JP6903321B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

Many gaming machines currently on the market are provided with operating members (buttons and the like) in which operations by the player are reflected in the production (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP-A-2017-006545

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of reducing the operating load of an operating member by a player.

The gaming machine according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is a member provided at a position where the player can touch it, and is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between the original position and the operating position. The operating member, the detecting means capable of detecting that the operating member is located at at least one of the original position and the operating position, and the operating member held at the operating position. It is characterized in that it is provided with a holding means for the slingshot.

According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the operating load of the operating member.

It is a front view of the gaming machine which concerns on this embodiment. (A) is a plan view (a-1) and a side view (a-2) showing the operating member located in the original position, and (b) is a plan view showing the operating member held in the operating position by the holding means. (B-1) and a side view (b-2). It is a figure for demonstrating the generation timing of the result effect when the operation member is pushed down at the time of the operation effect occurrence. It is a figure for demonstrating the occurrence timing of the result effect when the operation member is held in the operation position by the holding means at the time of the operation effect occurrence. (A) is a diagram showing an image of a normal mode in which a portion imitating an operation member included in the operation request display is relatively small, and (b) is a diagram showing an image of a special mode in which a relatively large portion is shown. It is a figure for demonstrating the occurrence timing of the result effect when the operation member held by the holding means returns to the original position in the middle of the operation valid period.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the gaming machine 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The gaming machine 1 includes a gaming board 90. The game board 90 is formed of a substantially square plywood, and the guide rail 903 forming a passage for guiding the game ball launched by the operation of the launch device 908 (launch handle) to the game area 902 has a substantially arc shape. It is provided as follows.

The game area 902 is provided with a display device 91, a start winning opening 904, a large winning opening 906, an out opening, and the like. The display area 911 of the display device 91 is an area that can be visually recognized through the opening 901 formed in the game board 90. In each figure, the display area 911 is roughly described, but its shape and the like can be changed as appropriate (displayed by changing the shape and size of the opening 901 and the shape and size of the display device 91 itself. The shape of the region 911 can be changed).

Further, in the game area 902, a plurality of game nails are provided as obstacles that change the flow mode of the game balls when the flowing game balls collide with each other. The game ball flowing down the game area 902 changes in various modes depending on the conditions when it collides with the game nail.

In such a gaming machine 1, the gaming ball is launched toward the gaming area 902 by operating the launching device 908. When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a prize opening such as a start winning opening 904 or a large winning opening 906, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out by a payout device.

The jackpot lottery is executed by a winning / failing determination means provided on a control board (not shown) triggered by winning a game ball into the starting winning opening 904 (a plurality of such starting winning openings may be provided). Specifically, a numerical value (hereinafter, also referred to as winning / failing judgment information) is acquired from a random number source triggered by winning a game ball into the starting winning opening 904, and the numerical value is the same as a predetermined jackpot numerical value. If it is, it will be a big hit, and if it is different, it will be a miss.

In the present embodiment, similarly to the known gaming machine, the winning / failing determination result is notified to the player by the combination of the decorative symbols 50 (see FIG. 1 and the like) displayed in the display area 911 of the display device 91. The decorative symbol 50 starts to fluctuate when the notification of the hit / miss determination result is started. If the jackpot is won, the decorative symbol 50 finally stops at a predetermined combination (for example, a set of three of the same decorative symbol 50). If it is out of alignment, the decorative symbol 50 finally stops at a combination other than that (other than the combination that becomes a big hit).

The components of the gaming machine 1 that are not related to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1, the lower plate and the upper plate for storing the gaming balls, will not be described. As for these, those having the same structure as a known gaming machine can be applied.

Hereinafter, the operating member 10 included in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment and the configuration related to the operating member 10 will be described.

The operating member 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is a tangible object provided at a position where the player actually touches it. Specifically, the main body side of the gaming machine 1 is provided with a support portion 2 provided so as to project forward (player side), and the operating member 10 is supported by the support portion 2. ing. The support portion 2 is also a portion provided with a game ball storage space for storing the game balls launched by the launching device 908. The operating member 10 in the present embodiment has a main body portion 10 (a portion excluding the engaging portion 12 described later) having a circular shape in a plan view (referred to as a shape when viewed from above; the same applies hereinafter). It is a member that becomes a so-called "push button". The operating member 10 is a tangible object provided so as to be able to reciprocate (displace) between the original position and the operating position. The operating position is a position below the original position. Basically, the player can displace the operating member 10 from the original position to the operating position by pushing down the operating member 10. An urging member for urging the operating member 10 upward is provided with respect to the operating member 10. The operating member 10 is prevented from being positioned above the original position by engaging with the support portion 2. Therefore, when no force is applied to the operating member 10 due to the action of the urging member, the operating member 10 is positioned in the original position. Since the configuration of the urging member that urges the operating member 10 toward the in-situ position is known, the description thereof will be omitted.

