculation end address are specified corresponding to each of the display times "0" to "5". The number of display times is the number of times the checksum is displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, and after "0" is set as the initial value, 1 is added each time the calculation result by the checksum calculation is displayed. It should be.

Following the setting in step S201 shown in FIG. 16A, the number of impressions is set to "0" (step S202). For example, in step S202, the count value of the number of impressions may be set to "0" by clearing (initializing) the counter for the number of impressions prepared in advance. The display count counter may be configured by using the built-in register of the CPU 130, or may be configured by using a predetermined area (such as an effect control counter setting unit) of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122.

After that, the parameter corresponding to the number of impressions is set (step S203). For example, in step S203, the clear data is set in the checksum data area, and the checksum calculation start address is set in the pointer. In addition, the checksum calculation end address is set so that it can be compared with the address indicated by the pointer. These parameters may be set in a plurality of registers built in the CPU 130, or may be set in a predetermined area of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122.

The checksum is calculated using the parameters set in step S203 (step S204). For example, in step S204, the exclusive OR of the contents of the checksum data area and the stored data at the addresses of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C indicated by the pointer is calculated. The calculation result is stored as new stored data in the checksum data area, and it is determined whether or not the address indicated by the value of the pointer has reached the calculation end address. If the calculation end address has not been reached, the pointer value is added by 1, and the process returns to the process of calculating the exclusive OR. When the calculation end address is reached, a checksum using the stored data from the calculation start address to the calculation end address can be obtained by inverting the value of each bit that is the content of the checksum data area. ..

Along with the checksum calculation in step S204, it is determined whether or not the relay unconnected flag is on (step S205), and if the relay unconnected flag is on (step S205; Yes), the calculation according to the number of impressions. The contents are updated and displayed (step S206). Therefore, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected, the checksum calculation execution result and the like are controlled so as to be displayable. On the other hand, if the relay non-connection flag is off (step S205; No), the process of step S206 is not executed. As a result, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected, the checksum calculation execution result and the like are controlled so as not to be displayed. The determination result by the determination process for determining whether or not the effect data stored in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C is normal by updating and displaying the calculation content in step S206 is referred to as the main image display device 5MA. It can be displayed on the display device.

After that, it is determined whether or not the checksum calculation is completed (step S207), and if it is not completed (step S207; No), the process returns to step S204 to continue the checksum calculation. When the calculation is completed in step S207 (step S207; Yes), after adding 1 to the number of impressions (step S208), it is determined whether or not the number of impressions has reached the end determination value (step S209). ). By setting, for example, "6" in advance as the end determination value, it is possible to display six checksum calculation results corresponding to the settings of the memory inspection setting table as shown in FIG. 16 (B). it can. If the end determination value has not been reached (step S209; No), the process returns to step S203, and if the end determination value is reached, the memory inspection process ends.

FIG. 17 shows a display example of the calculation result on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. In this display example, as the checksum calculation result corresponding to the setting of the memory inspection setting table as shown in FIG. 16B, there are three types of "program ROM" corresponding to ROM 121 (A) to (C). The calculation results and the like are displayed, and the three types of calculation results and the like (A) to (C) are displayed for the "data ROM" corresponding to the effect data memories 123A to 123C. Further, in the display example of FIG. 17, the progress status (completion rate) of the checksum calculation and the presence / absence of an abnormality based on the calculation result are displayed so as to be confirmed. (A) of the "program ROM" shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA00 and the calculation end address MA01 set when the number of impressions is "0" in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Then, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using the storage data of the first storage area in which the program for effect control and various management data are stored in the ROM 121. (B) of the "program ROM" shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA02 and the calculation end address MA10 set when the number of impressions is "1" in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Therefore, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using the stored data in the second storage area in which the audio data is stored in the ROM 121. (C) of the "program ROM" shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA00 and the calculation end address MA10 set when the number of impressions is "2" in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Therefore, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using all the stored data in the ROM 121. (A) of the “data ROM” shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA10 + 1 and the calculation end address MA20 set when the number of impressions is “3” in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Therefore, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using all the stored data in the effect data memory 123A. (B) of the “data ROM” shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA20 + 1 and the calculation end address MA30 set when the number of impressions is “4” in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Therefore, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using all the stored data in the effect data memory 123B. (C) of the "data ROM" shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to the calculation start address MA30 + 1 and the calculation end address MA40 set when the number of impressions is "5" in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16 (B). Therefore, it is shown that the checksum is calculated by using all the stored data in the effect data memory 123C.

The checksum calculation result differs depending on the contents of the stored data in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C. For example, when the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C are non-volatile semiconductor memories such as EEPROM or NAND-ROM that can be electrically erased, written, or rewritten, the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C are used. Different checksum calculation results can be obtained depending on the stored effect control program and various data versions. By executing the memory inspection process as shown in FIG. 16A and displaying the checksum calculation result on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, the ROM 121 is displayed at the manufacturing stage and the development stage of the pachinko gaming machine 1. And the version of the effect control program and various data stored in the effect data memories 123A to 123C can be easily confirmed. This facilitates version control of the stored data in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and can surely prevent inconsistency between the program for effect control and the version such as audio data and image data. In addition to the checksum calculation result, version information indicating the version of the effect control program and various data may be displayed on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. The version information may be stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM 121 or the effect data memories 123A to 123C. By displaying the version information together with the checksum calculation result, it is easier to check the version of the program for effect control and various data, and by reading the checksum corresponding to the version, is there an error in the stored data? Whether or not it can be easily confirmed.

Note that the stored data used for the checksum calculation, the number of times the checksum is displayed, and the like may be arbitrarily changed according to the memory inspection settings for the ROM 121, the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the like. Good. As an example, in the memory inspection setting table shown in FIG. 16B, the checksum calculation corresponding to the calculation start address MA00 and the calculation end address MA10 set when the number of impressions is “2” is not executed. By setting it, the calculation result may be displayed for a smaller number of checksums. Alternatively, the calculation result may be displayed for more checksums by adding the setting of the calculation start address and the calculation end address corresponding to the number of display times of "6" or more.

The memory inspection process shown in FIG. 16A is executed in step S55 when it is determined in step S54 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13 that there is no connection with the main board 11. Further, when it is determined in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A that the relay non-connection flag is on, the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected. Therefore, when both the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 11 and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the update display can be performed in step S206, and the program or data is determined based on the checksum calculation result. The result can be displayed. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S54 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13 that there is a connection with the main board 11, the memory inspection process of step S55 is not executed. Further, even when the memory inspection process is executed in step S55, if it is determined in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A that the relay non-connection flag is off, the update display in step S206 is performed. I can't. As a result, if either one of the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 11 and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the program or data determination result based on the checksum calculation result is not displayed. To control.

Instead of the update display of the calculation content in step S206, or together with the update display of the calculation content, arbitrary notification based on the checksum calculation result may be performed. For example, instead of the image display on the screen of the main image display device 5MA, or together with this image display, the image display on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU, the audio output from the speakers 8L and 8R, and the game effect lamp 9 are included. By lighting the notification lamp provided separately from the notification lamp or the game effect lamp 9, the notification operation using other effect devices, a combination of some or all of them, etc., the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C Notification that can specify the determination result of the determination process for determining whether or not the stored effect data is normal may be executed. Further, the signal output from the specific terminal provided on the effect control board 12 may be set to a different output state depending on the checksum calculation result or the like. As described above, the determination result of whether or not the effect data is normal may be any one that can be notified by controlling an arbitrary output.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the effect control process process executed in step S65 of FIG. In the effect control process process shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 determines whether or not it is the BGM change timing (step S151). For example, the CPU 130 may determine that it is the BGM change timing when a predetermined BGM change condition is satisfied based on an effect control command or the like transmitted from the main board 11. As an example, the BGM change condition may be set so as to be satisfied when the gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is changed to any of a normal state, a probability change state, and a time saving state.

When it is determined in step S151 that it is the BGM change timing (step S151; Yes), the start address and end address of the audio data corresponding to the music to be played as BGM are specified (step S152). For example, the predetermined area of the ROM 121 includes data that can identify the start address and the end address of the ROM 121 or the effect data memory 123A for the audio data corresponding to the music to be played as BGM for each gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1. The BGM setting table may be stored in advance. The CPU 130 may specify the start address and end address of the audio data by referring to the BGM setting table according to the game state specified based on the effect control command transmitted from the main board 11.

Following the process of step S152, the loop reproduction start control for starting the loop reproduction for repeatedly reproducing the music to be BGM is performed (step S153). For example, the CPU 130 notifies the voice processing circuit 143 of a command indicating a loop reproduction instruction together with the start address and the end address of the voice data specified in step S152. In the voice processing circuit 143, it is sufficient that the ROM 121 and the effect data memory 123A can be accessed and the voice data can be read from the section between the start address and the end address indicated by the command from the CPU 130. Then, according to the designation of performing loop reproduction, the music corresponding to the audio data may be sequentially reproduced from the beginning, and when the end of the music is reproduced, the music may be returned to the beginning and the reproduction of the music may be repeated.

By the loop reproduction start control in step S153, for example, when the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the normal state, the music as the normal BGM can be repeatedly reproduced. Further, when the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in the probabilistic state, the music as the BGM during the probabilistic change can be repeatedly played. When the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the time saving state, the music as BGM during the time saving can be repeatedly played.

When it is determined in step S151 that it is not the BGM change timing (step S151; No), or after the loop reproduction start control in step S153 is executed, the process corresponding to the value of the effect process flag is executed. At this time, the CPU 130 determines the value of the effect process flag stored in the predetermined area of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122, and performs processing according to the determination value from a plurality of processes described in advance in the effect control program. Select and execute. The process executed according to the determination value of the effect process flag includes the processes of steps S170 to S176.

The variable display start waiting process in step S170 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “0”. This variable display start waiting process is a variable display of a decorative pattern on the screen of the main image display device 5MA based on whether or not a first fluctuation start command or a second fluctuation start command transmitted from the main board 11 is received. Includes processing to determine whether or not to start. The first variation start command is an effect control command for notifying that the special figure game using the first special figure is started by the first special symbol display device 4A. The second variation start command is an effect control command for notifying that the special figure game using the second special figure by the second special symbol display device 4B is started. When either the first fluctuation start command or the second fluctuation start command is received, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "1".

The variable display start setting process in step S171 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “1”. This variable display start setting process corresponds to the start of variable display of the special symbol in the special symbol game by the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B, and the screen of the main image display device 5MA. In order to perform variable display of the decorative symbol above and other various production operations, it includes processing to determine a fixed decorative symbol and various production control patterns according to the variation pattern of the special symbol and the type of display result. There is. When the variable display start setting process is executed, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "2".

The variable display effect process in step S172 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “2”. In this variable display effect processing, the CPU 130 controls various controls from the effect control pattern in response to the timer values in the effect control process timer provided in the predetermined area (effect control timer setting unit, etc.) of the work memory 131 or RAM 122. It includes processing for reading data and performing various effect controls during variable display of decorative symbols. Further, in the variable display effect processing, the final stop symbol as the final stop symbol, which is the variable display result of the decorative symbol, is completely stopped and displayed in response to the reception of the symbol confirmation command transmitted from the main board 11. (Derived display) processing is included. In addition, in response to the fact that the end code is read from the predetermined effect control pattern, the final decoration symbol may be displayed as a complete stop display (derivative display). In this case, when the variable display time corresponding to the fluctuation pattern specified by the fluctuation pattern designation command elapses, the effect control board 12 is autonomous even if the effect control command from the main board 11 is not used. The variable display result can be confirmed by deriving and displaying the fixed decorative symbol. After performing such effect control and the like, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "3".

The variable display stop process in step S173 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “3”. In the variable display stop process, the jackpot game state starts based on the variable display result notified by the variable display result notification command and the determination result of whether or not the jackpot start designation command transmitted from the main board 11 is received. It includes a process of determining whether or not to be performed. Then, when the variable display result corresponds to "big hit" and the big hit game state is started, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "4", while the variable display result corresponds to "miss". If the jackpot game state is not started, the effect process flag is cleared and the value is initialized to "0".

The jackpot display process in step S174 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “4”. This jackpot display process includes a process for executing a jackpot notification effect (fanfare effect) for notifying the start of a jackpot game state based on the reception of a jackpot start designation command transmitted from the main board 11. There is. Then, when the execution of the jackpot notification effect is completed, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "5".

The jackpot effect process in step S175 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “5”. In this jackpot sound effect process, the CPU 130 sets, for example, an effect control pattern corresponding to the effect content in the jackpot game state executed in the jackpot game state, and displays the effect image based on the set content as the main image display device. The sound effects and effects from the speakers 8L and 8R can be displayed on the screen of the 5MA or sub-image display device 5SU, the display effects can be executed by the light emitter units 71 to 74, and the sound effect signal is output to the sound output board 13. A jackpot corresponding to a jackpot game state by outputting a sound, turning on, turning off, or blinking a game effect lamp 9 or a decorative LED by outputting an illumination signal to a lamp output board 14, and executing other effect controls. Make the medium production feasible. In the jackpot middle effect processing, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "6" in response to receiving, for example, the jackpot end designation command transmitted from the main board 11.

