JP7420395B2 - gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine.

In general, pachinko gaming machines are equipped with a large number of devices used for playing the game and producing effects related to the game, and some machines have a dedicated state for inspecting these devices (for example, , see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-015191

In a gaming machine as described in Patent Document 1, the behavior of the device in a testable state and the device behavior in a playable state have different meanings, and it is difficult to determine which state they are in. It is preferable to make it clearly identifiable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a gaming machine that makes it easy to determine whether the machine is in an inspection-enabled state or a game-enabled state.

According to the present invention, it is a gaming machine that can shoot a game ball, obtain a prize ball based on the winning of the game ball in a winning hole, and can execute RAM clear processing when the power is turned on, A state management means for setting a plurality of gaming devices to be used, a gaming enabled state in which a game can be executed, and an inspection enabled state in which a first gaming device among the plurality of gaming devices can be inspected, and a first control. and a second control board configured to be able to receive signals from the first control board in one direction, and the testable state can be set after power is turned on accompanied by the RAM clearing process. The first notification is executed during the period in which the testable state is set , and the gameable state is a state that can be set after the testable state is started, and the testable state is a state in which the testable state is set. When set after the start of the second notification, a second notification is executed, and a second gaming device different from the first gaming device is used for the first notification and the second notification, and the inspection is possible. The inspection related to the first gaming device that can be performed in the state includes one in which the first gaming device is changed in a first operating mode, and during the notification period of the first notification, the first gaming device Even if the gaming device changes in the first operating mode, the operating mode of the second gaming device is maintained, and if there are multiple gaming devices that correspond to the first gaming device, includes a specific operating means controlled by the second control board, and when the specific operating means is manually inspected, other gaming devices may be inspected automatically. There is provided a gaming machine, further comprising an output means for outputting a security signal in the testable state.

According to the present invention, a gaming machine is provided that makes it easy to determine whether the machine is in an inspection-enabled state or a game-enabled state.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the gaming machine. 2 is a diagram showing a symbol display device arranged in area II shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in FIG. 1 and their surroundings. It is a diagram showing a game board installed in a game machine. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration included in the gaming machine. It is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a gaming machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table used in a lottery on the main control board. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of power recovery recovery processing. It is a figure which shows the display mode of the effect display device corresponding to each notification performed by a power restoration process execution means. It is a time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when the game enabled state is set after the test enabled state is set in the power recovery process. It is a time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when a game-enabled state is set without going through an inspection-enabled state in the power recovery process. When the gaming enabled state is set after the testing enabled state is set in the power recovery process, and the RAM clear switch 43 is operated while the solenoid operation is being checked, the operating mode of each gaming device changes. FIG. A time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when a game-ready state is set after the test-ready state is set in power recovery processing and an error is detected in the test-ready state. It is. This is a time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when an error is detected in the playable state when the playable state is set without passing through the testable state in the power recovery process. be.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the explanation is omitted as appropriate. In addition, in the following explanation, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 on the front side (player's side) as shown in FIG. 1, unless otherwise specified. ).
In addition, "advantageous" in the following explanation refers to being advantageous to the player, and furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the acquisition of prize balls or medals, excluding performance benefits such as so-called premier images, etc. Refers to being advantageous in terms of amount (playout of game balls or medals).

<Summary>
Before explaining the details of the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment, an overview of the features of the present embodiment will be explained.
The gaming machine 10 is a so-called Pachinko gaming machine, which can shoot game balls, obtain prize balls based on the winning of the game balls into the prize opening, and can execute RAM clear processing when the power is turned on. The gaming machine 10 includes a plurality of gaming devices and a state management means.

The above gaming device is a general term for various devices (apparatus) used for gaming. In this embodiment, at least the movable body 22, the speaker 33, the effect lamp 35, the board decoration lamp 30, the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, the special electric accessory solenoid 66, the effect display device 80, the pattern display device 90, and the internal components thereof. Although the description will be made assuming that the components correspond to the gaming device, the gaming device in implementing the present invention is not limited to these.

The above-mentioned state management means sets a game-enabled state and an inspection-enabled state. The state management means in this embodiment is a function realized by the main control board 100, and specifically corresponds to the power recovery processing execution means 180. However, in implementing the present invention, the board that implements the state management means does not necessarily have to be the main control board, and may be implemented by another board.

The testable state described above is a state in which the first gaming device among a plurality of gaming devices can be tested and can be set after power is turned on with RAM clear processing, and the testable state is a state in which the first gaming device among a plurality of gaming devices can be set after the power is turned on with RAM clear processing. Notification is executed.
The above playable state is a state in which it is possible to play games, a state that can be set after the testable state has started, and a second state when set after the testable state has started. Notification is executed. The playable state in this embodiment corresponds to the execution period of symbol fluctuations, the execution period of jackpot games, the execution period of small hit games, and the periods in which these are stopped or on standby.
A second gaming device different from the first gaming device is used for the first notification and the second notification.

The first gaming device is a gaming device that is subject to inspection in the testable state, and the second gaming device is a gaming device that is not subject to testing in the testable state. The number of gaming devices corresponding to the first gaming device and the second gaming device is not particularly limited, and each may be single or multiple.
The first gaming device in this embodiment will be described below as being equivalent to the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, the special electric accessory solenoid 66, and the symbol display device 90.
The second gaming device in this embodiment will be described below as being equivalent to the speaker 33, the effect lamp 35, and the effect display device 80.
In this embodiment, the board decoration lamp 30 will be described below as a gaming device (third gaming device) that does not correspond to either the first gaming device or the second gaming device.
Note that the above classification of gaming devices (first gaming device, second gaming device, third gaming device) is only one specific example, and can be changed as appropriate within the scope of achieving the purpose of the present invention. It is.

In the game machine 10, the test related to the first game device that can be performed in the testable state includes changing the first game device in the first operation mode, and in the notification period of the first notification, the test related to the first game device Even if the first gaming device changes in the first operating mode, the operating mode of the second gaming device is maintained, and the game device further includes an output means for outputting a security signal in an inspectable state.
Here, "the first gaming device changes in the first operating mode" refers to changing in the operating mode (first operating mode) corresponding to the test related to the first gaming device.
Furthermore, "the operating mode of the second gaming device is maintained" means that the operating mode of the second gaming device is constant, and is a continuous operating mode that does not depend on changes in the first gaming device. (for example, if the second gaming device is a lamp, repeating a predetermined lighting pattern).

Since the gaming machine 10 has the above-mentioned features, it can clearly distinguish and notify the testable state and the gameable state, and furthermore, it can notify the hall that it is in the testable state by outputting a security signal. It is possible to notify a computer, etc. Therefore, the state of the gaming machine 10 can be surely recognized by the hall clerk or the like.
The gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

<About the structure of the gaming machine 10>
First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 5.
1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a symbol display device 90 arranged in area II shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a symbol display device 90 arranged in area III shown in FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, and FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10. FIG.
Note that the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 are only necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and configurations and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. You may. Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the configurations shown here, and some configurations or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The game machine 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, and fires game balls into the front area (hereinafter referred to as "game area 50a") of a game board 50 on which a large number of game nails (not shown) are set up. A game is performed in which a prize ball is obtained when a game ball enters a winning hole (for example, the big winning hole 55, etc.). In addition, in the following explanation, the game ball entering the winning hole may be simply expressed as "winning (in the winning hole)".

Therefore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 is capable of firing game balls, and can obtain prize balls based on winning of the game balls into the winning hole.

The gaming machine 10 has a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens in the front and rear, an inner frame 17 that removably holds the game board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a structure that covers the front side of the game board 50. A front frame 20 is provided.

The middle frame 17 is rotatably supported around the left end side by a hinge mechanism (not shown) located on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed in front of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked using a cylinder lock 23 (inserting the door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the front frame (in this embodiment, to the right) ) is possible.
In this embodiment, a middle frame opening sensor 76 is provided for detecting whether or not the middle frame 17 is in an open state. Note that the middle frame opening sensor 76 is turned ON when the middle frame 17 is in an open state, and turned OFF when the middle frame 17 is in a closed state.

The front frame 20 is rotatably supported around the left end side by a hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed with respect to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked using a cylinder lock 23 (inserting the door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (in this embodiment, to the left) ) is possible.
Further, the front frame 20 includes a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the game area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the game area 50a and the game board 50 from view.
The front frame 20 also includes an upper ball tray 28 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 28 and the lower ball tray 29 are vertically spaced apart and integrally provided with the front frame 20. .
The front frame 20 also includes an operation handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operation handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 28 are launched toward the game area 50a. It looks like this.