A detection means 20 (sensor) for detecting the position of the operating member 10 is provided (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the detection means 20 detects that the operation member 10 is located at the operation position (hereinafter, the state in which the operation member 10 is detected by the detection means 20 is ON (state), and the state in which the operation member 10 is not detected is ON (state). OFF (state)). When the operation member 10 is displaced to the operation position during the operation effective period in which the operation of the operation member 10 is reflected in the effect, the operation member 10 is detected by the detection means 20 and the operation is reflected in the effect. It will be.

The detecting means 20 may detect that the operating member 10 is in the original position (the detecting means 20 is turned on when the operating member 10 is in the original position). Even in this way, when the operating member 10 is located at the operating position, the detecting means 20 is turned off, so that the detecting means 20 substantially detects that the operating member 10 has been displaced to the operating position. It will be. The following description is based on the premise that the detection means 20 is turned on when the operation member 10 is located at the operation position, but the detection means is when the operation member 10 is located at the original position. When the configuration is such that 20 is in the ON state, the description regarding ON / OFF of the detection means 20 in the following description may be regarded as the opposite of ON and OFF.

Basically, the operating member 10 is operated so as to be displaced from the original position to the operating position by the force of the player, but in the present embodiment, the viewpoint of reducing the burden of operation by the player. Therefore, a holding means 30 for holding the operating member 10 while being positioned at the operating position is provided. Hereinafter, a specific structure of the holding means 30 (a structure provided on the operating member 10 for being held by the holding means 30) in the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operating member 10 has an engaging portion 12. On the other hand, the support portion 2 has an engaged portion 32. The engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 form a pair to exhibit the effect as the holding means 30 (the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 form the holding means 30), and the operation is performed. The member 10 may be provided with the engaged portion 32, and the support portion 2 may be provided with the engaging portion 12. The engaging portion 12 is a protrusion protruding laterally from the side surface of the main body portion 10 of the operating member 10. Since the main body 10 of the operating member 10 in the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape, it is a portion formed so as to protrude from the side surface of the cylinder. Therefore, the planar shape of the entire operating member 10 has a convex portion protruding in the radial direction from a part of the outer circumference of the circle.

The engaged portion 32 is a portion provided on the support portion 2 described above. That is, it can be said that the holding means 30 is constructed on the support portion 2. The support portion 2 is formed with a recess or a hole (hereinafter, referred to as an insertion space 31) into which the operating member 10 is inserted. The insertion space 31 is formed in a size that allows the operating member 10 to reciprocate between the original position and the operating position. The insertion space 31 in the present embodiment has a shape in which at least the plane shape of the upper end edge thereof is one size larger than that of the operating member 10. That is, similar to the planar shape of the operating member 10, the shape has a convex portion protruding in the radial direction from a part of the outer circumference of the circle.

The engaged portion 32 is a space connected to the insertion space 31. Specifically, it is a groove formed at a position separated by a predetermined distance below the upper end of the operation space. It can be said that it is a groove formed so as to project outward from the inner peripheral surface of the operation space. The space that becomes the engaged portion 32 is not a space that is open upward (the upper side is closed by a portion (wall) that constitutes the support portion 2). The size of the engaged portion 32 in the vertical direction is larger than the size of the engaged portion 12 in the vertical direction. That is, the size is set so that the engaging portion 12 can enter the engaged portion 32. The vertical position of the engaged portion 32 coincides with the vertical position of the engaging portion 12 when the operating member 10 is located at the operating position. That is, when the operating member 10 is located at the operating position, the engaging portion 12 can enter the engaged portion 32, and when the operating member 10 is located at the original position, the engaging portion 12 is engaged within the engaged portion 32. It is impossible for the part 12 to enter.