The jackpot end effect process in step S176 is a process executed when the value of the effect process flag is “6”. In this jackpot end effect processing, the CPU 130 sets, for example, an effect control pattern corresponding to the effect content in the jackpot end effect (ending effect) executed when the jackpot game state ends, and an effect image based on the set content. By controlling the display of, the output of the fruit sound, the lighting, extinguishing, or blinking of various light emitting members, and other effect operations, it is possible to execute the jackpot end effect corresponding to the end of the jackpot game state. After that, the effect process flag is cleared and the value is initialized to "0".

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the variable display start setting process executed in step S171 of FIG. In the variable display start setting process shown in FIG. 19, the CPU 130 first determines the final stop symbol or the like to be the final decorative symbol as the variable display result of the decorative symbol (step S401). As the process of step S401, the CPU 130 finally determines the variable display content such as the variable pattern indicated by the variable pattern designation command transmitted from the main board 11 and the variable display result indicated by the variable display result notification command. Determine the stop symbol. As an example, the variable display contents according to the combination of the fluctuation pattern and the variable display result include "non-reach (loss)", "reach (loss)", "non-probability (big hit)", and "probability (big hit)". is there.

When the variable display content is "non-reach (loss)", the variable display state of the decorative symbol does not change to the reach state, the fixed decorative symbol of the non-reach combination is stopped and displayed, and the variable display result is "loss". ". When the variable display content is "reach (loss)", after the variable display state of the decorative symbol is in the reach state, the final decorative symbol of the reach loss combination is stopped and displayed, and the variable display result is "loss". .. When the variable display content is "non-probability change (big hit)", the variable display result becomes "big hit", and the game state after the end of the big hit game state becomes the time saving state. When the variable display content is "probability change (big hit)", the variable display result becomes "big hit", and the game state after the end of the big hit game state becomes the probable change state.

When the variable display content is "non-reach (loss)", the CPU 130 determines the different (mismatched) decorative symbols in the "left" and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L and 5R as the final stop symbol. .. The CPU 130 is updated by a random number circuit built in (or externally) in the effect control microcomputer 120, an effect random counter provided in a predetermined area (effect control counter setting unit, etc.) of the work memory 131 or RAM 122, or the like. By extracting the numerical data indicating the random number value for determining the left confirmed symbol from the random numbers for production and referring to the left confirmed symbol determination table stored and prepared in advance in the ROM 121, the “left” of the confirmed decorative symbols The left confirmed decorative symbol to be stopped and displayed in the decorative symbol display area 5L is determined. Next, the numerical data indicating the random number value for determining the right-determined symbol is extracted from the random numbers for effect, and by referring to the right-determined symbol determination table prepared in advance stored in the ROM 121, the confirmed decorative symbol is displayed. Among them, the right fixed decorative symbol to be stopped and displayed in the decorative symbol display area 5R of the "right" is determined. At this time, it is preferable that the symbol number of the right fixed decorative symbol is determined so as to be different from the symbol number of the left fixed decorative symbol by the setting in the right confirmed symbol determination table. Subsequently, the numerical data indicating the random number value for determining the medium-fixed symbol is extracted from the random numbers for production, and the fixed decorative symbol is determined by referring to the medium-determined symbol determination table stored and prepared in advance in the ROM 121. Among them, the medium fixed decorative symbol that is stopped and displayed in the decorative symbol display area 5C of "medium" is determined.

When the variable display content is "reach (loss)", the CPU 131 determines the same (matching) decorative symbol as the final stop symbol in the "left" and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L and 5R. .. The CPU 130 extracts numerical data indicating a random number value for determining the left / right confirmed symbol from the random numbers for the effect, and refers to the left / right confirmed symbol determination table stored in advance in the ROM 121 to prepare the fixed decorative symbol. Among them, the decorative symbols having the same stop display symbol numbers are determined in the decorative symbol display areas 5L and 5R of "left" and "right". Further, by extracting the numerical data indicating the random number value for determining the medium-determined symbol from the random numbers for production and referring to the medium-determined symbol determination table stored and prepared in advance in the ROM 121, among the confirmed decorative symbols. The medium-fixed decorative symbol that is stopped and displayed in the "middle" decorative symbol display area 5C is determined. Here, for example, when the symbol number of the medium-fixed decorative symbol is the same as the symbol number of the left-fixed decorative symbol and the right-fixed decorative symbol, and the fixed decorative symbol is a jackpot combination, an arbitrary value is used. By adding or subtracting (for example, "1") to the symbol number of the medium fixed decorative symbol, the fixed decorative symbol may be a reach combination instead of a jackpot combination. Alternatively, when determining the medium-fixed decorative symbol, the difference (design difference) between the left-fixed decorative symbol and the right-fixed decorative symbol may be determined, and the medium-fixed decorative symbol corresponding to the symbol difference may be set. ..

When the variable display content is "non-probability change (big hit)" or "probability change (big hit)", the CPU 130 is the same in the decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right". The (matching) decorative symbol of is determined as the final stop symbol. The CPU 130 extracts numerical data indicating a random number value for determining a big hit confirmation symbol from the random numbers for production. Subsequently, by referring to the jackpot confirmation symbol determination table stored and prepared in advance in the ROM 121, the stop display is aligned with the decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R of "left", "middle", and "right". Determine the decorative symbols with the same symbol number. At this time, depending on whether the variable display content is "non-probability (big hit)" or "probability (big hit)", and whether or not the promotion effect during big hit is executed, a normal symbol (for example, an even number) is displayed. It suffices to determine which of the indicated decorative symbol) and the probabilistic pattern (for example, the decorative symbol indicating an odd number) is used as the final decorative symbol. In the jackpot medium promotion effect, the combination of decorative symbols (non-probability variation jackpot combination) that reminds us of the jackpot but does not recall the probability variation state is temporarily stopped and displayed, and then the probability variation state during the jackpot game state or at the end of the jackpot gaming state. It is a production that informs whether or not it becomes.

As a specific example, when the variable display content is "non-probability (big hit)", a fixed decorative symbol is determined from a plurality of types of normal symbols. In addition, when it is determined that the variable display content is "probability change (big hit)" and the promotion effect during the big hit is not executed, the definite decoration symbol is determined from among a plurality of types of probabilistic symbols. On the other hand, when it is decided to execute the promotion effect during the big hit even if the variable display content is "probability change (big hit)", the fixed decorative symbol is decided from among a plurality of types of normal symbols. As a result, even though the probabilistic symbols are aligned and displayed as the final decorative symbols, it is possible to prevent the promotion effect during the jackpot from being executed so as not to give the player a sense of distrust.

In the process of step S401, when the variable display content is "non-probability (big hit)" or "probability (big hit)", it is determined whether or not to execute the probabilistic promotion effect such as the re-lottery effect or the big hit medium promotion effect. You may. In the re-lottery effect, once the decorative symbol of the non-probable variable jackpot combination consisting of the same normal symbol is displayed during the variable display of the decorative symbol, it is once difficult or unrecognizable to be controlled to the probabilistic state. It is possible to notify that the decorative symbol is controlled to the probabilistic state by displaying (re-variating) the decorative symbol again and stopping and displaying the decorative symbol of the probabilistic jackpot combination consisting of the same probabilistic symbol. In addition, after the decorative symbol is re-variated in the re-lottery effect, the decorative symbol of the non-probability change jackpot combination may be stopped and displayed, so that it may not be notified that the decorative symbol is controlled to the probabilistic state. When it is determined in the process of step S401 that the re-lottery effect is to be executed, a combination of decorative symbols to be temporarily stopped and displayed may be determined before the re-lottery effect is executed.

Following the determination of the final stop symbol and the like in step S401, the advance notice effect is determined (step S402). In step S402, the presence or absence of the advance notice effect, the effect mode when the advance notice effect is executed, and the like may be determined by using the advance notice effect determination table prepared, for example, by storing in a predetermined area of the ROM 121 in advance. In the advance notice effect determination table, for example, a numerical value (decision value) to be compared with a random number value for determining the advance notice effect may be assigned to the presence / absence of the advance notice effect and the determination result of the effect mode according to the variable display content. .. The CPU 130 may determine the presence / absence of the advance notice effect and the effect mode by referring to the advance notice effect determination table based on the numerical data indicating the random number value for the advance notice effect determination among the random number for the effect.

Following the determination of the advance notice effect in step S402, the effect control pattern is determined to be one of a plurality of prepared patterns (step S403). For example, the CPU 130 selects one of a plurality of prepared special figure fluctuation effect control patterns in response to the fluctuation pattern indicated by the fluctuation pattern designation command, and sets it as a usage pattern. Further, the CPU 130 selects one of a plurality of prepared advance notice effect control patterns according to the determination result of the advance notice effect by the process of step S402, and sets it as the use pattern.

After determining the effect control pattern in step S403, the CPU 130 is provided in a predetermined area (effect control timer setting unit, etc.) of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122 in response to the variation pattern specified by, for example, the variation pattern designation command. The initial value of the effect control process timer is set (step S404). Then, the setting for starting the fluctuation of the decorative pattern and the like in the main image display device 5MA is made (step S405). At this time, for example, a display control command specified by the display control data included in the effect control pattern determined as the pattern to be used in step S404 is transmitted to the VDP 140 to be provided on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. The variation of the decorative symbol may be started in each of the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R.

Following the process of step S405, in response to the start of the variable display of the decorative symbol, the setting for updating the hold storage display in the start winning memory display area 5H is made (step S406). For example, in the start winning prize memory display area 5H, the display portion corresponding to the hold number "1" may be deleted, and the entire display portion may be moved to the left one by one. After that, the value of the effect process flag is updated to "2", which is a value corresponding to the effect process during variable display (step S407), and then the variable display start setting process ends.

FIG. 20A shows a configuration example of the effect control pattern. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 20A, the effect control pattern includes, for example, an effect control process timer determination value, display control data, voice control data, lamp control data, movable member control data, operation detection control data, end code, and the like. It consists of included process data. The effect control process timer judgment value is a value (judgment value) to be compared with the effect control process timer value which is a stored value of the effect control process timer provided in a predetermined area (effect control timer setting unit, etc.) of the work memory 131 or RAM 122. ), And the determination value corresponding to the execution time (effect time) of each effect operation is set in advance. In addition, instead of the effect control process timer determination value, for example, a predetermined effect control command is received from the main board 11, or a predetermined process is performed as a process for controlling the effect operation in the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120. Data indicating the switching timing of the effect control or the like may be set in response to a predetermined control content or processing content such as execution. The pattern data constituting such an effect control pattern may be stored in the ROM 121 in advance as management data.

The display control data includes data indicating the display mode of the effect image on the display screen of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, such as data indicating the variation mode of each decorative symbol during the variable display of the decorative symbol. It has been. That is, the display control data is data that specifies the display operation of the effect image on the display screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU. Even if the display data of the effect image on the display screen of the sub-image display device 5SU is added with the display data used for creating the lighting data for controlling the lighting mode by the plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74. Good. In this case, if the display operation of the effect image on the display screen of the sub-image display device 5SU is specified by the display control data, the lighting mode by the plurality of light emitters arranged so as to form the light emitter units 71 to 74. Can also be specified. The display control data is not limited to specifying the lighting mode in the plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74, and the lighting mode in the plurality of light emitters can be determined by using the control data separate from the display control data. It may be specified.

The voice control data includes data showing a voice output mode from the speakers 8L and 8R, such as data showing an output mode such as a sound effect linked to the variable display operation of the decorative symbol during the variable display of the decorative symbol. There is. That is, the voice control data is data that specifies the voice output operation from the speakers 8L and 8R. For example, the voice control data may indicate various settings in the ROM 121 or the effect data memory 123A, such as whether or not to perform loop playback, in addition to the start address and end address of the voice data corresponding to the music or the like. ..

The lamp control data includes data indicating a lighting operation mode in various light emitting members other than the light emitting body units 71 to 74, such as a game effect lamp 9 and a decorative LED. That is, the lamp control data is data that specifies the lighting operation of various light emitting members. The lamp control data may include data indicating a lighting operation mode in a plurality of light emitters constituting the light emitter units 71 to 74. The movable member control data includes data indicating an operation mode of the movable members 51 to 54, such as data indicating a drive mode of the operation motors 60A to 60C for rotating or moving the movable members 51 to 54. ing. That is, the movable member control data is data that specifies the rotation operation and the movement operation of the movable members 51 to 54. The operation detection control data includes, for example, an operation valid period for effectively detecting an instruction operation (tilting operation) for the operation rod of the stick controller 31A and an instruction operation (push / pull operation) for the trigger button, or an instruction operation for the push button 31B (push button 31B). Data indicating the effect operation mode according to the player's operation action, such as the operation validity period for effectively detecting the pressing operation) and the data for specifying the control content of the effect operation when each operation is effectively detected, include.