As shown in FIG. 3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player are arranged on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 28. This operation button group is provided with a ball lending button 39a and a return button 39b that accepts a prepaid card return operation as a main operation section 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100, which will be described later. 1 As an operation unit electrically connected to the sub-control board 200, a performance button that can accept operations performed by the player to switch performances occurring during a game or to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10. 37, and cursor buttons 38 (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d) for instructing operations up, down, left, and right, respectively. Note that each operating section is provided with a sensor for detecting an operation, and the control board to be connected detects the operation of each operating section based on a change in the detection state of the sensor. Note that these operation units are provided on the front side of the game board 50.
Further, the upper cursor button 38a and the lower cursor button 38b are used to adjust the volume of audio output from the speaker 33, which will be described later. 80 is operated to adjust the brightness.

A ball extraction mechanism 36 is provided at the lower part of the lower ball tray 29 to discharge the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball extraction mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed at the bottom of the lower ball receiving tray 29 opens, and game balls naturally fall and are discharged from the bottom opening.
Although not shown, the upper ball tray 28 is provided with a mechanism that, when operated, moves the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, similar to the ball extraction mechanism 36. By operating both mechanisms 36, it becomes possible to discharge the stored balls.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are provided on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20, respectively. Further, the upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed of a light-transmitting cover, and a production lamp 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) is disposed inside each of them. There is. The speaker 33 and the performance lamp 35 can output audio or turn on or off in conjunction with the performance, error performance, etc. that occur during the game.

The effect display device 80 is a liquid crystal display device disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and displays decorations that are performed in conjunction with variable display on a first special symbol display device 91 or a second special symbol display device 92, which will be described later. A variable display of symbols can be displayed, and various other effects can also be displayed.

In the variable display of decorative symbols displayed on the performance display device 80, the displayed decorative symbols form three symbol rows. The direction of the variable display of each symbol row is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an up-down direction, a left-right direction, a depth direction, or a combination thereof (diagonal direction).
Here, the depth direction refers to a decorative pattern extending from the back of the performance display device 80 to the front direction or vice versa, even though it is actually a two-dimensional variable display on the display screen of the performance display device 80. A virtual direction that is perceived by a player in a display mode that uses a method (for example, perspective) that gives the impression of a variable display.
In addition, the decorative designs in this embodiment include a "1 design" imitating the number "1", a "2 design" imitating the number "2", a "3 design" imitating the number "3", "4 design" imitating the number "4", "5 design" imitating the number "5", "6 design" imitating the number "6", "7 design" imitating the number "7"'', an "8 symbol" imitating the number "8", and a "9 symbol" imitating the number "9", and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following explanation, "1 design", "3 design", "5 design", "7 design", and "9 design" will be collectively referred to as "odd number design", and "2 design" and "4 design". , "6 symbols" and "8 symbols" may be collectively referred to as "even symbols."

Note that although a liquid crystal display device is employed as the effect display device 80 in this embodiment, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices such as a drum type and a dot matrix type can be employed as the effect display device 80.

A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LED") are arranged on the lower right side of the effect display device 80, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is configured by these LEDs. Special symbols and normal symbols are displayed on the symbol display device 90.
Further, the symbol display device 90 is arranged in a position that is less visible to the player than the effect display device 80, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the effect display device 80. .
The arrangement and number of LEDs related to the symbol display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in FIG. 2, but this is just an example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs related to the symbol display device 90 are limited to this example. It is not something that will be done.

The special symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to operate a special electric accessory (for example, the special electric accessory 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on the second special symbol display device 92.
The special symbol may be abbreviated as "special symbol", the first special symbol as "special symbol 1", and the second special symbol as "special symbol 2".

The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to operate a normal electric accessory (for example, the ordinary electric accessory 61). The normal symbols in this embodiment are displayed on the normal symbol display device 93.
Note that the normal symbol may be abbreviated as "Puzu", and the normal electric accessory may be referred to as "Electric Chew".

In addition to the display device described above, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol retention lamp 94, a second special symbol retention lamp 95, and a normal symbol retention lamp 96.
The first special symbol holding lamp 94 makes it possible to specify the number of symbol variations of the reserved special symbol 1, and the second special symbol retaining lamp 95 makes it possible to specify the number of symbol variations of the reserved special symbol 2. The normal symbol holding lamp 96 makes it possible to specify the number of symbol fluctuations of the reserved common symbol, and in both cases, the lighting mode of two LEDs (in this embodiment, only the right always lit = 1, the left and right always lit) = 2, blinking on the right side + constant lighting on the left side = 3, blinking on the left and right side = 4), it is possible to specify the number of corresponding symbol variations.

In the following explanation, the symbol variation in which the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner on the first special symbol display device 91 or the second special symbol display device 92 and then stopped is referred to as "symbol variation of the special symbol", and the following In the description, a symbol variation in which a regular symbol is stopped and displayed after the regular symbol display device 93 is variably displayed may be referred to as a "symbol fluctuation of a regular symbol."
In addition, in the following explanation, the variation display of decorative patterns displayed on the above-mentioned performance display device 80 will be referred to as "design variation of decorative patterns" to distinguish it from "design variation of special symbols" and "design variation of regular symbols". Sometimes referred to as
In addition, in the following explanation, when it is simply referred to as "symbol variation", unless otherwise specified, it means the symbol variation of the special symbol.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the front surface of the game board 50, obstacles such as a large number of game nails (not shown), a windmill 52, and decorative members are placed, so that the game ball that is launched can roll. A gaming area 50a is defined in the area.
Further, on the left side and above the gaming area 50a, curved outer rails 51 and inner rails 53 are arranged to guide game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the gaming area 50a. has been done. Note that the outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the gaming area 50a as a reference. Here, the windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the falling direction of the game ball.

The game machine 10 is capable of adjusting the strength of the launch of the game ball by changing the amount of rotational operation (for example, the rotation angle) of the operating handle 31, and the first flow path where the game ball that is launched more weakly rolls. Various obstacles are placed in the gaming area 50a so that the game ball rolls through either X (so-called left-handed batting) or the second flow path Y (so-called right-handed batting) where the game ball that is hit more strongly rolls. It is located.

In FIG. 4, the major winning openings 55, the first starting opening 57, the second starting opening 59, the gate 63, and the general winning opening 67 are shown as the main winning openings, but the number of winning openings shown is The number and arrangement are merely examples, and the number and arrangement may be changed as appropriate as long as the roles described below are fulfilled.

The big prize opening 55 is arranged at the lower right part of the gaming area 50a. A big winning hole sensor 72 is attached to the big winning hole 55, and winning to the big winning hole 55 is determined based on the detection result of the big winning hole sensor 72, and the number (15 A prize ball (ball) will be awarded.
In addition, in this embodiment, more game balls roll toward the big prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y than when rolling from the first flow path X. Each obstacle is placed.

A special electric accessory 65 is arranged above the grand prize opening 55. The special electric accessory 65 is a member that convertably transitions to an open state in which it is easy to enter the big prize opening 55 or a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the prize, and is switched between the open state and the closed state by the special electric accessory solenoid 66. Transition to one of the states.

The special electric accessory 65 is in an open state in at least a part of the jackpot game that is set due to a jackpot being derived by the special drawing correctness determination described later, and accordingly, a prize is entered in the jackpot 55. is allowed. In this way, when the special electric accessory 65 is in the open state, it is easy to enter the big prize opening 55 and the chance of winning the prize ball is greatly increased.The jackpot game is an advantageous game state. I can say it.
Furthermore, in the jackpot game, the open state and closed state of the special electric accessory 65 are set alternately, and one open state (sometimes referred to as "round", and the total number of rounds that occur in one jackpot) The number of rounds (sometimes referred to as "number of rounds") ends based on a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls entering the grand prize opening 55, and the special electric accessory 65 ends. It becomes closed. In addition, one open state also ends based on the elapse of a sufficient time (in this embodiment, 30 seconds) for a predetermined number of game balls to enter the big prize opening 55. do. Here, when the special electric accessory 65 is set from the open state to the closed state based on the winning of 10 game balls in one round, it cannot be set to the closed state immediately. Therefore, in one round, more than 10 game balls may enter the grand prize opening 55, and such winning may be referred to as over-winning.

In this embodiment, a specific area (not shown) is provided in the big prize opening 55, and a detection sensor (not shown) is provided in the specific area. This detection sensor detects that the game ball has passed through a specific area. Hereinafter, the specific area may be referred to as a V winning area, and the passage of the game ball through the V winning area may be referred to as a V winning area.

Further, the special electric accessory 65 is also in an open state in at least a part of the small winning game due to the small winning being derived by the special figure correctness determination. In this embodiment, compared to the jackpot game described above, the time period for the open state is set to be shorter. For this reason, a small winning game can be said to be in a more disadvantageous gaming state than a jackpot game.