Normally (when the holding means 30 is not used), the player displaces the operating member 10 from the original position to the operating position by applying a downward force to the operating member 10. When the force is removed, the urging member returns the operating member 10 to its original position. Basically, by operating the operation member 10 in this way, the operation is reflected in the production during the operation valid period.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the operating member 10 can be held in a state of being positioned at the operating position by the action of the holding means 30. When utilizing the action of the holding means 30, the player first displaces the operating member 10 downward in the same manner as in the normal operating mode described above. At this time, the orientation of the operating member 10 (the position of the engaging portion 12) is not changed. That is, the operating member 10 is displaced downward so that the mode of the operating member 10 when viewed from above does not change. In the present embodiment, until the operating member 10 reaches the operating position, the engaging portion 12, which is a convex portion, comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the insertion space 31, so that the orientation of the operating member 10 is almost the same. It is configured so that it cannot be changed.

After the operating member 10 is displaced to the operating position, the orientation of the operating member 10 is changed in the direction in which the engaging portion 12 approaches the engaged portion 32 while maintaining the vertical position thereof. Briefly, the operating member 10 having a substantially cylindrical shape is rotated. It should be noted that changing the direction of the operating member 10 in the direction away from the engaged portion 32 by the engaging portion 12 is prevented by contacting the engaging portion 12 with the inner peripheral surface of the insertion space 31. Has been done. By changing the orientation of the operating member 10 in this way, the engaging portion 12 enters the engaged portion 32. That is, when the operating member 10 located at the operating position is in the first aspect in which the direction of the engaging portion 12 is a predetermined direction (forward in the present embodiment), the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 are engaged with each other. On the other hand, when the engaging portion 12 is in the second aspect in which the orientation of the engaging portion 12 is different from the first aspect (left in the present embodiment), the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 are engaged. It will be in a matched state.

Since the upper side of the engaged portion 32 is a closed space, the engaged portion 12 is in a state of being caught by the engaged portion 32 (the upper inner wall surface of the engaged portion 32) (FIG. 2B). reference). That is, even if the state in which the player's force acts on the operating member 10 is eliminated, the operating member 10 does not displace upward, that is, it does not return to the original position. In other words, the engagement of the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 keeps the operating member 10 in the operating position.

As described above, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the operating member 10 can be kept in the operating position by the action of the holding means 30.

Hereinafter, the control method during the operation valid period in which the operation of the operation member 10 is reflected in the effect will be described. In an effect that requires the player to operate the operation member 10 (hereinafter, may be referred to as an operation effect), an operation valid period in which the operation is reflected in the effect is set. In the operation effect, as in the case of a known gaming machine, a display indicating to the player that it is time to operate the operation member 10 (for example, an image imitating the operation member 10 or "press") is used. Characters and the like may be displayed (hereinafter, may be referred to as an operation request display 411). In addition, a display that allows the remaining time of the operation valid period (elapsed time since the operation valid period is started) can be roughly grasped (for example, a "meter" display that decreases or increases with the lapse of the operation valid period. The period display (sometimes referred to as the period display 42) may be displayed in the display area 911 (see FIG. 3 (a-1) and the like).

When the holding action of the operating member 10 by the holding means 30 is not used, it is controlled in the same manner as a known gaming machine. That is, it is considered that the operating member 10 has been operated when the operating member 10 has been displaced from the original position to the operating position, that is, when the detection means 20 has transitioned from the OFF state to the ON state in the present embodiment. (Hereinafter, the effect generated by the operation of the operation member 10 may be referred to as the result effect 43). For example, in the case where the player is required to operate the operating member 10 only once (see FIG. 3A-1), the opportunity is that the operating member 10 is displaced from the original position to the operating position. As a result, the result effect 43 is generated accordingly (see FIGS. 3 (a-2) and 3 (b)). The result is triggered by the transition of the detection means 20 from the OFF state to the ON state and then to the OFF state again (the operation member 10 returns to the original position by removing the force acting on the operation member 10 by the player). The effect 43 may be generated. The same applies to the request for operating the operating member 10 a plurality of times (so-called continuous striking) and the request for keeping the operating member 10 in the operating position (so-called long press). ..

In the present embodiment, when the operation member 10 is not operated during the operation valid period (when the detection means 20 is in the OFF state during the operation valid period), the result effect 43 is not generated.