It should be noted that these control data do not have to be included in all the effect control patterns, and the effect control pattern is configured to include a part of the control data according to the content of the effect operation by each effect control pattern. There may be. Further, in the plurality of types of process data included in the effect control pattern, the types of control data constituting each process data may be different depending on the content of the effect operation executed at each timing. That is, some process data includes all of display control data, voice control data, lamp control data, movable member control data, and operation detection control data, and some process data includes some of these. It may be there. Further, various other control data such as the effect model control data indicating the operation mode of the movable member included in the effect model may be included.

FIG. 20B shows various effect operations executed according to the contents of the effect control pattern. The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 determines the control content of the effect operation according to various control data included in the effect control pattern. For example, when the effect control process timer value matches any of the effect control process timer determination values, the decorative symbol is displayed in the manner specified by the display control data associated with the effect control process timer determination value, and the character is displayed. Control is performed to display an effect image such as an image or a background image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU. Further, control may be performed in which a plurality of light emitters arranged and arranged in the light emitter units 71 to 74 are turned on in a manner specified by the display control data to execute the display effect. Further, control is performed to output sound from the speakers 8L and 8R in a mode specified by the voice control data, and control is performed to blink various light emitting members such as the game effect lamp 9 in a mode specified by the lamp control data. During the operation validity period specified by the operation detection control data, the control that accepts the operation on the trigger button, the operation stick, or the push button 31B of the stick controller 31A and determines the effect content is performed. Dummy data (data for which control is not specified) may be set for the data corresponding to the effect component that is not the control target even if it corresponds to the effect control process timer determination value.

The CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 sets the effect control pattern based on the variation pattern indicated by the variation pattern designation command, for example, when starting the variable display of the decorative symbol. Here, when setting the effect control pattern, the pattern data constituting the corresponding effect control pattern may be read from the ROM 121 and temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122, or the corresponding effect control may be set. The storage address of the pattern data constituting the pattern in the ROM 121 may be temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work memory 131 or the RAM 122, and the reading position of the stored data in the ROM 121 may be specified. After that, every time the effect control process timer value is updated, it is determined whether or not it matches any of the effect control process timer determination values, and if it matches, the effect operation corresponding to the corresponding various control data is performed. To control. In this way, the CPU 130 causes the effect device (main image display device 5MA, sub image display device 5SU, illuminant unit 71) according to the contents of the process data # 1 to process data # n (n is an arbitrary integer) included in the effect control pattern. ~ 74, speakers 8L, 8R, various light emitting members including the game effect lamp 9, movable members 51 to 54, decorative members 57, etc.) are controlled. In each process data # 1 to process data # n, display control data # 1 to display control data # n and voice control data # 1 to voice control associated with the effect control process timer determination values # 1 to # n. Data # n, lamp control data # 1 to lamp control data # n, movable member control data # 1 to movable member control data # n, operation detection control data # 1 to operation detection control data # n are effect operations in the effect device. The effect control execution data # 1 to the effect control execution data # n that indicate the control contents of the above and specify the execution of the effect control are configured.

A command according to the effect control pattern set in this way is output from the CPU 130 of the effect control microcomputer 120 to the VDP 140, the audio processing circuit 143, the general-purpose output controller 145, and the like. Upon receiving the command from the CPU 130, the VDP 140 reads the image data (image element data) indicated by the command from the effect data memories 123A and 123B and temporarily stores them in the work area of the VRAM 141. Further, the VDP 140 selects image data corresponding to the display screens of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU from the image data stored in the work area of the VRAM 141, and converts the selected image data into pixel data. It is arranged at a predetermined position in the image drawing area of the VRAM 141 (a position indicated by information indicating a display position in a display area such as the main image display device 5MA). As a result, display data for one screen is created in the image drawing area of the VRAM 141. At this time, the display data used for creating the lighting data of the light emitter units 71 to 74 may be added to the display data of the effect image on the display screen of the sub image display device 5SU. In addition, the voice processing circuit 143 that receives the command from the CPU 130 acquires the voice data indicated by the command and temporarily stores it in the voice RAM or the like to develop the voice data.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the variable display effect processing executed in step S172 of FIG. In the variable display during effect process shown in FIG. 21, the CPU 130 first determines whether or not the variable display time corresponding to the variation pattern has elapsed based on, for example, the effect control process timer value (step S451). As an example, in step S451, the effect control process timer value is updated (for example, 1 is subtracted), and when the end code is read from the effect control pattern corresponding to the updated effect control process timer value, the variable display is performed. It may be determined that the time has passed.

If the variable display time has not elapsed in step S451 (step S451; No), it is determined whether or not it is the super reach effect start timing (step S452). The super reach effect start timing is a timing for starting the execution of the reach effect in the super reach, and may be predetermined, for example, in the effect control pattern determined by the process of step S403 shown in FIG. When it is the start timing of the super reach effect (step S452; Yes), the BGM off setting is performed (step S453). For example, the CPU 130 causes the audio processing circuit 143 to set the volume of the audio channel for reproducing the BGM to off by a command. In the voice processing circuit 143, for example, the volume of the BGM may be changed to turn off the output. In the period when the BGM is off, only the volume of the BGM is set to off, and the music corresponding to the BGM may be continuously played. Alternatively, during the period when the BGM is off, the playback of the music corresponding to the BGM may be suspended. After the BGM off setting is performed in step S453, the music on setting for super reach production is performed (step S454). For example, the CPU 130 notifies the start address and the end address of the voice data corresponding to the music for the super reach effect by the command to the voice processing circuit 143. The voice processing circuit 143 acquires the voice data corresponding to the music for the super reach effect based on the start address and the end address of the voice data notified by the command from the CPU 130. Then, the volume of the audio channel for reproducing the music for super reach production may be set to on, and the music or the like corresponding to the audio data may be sequentially reproduced from the beginning.

If it is not the super reach effect start timing in step S452 (step S452; No), or after the music on setting is performed in step S454, it is determined whether or not it is the super reach effect end timing (step S455). The super reach effect end timing is a timing for ending the execution of the reach effect in the super reach, and may be predetermined in, for example, in the effect control pattern determined by the process of step S403 shown in FIG. When it is the end timing of the super reach effect (step S455; Yes), the music off setting for the super reach effect is set (step S456). For example, the CPU 130 causes the audio processing circuit 143 to set the volume of the audio channel for reproducing the music for super reach effect to off. In the audio processing circuit 143, for example, the volume of the music for super reach production may be set to off, and the reproduction of the music or the like may be terminated. After setting the music off for super reach production in step S456, the BGM on setting is performed (step S457). For example, the CPU 130 causes the audio processing circuit 143 to set the volume of the audio channel for reproducing the BGM to on. In the voice processing circuit 143, for example, the volume of the BGM may be changed to turn on the output.

When it is not the end timing of the super reach effect in step S455 (step S455; No), or after the BGM on setting is performed in step S457, for example, based on the setting in the effect control pattern determined corresponding to the fluctuation pattern. Then, after performing other effect operation control including the variable display operation of the decorative symbol (step S458), the effect process during variable display is terminated.

When the variable display time has elapsed in step S451 (step S451; Yes), it is determined whether or not the symbol determination command transmitted from the main board 11 has been received (step S459). At this time, if the symbol confirmation command is not received (step S459; No), the variable display effect processing is terminated and the device waits. If the predetermined time elapses without receiving the symbol confirmation command after the variable display time has elapsed, the predetermined error processing is executed in response to the failure to normally receive the symbol confirmation command. You may do so.

When the symbol confirmation command is received in step S459 (step S459; Yes), for example, the final stop that is the display result in the variable display of the decorative symbol such as transmitting a predetermined display control command to the VDP 140. Control is performed to derive and display a symbol (fixed decorative symbol) (step S460). Further, a predetermined fixed time is set as the waiting time for receiving the hit start designation command (step S461). Then, after updating the value of the effect process flag to "3", which is a value corresponding to the variable display stop process (step S462), the effect process during variable display is terminated.

In the variable display effect processing shown in FIG. 21, the music off setting for super reach effect is set in step S456, and then the BGM on setting is immediately performed in step S457. On the other hand, the BGM on setting may be performed after a predetermined period has elapsed after the music off setting is performed in step S456. For example, the BGM on setting may be performed after the control for deriving and displaying the final stop symbol is performed in step S460. Alternatively, the BGM on setting may be performed when the variable display start waiting process of step S170 shown in FIG. 18 is executed. In particular, when the variable display result is "big hit", following the music off setting for super reach production, the music for fanfare production that notifies that the variable display result is "big hit" is played. After that, in response to the game state becoming the big hit game state, the music for the big hit middle production may be played. It should be noted that the music for super reach production may be a music for production during a big hit as it is and may be continuously played. When the variable display result becomes "big hit" in this way, the BGM on setting is performed in response to the execution of the variable display start waiting process in step S170 shown in FIG. 18 after the big hit game state is completed. Good. As a result, when the variable display result becomes a "big hit", the reproduction of the music that becomes the BGM can be smoothly started.

In the variable display effect process shown in FIG. 21, the effect control process timer value is based on the effect control pattern (for example, the effect control pattern when the special figure changes, the advance notice effect control pattern, etc.) determined in the process of step S403 shown in FIG. Control is performed to execute the effect operation by various effect devices by using the process data acquired in the above. Also in the big hit middle effect process in step S175 and the big hit end effect process in step S176 shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 130 reads the effect control pattern from the ROM 121 and the like, and uses the process data acquired based on the effect control process timer value. Controls for executing the effect operation by various effect devices may be performed.

In order to perform such effect control, the CPU 130 determines whether or not the effect control process timer has timed out, and when the time-out occurs, the CPU 130 switches the effect control execution data in the process data. That is, in the process data # 1 to process data # n as shown in FIG. 20A, together with the display control of the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU based on the display control data set next. , Lighting control of a plurality of light emitters arranged in the light emitter units 71 to 74 may be performed. Further, in the process data # 1 to the process data # n, the voice output control of the speakers 8L and 8R is performed based on the voice control data set next. Further, in the process data # 1 to the process data # n, the lighting control of the game effect lamp 9 and the decorative LED is performed based on the lamp control data set next. In the process data # 1 to process data # n, the drive control of the operation motors 60A to 60C is performed based on the movable member control data set next. In addition, in the process data # 1 to the process data # n, the detection control of the instruction operation by the stick controller 31A and the push button 31B is performed based on the operation detection control data set next.

In the effect control microcomputer 120, the VDP 140 reads various image data such as character image data necessary for displaying the effect image from the effect data memories 123A and 123B based on the display control command from the CPU 130, and reads a predetermined area of the VRAM 141. Place in. When displaying the effect image, the same character image may be displayed repeatedly. When the image data stored in the effect data memories 123A and 123B is compressed, it takes time to decompress the image data after reading the image data. Therefore, by arranging necessary character image data or the like in the storage area of the VRAM 141 at the stage of starting the display of the effect image, compared with reading from the effect data memories 123A and 123B corresponding to each frame. , The time required for drawing can be shortened.

After the display of the effect image is started, the CPU 130 sets an attribute in the attribute register of the VDP 140 every time a V blank occurs, and then instructs the execution of reading the attribute. In response, the VDP140 reads the attributes. When this reading is completed, the reading end interrupt signal is output from the VDP 140 to the CPU 130. Upon receiving the read end interrupt signal, the CPU 130 instructs the execution of the drawing process. In this way, the VDP 140 executes the drawing process by writing the display data to the VRAM 141 according to the read attribute.

A mainframe buffer and a subframe buffer are allocated to each of the plurality of storage areas to which the image display area and the image drawing area are allocated in the VRAM 141. The mainframe buffer stores display data for displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. For example, the main frame buffer is allocated a memory area capable of storing pixel data of 800 dots in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) and 600 dots in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction). In the subframe buffer, display data for displaying an image on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU is stored, and display data used for creating lighting data for lighting control of the light emitter units 71 to 74 is stored. May be done. For example, the subframe buffer is allocated a memory area capable of storing pixel data of 480 dots in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) and 885 dots in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction).