The first starting port 57 is arranged at the lower center of the gaming area 50a. A first starting port sensor 70 is attached to the first starting port 57 , and a winning in the first starting port 57 is determined based on the detection result of the first starting port sensor 70 , and the prize is associated with the first starting port 57 . The number of prize balls given (in this embodiment, 4) is awarded. At least in part when winning in the first starting hole 57 is determined, the symbol variation of the special drawing 1 will be performed.
In addition, in the game area 50a according to the present embodiment, more game balls are directed toward the first starting port 57 when rolling from the first flow path X than when rolling from the second flow path Y. It is assumed that obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that they roll.

The second starting port 59 is arranged at the lower right portion of the gaming area 50a. A second starting port sensor 71 is attached to the second starting port 59 , and a winning to the second starting port 59 is determined based on the detection result of the second starting port sensor 71 , and the prize is associated with the second starting port 59 . The number of prize balls given (in this embodiment, 1) is awarded.
In at least a part of the case where it is determined that a prize has been won in the second starting hole 59, the symbol variation of the special drawing 2 will be performed.
In addition, in the game area 50a according to the present embodiment, more game balls are directed toward the second starting port 59 when rolling from the second flow path Y than when rolling from the first flow path X. It is assumed that obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that they roll.

A normal electric accessory 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric accessory 61 is a member that convertably transitions between an open state in which it is easy to enter the game ball into the second starting port 59 and a closed state in which it is difficult to enter the game ball, and the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 The state changes to either the open state or the closed state.
More specifically, the normal electric accessory 61 is in an open state during at least a part of the game with a winning pattern that is won by the fluctuation of the pattern of the normal pattern, and accordingly, the winning to the second starting opening 59 occurs. is allowed. In this way, when the normal electric accessory 61 is in the open state, it is easy to enter the second starting port 59, so the symbol fluctuation of the special drawing 2 is suppressed by the prize ball while suppressing the decrease in the number of game balls. The chances of execution can be greatly increased.
Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the special electric accessory 65 is located downstream of the normal electric accessory 61 in the second flow path Y.

The gate 63 is located at the right center of the gaming area 50a. A gate sensor 74 is attached to the gate 63, and passage of a game ball to the gate 63 (also in this case may be expressed as winning) is determined based on the detection result of the gate sensor 74. In at least a part of the case where winning at the gate 63 is determined, the symbols of common symbols will be changed. In this embodiment, even if it is determined that the ball has won at the gate 63, no prize balls are awarded.
In addition, in this embodiment, each obstacle is arranged such that more game balls roll toward the gate 63 when rolling from the second flow path Y than when rolling from the first flow path X. things are arranged.

The general winning opening 67 (67a, 67b) is arranged at the lower left of the gaming area 50a. A general winning hole sensor 73 is attached to the general winning hole 67, and a winning to the general winning hole 67 is determined based on the detection result of the general winning hole sensor 73. The number of prize balls given (in this embodiment, 4) is awarded. More specifically, a general winning hole sensor 73a (not shown) is attached to the general winning hole 67a, and a general winning hole sensor 73b (not shown) is attached to the general winning hole 67b.
In addition, in this embodiment, more game balls roll toward the general prize opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X than when rolling from the second flow path Y. Each obstacle is arranged, but each obstacle may be arranged so that many game balls roll toward the general winning hole 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. .

The out port 69 is arranged at the bottom of the gaming area 50a. Game balls that are hit into the game area 50a and do not enter the above-mentioned winning holes fall into the out hole 69 and are treated as out balls.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front surface of the game board is provided with a plurality of movable bodies 22, which are used for effects together with effect images displayed on the effect display device 80 and audio data output from the speakers 33. .
In this embodiment, an upper movable body 22a is provided above the effect display device 80 provided on the game board, and left and right movable bodies 22b are provided on the left and right sides of the effect display device 80. The drive is controlled to the position.

An upper movable internal lamp 24a is provided inside the upper movable body 22a, and a left and right movable internal lamp 24b is provided inside the left and right movable bodies 22b. The upper movable internal lamp 24a and the left and right movable internal lamps 24b use full-color LEDs.
Also, on the front of the game board 50. As shown in FIG. 4, board decoration lamps 30 (30a, 30b) used for presentation are also provided along with presentation images displayed on presentation display device 80 and audio data output from speaker 33. The board decoration lamp 30 uses a full color LED.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the back side of the game board 50, there are a main control board case 109 in which the main control board 100 is stored, a first sub-control board case 209 in which the first sub-control board 200 is stored, and a second sub-control board case 209. The second sub control board case 309 in which the control board 300 is stored, the power control board case 509 in which the power control board 500 is stored, and the payout control board case 409 in which the payout control board 400 is stored are installed, and the first sub In addition to the back surfaces of the control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an opening/closing cover 45 that covers a part of the back surface of the main control board case 109 is removably attached.
Note that the board case and cover covering each board are made of transparent members, and the corresponding board can be visually recognized through each case and cover.

The power supply control board 500 is provided with a power switch 40 and a RAM clear switch 43 that are operated to supply the gaming machine 10 with primary power supplied from the gaming island's power supply equipment.
The RAM clear switch 43 is a switch that is operated when instructing a RAM clear process to be described later, and is also a switch that is operated when ending the testable state according to the present invention. RAM clear switch 43 is electrically connected to RAM clear switch circuit 504.
When installed on the game island, it becomes difficult to operate the various operation parts (power switch 40, RAM clear switch 43, etc.) provided on the back side of the game board 50 unless the middle frame 17 is opened. There is.

Further, on the back side of the game board 50, above the open/close cover 45, a game ball tank 46 is arranged in which game balls supplied from the ball supply equipment of the game island are stored. The game ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 connected to the upper ball tray 28 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 pass through the payout passage 49. The ball is then delivered to the upper ball receiving tray 28.

Up to this point, the structure of the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment has been described, but these are only specific examples, and the present invention can be implemented with another structure.

<About the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, the control configuration provided in the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration included in the gaming machine 10. The control configuration shown in FIG. 6 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may include a control configuration not shown in FIG. 6.

The main control board 100 includes a CPU 101 that performs various calculation processes related to games, a ROM 102 that stores data such as control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 103 that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and peripherals. It is equipped with an I/O port 104 that inputs and outputs signals between the board and each device, and a random number circuit 105 that operates in a system separate from the program processing by the CPU 101 and generates random numbers (hard random numbers). These are interconnected via an internal bus.

The CPU 101 reads various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performs arithmetic processing, thereby executing various processes related to the main control of the game.
The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power supply generated in a backup power supply circuit 502, which will be described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when the power is restored after a power outage, the gaming machine 10 can return to the state immediately before the power outage using the data. It is composed of For example, in addition to data such as the stack pointer and each register held when a power outage occurred, the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time, the current special drawing drawing state, the current general drawing drawing state, and the status of the jackpot game. Information related to the game, such as whether or not it is, the stopped symbols of the special symbols 1 and 2, pending information on symbol variations, the number of round games in the jackpot game, etc., is backed up.

In this embodiment, at least an area in which information related to such games is stored (sometimes referred to as a gaming area of the RAM 103), a checksum complement and a backup flag regarding the gaming area of the RAM 103 (which may be referred to as a game-related backup information area of the RAM 103) is backed up.
Then, when the power is restored, the gaming machine 10 returns using the various information stored in the backed-up gaming-related area of the RAM 103 and the gaming-related backup information area of the RAM 103.

There are no restrictions on the specific method of backup in this embodiment. For example, an area of the RAM 103 to be backed up may be implemented with a configuration that can hold data in a non-volatile manner even in a power outage state. As another example, different hardware may be provided in the RAM 103 for a first memory configured to be able to hold data in a non-volatile manner even in a power-off state and a second memory that is referenced when the gaming machine 10 is in operation. In that case, the gaming machine 10 saves the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when the power is cut off, and transfers the saved information from the first memory to the first memory when the power is restored. All you have to do is recover to the second memory.

In addition, the main control board 100 includes a first starting opening sensor 70, a second starting opening sensor 71, a big winning opening sensor 72, a general winning opening sensor 73, a gate sensor 74, an out ball sensor 75, a middle frame opening sensor 76, etc. It is configured such that detection signals from these sensors can be input to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104.

The main control board 100 also includes a first special symbol display device 91, a second special symbol display device 92, a normal symbol display device 93, a first special symbol retention lamp 94, a second special symbol retention lamp 95, and a normal symbol retention lamp. 96, it is electrically connected to the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and the special electric accessory solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I/O port 104.
Similarly, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the main operation section 39 and is configured to be able to detect operations of the main operation section 39.

The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line. The main control board 100 is connected to enable communication only in the direction, and various control commands are transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200.
Note that data cannot be transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 cannot request the main control board 100 to transmit data. It is composed of
Further, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is employed for data transmission from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may be employed.

The gaming machine 10 includes a first control board (main control board 100) and a second control board (first sub-control board 200) configured to be able to receive signals from the first control board in one direction. It can be said to be prepared.
Note that in this embodiment, the main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are respectively illustrated as configurations corresponding to the first control board and the second control board according to the present invention, but other configurations that satisfy the above requirements may also be used. The first control board and the second control board may be realized by a combination of boards.