On the other hand, when the state in which the operation member 10 is positioned at the operation position is held by using the holding means 30, the state is usually maintained throughout the operation valid period (see FIG. 4A). In such a case, in the present embodiment, the result effect 43 is generated when the end point of the operation valid period is reached (see FIGS. 4 (a-3) and 4 (b)). That is, when the detection means 20 is in the ON state from the start time of the operation valid period to the end time of the operation valid period, the result effect 43 is controlled to be generated when the end time of the operation valid period is reached. That is, if the holding means 30 is used, the result effect 43 will be generated even if the player does nothing. That is, since it is not necessary to operate the operation member 10 every time the operation valid period is set in order to see the result effect 43, the burden on the player is reduced.

However, since the operation member 10 is located at the operation position and the detection means 20 is in the ON state at the start time of the operation valid period, the result effect 43 is triggered by the start time of the operation valid period. May be generated. Even in this case, since the result effect 43 is generated even if the player does nothing, the effect of reducing the burden on the player is achieved. However, as in the present embodiment, there are the following advantages of controlling so as to generate the result effect 43 when the end point of the operation valid period is reached.

If the result effect 43 occurs at the start of the operation valid period, the display indicating that the operation effect has occurred, that is, the above-mentioned operation request display 411 and period display 42 are not displayed, or even if they are displayed, they are immediately deleted. Will be done. Therefore, the player may not even notice that the operation effect has occurred. Therefore, even when the operation member 10 is held at the operation position, the operation request display 411 and the period display 42 are displayed for a certain period of time (in the present embodiment) in order to notify the player that the operation effect has occurred. (During the operation valid period) is displayed so that the result effect 43 is generated at the end of the operation valid period (the operation request display 411 and the period display 42 are deleted).

Further, depending on the mode of the operation request display 411 and the period display 42, an operation effect suggesting the possibility that an event advantageous to the player will occur after the operation effect (the content of the result effect 43 will be advantageous to the player). Is conceivable. That is, it is conceivable to suggest the content of the effect after the operation effect by displaying to the player that the operation is in the valid period (display requesting the operation of the operation member 10). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image 412 in the special mode in which the portion imitating the operation member 10 included in the operation request display 411 is relatively smaller than that in the case where the image 411 in the normal mode is displayed is relatively large. It is conceivable that the case where it is displayed is more likely to cause an event that is advantageous to the player thereafter. Further, although not shown, it is conceivable that the aspect of the period display 42 suggests the possibility that an event advantageous to the player will occur thereafter. For example, the color or the like of the period display 42 may indicate the probability, or the exposed area due to the decrease of the meter of the period display 42 may have characters or symbols indicating that the probability has increased. It is conceivable to display it. That is, in such a configuration, it is important to display the operation request display 411 and the period display 42 for a certain period (during the operation valid period in the present embodiment) in order to ensure the taste of the effect. Therefore, it is preferable that the result effect 43 is generated at the end of the operation valid period.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operation member 10 is held at the operation position by the holding means 30 even when an operation effect requesting an operation such as a so-called "long press" or "continuous hit" occurs during the operation valid period. By setting it, it is controlled so that it is reflected in the production (even if it is not actually "long-pressed" or "continuously hit"). Since the "long press" is an operation so that the operating member 10 continues to be positioned at the operating position, if the holding means 30 holds the state in which the operating member 10 is located at the operating position, it is actually "long press". The same effect as when "pushed" is obtained. Further, when an operation effect that requires so-called "continuous striking" occurs during the operation valid period, keeping the operation member 10 at the operation position for a predetermined period is replaced with one operation (pressing operation). By controlling in this way, if the state in which the operating member 10 is positioned at the operating position is held by the holding means 30, it will be reflected in the effect as if the operating member 10 was "continuously hit".

Although it is a rare case, as shown in FIG. 6, at the start of the operation effective period, the operation member 10 is positioned at the operation position by the holding means 30 (see FIG. 6 (a-1)), but the operation is effective. When the holding action by the holding means 30 is released in the middle of the period and the position returns to the original position (see FIG. 6A-2), that is, the detecting means 20 is in the ON state from the start of the operation valid period, and the operation is valid. When the transition from the ON state to the OFF state occurs in the middle of the period, the result effect 43 is generated as a trigger (see FIGS. 6 (a-2) and 6 (b)). Since the holding action by the holding means 30 was released during the operation valid period, it was determined that the player wanted to operate the operating member 10, and the result was produced when the detecting means 20 transitioned to the OFF state. 43 is generated. In this way, it is not necessary to push down the operating member 10 that has returned to the original position by releasing the holding action by the holding means 30, so that the operating burden on the player is reduced.