The image data used to create the lighting data for controlling the lighting of the light emitter units 71 to 74 corresponds to, for example, an image size of 320 dots in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) and 320 dots in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction). There is. The VDP140 reduces the image data for creating lighting data to an image size of 80 dots in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) and 80 dots in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction). The reduced image size corresponds to the resolution of the illuminant units 71 to 74 in which a plurality of illuminants are arranged in an aligned manner. As described above, the image data for creating the lighting data has a resolution higher than the resolution of the light emitter units 71 to 74. As an example, anti-aliasing processing such as supersampling is performed. As another example, for each rectangular range of 4 dots x 4 dots in the vertical and horizontal directions in the image data, the RGB values corresponding to the upper left dots are acquired and used as display data, so that the vertical and horizontal directions are 1/4 each. Display data reduced to may be created. In this way, the display data to be converted into the lighting data is created by using the image data having a resolution higher than the resolution of the display by the plurality of light emitters. Thereby, for example, jaggies generated in the contour of a character image or the like can be suppressed, and the smoothness of display in the light emitter units 71 to 74 can be improved. In particular, when an effect image such as a character image is moved and displayed, the contour portion can be smoothly displayed, and the interest of the display effect in the light emitter units 71 to 74 can be improved. The reduction of the image size may be performed in the image data deformation processing or the display data drawing processing by the VDP 140, or may be performed by using a predetermined scaler circuit. The scaler circuit may reduce the image size at a predetermined reduction rate (for example, 1/4) by converting the number of pixels of the display data read from the VRAM 141. As described above, the size change of the display data may be realized by a hardware circuit or may be realized by executing a predetermined program as software.

The image data read by the VDP 140 may be used for creating lighting data by being written in a predetermined area (light emitter lighting data area) in the subframe buffer. On the other hand, the image data read by the VDP 140 is written to the mainframe buffer and used for displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA. Further, the image data read by the VDP 140 is written in an area other than the light emitter lighting data area in the subframe buffer, and is used for image display on the screen of the sub image display device 5SU. As described above, even if the same image data is used, it is sufficient that the usage can be different depending on the writing position in the VRAM 141. In this way, the image data read from the effect data memories 123A and 123B and temporarily stored in the VRAM 141 is for displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU, or the light emitter units 71 to 74. It suffices if it can also be used for creating lighting data for controlling lighting. Therefore, the image data stored in the effect data memories 123A and 123B is at least one of the effect image display control in the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU and the lighting control of the light emitter units 71 to 74. It can be used for either control.

As for the display data stored in the subframe buffer, for example, one frame is output in 1/60 second (about 16.7 milliseconds). As a result, the sub-image display device 5SU can update the displayed image at a frame period of 1/60 second. When the data for controlling the illuminant is also added to the data for displaying the sub-image, it can be output at a cycle of 1/60 second. In the light emitting body control board 16C, the display data transmitted from the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151. Therefore, the buffer memory 151 may store the data for controlling the illuminant at a cycle of 1/60 second in which the VDP 140 outputs the display data for one frame.

In the light emitter control board 16C, the lighting data generation circuit 152 has a cycle shorter than the frame cycle (1/60 second, etc.) of an image display device using an LCD (liquid crystal display) such as the sub image display device 5SU. Lighting data for controlling lighting of a plurality of light emitters may be generated. As a specific example, the lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data for controlling lighting of the illuminant at a cycle of 1/120 second (about 8.3 milliseconds). In this way, the lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data of the light emitter in a cycle (1/120 seconds) shorter than the output cycle (1/60 seconds) of the display data by the VDP 140, and the serial output circuit 153 generates lighting data. Output a control signal based on lighting data. In this case, the buffer memory 151 can store the data for light emission control included in the display data corresponding to the image display for one frame output from the VDP 140, that is, the data for controlling the light emitter of 80 dots × 80 dots. It suffices to have a storage data capacity. Further, by lighting the light emitters in a relatively short cycle, flicker (flicker) in the display effect executed by the plurality of light emitters arranged in each of the light emitter units 71 to 74 is suppressed and the display is performed. It is possible to improve the interest of the production. The lighting control of the light emitter is not limited to the one performed in a cycle of 1/2 of the output cycle of the display data, and the output cycle of the display data is, for example, a shorter cycle (for example, a cycle of 1/3). It may be performed at an arbitrary cycle shorter than that.

The serial output circuit 153 is lit by the lighting data generation circuit 152 at a cycle longer than the time required for the light emission control data included in the display data corresponding to the image display for one frame to be written to the buffer memory 151. It may be set to output the control signal corresponding to the data. In this way, the data for light emission control corresponding to one frame is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151 in a time shorter than the cycle in which the control signal corresponding to the lighting data is output. As a result, even when the buffer memory 151 having a storage data capacity that can temporarily store the data for light emission control corresponding to one frame is used, the lighting data can be stored in a time shorter than the output cycle of the control signal corresponding to the lighting data. The generation can be completed.

The buffer memory 151 has a storage data capacity that can store data for light emission control included in the display data corresponding to the image display for a plurality of frames, such as the display data corresponding to the image display for two frames. You may be. In this case, a plurality of buffer areas are allocated to the storage area of the buffer memory 151. Each buffer area may have a storage data capacity capable of storing data for light emission control included in the display data corresponding to the image display for one frame.

The lighting data generation circuit 152 divides the data into a plurality of data ranges according to the storage position (read address or the like) of the buffer memory 151 that stores the data for light emission control. For example, the storage area of the buffer memory 151 is divided into a plurality of buffer memory areas according to the storage address and the like. The lighting data generation circuit 152 determines the lighting data of the illuminant included in any of the illuminant blocks B01 to B42, based on which buffer memory area the data is stored in. Specify whether to convert.

The display data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151 is assigned to any of the light emitter blocks B01 to B42 for each of a plurality of divided data ranges. The lighting data generation circuit 152 can specify the data range assigned to each of the light emitter blocks B01 to B42 by referring to the address identification table which is the conversion setting information prepared in advance. Based on this specific result, the address information of the illuminant driver provided corresponding to each illuminant block B01 to B42 can be specified. The address identification table may be stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM built in (or externally attached to) the lighting data generation circuit 152. The lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data including address information and outputs the lighting data to the light emitter drive unit 154 by the serial output circuit 153.

Further, the lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 includes gradation data indicating the gradation control amount of each light emitting element constituting each of the plurality of light emitting bodies. For example, the gradation data may indicate the output period (pulse width) of the pulse signal in PWM control as the gradation control amount. The lighting data generation circuit 152 refers to a lighting data generation table that serves as color conversion setting information prepared in advance based on the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data read from the buffer memory 151. By doing so, gradation data indicating the gradation control amount is generated. The lighting data generation table may be stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM built in (or externally attached to) the lighting data generation circuit 152.

The lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 corresponds to a number of gradations smaller than the number of gradations of the image displayed based on the display data used for the conversion. For example, the display data transmitted from the effect control board 12 via the effect control relay board 16A and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151 is for each display color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Gradation control is possible in 256 steps so that the brightness (gradation) becomes any level of "0" to "255". As described above, the number of gradations of the image displayed based on the display data transmitted from the effect control board 12 is "256". The lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 has a brightness (gradation) of any one of "0" to "63" for each display color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Gradation control is possible in 64 steps so as to reach the level of. As described above, the lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 shows the number of gradations of "64", which is less than "256".

The correspondence between the level (RGB value) of each display color shown in the display data and the gradation control amount of each light emitting element indicated by the gradation data included in the lighting data of the illuminant is the light emission corresponding to each emission color. It may be determined in advance in consideration of the characteristics of the element (for example, luminous efficiency), white balance, and the like. As an example, a light emitting diode, which is a light emitting element constituting each light emitting body, has a non-linear characteristic in which the amount of current rapidly increases when the applied voltage reaches a predetermined value. Therefore, if the gradation control amount is converted to the gradation control amount proportional to the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data, there is a possibility that inconvenience of display effect by a plurality of light emitters such as overexposure and underexposure may occur. is there. Therefore, the lighting data from the display data so that the light emitting element corresponding to each light emitting color constituting each of the plurality of light emitting bodies has a light emitting amount equivalent to the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data. The setting information at the time of conversion to is may be stored in advance as a lighting data generation table.

FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of the lighting data generation table TC1 referred to by the lighting data generation circuit 152. In the lighting data generation table TC1, the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the lighting data is set corresponding to the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data. Here, for each display color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) shown in the display data, the brightness (gradation) is at any level of "0" to "10". In that case, the table data may be configured so that the brightness (gradation) of each display color indicated by the lighting data is at the level of “0”. That is, when the brightness (gradation) shown in the display data of the light emitting element of each display color included in one light emitting body corresponding to one dot is "10" or less, the brightness of each display color By generating lighting data in which (gradation) is "0", a limit is set so as not to light the light emitter.

On the other hand, in the lighting data generation table TC1, at least one of the R (red), G (green), and B (blue) display colors indicated by the display data has a brightness (gradation) of "11" or more. The table data may be configured so that lighting data indicating an RGB value proportional to the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data is generated at the level of. For example, when the brightness (gradation) of B (blue) shown in the display data is "11", the brightness (gradation) of B (blue) shown in the lighting data is "2". If the brightness of R (red) or G (green) shown in the display data is "0" to "3", lighting data indicating that the brightness (gradation) is "0" is generated, and "4". If it is ~ "7", lighting data indicating that the brightness (gradation) is "1" is generated, and if it is "8" to "11", lighting data indicating that the brightness (gradation) is "2" is generated. As described above, the table data of the lighting data generation table TC1 is configured.

The image data read by the VDP 140 from the effect data memories 123A and 123B by the effect control microcomputer 120 is used for displaying images on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU, and the light emitter units 71 to 74 are lit. It may also be used for creating lighting data to be controlled. At this time, when the brightness (gradation) of each display color indicated by the display data created from the image data used for image display is less than a predetermined amount, the proportional relationship is the same as when the amount is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. When the lighting data is generated below, the influence of the non-linear characteristic of the light emitting diode becomes remarkable, and there is a possibility that an unnatural display effect is performed. Therefore, according to the brightness (gradation) of each display color indicated by the display data, when the amount of light emitted by the light emitting body is less than a predetermined amount, a limitation is provided on the lighting control so as not to light the light emitting body. In this way, the lighting control is different between the light emitting body having a light emitting amount of less than a predetermined amount and the light emitting body having a light emitting amount of a predetermined amount or more among the plurality of light emitting bodies. In particular, in this embodiment, while limiting the lighting control of the illuminant whose emission amount is less than a predetermined amount according to the RGB value of the display data is provided, the illuminant whose emission amount is a predetermined amount or more is set. Is controlled according to the RGB value of the lighting data, which is proportional to the RGB value of the display data. In this way, by making the lighting control different depending on whether or not the amount of light emitted is less than a predetermined amount, the influence of the non-linear characteristics of the light emitting element is reduced, and the player is not given a sense of discomfort in the display effect. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the production from becoming less interesting.

A plurality of types of lighting data generation tables are prepared in advance, and any lighting data generation table may be selected as a table to be used based on a predetermined selection setting. In this case, a different lighting data generation table may be selected for each emission color of the light emitting element included in each light emitting body. For example, in the case of the light emitter blocks B01 to B06, the lighting data generation table TR01 is selected according to the emission color R (red), and the lighting data generation table TG01 is selected according to the emission color G (green). The lighting data generation table TB01 is selected according to the color B (blue). On the other hand, in the case of the light emitter blocks B07, B08, and B15, the lighting data generation table TR02 is selected according to the emission color R (red), and the lighting data generation table corresponds to the emission color G (green). TG02 is selected, and the lighting data generation table TB02 is selected according to the emission color B (blue). Further, in the case of the illuminant blocks B09 to B14, the lighting data generation table TR03 is selected according to the emission color R (red), and the lighting data generation table TG03 is selected according to the emission color G (green). , The lighting data generation table TB03 is selected according to the emission color B (blue). In each lighting data generation table, the gradation control amount of each light emitting element indicated by the gradation data included in the lighting data of the illuminant is the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data created by VDP 141. It suffices if it is configured to include table data to be converted into. The lighting data generation circuit 152 is designated by the lighting data by referring to the selected lighting data generation table based on the level (RGB value) of each display color shown in the display data read from the buffer memory 151. Determine the gradation control amount.

The characteristics of the light emitting element may differ depending on the light emitting color. Therefore, the display data is converted into a gradation control amount having a different correspondence relationship with the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data according to the emission color of each light emitting element constituting the light emitting body. The setting information when converting from to lighting data may be stored in advance as a lighting data generation table.

It suffices if the display data can be converted into lighting data by using different lighting data generation tables according to the arrangement of each of the plurality of light emitters corresponding to each light emitting body block. Each of the light emitter units 71 to 74 emits light with the same gradation according to the arrangement of each of the plurality of light emitters, depending on the size of the area where the plurality of light emitters are arranged and the front-rear relationship of each light emitter unit. Even if it is made, it may give a different impression to the player. Therefore, regardless of the arrangement of each of the plurality of illuminants corresponding to each illuminant block, the lighting data is lit from the display data so that the luminescence amount corresponds to the same display color and gives an impression as close to uniform as possible. The setting information at the time of conversion to is stored in advance as a lighting data generation table.