The first sub-control board 200 includes a CPU 201 that performs various calculation processes related to game performances based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 that stores data such as performance control programs and various lottery tables, and a temporary storage area. A RAM 203 that functions as a work area and buffer memory, and an I/O port 204 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device.These are interconnected via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 It is configured to execute main controls related to game performance according to a control program stored in the ROM 202.
The first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the production button 37 and the cursor button 38 (more precisely, an operation detection switch (not shown) that detects the operation of the production button 37 and the cursor button 38), It is configured to be able to detect operations on these.

In addition, the first sub-control board 200 performs image control commands and audio controls that instruct images and sounds to the second sub-control board 300 in a control process based on a production control command or a power recovery command from the main control board 100. Commands, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the upper movable internal lamp 24a, the left and right movable internal lamps 24b, the board decoration lamps 30 (30a, 30b), and the production lamps 35, the upper movable body 22a, the left and right movable bodies 22b and the like is generated.
Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 for bidirectional communication, and various commands are transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300. As a response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the command was successfully received is transmitted from the second sub-control board 300 to the first sub-control board 200.

Further, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the upper movable internal lamp 24a, the left and right movable internal lamp 24b, the board decoration lamps 30 (30a, 30b), and the effect lamp 35, and is connected via the I/O port 204. , transmit lamp control data. The lighting of the upper movable internal lamp 24a, the left and right movable internal lamp 24b, the board decoration lamps 30 (30a, 30b), and the production lamp 35 is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200. It is configured.

The second sub-control board 300 includes a CPU 301 that performs various arithmetic processing related to image production and audio production based on control commands from the first sub-control board 200, and stores control programs and various data for controlling images and audio. It is equipped with a ROM 302, a RAM 303 that functions as a work area and buffer memory as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 304 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and the CPU 301 is stored in the ROM 302. The controller is configured to execute main controls related to various effects according to a control program.
In addition, although not shown, the second sub-control board 300 includes a VDP that generates image data in accordance with the content of the production determined by the production content determining means 225, which will be described later, based on the control signal received from the CPU 301, and the CPU 301. The device is equipped with a sound source IC that generates audio data based on control signals received from the computer. The VDP is a so-called image processor, reads image data stored in the image ROM in response to instructions from the CPU 301, processes the image data, and transmits the generated image data to the effect display device 80. A high-speed VRAM used for developing and processing image data read from the image ROM is connected to this VDP. The sound source IC reads audio data stored in the audio ROM in response to instructions from the CPU 301, synthesizes the read audio data, and outputs final audio data generated to the speaker 33 via an amplifier.

More specifically, the second sub-control board 300 can perform audio control corresponding to a plurality of audio channels. When the second sub-control board 300 receives the audio control command from the first sub-control board 200, it controls the speaker 33 to output the designated audio at the designated volume based on the audio control command. .
Here, the voice control command includes voice control data for each of the plurality of voice channels. Each audio control data includes data specifying the presence or absence of audio data, data instructing the audio data to be reproduced, volume instruction data instructing the volume, etc., regarding the corresponding audio channel.
The second sub-control board 300 that has received the audio control command is controlled to output the designated audio from the speaker 33 at the designated volume based on the audio control command. When the audio control command specifies audio data for a plurality of audio channels, the designated audio data can be synthesized for each audio channel according to the designated volume.
Since this embodiment does not limit the correspondence between audio and audio channels, description regarding audio channels may be omitted in the following description.

The payout control board 400 mainly includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, and a RAM 403 (all not shown).
Further, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 so as to be able to communicate bidirectionally, and controls the payout unit 48 to be driven to pay out game balls based on the payout control command from the main control board 100. At the same time, the ball feeding mechanism and the firing mechanism are driven synchronously based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31 to control the firing of the game balls.

The power supply control board 500 generates a normal power supply circuit 501 that generates a normal power supply to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the above-mentioned control board, and a backup power supply based on the primary power supply supplied from the power supply equipment of the game island. It is comprised of a backup power supply circuit 502, a power failure detection circuit 503 that detects a power failure (when the voltage supplied by the normal power supply drops to a predetermined voltage), a RAM clear switch circuit 504, and the like.
A power switch 40 is connected to the power control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the power supply equipment of the game island, when the power switch 40 is turned on, the normal power of the power control board 500 is switched on. Normal power is generated in the circuit 501, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400). be done.
Further, a RAM clear switch 43 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and in this embodiment, when the power switch 40 is turned on with the RAM clear switch 43 turned on, the RAM clear switch circuit 504 transmits initialization signals to the main control board 100 and the payout control board 400, respectively. Upon reception of this initialization signal, the main control board 100 executes RAM clear processing, which will be described later. Note that the timing at which the RAM clear switch circuit 504 transmits the initialization signal is not limited to the example of this embodiment.

Therefore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 is capable of executing RAM clear processing when the power is turned on.

Further, when a power outage is detected by the power outage detection circuit 503, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power outage signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, first sub control board 200, and payout control board 400. Send to.
The backup power supply circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment on the gaming island.
Note that the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the payout control board 400, and the power failure detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, and the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the payout control board 400 may be provided. Further, the RAM clear switch circuit 504 may be provided on the main control board 100, and the RAM clear switch 43 may also be connected to the main control board 100.

<About the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in FIG. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may include a functional configuration that is not shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore, when explaining the functional configuration, reference may be made to FIGS. 8 to 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main control board 100 includes a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main reservation control means 120, a preliminary determination means 125, a special lottery means 130, a regular lottery means 135, and a jackpot game. Control means 140, symbol display control means 145, electric accessory control means 150, game state control means 155, main information storage means 160, main error control means 165, main command management means 170, power outage processing execution means 175, and recovery It is equipped with an electrical processing execution means 180, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using FIG.

The main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read out by the means included in the main control board 100, data derived by calculations in the means, etc. in respective storage areas. . In particular, the data (effect control commands, etc.) stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is sent by the command transmission means to the sub-command management means 275 of the first sub-control board 200, which will be described later, after being stored. Sent.

Ball entry determining means 110 determines whether or not a ball has entered each winning hole based on the detection result of a sensor provided in each winning hole.

The main random number generation means 115 is capable of generating multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges by the random number circuit 105, and generates one or more types of random numbers corresponding to the winning hole from the random number circuit 105 at the timing when a winning in the winning hole is determined. Obtain (latch) a random number.
More specifically, when it is determined that a prize has been won in the first starting port 57 or the second starting port 59, the main random number generating means 115 generates a random number for determining whether the special pattern is correct or not, and a special pattern stopping pattern, which will be described later. Obtain random numbers for lottery and random numbers for special pattern fluctuation pattern lottery. When it is determined that the gate 63 has won, a random number for determining the validity of a common symbol, a random number for a common symbol lottery, and a random number for a common symbol fluctuation pattern lottery, which will be described later, are stored in the corresponding storage in the main information storage means 160. Store in area.

The main reservation control means 120 performs control regarding the reservation of symbol fluctuations of special symbols and symbol fluctuations of regular symbols. Regarding the special figure 1, the random numbers for special figure correctness determination, the random numbers for the special figure stop symbol lottery, and the random numbers for the special figure fluctuation pattern lottery, which are obtained by winning the first starting opening 57, are specially selected. It is held (stored) as the operation hold information shown in FIG.
More specifically, the main reservation control means 120 adds 1 each time the operation reservation information of the special symbol 1 is reserved, and the operation reservation information of the special symbol 1 is used (in the lottery of the special symbol lottery means 130). A holding counter (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Figure 1 Holding Counter") is decremented by 1 each time the special drawing 1 holding counter is used. The operation reservation information is stored in the storage area corresponding to the current special figure 1 reservation counter of the main information storage means 160, and each time the operation reservation information is used, the used operation reservation information is cleared and the remaining operation reservation information is stored. The information is controlled to be moved (shifted) from the current storage area to the storage area corresponding to the special figure 1 holding counter which is one less than the current special figure 1 holding counter in order from the smallest special figure 1 holding counter.
Moreover, the main reservation control means 120 performs the same control as the above-mentioned control regarding the special figure 2 and general figure separately from the special figure 1, and the reserve counter of the special figure 2 is called the special figure 2 reserve counter.
In the following explanation, both "suspension of operation reservation information of special figure 1" and "suspension of operation reservation information of special figure 2" may be expressed as "suspension of symbol variation."

In addition, when the main reservation control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation reservation information (retention counter) of the special figure 1 or the special figure 2, the main reservation control means 120 controls the performance including the special figure 1 reservation counter and the special figure 2 reservation counter. A command (pending command) is generated, and the command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In addition, in this embodiment, when both the operation reservation information corresponding to special figure 1 and the operation reservation information corresponding to special figure 2 are reserved, the operation reservation information corresponding to special figure 2 is prioritized. The priority variations used are made.
In addition, operation pending information of special symbols that are on hold during a jackpot game and that will be used after the end of the jackpot game (if priority fluctuation is adopted as in this embodiment) In some cases, the result of the special pattern correctness judgment when using special drawing 2 (limited to the holding of special drawing 2) is a jackpot (preferably a probability-variable jackpot described later), which is sometimes referred to as a "holding series".