However, the control method is just an example. After the holding action by the holding means 30 is released, the player actually pushes down the operating member 10, that is, the detecting means 20 which is turned off after the holding action is released is turned on again. As an opportunity, the result effect 43 may be generated.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The gaming machine 1 according to the above embodiment is a so-called pachinko gaming machine, but if it is a gaming machine (for example, a rotary gaming machine) provided with an operating member (push button or the like) for directing, the same technical idea is used. Is applicable.

Specific means (game machines) obtained from the above embodiments are listed below.

・ Means 1
A member provided at a position where the player can touch, and an operating member provided so as to be able to reciprocate between the original position and the operating position.
A detecting means capable of detecting that the operating member is located at at least one of the original position and the operating position.
A holding means for holding the operating member in a state of being positioned at the operating position, and
A gaming machine characterized by being equipped with.
According to the above-mentioned gaming machine, since the operating member can be held in a state of being positioned at the operating position by the holding means, it is possible to reduce the operating burden on the player.

・ Means 2
One of the operating member and the holding means is provided with an engaging portion, and the other is provided with an engaged portion with which the engaging portion can be engaged.
The operating member located at the operating position can be in a first aspect and a second aspect different from the first aspect.
When the operating member is in the first aspect at the operating position, the engaged portion and the engaged portion are not engaged, while the engaged portion is in a disengaged state.
When the operating member is in the second mode at the operating position, the engaging portion and the engaged portion are engaged, so that the operating member is held in the state of being positioned at the operating position. The gaming machine according to means 1, wherein the gaming machine is characterized by the above.
With the above configuration, the operating member can be held at the operating position simply by changing the mode of the operating member at the operating position, so that the holding means can be easily used.

・ Means 3
It is provided with an effect executing means for executing a result effect that can occur depending on the state of the operating member during the operation valid period.
When the detecting means determines that the operating member is located in the original position at the start of the operation valid period, the detection means determines that the operating member has transitioned to the operating position. While the above-mentioned result production occurs as
When the detection means determines that the operating member is located at the operating position at the start of the operating valid period, the detecting means positions the operating member at the operating position until the operation valid period elapses. The gaming machine according to means 1 or means 2, wherein the result effect is generated when it is determined that the machine has been continued.
When the operating member is held in the operating position by the holding means, the operating member is usually located in the operating position throughout the effective operation period. In such a case, in order to clearly indicate to the player that the effect requesting the operation of the operation member has occurred, the result effect should be generated at the end of the operation valid period, not at the start of the operation valid period. It is good to set it to.

・ Means 4
When the detecting means determines that the operating member is located at the operating position at the start of the operation valid period, the detection means determines that the operating member has transitioned to the original position. The gaming machine according to the means 3, wherein the resulting effect is generated.
When the operating member is held at the operating position by the holding means, it is determined that the operating member is located at the operating position at the start of the operation valid period. In such a case, when the holding action by the holding means is released in the middle of the operation valid period, it is determined that the player wants to operate the operating member, and it is determined that the operating member has transitioned to the original position. With this as an opportunity, the result production will be generated. By doing so, it is not necessary to operate the operating member that has transitioned to the original position again, so that the operating burden on the player is reduced.

1 Game machine 2 Support part 10 Operation member 11 Main body part 12 Engagement part 20 Detection means 30 Holding means 31 Insertion space 32 Engagement part 41 Operation request display 42 Period display 43 Result effect 50 Decorative pattern 911 Display area 911 Display area

Claims (1)

A member provided at a position where the player can touch, and an operating member provided so as to be able to reciprocate between the original position and the operating position.
A detecting means capable of detecting that the operating member is located at at least one of the original position and the operating position.
A holding means for holding the operating member in a state of being positioned at the operating position, and
An effect executing means for executing a result effect of a predetermined mode according to the state of the operation member during the operation valid period is provided.
When the detection means determines that the operating member is located in the original position at the start of the operation valid period, the detecting means causes the operating member to move from the original position to the operating position during the operation valid period. While it is determined that the normal operation that transitions to is performed, the above-mentioned result effect is generated.
Even when the operation valid period in which the result effect is generated when the normal operation is performed is set, the operation member is operated by the detection means at the start of the operation valid period. When it is determined that the operating position is located at the operating position, the result effect is generated when the detecting means determines that the operating member continues to be located at the operating position until the operation valid period elapses. A gaming machine characterized by playing.

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