In this way, each light emitter depends not only on the level (RGB value) of each display color indicated by the display data, but also on the light emission characteristics of each of the plurality of light emitting elements constituting the light emitter, the arrangement of the plurality of light emitters, and the like. Gradation data indicating the gradation control amount according to is generated. As a result, even when the light emitters including a plurality of types of light emitting elements having different light emitting colors are arranged in a predetermined region of the light emitting body units 71 to 74, the color reproducibility is enhanced and the effect of the production is enjoyed. To improve.

It should be noted that all the lighting data is not limited to those generated by referring to the lighting data generation table, and at least a part of the lighting data is generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 executing a predetermined data processing program. May be done. For example, for each display color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) shown in the display data, it is determined whether or not the amount of light emitted is less than the predetermined amount, and all the amounts of light emitted are less than the predetermined amount. In that case, a process of generating lighting data having a brightness (gradation) of "0" may be executed so as not to light the light emitting body.

As an example, in the lighting data generation process executed by the lighting data generation circuit 152, display data for one dot is acquired, and it is determined whether or not all the RGB values indicated by the display data are "10" or less. .. Then, when all are "10" or less, all the RGB values in the lighting data are set to "0". On the other hand, when at least one of the RGB values shown in the display data is not "10" or less, the lighting data generation table corresponding to the light emitting body block and the light emitting color is selected. Subsequently, the lighting data corresponding to the display data is generated by using the selected lighting data generation table. Then, it is determined whether or not the generation of the lighting data corresponding to all the dots is completed, and if the generation of the lighting data is not completed yet, the display data corresponding to the next 1 dot is acquired and the same processing is performed. It may be executed repeatedly. On the other hand, when the generation of the lighting data corresponding to all the dots is completed, the lighting data generation process may be terminated.

The lighting data generation process is not limited to the one that generates lighting data by referring to the lighting data generation table, and lighting data may be generated by executing a predetermined arithmetic processing program. For example, in the display data that enables gradation control in 256 steps for each display color, the brightness (gradation) of each display color is represented by 8 bits in the case of binary display. On the other hand, in the lighting data that enables gradation control in 64 steps for each display color, the brightness (gradation) of each display color is represented by 6 bits in the case of binary display. Therefore, when at least one of the RGB values shown in the display data is not "10" or less, numerical processing for truncating the lower 2 bits of the 8-bit data indicating the brightness (gradation) of each display color in the display data. The lighting data may be generated by performing the above. Alternatively, lighting data corresponding to the display data may be generated according to a preset calculation formula. A plurality of types of arithmetic processing programs that can be used for conversion from display data to lighting data are prepared in advance, and the lighting data generation circuit 152 is one of them according to the display color and arrangement (light emitter block, etc.) of the light emitting element. The display data may be converted into lighting data by selecting and executing the arithmetic processing program of.

The display data is not limited to the one that acquires the display data for each dot and sets and generates the lighting data. For example, the lighting data may be set and generated collectively by using predetermined mask data. In this case, dots having all RGB values of "10" or less are detected in the display data for one frame temporarily stored in the buffer memory 151, and RGB in the lighting data corresponding to the detected dots is used. Mask data for setting all the values to "0" may be prepared in advance.

Note that the RGB values shown in the display data for one dot are not limited to those set to be "0" when all the RGB values in the lighting data are "0" or less, and the RGB values for one dot are not limited to "0". When any of the RGB values shown in the display data is "10" or less, only the lighting data corresponding to the display color may be set to be "0". As an example, the brightness (gradation) of R (red) shown in the display data is "100", the brightness (gradation) of G (green) is "8", and the brightness (gradation) of B (blue) is When it is "2", the brightness (gradation) of R (red) indicated by the lighting data is "25", while the brightness (gradation) of G (green) and B (blue) is "2". The table data of the lighting data generation table may be configured so as to be "0", or the lighting data generation circuit 152 may execute a predetermined arithmetic processing program. As described above, for each light emitting element of each display color in the light emitting body, a restriction may be provided so as not to perform lighting control of the light emitting body in which the amount of light emitted is less than a predetermined amount according to the RGB value of the display data. However, if there is a display color whose RGB value is "10" or less in the display data for one dot, and only that display color is set to "0" in the lighting data, the tint of the emission color May change. Therefore, when all the RGB values shown in the display data for one dot are "10" or less, it is desirable to set so that all the RGB values in the lighting data are "0".

Alternatively, the RGB values indicated by the display data for one dot may be added so that when the total value is less than a predetermined value, all the RGB values in the lighting data are set to "0". As an example, when the total value obtained by adding the brightness (gradation) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) shown in the display data is "30" or less, it is shown in the lighting data. The table data of the lighting data generation table may be configured so that the brightness (gradation) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is all "0", or the lighting data generation circuit. The 152 may execute a predetermined arithmetic processing program. In this case, even if the brightness (gradation) of R (red) shown in the display data is "11", the brightness (gradation) of G (green) and B (blue) is "0". If so, the brightness (gradation) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) indicated by the lighting data is all "0". In this way, by setting a limit so as not to control the lighting of the light emitting body in which the total (total amount) of the light emitting amount by the plurality of light emitting elements constituting one light emitting body becomes less than a predetermined amount, the player It is possible to prevent the display effect from being uncomfortable and to prevent the effect from being lowered.

According to the RGB value of the display data, the amount of light emitted is not limited to a limit so as not to control the lighting of the light emitting body, and the influence of the non-linear characteristics of the light emitting element is taken into consideration. Therefore, arbitrary restrictions may be provided. As an example, if the brightness (gradation) of each display color shown in the display data is "0" to "8", lighting data indicating the brightness (gradation) is "0" is generated, and "9" or "9" or The table data of the lighting data generation table may be configured so that the lighting data indicating the brightness (gradation) of "1" is generated if it is "10", or the lighting data generation circuit 152 performs a predetermined calculation. The processing program may be executed. In this way, when the brightness (gradation) of each display color indicated by the display data is less than a predetermined amount, the lighting control is restricted so that the lighting control is performed in a correspondence relationship different from the proportional relationship when the amount is more than the predetermined amount. May be provided. Further, the threshold value of whether or not the amount of light emitted by the light emitting body is less than a predetermined amount is not limited to the RGB value of "10" in the display data, and the influence of the non-linear characteristics of the light emitting element is taken into consideration. Any value may be set. Depending on the emission color (display color) of the light emitting element, the threshold value for whether or not the amount of emission is less than a predetermined amount may be set to be different.

The image data stored in the effect data memories 123A and 123B is not limited to the one used for both display control and lighting control, and dedicated image data is prepared for creating lighting data, and the effect data memory is prepared in advance. It may be stored in 123A and 123B. In this case, the image data is preset so that the light emitting body whose lighting amount is less than a predetermined amount when the lighting data is generated in a proportional relationship with the display data is not lit without lighting control. You may do so. Lighting data may be created using the light emission data stored in the effect data memory 123C. In this case as well, the light emission data may be set in advance so that the light emitting body whose light emission amount is less than a predetermined amount is not lit without lighting control.

The lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data including gradation data to which the address information assigned to the light emitter driver on the upper side or the lower side of the digit is added, and the serial output circuit 153 transfers the lighting data to the light emitting body driving unit 154. Is output. Further, the lighting data generated by the lighting data generation circuit 152 includes drive control data for dynamically lighting and controlling a plurality of light emitters for each of the plurality of light emitter blocks B01 to B42. The lighting data generation circuit 152 generates lighting data including drive control data to which the address information assigned to the light emitting body driver on the strobe side is added, and outputs the lighting data to the light emitting body driving unit 154 by the serial output circuit 153.

The serial output circuit 153 outputs a common clock signal to the plurality of serial output systems K01 to K21 as the serial clock SC shown in FIG. The serial clock SC output from the serial output circuit 153 is supplied to each of the plurality of light emitter drivers included in the light emitter drive unit 154 via the serial signal wiring. Each illuminant driver receives the serial data SD transmitted in synchronization with the serial clock SC.

On the other hand, the serial output circuit 153 may output a control signal including drive control data and gradation data as serial data SD at different timings according to each of the serial output systems K01 to K21. When control signals are output to each of the serial output systems K01 to K21 at the same timing, lighting control of a large number of illuminants at the same timing is performed by a large number of illuminant drivers included in the illuminant drive unit 154. May be started. In this case, a large amount of drive current flows as an inrush current in a short period of time, which may cause radio interference due to noise radio waves or the like. In addition, the manufacturing cost may increase due to the need for a power supply circuit for generating a large amount of drive current. On the other hand, by outputting the control signal that becomes the serial data SD at different timings according to each of the plurality of serial output systems K01 to K21, the generation of inrush current is suppressed, and the generation of noise radio waves and manufacturing It is possible to prevent an increase in cost.

In the illuminant drive unit 154, each illuminant driver confirms whether or not the illuminant driver address indicated by the address information included in the received serial data SD matches the illuminant driver address assigned to the illuminant driver address. To do. At this time, if they match, the serial data SD which becomes the drive control data and the gradation data is taken in, converted into parallel data, and the lighting control of the illuminant is performed based on this. For example, the illuminant driver on the strobe side drives and controls a plurality of illuminants connected to the strobe signal line by outputting a strobe signal based on the drive control data. Further, the illuminant driver on the upper side of the digit or the lower side of the digit outputs a digit signal based on the gradation data to control the gradation of a plurality of illuminants connected to the digit signal line. In this way, the dynamic lighting control of the plurality of illuminants is performed for each of the plurality of illuminant blocks B01 to B42, and the illuminant units 71 to 74 included in the movable members 51 to 54 constituting the effect movable mechanism 50 are aligned. A display effect is performed according to the lighting mode of the plurality of arranged light emitters.

As an example of a specific display effect by the effect movable mechanism 50, in the retracted state (first state) in which the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are separated and the display screen of the main image display device 5MA can be visually recognized. , A display effect using a plurality of light emitters arranged on the movable members 51 to 54 that can be visually recognized by the player is executed in conjunction with the display effect by the main image display device 5MA. In the retracted state, the movable members 51 and 52 are located above and the movable members 53 and 54 are located below. In this way, when the movable members 51 to 54 are not rotating and are in the retracted state (when stopped), only the light emitting body that can be visually recognized from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 among the plurality of light emitting bodies. Lighting control. As a result, power consumption can be reduced. As a display effect by controlling the lighting of the light emitter, for example, characters and symbols are displayed, blinking and emission colors of a plurality of light emitters are moved in a predetermined order, and the display is variable according to the variable display by the main image display device 5MA. A display effect or the like may be executed. Further, when the reach effect is executed, at least one of the movable members 51 to 54 may be moved (vibration, advancement, etc.), or characters or symbols such as "reach" may be displayed by using a plurality of light emitters. Good.

On the other hand, when the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 are close to each other and the display screen of the main image display device 5MA is difficult to see or cannot be seen (second state), the movable members 51 to 54 are arranged. The display effect using all of the plurality of light emitters is executed in conjunction with the display effect by the main image display device 5MA or independently of the display effect by the main image display device 5MA. In the advanced state, the movable members 51 and 52 rotate as the decorative member 57 in the upper mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50 moves downward, and the movable members 53 and 54 of the lower mechanism are positioned upward. .. In this way, when the movable members 51 to 54 are in the advanced state (when they are operating) in the rotating operation, all of the plurality of light emitters are controlled to be lit.

The integrated display effect on the movable members 51 to 54 may be started before or during the change from the retracted state to the advanced state of the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism of the effect movable mechanism 50. In this way, when the movable members 51 to 54 are rotating, all the plurality of light emitters may be turned on to perform the display effect regardless of whether or not they are visible from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. As a result, the effect of rotating the movable members 51 to 54 can be increased. Further, by lighting all the plurality of light emitters regardless of whether or not they can be visually recognized from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the light emitters for which lighting control is not performed can be visually recognized by the player by simple control. Can be suppressed.

The ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C mounted on the effect control board 12 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are provided with a plurality of storage areas according to the storage contents. For example, the ROM 121 has a program management area R01 that serves as a first storage area for storing programs for effect control and various management data, and a voice data first storage area that serves as a second storage area for storing voice data. R11 and the like are provided. The effect data memory 123A is provided with an audio data second storage area R12 as a storage area for storing audio data and an image data first storage area R21 as a storage area for storing image data. The effect data memory 123B is provided with an image data second storage area R22 as a storage area for storing image data. Audio data The audio data used for controlling the audio output by the speakers 8R and 8L is stored in the audio data first storage area R11 and the audio data second storage area R12. In the image data first storage area R21 and the image data second storage area R22, together with the image data used for controlling the display of the effect image in the main image display device 5MA and the sub image display device 5SU, the light emitter units 71 to 71 Image data used for lighting control in a plurality of light emitters arranged in alignment with 74 may be stored.