The advance determination means 125 executes advance determination for a look-ahead effect targeting the operation reservation information at least in part when the operation reservation information of the special symbol is suspended at a predetermined advance determination timing.
More specifically, the advance determination means 125 reads out each random number of the operation suspension information that has been suspended this time, and performs advance determination for each of the special pattern validity determination, special pattern stop symbol lottery, and special pattern variation pattern lottery, which will be described later. Execute. In each preliminary determination, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used for the lottery corresponding to each preliminary determination is used. Therefore, the results of these preliminary determinations are the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later.
Further, the advance determination means 125 generates a performance control command (advance determination command) including the derived result of the advance determination, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In addition, as described above, the advance determination command is transmitted at least in part when the special symbol operation suspension information is suspended at a predetermined advance determination timing (it is generated and the transmission command is stored in the main information storage means 160). (stored in the storage area), so it will be sent following the above-mentioned pending command. Here, the timing of the predetermined pre-determination means that the jackpot game is not in progress, and furthermore, in this embodiment, if the activation hold information of the special figure 1 in the general pattern high certainty medium is held, the timing of the predetermined preliminary judgment is Sending of judgment commands is regulated.

The special pattern lottery means 130 includes a special pattern validity determination means 131, a special pattern stop symbol lottery means 132, and a special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation means 133. Processing by each means is executed in the order of the variation pattern deriving means 133. The special symbol lottery means 130 reads out the earliest operation suspension information among the operation suspension information held in the main information storage means 160 when the special symbol variation start condition is satisfied.
In addition, "the special pattern fluctuation start conditions are met" means, for example, that the jackpot is not in progress, that neither special pattern 1 nor special pattern 2 is in the process of pattern fluctuation, special pattern 1 and special pattern 2. This means that all the conditions for the existence of operation suspension information in at least one of them are satisfied.

Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table used in the lottery on the main control board 100.
In a lottery using a lottery table, including a lottery table other than the lottery table shown in FIG. is added once), and the result corresponding to the lottery value in which a carry (overflow) has occurred is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation regarding the lottery table, names are attached to the lottery tables for convenience of explanation, but if data such as lottery values included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is stored in an identifiable manner in each ROM, Often these names do not specify the area where the data is stored. Similarly, the lottery tables illustrated below may include items listed for convenience of explanation, or "-" or "0" as lottery values, but these are not necessarily stored in each ROM. It does not represent actual data. If the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within the range) is listed in the lottery table, the result will be 100% derived, so it is not necessary to conduct a lottery. There isn't. In addition, if the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used in the lottery, a carry will always occur when adding the last lottery value, so this addition will not be necessary. In that case, the lottery value itself used for the addition becomes unnecessary.

The special figure correctness determination means 131 reads random numbers for determining whether the special figure is correct or not, and uses a lottery table for determining whether the special figure is correct or not corresponding to the read random number and the current setting value to determine whether it is a jackpot, small hit, or miss. The decision will be made by lottery.
FIG. 8(a) shows a lottery table for determining whether the special drawing 1 is correct or not, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 65535. Therefore, if the special drawing lottery state in special drawing 1 has a low probability (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "special drawing low probability"), there is a probability of 200/65536 for a jackpot, and a probability of 300/65536 for a small hit. , you will lose with the remaining probability of 65036/65536, and if the special drawing lottery state in special drawing 1 has a high probability (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "special drawing high certainty"), you will lose with a probability of 500/65536. There is a probability of a jackpot, a small win with a probability of 300/65536, and a loss with a remaining probability of 64736/65536.

FIG. 8(b) shows a lottery table for determining the validity of the special figure 2, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 65535, as in the case of determining the validity of the special figure 1. Therefore, with the special pattern low accuracy of special pattern 2, there is a probability of 200/65536 of hitting the jackpot, and the remaining probability of 65336/65536 is a loss, and with the special pattern of special pattern 2 with high accuracy, there is a probability of 500/65536 of hitting the jackpot and remaining. The probability of losing is 65036/65536. In the validity determination of the special figure 2, unlike the validity determination of the special figure 1, a small hit is not derived.

In this way, it can be said that a special pattern with a high probability has a higher probability of winning a jackpot than a special pattern with a low probability, and is more advantageous than a special pattern with a low probability. Moreover, in the special figure 2 correctness determination in this embodiment, a small hit is not derived.

The special pattern stop symbol lottery means 132 reads a random number for the special pattern stop pattern lottery when a jackpot is derived by the special pattern propriety determination means 131, and uses the read random number and the lottery table for the special pattern stop pattern lottery. The stopping symbols of the special drawings will be determined by lottery.
FIG. 8(c) shows a lottery table for the special drawing 1 stop symbol lottery, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 99. Therefore, in special drawing 1, when a jackpot is derived, symbol A is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 50/100, and symbol B is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 50/100.
Here, symbol A has a round number (R number) of 9, and is a symbol that can become a special pattern high certainty and a general pattern high certainty after the end of the jackpot game (hereinafter may be referred to as a "probability variable pattern", and the symbol Such a jackpot is sometimes referred to as a "probable jackpot"). As described above, in this embodiment, the special pattern is determined to be high after the end of the jackpot game on the condition that the V winning (passing of the game ball through the V winning area) is detected by the detection sensor, so the jackpot related to the probability variable jackpot is The game is provided with a V winning round (9th round in this embodiment).
On the other hand, symbol B has a round number (R number) of 8, and is a symbol that becomes a special symbol with a low probability and a general symbol with a high probability after the end of the jackpot game (hereinafter may be referred to as a "normal symbol", and A jackpot is sometimes referred to as a "normal jackpot"). Usually, a V winning round is not provided in a jackpot game related to a jackpot.
In this way, symbol A is a more advantageous symbol than symbol B in both the number of rounds and the subsequent special symbol lottery state.

FIG. 8(d) shows a lottery table for the special pattern 2 stop symbol lottery, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 99, similar to the special pattern 1 stop symbol lottery. Therefore, in special drawing 2, when a jackpot is derived, pattern a has a probability of 65/100 and pattern b has a probability of 35/100.
Here, symbol a has a round number (R number) of 16 and is a variable probability symbol that can become a special pattern high certainty and a general pattern high certainty after the end of the jackpot game. In the jackpot game related to the variable probability jackpot when symbol a is determined, the 9th round is also considered to be the V winning round.
On the other hand, symbol b has a round number (R number) of 8, and is a normal symbol that becomes a special symbol with a low probability and a regular symbol with a high probability after the end of the jackpot game. A jackpot game related to a normal jackpot when symbol b is determined does not include a V winning round.
In this way, it can be said that symbol a is more advantageous than symbol b.

In addition, the special pattern stop symbol lottery means 132 selects the symbol C when the special symbol 1 is a small hit, the symbol D when the special symbol 1 is a miss, and the special symbol when a jackpot is not derived by the special symbol correctness determination means. When the number 2 is off, symbol c is uniformly determined as the stopping symbol.

The special figure fluctuation pattern deriving means 133 is equipped with multiple types of special figure fluctuation pattern lottery tables that are referred to when determining the special figure fluctuation pattern (variation time), and the current special figure fluctuation pattern derivation state (details will be described later) and the current time. Based on the lottery result of the special pattern validity determining means 131, one special pattern variation pattern lottery table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern is selected, and the selected special pattern variation pattern lottery table and the special pattern variation are selected. One special pattern fluctuation pattern is determined using the random numbers for pattern lottery.
The special figure variation pattern deriving means 133 generates a performance control command (variation start command) including the determined special figure variation pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

Similar to the special symbol lottery means 130, the common symbol lottery means 135 reads out the earliest pending operation information among the pending operating information held in the main information storage means 160 when the symbol of the common symbol is not changing. , using the read random numbers, execute a judgment of the validity of the general pattern to determine whether the general pattern is correct, determine the stopping symbol of the general pattern based on the result of the judgment of the normal pattern and the current lottery state of the general pattern, and determine the current state of the general pattern. The fluctuation pattern (fluctuation time) of the common symbol is determined based on the common symbol drawing state.
More specifically, in the determination of whether or not the Fuzu drawing is correct, the Fuzu drawing state is a state with a high probability (sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu high probability"), and the Fuzu drawing state is a state where the probability is low ("Fuzu drawing high certainty"). (sometimes abbreviated as "low certainty"). Although illustration of the lottery table is omitted, in this embodiment, in the case of high accuracy of the general pattern, there is a probability of 65535/65536 to win the general drawing, and the remaining probability of 1/65536 is a loss, while in the case of low accuracy of the general drawing, The probability of winning is 1/65536, and the probability of winning is 65535/65536. In addition, in the case of a low accuracy of a common symbol, it may be arranged so that the common symbol does not hit (65536/65536 results in a miss).

In the regular pattern stop symbol lottery, similarly to the special pattern stop symbol lottery, a lottery table (not shown) for the common pattern stop symbol lottery is created from multiple types of stop symbols with different patterns in which the normal electric accessory 61 is opened. One stop symbol is determined by the lottery used. In addition, when it becomes a loss in the judgment of the normal symbol, the stopping symbol is uniformly determined as in the special symbol 1 and 2.
In addition, in the general pattern fluctuation pattern lottery, similar to the special pattern fluctuation pattern lottery, one general pattern fluctuation pattern is selected by lottery using a lottery table (not shown) for general pattern fluctuation patterns from among multiple types of general pattern fluctuation patterns. A pattern is determined.
In this way, it can be said that a high probability of a common pattern has a higher probability of deriving a winning result compared to a low probability of a common pattern, and a higher degree of advantage than a low probability of a common pattern.

The jackpot game control means 140 starts the jackpot game after the end of the pattern variation that won the jackpot, and also controls the demonstration time related to the jackpot start demonstration and the jackpot end demonstration according to the stop symbol of the special symbol related to the jackpot. Determine demo time.
In addition, when starting a jackpot game, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a performance control command (jackpot start command) including a demonstration time related to a jackpot start demonstration, stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and executes a jackpot game. At the time of termination, a performance control command (jackpot termination command) including the demonstration time related to the jackpot termination demonstration is generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In addition, the jackpot game control means 140 similarly determines the time related to the small hit start demonstration and the demonstration time related to the small hit end demonstration when the result of the special drawing lottery is a small hit, and when the small hit starts, A production control command (small win start command) including the demonstration time related to the small win start demonstration is generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and when the small win ends, the demonstration time related to the small win end demonstration is generated. A performance control command (small hit end command) including the following is generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The symbol display control means 145 causes the first special symbol display device 91 to display the special symbol 1 in a variable manner according to the variation time based on the special symbol variation pattern of the special symbol 1, and after the variation time has elapsed, the symbol is determined by the special symbol stop symbol lottery. The special figure 1 is stopped and displayed with the stop symbol shown. Similarly, according to the variation time based on the special symbol variation pattern of the second special symbol, the special symbol 2 is displayed in a variable manner on the second special symbol display device 92, and after the variation time has elapsed, the special symbol is stopped determined by the special symbol lottery. Special drawing 2 is stopped and displayed with the pattern.
In addition, the symbol display control means 145 has a special symbol game timer for managing the display time (fluctuating time, stop display time) of the special symbol 1 and the special symbol 2, and when the special symbol is stopped and displayed. (at the timing when the value of the special figure game timer becomes "0"), generates a production control command (variation stop command) to request fixed stop (fixed display) of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the main information storage means. 160 in the transmission command storage area.

In addition, the symbol display control means 145 causes the ordinary symbol to be displayed in a variable manner on the ordinary symbol display device 93 according to the fluctuation time based on the ordinary symbol variation pattern of the ordinary symbol, and displays the ordinary symbol with the stop symbol of the ordinary symbol after the fluctuation time has elapsed. Stop display.
In addition, the symbol display control means 145 has a common symbol game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of common symbols.

After the jackpot game is started, the electric accessory control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric accessory solenoid 66 to open the special electric accessory 65 according to the opening pattern corresponding to the stop symbol of the special symbol. The jackpot game is a game state in which one opening/closing operation of the special electric accessory 65 is regarded as one round game, and the round game is continuously executed for a specified number of rounds (in this example, 16R, 9R, 8R). be. In this embodiment, when it is detected that the special electric accessory 65 is opened in the V winning round (the 9th round in this embodiment) and the game ball has passed through the V winning area in the big winning opening 55. , After the jackpot game is over, the special prize is determined to be high.
Further, after the small winning game is started, the electric accessory control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric accessory solenoid 66 to open the special electric accessory 65 for a short period of time (0.05 seconds).

Furthermore, the electric accessory control means 150 outputs a control signal to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 62 to stop the ordinary electric accessory 61 in the ordinary symbol winning game when the ordinary symbol wins in the lottery. The opening is made according to the opening pattern corresponding to the stopped symbol of the regular symbol.

The game state control means 155 controls the special drawing lottery state. Specifically, as described above, the game state control means 155 sets the special pattern low probability at the start of the jackpot game regardless of the symbol related to the jackpot, and sets the special pattern low probability at the end of the jackpot game related to the normal jackpot. The special pattern is held high and certain until the symbol changes a specified number of times (in this embodiment, 100 times) at the end of the jackpot game with the condition of V winning in a jackpot game related to a probability variable jackpot, and the pattern changes the specified number of times. (In this embodiment, the 100th symbol change) is completed and the special symbol is determined to be low.
However, the condition for transitioning from a special pattern high accuracy to a special pattern low accuracy is not limited to the number of symbol changes as in this embodiment, and may be other conditions such as the result of a falling win/fail lottery.
Further, the condition for making the special pattern high at the end of the jackpot game related to the variable probability jackpot is not limited to the V winning, and may be limited to the type of the stopping symbol of the special pattern.

In addition, the game state control means 155 controls the general lottery state. Specifically, the 155 gaming state control means 155 is a low -accuracy, regardless of the design related to the jackpot at the start of the jackpot gaming, and the number of regulations at the end of the jackpot gaming (100 times in this embodiment). The normal symbol is high and certain until a symbol change occurs, and the common symbol is low and certain at the end of the specified number of symbol changes (in this embodiment, the 100th symbol variation), and the condition is V winning in a jackpot game related to a probability variable jackpot. At the end of the jackpot, the symbol is high and certain until a specified number of symbol changes (100 in this embodiment) are made, and at the end of the specified number of symbol changes (100th symbol variation in this embodiment), the common symbol is determined. Be less certain.

Here, in this embodiment, as described above, when the game ball rolls from the second flow path Y, it is easy to win in the second starting opening 59 and the big winning opening 55, so the state is normal and high accuracy. During a jackpot game, it can be said that right-handed hitting is a more advantageous operation than left-handed hitting.
Hereinafter, the predetermined state in which right-handed batting is more advantageous than left-handed batting will be referred to as a right-handed batting recommended state. In addition, the recommended state for right-handed hitting is not limited to the jackpot game and the high-accuracy state of the regular game, but the number of balls that come out increases by hitting the big prize opening when the special electric accessory is released due to a small hit in the low-accuracy state of the regular game. Other states may also be included, such as a so-called small hit rush state.

Furthermore, the game state control means 155 controls the above-mentioned special figure fluctuation pattern derivation state. Specifically, if the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation states are broadly classified, special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state A corresponds to special pattern low certainty and general pattern low accuracy, special pattern pattern derivation state A corresponds to special pattern low certainty and general pattern high certainty. There is a fluctuation pattern derivation state B, and a special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state C corresponding to special pattern high certainty and general pattern high certainty, and special pattern fluctuation according to the special pattern lottery state and the general pattern lottery state except during jackpot games. The pattern derivation state is set.

In addition, the game state control means 155 issues a production control command (game state designation command) including each updated state when an update of the special symbol lottery state, regular symbol lottery state, and special symbol variation pattern derivation state occurs. is generated and the command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read out by each means, data derived by calculations, etc. by each means, in storage areas corresponding to the respective means.

The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I/O port 104 and determines whether the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is determined that there is an error state, an error command containing the error information is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, the error states determined by the main error control means 165 include, for example, a magnetic error based on magnetic detection by a magnetic detection sensor (not shown), and a right-handed error based on detection of a game ball by the gate sensor 74. , a full tank error based on detection of game balls by a full tank detection sensor (not shown), etc.
For example, a magnetic error is an error state that occurs when magnetic detection by a magnetic detection sensor occurs continuously for 500 ms. A right-handed hit error occurs when the gate sensor 74 detects the game ball a predetermined number of times (for example, 3 times) in a state where the special pattern is low and the general pattern is low (the number of detections is reset after 1000 ms has passed since the last detection. ), and the full tank error is an error state that occurs when a game ball is detected by the full tank detection sensor.