FIG. 23A shows a configuration example of audio data stored in the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. .. In the example shown in FIG. 23 (A), the start address and the end address in the voice data first storage area R11 and the voice data second storage area R12 in which the respective voice data are stored correspond to a plurality of songs. It is set. For example, the audio data corresponding to the music A-1 is used to reproduce the normal BGM in which the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the normal state, and is stored in the section from the start address MA02 to the end address MA03. There is. The audio data corresponding to the music A-2 is used to reproduce the effect sound at the time of the super reach effect in which the reach effect of the super reach is executed, and is stored in the section from the start address MA03 + 1 to the end address MA05. .. The audio data corresponding to the music A-1 and the music A-2 may be stored in the audio data first storage area R11.

The audio data corresponding to the music B-1 of FIG. 23 (A) is used to reproduce the BGM in the probabilistic change state in which the gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the probable change state, and is from the start address MA19 + 1 to the end address MA21. It is stored in the section. Here, the start address MA09 + 1 of the music B-1 has an address value smaller than the address MA10, which is the final address of the ROM 121, and is included in the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 that provides the first area. There is. On the other hand, the end address MA1a of the music B-1 has an address value larger than the address MA10 which is the final address of the ROM 121, and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A providing the second area. Included in. As described above, the audio data corresponding to the music B-1 straddles both the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. It is remembered. The audio data corresponding to the music B-2 is used to reproduce the BGM during the time reduction in which the gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the time reduction state, and is stored in the section from the start address MA1a + 1 to the end address MA1c. .. The audio data corresponding to the music X is used to reproduce the effect sound during the jackpot in which the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is the jackpot gaming state, and is stored in the section from the start address MA1g + 1 to the end address MA11. .. The audio data corresponding to the music B-2 and the music X may be stored in the audio data second storage area R12.

The audio data corresponding to the music B-1 shown in FIG. 23A is both the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. It is remembered straddling. Even in this case, since the audio data first storage area R11 and the audio data second storage area R12 are provided in the portions of the ROM 121 and the effect data memory 123A to which continuous addresses are assigned, the music B-1 is reproduced. Occasionally, as in the case of playing other songs, the start address and end address of the audio data are specified, the read address is updated sequentially from the start address, and the audio data is read to correspond to the song B-1. The voice data to be used can be read appropriately.

23 (B1) to 23 (B4) are timing diagrams showing an operation example of playing music in the pachinko gaming machine 1. Of these, FIG. 23 (B1) shows a period of "execution" in which the variable display of the special symbol or decorative symbol is being executed and "stop" in which the variable display is stopped. FIG. 23 (B2) shows the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1. FIG. 23 (B3) shows a music to be reproduced among a plurality of music that can be reproduced using the audio data as shown in FIG. 23 (A). FIG. 23 (B4) shows a storage area for reading audio data among the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. Shown.

Execution of the variable display shown in FIG. 23 (B1) is started before the timing T01 is reached. At this time, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 23 (B2) is the normal state. If the reach effect in the super reach is not executed during the variable display of the decorative symbol in the normal state, the start address MA02 is played so that the music A-1 as the normal BGM shown in FIG. 23 (A) is played in a loop. The audio data corresponding to the music A-1 is read from the section from the to the end address MA03. The section from the start address MA02 to the end address MA03 is included in the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121. Therefore, until the timing T01 is reached, the loop reproduction of the music A-1 to be reproduced is performed as shown in FIG. 23 (B3), and the audio data first storage area R11 is performed as shown in FIG. 23 (B4). Is the read target area for audio data.

After that, at the timing T01, the reach effect in the super reach is started. At this time, the process of step S452 shown in FIG. 21 determines that it is the start timing of the super reach effect, and the process of step S453 sets the BGM off. Then, the music on setting for super reach production is performed by the process of step S454. In this way, during the period when the reach effect in the super reach is executed, from the section from the start address MA03 + 1 to the end address MA05 so that the music A-2 for the super reach effect shown in FIG. 23 (A) is played. , The audio data corresponding to the music A-2 is read out. The section from the start address MA03 + 1 to the end address MA05 is included in the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121. Therefore, from the start timing of the super reach effect at the timing T01 to the end timing of the super reach effect at the timing T02, the music A-2 is the target of reproduction as shown in FIG. 23 (B3). As shown in 23 (B4), the voice data first storage area R11 becomes the voice data read target area.

At the timing T02, it is determined that the super reach effect end timing is reached by the process of step S455 shown in FIG. At this time, the process of step S456 sets the music off for the super reach effect, and the process of step S457 sets the BGM on. After that, at the timing T03, the gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is controlled to the jackpot gaming state, as shown in FIG. 23 (B2), based on the variable display result being the “big hit”. In addition, when the variable display result becomes a "big hit", for example, a dedicated music for notifying that the variable display result becomes a "big hit" may be played in the period from timing T02 to timing T03. .. Even when the variable display result is "missing", a dedicated music corresponding to the execution of the reach effect in the super reach may be played. Alternatively, the music A-2 for super reach production may be continuously played until the timing T03 is reached. Alternatively, the playback of the music may be paused in order to clearly notify the variable display result.

When the jackpot game state is entered at the timing T03, the sound corresponding to the music X is played from the section from the start address MA1g + 1 to the end address MA11 so that the music X for the production during the jackpot shown in FIG. 23 (A) is played. The data is read. The section from the start address MA1g + 1 to the end address MA11 is included in the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. Therefore, from the time when the jackpot game state is reached at timing T03 to the end of the jackpot game state at timing T04, the music X is the target of playback as shown in FIG. 23 (B3), and is shown in FIG. 23 (B4). As shown, the voice data second storage area R12 is the voice data read target area.

At the timing T04, the jackpot gaming state ends, and the gaming state in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is controlled to the probabilistic state. At this time, it is determined in step S151 shown in FIG. 18 that it is the BGM change timing. Then, by the processing of steps S152 and S153, the music B-1 is played from the section from the start address MA09 + 1 to the end address MA1a so that the music B-1 as the probabilistic BGM shown in FIG. The voice data corresponding to is read out. The section from the start address MA09 + 1 to the end address MA1a is included in both the audio data first storage area R11 provided in the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 provided in the effect data memory 123A. Therefore, when the music B-1 is loop-reproduced in the probabilistic state, the audio data read-out target area becomes the audio data first storage area R11 of the ROM 121 and the audio data second storage area R12 of the effect data memory 123A. There is a period. For example, in the period from timing T04 to timing T08, loop reproduction of the music B-1 to be reproduced is performed as shown in FIG. 23 (B3). In this period, in the period from timing T04 to timing T05 and the period from timing T06 to timing T07, the audio data first storage area R11 becomes the audio data read target area as shown in FIG. 23 (B4). .. On the other hand, in the period from timing T05 to timing T06 and the period from timing T07 to timing T08, the audio data second storage area R12 becomes the audio data read target area as shown in FIG. 23 (B4). Even in the period after the timing T08, if the music B-1 as the probabilistic change BGM is played in a loop in the period until the probability change state ends or the reach effect in the super reach is executed. Good.

As described above, when the music B-1 which becomes the BGM during the probabilistic change is reproduced in a loop in the probabilistic state, the audio data read target area is provided in the audio data first storage area R11 and the effect data memory 123A provided in the ROM 121. It switches to the voice data second storage area R12. The audio data second storage area R12 in the effect data memory 121 corresponds to a specific address range continuous from the final address of the audio data first storage area R11 in the ROM 121. Therefore, if the start address MA09 + 1 and the end address MA1a of the music B-1 are specified, the CPU 130 can read the audio data while updating (incrementing) the address in the same manner as when playing another music, and the music B- The audio data corresponding to 1 can be smoothly read from both the audio data first storage area R11 and the audio data second storage area R12, and the music B-1 can be reproduced.

In the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, by executing the effect data transfer process in the initial setting process of step S56, at least a part of the effect data used for executing the effect by various effect devices. However, for example, the ROM 121 may be transferred to the RAM 122 or the work memory 131, or the effect data memories 123A to 123C may be transferred to the VRAM 141 or the like. In this case, for example, the control of transferring the image data read from the effect data memories 123A and 123B to the VRAM 141 is started, and in parallel with this transfer, the initial operation by the movable members 51 to 54 or the like may be executed. .. In this way, by executing the initial operation of the movable member in parallel with the transfer of the predetermined effect data, the effect data can be efficiently transferred and the occurrence of delay can be suppressed.

Alternatively, the first effect data used for executing the effect by the display device, for example, the main image display device 5MA, is produced by the display device, such as the operation of the movable members 51 to 54 and the audio output by the speakers 8L and 8R. It may be transferred with priority over the second effect data used for executing the effect different from the above. In this case, in parallel with the transfer of the second effect data, the initial signal is supplied to the main image display device 5MA or the like using the first effect data already transferred. As a result, the effect data can be efficiently transferred, and the initial display by the display device such as the main image display device 5MA can be started within a short time after the power supply is started. Stable display can be suppressed.

In the effect data transfer process, the transfer of the initial operation data used for the initial operation of the movable member may be started, and then the transfer of the initial display data used for the initial display of the display device may be started. Further, in the effect data transfer process, the transfer of the normal operation data used for the normal operation of the movable member may be started, and then the transfer of the normal display data used for the normal display of the display device may be started. In this way, the effect data used for executing the effect by the second effect device, such as the movable members 51 to 54, is obtained from the effect data used for executing the effect by the first effect device, for example, the main image display device 5MA. Also give priority to transfer. As a result, the effect data can be efficiently transferred, and the initial operation by, for example, the movable members 51 to 54 can be started within a short time after the power supply is started, so that the occurrence of delay can be suppressed.

In the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, in the initial setting process of step S56, control to execute the initial operation by the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57 may be performed. As such an initial operation, the movable members 51 to 54 overlap the display screen (display area) of the main image display device 5MA from the retracted state as the second state that does not overlap the display screen (display area) of the main image display device 5MA. It may be changed to the advanced state as the first state. As a result, for example, by making the display area of the main image display device 5MA on which unstable display is performed difficult or invisible, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of delay while appropriately executing the initial operation.

Alternatively, as the initial operation based on the control in the initial setting process, the effect device such as the movable members 51 to 54 may be operated with the initial operation pattern obtained by mixing a plurality of operation patterns. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57 can be operated in a plurality of operation patterns in the advance notice effect and the reach effect.

FIG. 24 shows a retracted state as an initial state in the upper mechanism 50T including the movable members 51 and 52 and the decorative member 57, and a plurality of operation patterns by the upper mechanism 50T among the effect movable mechanisms 50. The movable members 51 and 52 included in the upper mechanism 50T are pivotally supported by the decorative member 57 and can rotate, and the movable member 51 and the movable member 52 have different rotation ranges. That is, the movable member 52 can rotate between a retracted position and an advanced position with respect to the movable member 51. The movable member 51 has a configuration in which the base body is arranged behind the front surface portion provided with the plurality of light emitting bodies, and holds the movable member 52 between the front surface portion and the base body.

As shown in FIG. 24A, when the upper mechanism 50T is in the retracted state as the initial state, the movable member 51 is located on the upper side in a state in which the longitudinal direction of the movable member 51 is substantially horizontal. In the operation pattern T1 shown in FIG. 24B, the movable member 52 can be rotated by the driving force of the operation motor 60B shown in FIG. 4 without moving the decorative member 57 and the movable member 51. In the operation pattern T2 shown in FIG. 24C, the movable members 51 and 52 are rotated in an overlapping state as the decorative member 57 moves downward by the driving force of the operation motor 60A shown in FIG. it can. In the operation pattern T3 shown in FIG. 24D, the movable member 51 is rotated by the driving force of the operating motor 60A as the decorative member 57 moves downward, and the movable member 52 is rotated by the driving force of the operating motor 60B. Can be rotated with respect to the movable member 51 to advance the movable member 52 below the movable member 51.

FIG. 25 shows a retracted state as an initial state of the lower mechanism 50B provided with the movable members 53 and 54 among the effect movable mechanisms 50, and a plurality of operation patterns by the lower mechanism 50B. The movable members 53 and 54 included in the lower mechanism 50B are connected to the frame of the lower support unit via a predetermined link mechanism, and can be moved within a predetermined range by the power of the operation motor 60C shown in FIG. The link mechanism includes, for example, the link members 642a and 642b and the link members 645a and 645b shown in FIG. 25 (B). One end of the link members 645a and 645b is pivotally supported by the frame, and the other end is pivotally supported near the lower end of the movable member 54 to guide the movement of the movable member 54.

As shown in FIG. 25A, when the lower mechanism 50B is in the retracted state as the initial state, each of the movable members 53 and 54 is located below, and the movable member 53 is located behind the movable member 54. As a result, the player can hardly see the movable member 53. In the operation pattern B1 shown in FIG. 25B, the movable member 53 moves upward from the back side of the movable member 54 by the driving force of the operation motor 50C with a slight rotation. In the operation pattern B2 shown in FIG. 25C, the movable member 54 can be moved upward with the movement of the movable member 53 by the further driving force of the operation motor 50C.

The initial operation pattern makes it possible to execute an initial operation in which the upper mechanism 50T is continuously operated in the operation patterns T1 to T3 and an initial operation in which the lower mechanism 50B is continuously operated in the operation patterns B1 and B2. The initial operation for operating the upper mechanism 50T and the initial operation for operating the lower mechanism 50B may be set so that the initial operations are executed in order and the execution periods do not overlap with each other, or at least a part thereof. By overlapping the execution periods of, each initial operation may be set to be able to be executed in parallel. Even if each initial operation is executed in sequence, the initial operation executed before the initial operation time elapses is an initial operation pattern formed by mixing a plurality of operation patterns, and the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member. 57 will be operated. Further, when each initial operation is executed in parallel, the movable members 51 to 54 and the decoration are used in the initial operation pattern formed by mixing a plurality of operation patterns during the period in which the initial operations are executed in parallel. The member 57 is operated.

In this way, the movable members 51 to 54 and the decorative member 57 are operated in the initial operation pattern formed by mixing a plurality of operation patterns. As a result, when the power supply of the pachinko game machine 1 is started, the effect device can be operated in a plurality of operation patterns corresponding to the effect accompanying the execution of the game, and the operation can be confirmed appropriately.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. For example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 does not have to have all the technical features shown in the above-described embodiment, and is a part described in the above-described embodiment so as to solve at least one problem in the prior art. It may have the structure of.

As a specific example, in the above embodiment, when it is determined in step S57 shown in FIG. 13 that the relay unconnected flag is on, the origin abnormality is not notified in step S60. That is, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected, the abnormality notification of the movable member can be executed, while the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected. In some cases, it is controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member. At the same time, when it is determined in step S54 shown in FIG. 13 that there is no connection with the main board 11, and in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A it is determined that the relay unconnected flag is on, step S206 It is controlled to display the checksum calculation contents etc. by the update display of. That is, when both the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 11 and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the checksum calculation result and the like can be displayed, while the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 16A and the main board 12 can be displayed. When either one of the boards 11 and the effect control board 12 is not connected, control is performed so that the checksum calculation result or the like is not displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least among the control of whether or not the abnormality notification of the movable member can be executed and the control of whether or not the checksum calculation result and the like can be displayed. Any one of them may be configured to be feasible.

In the following, first, a modification relating to the abnormality notification of the movable member will be described. In the above embodiment, when it is determined in step S57 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13 that the relay unconnected flag is on, the processes of steps S58 and S59 are not executed together with the process of step S60. It was explained that the control is performed so that not only the abnormality notification of the movable member but also the confirmation of the origin position is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, both steps S58 and S59 or only step S58 may be executed even when the relay non-connection flag is turned on. That is, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected, the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 can be confirmed based on the position detection signal from the movable member position sensor 61. While determining the presence or absence of the origin abnormality, control may be performed so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member when the origin abnormality occurs.

Alternatively, even when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected, the abnormality notification of the movable member can be performed, while the notification mode of the abnormality notification is the effect control board 12 and the effect control. The notification mode may be difficult to recognize as compared with the notification mode of the abnormality notification when the relay board 16A is connected. For example, when an abnormality notification of a movable member is performed by displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU, the display size of the image is reduced, the transparency of the image is increased, and the image is displayed. By shortening the period, reducing the number of times the image is displayed, or a combination of a part or all of them, it is sufficient that the notification mode is such that it is difficult to recognize the abnormality notification of the movable member. When the notification operation is performed using a plurality of effect devices, the notification mode may be such that it is difficult to recognize the abnormality notification of the movable member by reducing the number of the production devices used for the notification operation. In this way, the range of the connection state of whether or not the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected is defined, and the limit of the abnormality notification that the abnormality notification of the movable member is not executed is defined, or It suffices that the limit of the abnormality notification of the movable member is set according to the connection state by setting the limit of the abnormality notification that the notification mode is difficult to recognize.

In the above embodiment, in the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, the initial operation of the movable member can be executed in the initial setting process of step S56 even when the relay unconnected flag is on. On the other hand, when the relay non-connection flag is on, it may be controlled not to execute the initial operation of the movable member. That is, when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected, the initial operation of the movable member can be executed, while the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are not connected. If this is the case, control may be performed so that the initial operation of the movable member is not performed.

In the above embodiment, the substrate that is directly connected to the effect control board 12 via the harness HN1 (without passing through another board), such as the effect control relay board 16A, is not connected to the effect control board 12. It has been described as being controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member when it is in the connected state. On the other hand, a substrate indirectly connected to the effect control board 12 via another board such as the effect control relay board 16A, such as the drive control board 16B, is not connected to the effect control board 12. In some cases, it may be controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member.

In the above embodiment, the operation motors 60A to 60C for providing a driving force for moving the movable members 51 to 54 and the like and the movable member position sensor 61 for detecting the operating state of the movable members 51 to 54 and the like are both provided. It has been described as being connected to the drive control board 16B. On the other hand, the substrate to which the operation motors 60A to 60C are connected and the substrate to which the movable member position sensor 61 is connected may be provided separately. For example, the operation motors 60A to 60C may be connected to the drive control board 16B, while the movable member position sensor 61 may be connected to a sensor board different from the drive control board 16B. In this case, different controls may be performed on a plurality of boards that can be directly or indirectly connected to the effect control board 12 according to their respective connection states. As an example, when the effect control board 12 and the drive control board 16A are directly or indirectly connected, but the effect control board 12 and the sensor board are not connected, the initial operation of the movable member is performed. On the other hand, it may be controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member. Further, when the effect control board 12 and the drive control board 16A are not connected, while the effect control board 12 and the sensor board are directly or indirectly connected, the initial operation of the movable member is performed. While not executing, it may be controlled to notify an abnormality of the movable member.

In the above embodiment, as a configuration for detecting the state of the movable members such as the movable members 51 to 54, the position of the movable members 51 to 54 and the like can be detected by using the movable member position sensor 61. On the other hand, any state of the movable member may be detectable, and an abnormality notification of the movable member may be executed based on the detection result. For example, a sensor capable of directly or indirectly detecting the speed, acceleration, movement amount, rotation amount, operating time, shape, temperature, or a part or all of these of the movable members 51 to 54 at a predetermined position. Anything that can be set and can execute abnormality notification of the movable member based on the detection result may be used. Further, in a drive mechanism that supplies a driving force for changing (moving) a movable member such as the operation motors 60A to 60C together with the state of the movable member such as the movable members 51 to 54 or instead of the state of the movable member. It may be possible to detect an arbitrary state and execute abnormality notification based on the detection result. Instead of the operating motors 60A to 60C, the movable member may be changed (moved) by an arbitrary driving mechanism that supplies a driving force such as a solenoid. In this way, it may be possible to detect an arbitrary state in an arbitrary drive mechanism and execute abnormality notification based on the detection result.

In the above embodiment, the origin positions of the movable members 51 to 54 and the like are confirmed in step S58 of the effect control main process shown in FIG. 13, and when it is determined in step S59 that there is an origin abnormality, step S60 is performed. It has been described as a notification that an origin abnormality has occurred. Along with such an abnormality notification in the initial setting of the movable member, or instead of the abnormality notification in the initial setting of the movable member, for example, the state of the movable members 51 to 54 is detected by the effect control process process in step S65 shown in FIG. Based on the result of the above, the abnormality notification of the movable member may be enabled. Regarding the abnormality notification during the normal operation of the movable member, the abnormality notification of the movable member can be executed when the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected, while the effect control board 12 and the effect control When the relay board 16A is not connected to the relay board 16A, it may be controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the movable member for the effect can be notified of the abnormality, such as the movable members 51 to 54. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be capable of executing abnormality notification for any movable member that can operate according to the progress of the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1. For example, the wiring for driving the solenoid 27 for the ordinary electric accessory and the solenoid 28 for the grand prize opening door shown in FIG. 4 may be connected to the main board 11 via the solenoid relay board. Further, detection by a sensor for detecting the operating state of the movable wing piece provided in the normal variable winning ball device 6B and a sensor for detecting the operating state of the large winning opening door provided in the special variable winning ball device 7. The wiring for transmitting the signal may be connected to the main board 11 via the solenoid relay board or the sensor relay board. In such a configuration, when the main board 11 is connected to the solenoid relay board or the sensor relay board, it is possible to perform abnormality notification of the movable wing piece or the winning opening door, while the main board 11 and the solenoid relay board can be notified. Alternatively, when the sensor relay board is not connected, it may be controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable wing piece or the grand prize opening door. Alternatively, when the payout control board and the launch control board are connected, the launch motor abnormality notification can be executed, while when the payout control board and the launch control board are not connected, the launch motor abnormality is enabled. It may be controlled so that the notification is not performed.

Further, the movable member is not limited to the one capable of executing abnormality notification, and any circuit, device or other element may be capable of executing abnormality notification. It is not limited to the abnormality notification, and may be capable of any output.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the presence or absence of abnormality notification differs depending on the connection state between a plurality of boards such as the connection state between the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the presence or absence of abnormality notification differs depending on, for example, a connection state in an arbitrary circuit, device, or other element provided inside or outside a single substrate. May be good. That is, in a configuration in which a first connection portion and a second connection portion that can be connected to each other are provided, it is possible to execute an arbitrary abnormality notification when the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected. , When the first connection part and the second connection part are not connected, it may be controlled so as not to perform an abnormality notification. Not limited to abnormality notification, in a configuration in which a first connection portion and a second connection portion that can be connected to each other are provided, arbitrary output is possible when the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected. On the other hand, when the first connection portion and the second connection portion are not connected, control may be performed so as not to output. Further, the unconnected state between the boards and the unconnected state between the connecting portions may include a state in which at least some wirings are connected and some other wirings are not connected. ..

Next, a modified example for displaying the checksum calculation result and the like will be described. In the above embodiment, when it is determined in step S54 shown in FIG. 13 that there is no connection with the main board 11, the memory inspection process is executed in step S55, and in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A. It has been described that the process of step S206 is not executed when it is determined that the relay non-connection flag is off, so that the checksum calculation result and the like are not displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even if it is determined in step S54 shown in FIG. 13 that there is no connection with the main board 11, if the relay unconnected flag is off, the memory inspection in step S55 is performed. The process may not be executed. That is, even if the effect control board 12 and the main board 11 are not connected, if the effect control board 12 and the effect control relay board 16A are connected, they are stored in the ROM 121 or the effect data memories 123A to 123C. It may be controlled so that the checksum calculation itself using the effect data is not executed and the calculation result or the like is not displayed accordingly. Further, in step S54 shown in FIG. 13, it may be determined whether or not the relay non-connection flag is on, and if it is determined that the relay not connected flag is on, the memory inspection process in step S55 may be executed. In this case, it is determined in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A whether or not there is a connection with the main board 11, and if it is determined that there is no connection, the checksum calculation result or the like is obtained in step S206. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a connection, the checksum calculation result or the like may be controlled not to be displayed by not executing the process of step S206. As described above, when either one of the main board 11 and the effect control relay board 16A and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the checksum calculation result is not executed by executing the checksum calculation process itself. It may be controlled not to display such as, or it may be controlled so that the checksum calculation result is not displayed although the process of calculating the checksum is executed.

Alternatively, even when either one of the main board 11 and the effect control relay board 16A and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the checksum calculation result and the like can be displayed, while the display mode is The display mode may be difficult to recognize as compared with the display mode in which both the main board 11 and the effect control relay board 16A and the effect control board 12 are not connected. For example, when displaying the checksum calculation result by displaying an image on the screen of the main image display device 5MA or the sub image display device 5SU, the display size of the image should be reduced, the transparency of the image should be increased, and the image should be displayed. It suffices if the display period can be shortened, the number of times the image is displayed can be reduced, or a part or all of these can be combined to display the checksum calculation result in a display mode that is difficult to recognize. In this way, either the main board 11 and the effect control relay board 16A and the effect control board 12 are not connected, or either one of the main board 11 and the effect control relay board 16A and the effect control board 12 are connected. By defining the range of the connected state, which is the unconnected state, and by setting the display limit of not displaying the checksum calculation result, or by setting the display limit of displaying in a display mode that is difficult to recognize. Any display may be restricted according to the connection status.

In the above embodiment, the main board 11 is indirectly connected to the effect control board 12 via the relay board 15, while the effect control relay board 16A is directly connected to the effect control board 16A via the harness HN1 (via another board). It has been described as being connected to the effect control board 12 (without). On the other hand, for a plurality of boards indirectly connected to the effect control board 12 via another board such as the effect control relay board 16A, such as the drive control board 16B, all of them and the effect control board 12 Checksum calculation results and the like can be displayed when and is not connected, and checksum calculation results and the like are not displayed when some of them and the effect control board 12 are not connected. It may be controlled to. Alternatively, for a plurality of boards that can be directly connected to the effect control board 12, when all of them and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the checksum calculation result or the like can be displayed, and one of them can be displayed. When the unit and the effect control board 12 are not connected, the checksum calculation result or the like may be controlled so as not to be displayed.

In the above embodiment, as a determination process for determining whether or not the effect data stored in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C is normal, in step S204 in the memory inspection process as shown in FIG. 16 (A). The checksum is calculated and the result of the checksum can be displayed. On the other hand, the data determination method is not limited to the checksum calculation, and any determination method can be adopted. The checksum calculation is not limited to the one that calculates the exclusive OR for each data at address 1, and may be the one that calculates the exclusive OR or the like with the data at multiple addresses as the calculation unit.

In the above embodiment, the checksum of the stored data is calculated for all of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the calculation result and the like can be displayed. On the other hand, the checksum of the stored data may be calculated for a part of the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, and the calculation result or the like may be displayed. Depending on the stored contents in the ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C, whether or not the checksum is to be calculated may be different. For example, the effect control program and various management data stored in the first storage area of the ROM 121, and the image data stored in the effect data memories 123A and 123B are set as checksum calculation targets, and the calculation results and the like are used. On the other hand, the audio data stored in the second storage area of the ROM 121, the audio data other than the image data stored in the effect data memory 123A, the motor data and the light emission data stored in the effect data memory 123C can be displayed. , The check sum may not be calculated and the calculation result may not be displayed. The setting of which stored data is used to calculate the checksum may be different depending on the condition in which the predetermined calculation condition is satisfied. For example, when the power is turned on while the push button 31B is pressed, the checksum can be calculated using the stored data of the ROM 121 and the calculation result can be displayed, while the effect data memories 123A to 123C can be displayed. The checksum calculation using the stored data of is not performed.

In the above embodiment, whether or not the stored data of the storage device such as ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C that can store the effect data mounted on the effect control board 12 and used for executing the effect is normal. It has been described as making it possible to display the judgment result of. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for a storage device capable of storing control data used for arbitrary control in the pachinko gaming machine 1, it is possible to display a determination result of whether or not the stored data is normal. It may be a thing. For example, whether or not the stored data of the ROM 101 mounted on the main board 11 and capable of storing the control data (including the binary code constituting the program module) used for controlling the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1 is normal. It may be possible to display the determination result. In this case, among a plurality of boards that can be connected to the main board 11, such as a payout control board and an information terminal board, those to be the second board and the third board may be set in advance. Then, when both the second board and the second board and the main board 11 are not connected, the main image display device 5MA displays the determination result of the stored data such as the checksum calculation result using the stored data of the ROM 101. When one of the second board and the third board and the main board 11 are not connected to each other, the storage data determination result is controlled so as not to be displayed. May be good. Further, the storage data of the non-volatile recording media such as ROM 121 and the effect data memories 123A to 123C is not limited to those for determining whether or not the storage data is normal, and for example, a volatile recording medium such as RAM 122 or work memory 131. It may be possible to determine whether or not the stored data is normal and display the determination result.

In the above embodiment, a checksum calculation result that is a determination result of stored data is obtained according to a connection state between a plurality of boards such as a connection state between the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 11 and the effect control board 12. It was explained as different whether or not to display such as. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not to display the determination result of the stored data according to the connection state in, for example, an arbitrary circuit, device, or other element provided inside or outside a single substrate. May be different. That is, in a configuration in which a second connection portion and a third connection portion that can be connected to the first connection portion are provided, both the second connection portion and the third connection portion and the first connection portion are not connected. The judgment result by the judgment processing using the stored data can be displayed, and the stored data is used when either one of the second connection part and the third connection part and the first connection part are not connected. It may be controlled so as not to display the determination result by the determination process. The display is not limited to the display of the judgment result by the judgment processing using the stored data, and in the configuration in which the second connection part and the third connection part that can be connected to the first connection part are provided, the second connection part and the third connection part are provided. When both of the above and the first connection part are not connected, it is possible to output an arbitrary processing result using arbitrary data, and either one of the second connection part and the third connection part and the first connection part can be output. It may be controlled so as not to output an arbitrary processing result using arbitrary data when and is not connected.

In addition, various modifications and applications are possible. For example, the configuration for confirming the connection state uses the voltage at the connection confirmation terminals such as the terminals TM22 and TN22 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, or determines the presence / absence of command reception. The connection state may be arbitrarily confirmed mechanically, electrically, or electromagnetically by using, for example, a switch or a sensor.

In the above embodiment, in the process of step S102 shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the gaming state after the end of the jackpot gaming state is set to the special gaming state such as the probabilistic state, and based on the determination to set the probabilistic state. It was explained that the probability variation control condition is satisfied and the probability variation state is controlled after the jackpot game state ends. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a game ball that has won (entered) a large winning opening (second major winning opening) is detected by a probability change detection switch in a probability change attacker provided at a predetermined position in the game area. The probability variation control condition is satisfied based on the above, and the gaming state after the end of the jackpot gaming state may be controlled to the probability variation state. The probabilistic attacker's big winning opening (second big winning opening) can change from the closed state to the open state when the number of round games executed in the big hit game state is a predetermined number of times (for example, "16"), and the round When the number of times the game is executed is other than the predetermined number of times, it may not be possible to change to the open state while remaining in the closed state. In this way, the pachinko game machine 1 can establish the probability variation control condition based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the specific area in the attacker which is an example of the special variable winning device provided in the game area. It may be configured to be.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 may not perform variable display of a special symbol or a decorative symbol. As an example, based on the detection of a game ball that has passed (entered) the starting winning opening provided in the game area, the variable winning device provided in the game area is opened from the closed state (second state) (second state). When the game ball that has changed to the first state) and entered the inside of the variable winning device enters a specific area (V winning opening) among a plurality of areas, it is controlled to a jackpot gaming state that is advantageous to the player. It may be one. In such a pachinko gaming machine 1, is it possible to execute abnormality notification of a movable member by executing an effect control main process as shown in FIG. 13 and a memory inspection process as shown in FIG. 16 (A)? It may be configured so that at least one of the control of whether or not and the control of whether or not the checksum calculation result can be displayed can be realized.

The present invention can be applied not only to the pachinko gaming machine 1 but also to slot machines and the like. A slot machine is an arbitrary game machine capable of performing a predetermined game, for example, a variable display of a symbol serving as a plurality of types of identification information, and imparting a predetermined game value based on the game result, and more specifically, the slot machine. 1. A variable display device that can start a game by setting a predetermined number of bets (number of medals or credits) for one game and variably displays a plurality of types of identification information (designs) that can be identified by each. One game ends when the display result of (for example, multiple reels, etc.) is derived and displayed, and a prize (for example, cherry prize, watermelon prize, bell prize, replay prize, BB prize, RB prize, etc.) is awarded according to the display result. ) Is a game machine that can be generated. In such a slot machine, the features of the pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in the above embodiment by the cooperation of the hardware resources including the image display device of the slot machine and the software that performs a predetermined process. It suffices if it is configured to include all or part of. That is, whether or not the slot machine can execute the abnormality notification of the movable member by executing the effect control main process as shown in FIG. 13 and the memory inspection process as shown in FIG. 16 (A). It may be configured so that at least one of the control and the control of whether or not the checksum calculation result can be displayed can be realized.

In addition, various effects including the device configuration and data configuration of the game machine, the processing shown in the flowchart, the image display operation in the image display device, the audio output operation in the speaker, and the lighting operation in the game effect lamp and the decorative LED. The operation and the like can be arbitrarily changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the game machine of the present invention is not limited to a pay-out type game machine that pays out a predetermined number of game media as a prize based on the occurrence of a prize, but a score is scored based on the occurrence of a prize by enclosing the game medium. It can also be applied to an enclosed game machine that grants. Slot machines are not limited to those in which the number of bets is set using medals and credits as the game value, but only slot machines that set the number of bets using game balls as the game value and credits as the game value. It may be a fully credited slot machine that sets the number of bets using. When using a game ball as a game medium, for example, one medal can correspond to five game balls. For example, when setting 3 as the number of bets, 15 game balls are used for the number of bets. Corresponds to the one that sets. The pachinko game machine 1 and the slot machine are not limited to those using only one of a plurality of types of gaming values such as medals and game balls, and for example, a plurality of types such as medals and game balls. It may be possible to use the value for games together. For example, a slot machine can set a bet number and play a game by using any of a plurality of types of game values such as medals and game balls, and a plurality of medals, game balls, etc. are generated by winning a prize. Any of the types of gaming value may be payable.

The program and data for realizing the present invention are limited to a form distributed and provided by a detachable recording medium to a computer device included in the gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine 1 or a slot machine. It may be distributed by pre-installing it in a storage device such as a computer device in advance. Further, the program and data for realizing the present invention are distributed by downloading from another device on the network connected via the communication line or the like by providing the communication processing unit. It doesn't matter.

The game can be executed not only by attaching a detachable recording medium, but also by temporarily storing the programs and data downloaded via the communication line or the like in the internal memory or the like. It may be executed directly by using the hardware resources of other devices on the network connected via the communication line or the like. Further, the game can be executed by exchanging data with another computer device or the like via a network.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, for example, when it is determined in step S57 shown in FIG. 13 that the relay non-connection flag is on, the origin abnormality is not notified in step S60. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S57 that the relay non-connection flag is off, it is possible to notify the origin abnormality in step S60. In this way, when the first board such as the effect control board 12 and the second board such as the effect control relay board 16A are not connected, the movable member is controlled so as not to be notified of the abnormality. , It is possible to prevent frequent abnormality notifications in the manufacturing stage and the development stage, and improve work efficiency.

The connectors CN01 and CN11 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B include terminals TM22 and TN22, which are connection confirmation terminals, respectively, and in step S52 and the like shown in FIG. 13, based on the voltage at the connection confirmation terminal. Check the connection status. As a result, the connection status can be confirmed with a simple configuration.

In the above embodiment, for example, when it is determined in step S54 shown in FIG. 13 that there is no connection with the main board 11, and in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A, it is determined that the relay unconnected flag is on. In addition, the update display in step S206 is controlled to display the checksum calculation content and the like. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S54 that there is a connection with the main board 11, or when it is determined in step S205 shown in FIG. 16A that the relay unconnected flag is off, step S206 Is not updated and is controlled so that the checksum calculation contents are not displayed. In this way, in the configuration including the first substrate such as the effect control board 12 and the second and third boards such as the effect control relay board 16A and the main board 11, either of the second board and the third board. When one of the first board and the first board are not connected, the output for inspection can be appropriately suppressed by controlling so that the determination result by the determination process such as the checksum calculation result is not displayed. As a result, for example, when installed in a game store, one of the second board and the third board and the first board are accidentally disconnected (temporary cable disconnection) and the power is turned on. In the situation, the occurrence of misidentification of failure on the amusement store side can be suppressed by not displaying the determination result by the determination process such as the checksum calculation result.

Further, for example, the ROM 121 as shown in FIG. 6A stores audio data used for audio control, and the effect data memory 123A as shown in FIG. 6B1 stores image data used for display control and the like. Where it is stored, the audio data is also stored in the storage area corresponding to the specific address range of the effect data memory 123A which is continuous from the final address of the ROM 121. In this way, by storing the first control data such as voice data in the area corresponding to the specific address range of the second area continuous from the final address of the first area, the storage area can be effectively utilized to reduce the manufacturing cost. At the same time, the control data can be smoothly read out and appropriate control can be performed.

1 ... Pachinko game machine 5MA ... Main image display device 5SU ... Sub image display device 8L, 8R ... Speaker 9 ... Game effect lamp 11 ... Main board 12 ... Production control board 16A ... Relay board for production control 51-54 ... Movable member 61 … Movable member position sensor 71 to 74… Light emitter unit 120… Microcomputer 121 for effect control… ROM
123A to 123C ... Production data memory 130 ... CPU
140 ... VDP
CN01, CN11 ... Connector TM01 to TM24, TN01 to TN24 ... Terminal

Claims (1)

It is a game machine that can play games
Movable members that perform movements and
The control means provided on the first substrate is provided.
The control means
When the first substrate and the second substrate different from the first substrate are connected, the abnormality notification of the movable member is notified based on the signal from the detecting means capable of detecting the state of the movable member. Feasible and
When the first board and the second board are connected at the start of power supply to the game machine, a confirmation operation for confirming the origin position of the movable member and a predetermined position of the movable member as the origin position. Perform the initial operation to operate between the position and
When said second substrate and said first substrate in the power supply at the start of the game machine is not connected, and the confirmation operation of the movable member, and the initial operation, and controls so as not to, Controlled so as not to notify the abnormality of the movable member,
Based on the input from the first board and the third board different from the second board, it is possible to control the effect corresponding to the progress of the game.
A game machine characterized by that.