Among the determined error states, when a highly important error state such as a magnetic error occurs, the main error control means 165 not only turns on the security signal but also controls the payout control board 400 to turn on game balls. It is also possible to execute processes other than storing the error command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, such as restricting the emission of the error command.
Here, the security signal is a type of signal that is output from an external terminal board (not shown) provided in the gaming machine 10 to devices outside the gaming machine 10 (data display device, hall computer).
On the other hand, the main error control means 165 controls the firing of game balls when a relatively less important error state such as a right-handed error or a full tank error occurs among the determined error states. First, it is possible to maintain a state in which the game can proceed.
Although details will be described later, the first sub-control board 200 or the second sub-control board 300 that receives the error command executes an error notification effect to notify the occurrence of an error state.
The error state determined by the main error control means 165 is not limited to the above-mentioned example, but may include the fact that the middle frame 17 is in the open state (the middle frame open door sensor 76 is ON) or the front frame 20 is in the open state. This error occurs when a game ball is detected by the jackpot sensor 72 after a predetermined period of time has passed since the jackpot 55 was closed during a jackpot game. Other error states such as abnormal prize winning errors can also be determined.

Note that the various error states determined by the main error control means 165 described above can be detected in the playable state, and may not be detected in the testable state. This is because the game cannot be executed in the testable state, so there is little need to notify the error state.
However, in this embodiment, only relatively important magnetic errors will be described below as being detectable even in the testable state.

When a control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the stored command to the first sub-control board 200.
Note that each control command stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is, in principle, transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area.
In this specification, it may be written that the command is transmitted to the first sub-control board 200, including storing the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The power cutoff process execution means 175 executes the power cutoff process based on receiving the power cutoff signal from the power supply control board 500.
Specifically, for the gaming area of the RAM 103, a process is performed to derive the checksum of the area, store the complement of the checksum in the gaming-related backup information area of the RAM 103, and A process is executed to turn on a backup flag indicating that a power cut process has been executed (store the backup flag in the game-related backup information area of the RAM 103).

The power recovery processing execution unit 180 executes a power recovery recovery process when the power is turned on (power recovery). Details of the power recovery process will be explained using FIG. 9. Here, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the power recovery recovery process.

In step S1001, the power recovery processing execution means 180 determines whether there is a RAM abnormality in the gaming area of the RAM 103. Specifically, the power recovery processing execution means 180 determines whether or not a backup flag is stored in the game-related backup information area of the RAM 103 (whether or not the backup flag is ON), and determines whether the backup flag is If it is stored (when the backup flag is ON), the checksum of the area related to the game is derived, and the complement of that checksum and the checksum stored in the backup information area related to that area are calculated. It is determined whether or not the complements of .
When the determination in step S1001 is affirmative, the process advances to step S1005, and when the determination in step S1001 is negative, the process advances to step S1002.

In step S1002, the power recovery processing execution unit 180 determines whether an initialization signal from the power control board 500 is input when the power is turned on.
When the determination in step S1002 is affirmative, the process advances to step S1005, and when the determination in step S1002 is negative, the process advances to step S1003.

In step S1003, the power restoration processing execution means 180 sets a gaming enabled state using various information in the gaming area of the RAM 103 that has been backed up. Specifically, the setting of the playable state refers to the information stored in the game-related area of the RAM 103 that indicates the state at the time of power outage (special map lottery state, regular map lottery state, whether or not a jackpot game is in progress). This is a process for restoring the state of the main control board 100 to the state at the time of power outage based on the stopping symbols of special symbols 1 and 2, pending information on symbol fluctuations, number of round games in jackpot games, etc. . In addition, when the game-enabled state is set by the power restoration processing execution means 180, the detection of the sensor provided in each winning hole becomes effective, and prize balls are awarded according to the detection of the sensor.

In step S1004, the power restoration process execution unit 180 executes a restoration notification process, and proceeds to step S1005. At this time, the power restoration processing execution means 180 generates a command during restoration, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Note that the restoring command includes the various information described in step S1003.
When the process of step 1004 is finished, the power recovery recovery process ends.

In step S1005, the power recovery processing execution means 180 executes processing (so-called RAM clear processing) to initialize information in the game-related area and backup information area of the RAM 103, and proceeds to step S1006. This initialization clears the information in the gaming area and backup information area of the RAM 103 that were backed up at the time of power outage, and initial values are set. As a result, various states of the main control board 100 immediately before the power is cut off are initialized.

In step S1006, the power recovery processing execution unit 180 determines whether an initialization signal from the power control board 500 is input when the power is turned on.
Note that the determination in step S1006 is the same as the determination in step S1002. That is, the determination in step S1006 can be negative when the RAM 103 is abnormal (when the determination in step S1001 is affirmed). On the other hand, the determination in step S1006 is that the RAM 103 is normal (when the determination in step S1001 is negative) and the initialization signal is input when the power is turned on (when the determination in step S1002 is affirmative). , is affirmed.
When the determination in step S1006 is affirmative, the process advances to step S1007, and when the determination in step S1006 is negative, the process advances to step S1011.

In step S1007, the power restoration processing execution unit 180 sets the testable state, and proceeds to step S1008. Specifically, setting the testable state is a process of making it possible to start testing regarding each gaming device to be tested in the testable state. In addition, when the testable state is set by the power restoration processing execution means 180, there is no opportunity for it to become effective after the power is turned on until the processing is performed, so the detection by the sensor installed in each winning hole is invalid. Therefore, prize balls are not awarded in response to the detection by the sensor.

Therefore, it can be said that the game machine 10 has a prize opening in which a prize ball cannot be obtained even if a game ball enters the game machine 10 in the testable state.

In this embodiment, the gaming devices that can be tested in the testable state are the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, the special electric accessory solenoid 66, and the symbol display device 90. The details of the inspection related to these gaming devices will be described later.

In step S1008, the power restoration processing execution unit 180 executes an inspection-in-progress notification process, and proceeds to step S1009. At this time, the power restoration processing execution means 180 generates an inspection start command and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

In step S1009, the power recovery processing execution unit 180 determines whether the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is valid. Specifically, the power recovery processing execution means 180 operates when the RAM clear switch 43 is operated (RAM clear switch 43 is turned ON) when the power is turned on, and then the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is released (RAM clear switch 43 is turned ON). 43 is turned off), it is determined that the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 has become valid. In addition, when the RAM clear switch 43 that was operated when the power was turned on remains operated (the RAM clear switch 43 remains ON), the power recovery processing execution means 180 executes the RAM clear switch 43. It is determined that the operation is not valid. In this embodiment, by making the determination in step S1009, the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 performed to execute the RAM clearing process becomes an end condition for the testable state set after the RAM clearing process. This prevents the inspection from being canceled against the intention of the hall clerk, etc.
When the determination in step S1009 is negative, the determination in step S1009 is performed again, and when the determination in step S1009 is affirmative, the process advances to step S1010.

In addition, in this embodiment, the determination in step S1009 is affirmed when the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is released after the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 at power-on, but the above-mentioned The conditions may be changed as long as the purpose is achieved.
For example, instead of or in addition to the above conditions, the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 may not be valid until a predetermined time has elapsed after the power is turned on with the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 (however, Under this condition, in order to execute the RAM clear process, it is necessary to effectively accept the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 when the power is turned on, which is the trigger). It is preferable that the predetermined time in this modification exceeds at least the time from when the power is turned on until the notification during inspection is started. This is because it is difficult to imagine that the RAM clear switch 43 would be operated to end the test-enabled state before notifying that the test is in progress.

In step S1010, the power recovery processing execution means 180 determines whether the RAM clear switch 43 is operated.
When the determination in step S1010 is negative, the determination in step S1009 is performed again, and when the determination in step S1010 is affirmative, the process advances to step S1011.

In step S1011, the power restoration processing execution means 180 sets a game-enabled state using various information in the gaming area of the initialized RAM 103, and proceeds to step S1012. At this time, the main control board 100 sets, for example, the special symbol lottery state as special symbol low probability, the regular symbol lottery state as regular symbol low probability, and the special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state as special symbol low probability and common symbol low probability. The corresponding special figure fluctuation pattern derivation state A is established. It should be noted that when the playable state is set in step S1011, the detection of the sensor provided in each winning hole becomes effective, and prize balls are awarded according to the detection of the sensor, as shown in step S1003. It is similar to

In step S1012, the power restoration processing execution unit 180 executes initialization notification processing. At this time, the power restoration processing execution means 180 generates an initialization command and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Note that the initialization command includes information regarding each state set in step S1011.
When the process of step 1012 is finished, the power recovery recovery process ends.

Assuming that the process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the period in which the testable state is set and the period in which the gameable state is set will overlap after the power is turned on with RAM clear processing. There is no.
However, such an embodiment is only one specific example, and in implementing the present invention, if the game-ready state can be set at least after the inspection-ready state starts after the power is turned on with RAM clear processing, Embodiments in which the periods during which both states are set overlap and embodiments in which both states are set at the same time are also allowed.

Therefore, the game machine 10 is equipped with a state management means (power restoration processing execution means 180) that sets a game-enabled state and an inspection-enabled state, and the inspection-enabled state is determined by the first gaming device (ordinary electric The accessory solenoid 62, the special electric accessory solenoid 66, and the symbol display device 90) can be inspected and can be set after turning on the power with RAM clear processing (in the process of step S1007), and the game is possible. The state can be said to be a state that is set after the testable state is started (in the process of step S1011).
Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 (power recovery processing execution means 180) is capable of setting the gaming enabled state without passing through the inspection enabled state after power is turned on without RAM clearing processing (in the process of step S1003). I can say it.

Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 is equipped with a predetermined operation means (RAM clear switch 43), and the conditions for setting the playable state after starting the testable state (conditions for which the determination in step S1010 is affirmative) are set by a predetermined operation means (RAM clear switch 43). It can be said that it includes operations on the operating means.
Note that the predetermined operating means here is not limited to the RAM clear switch 43 as in this embodiment, but is preferably an operating means under the control of the state management means (main control board 100). .

As shown in FIG. 7, the first sub-control board 200 includes a sub-random number generation means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, an audio control means 235, a lamp control means 240, a movable accessory control means 245, and a return control means 245. It is equipped with an electric processing execution means 260, a sub-information storage means 270, and a sub-command management means 275, and these means are realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using FIG. It is a functional representation of something.

The sub-information storage means 270 is a means for temporarily storing data read out by the means included in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in respective storage areas. .

The sub-command management means 275 receives various commands (effect control commands, power recovery commands, etc.) transmitted from the main control board 100, stores the received commands in the received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270, When various commands (image control commands, audio control commands, etc.) are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270, these commands are transmitted to the second sub-control board 300. Note that each command is, in principle, transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270.
In this specification, various commands transmitted from the main control board 100 are received by the sub-command management means 275 and are expressed as command reception, including the fact that they are stored in the received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270. There are cases where Further, various means of the first sub-control board 200 store various commands in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270, and the sub-command management means 275 transmits these commands to the second sub-control board 300. In some cases, it may be written that the command is sent to the second sub-control board 300, including the following.

The sub-random number generation means 210 can generate random numbers (software random numbers) that are updated by the CPU 201 through program processing, and acquires the random numbers at the timing when each lottery (details will be described later) is executed by the normal performance control means 220.

The normal performance control means 220 includes a performance mode control means 221, a performance route determination means 222, a sub-holding control means 223, a pre-read performance control means 224, a performance content determination means 225, a decorative symbol control means 226, and a jackpot performance control means 227. Be prepared.

The production mode control means 221 controls the production mode in a manner consistent with the special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side when a game state designation command (production control command) is transmitted. Control transitions.
The production modes in this embodiment include a normal mode, a low-accuracy time-saving mode, and a variable-probability mode, and the special pattern variation pattern derivation state A is the normal mode, and the special pattern variation pattern derivation state B is the low-accuracy time-saving mode and the special The probability variation mode is associated with the diagram variation pattern derivation state C.

When a pre-judgment command (production control command) is sent, the production route determining means 222 determines which route is currently pending based on the pre-judgment result (for example, special figure fluctuation pattern) included in the command, the above-mentioned production mode, etc. A presentation route corresponding to the given symbol variation is determined (set). Note that even if the advance determination command is transmitted, the production route determining means 222 may not determine the production route depending on the special figure fluctuation pattern included in the advance determination command. In this case, at the start of symbol variation, the production route may be determined based on the special symbol variation pattern included in the variation start command.
Here, the production route is the production from the start to the end of the symbol variation, and defines the process of production that notifies the result of the special symbol validity judgment in the symbol variation, and is the production route that is executed in the symbol variation. The content of the production will be determined by production content determining means 225, which will be described later, according to a production route corresponding to the symbol variation.

When the sub-holding control means 223 receives a holding command (production control command), the sub-holding control means 223 holds the production display device 80 based on the information of the special figure 1 holding counter and the special figure 2 holding counter included in the command. Effect data for displaying a number of pending images corresponding to the special figure 1 pending counter and a number of pending images corresponding to the special figure 2 pending counter is set in a display area (not shown).
It should be noted that the pending image is an image that is the target of a pending look-ahead effect that changes in various ways to suggest the degree of advantage such as the expectation level of a jackpot game.

When a pre-determination command is transmitted, the pre-read effect control means 224 determines the content of the pre-read effect based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command.
Pre-reading performance refers to one or more symbol changes before the start of the pre-reading target symbol change, and the expectation level for the result of the special pattern validity judgment in the pre-reading target symbol change, and the pre-reading target symbol change. This is a performance that suggests the content of the performance to be performed.

A performance content determining means 225 determines the content of the performance to be performed in the current symbol variation according to the performance route already determined by the performance route determining means 222 when a variation start command (performance control command) is transmitted.
More specifically, the performance content determining means 225 selects the content of the performance (performance pattern) for each performance timing in symbol variation by lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determining means 222. Determined by etc. By doing this, it is possible to change the content of the performance related to (performed according to) the determined performance route, and it is also possible to connect the performances in one symbol variation. Further, even if the same performance route is determined, the performance to be performed can be varied.

When the variation start command (performance control command) is transmitted, the decorative pattern control means 226 creates the final combination of the decorative patterns (left pattern/middle pattern) based on the determined special pattern stop pattern.・Determine the right pattern). Specifically, pattern A and pattern a are made to correspond to odd numbered patterns (for example, "1 pattern" - "1 pattern" - "1 pattern"), and pattern B and pattern a are made to correspond to even numbered pattern patterns (for example, "1 pattern" - "1 pattern" - "1 pattern"). For example, "2 symbols" - "2 symbols" - "2 symbols") are associated with each other, and symbols C, D, and C are associated with a random pattern (a combination of symbols that do not match any of the symbols).
Note that the decorative patterns in this embodiment are as described above. In addition, in making the combination of decorative symbols to be stopped correspond to the stopping symbols of the special symbols, it is not necessarily necessary to have the above-mentioned correspondence; for example, by making the combination of even-numbered symbols correspond to the symbol A, etc. If the expectation of the combination of decorative symbols to be stopped is not high, in some cases (a lower proportion than the proportion of the above-mentioned correspondence), a combination of decorative figures different from the above-mentioned correspondence may be adopted. Even in such a case, it can be said that the combination of decorative symbols to be stopped corresponds to the stopping symbols of the special figure.

When a jackpot start command (performance control command) is transmitted, a jackpot performance control means 227 determines the contents of a jackpot performance to notify that a jackpot game is in progress based on information included in the command. Incidentally, the jackpot performance includes a start demonstration performance to notify the start of the jackpot game, a round performance to notify that a round game is in progress, and an end demonstration performance to notify the end of the jackpot game.

The normal performance control means 220 reads the performance data of each device corresponding to the performance at the execution timing of each performance according to the performance content determined by the above-mentioned means included in the first sub-control board 200.
If the read performance data includes performance data related to an image, an image control command is generated based on the performance data, and the image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub information storage means 270. Ru. In addition, if the read performance data includes performance data related to audio, the sound control means 235 (described later) generates a voice control command based on the performance data, and the voice control command is stored in the sub information storage. It is stored in the sending command storage area of the means 270.

When the sub error control means 230 receives an error command, it reads error notification performance data for executing an error notification performance. For example, when an error command related to a right-handed hitting error is received, the error notification performance data that is read out includes performance data related to a character image that says "Please return to left-handed hitting" and "Please return to left-handed hitting." An image control command and an audio control command are generated based on the effect data, and the commands are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 270.
In this embodiment, all error states are determined by the main error control means 165, but for error states other than high-importance error states that involve the output of a security signal (for example, right-handed error, etc.), sub-errors are determined. The control means 230 may make the determination. In this case, the sub-error control means 230 may receive a command from the main control board 100 that includes the state of the sensor related to determination of the error state.

If the read performance data includes performance data related to audio, the voice control means 235 generates a voice control command based on the performance data, and sends the voice control command to the transmission command of the sub information storage means 270. Store it in the storage area.

The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of the upper movable internal lamp 24a, the left and right movable internal lamps 24b, the board decoration lamp 30, and the effect lamp 35, and is normally controlled by the effect control means 220. If the read performance data includes performance data (hereinafter referred to as lamp control data) corresponding to the upper movable internal lamp 24a, the left and right movable internal lamp 24b, the board decoration lamp 30, and the performance lamp 35, , reads lamp control data based on the lamp performance data, and transmits the read lamp control data to the corresponding lamp.
The lamp control means 240 controls the lighting of each lamp according to a predetermined lighting pattern when the read performance data is data for an operation confirmation process accompanying a power recovery process when RAM is cleared. Send lamp control data to each lamp. Note that the predetermined lighting pattern will be described later.

The movable accessory control means 245 holds movable control data for controlling the movement of the upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b, and normally adds the movable body to the performance data read by the performance control means 220. If there is performance data corresponding to 22, the movable control data is read based on the performance data, and the read movable control data is transmitted to each controller of the upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b.
The movable accessory control means 245 controls the movement of each movable object in a predetermined movement pattern when the read performance data is data for an operation confirmation process accompanying a power recovery process when RAM is cleared. The movable control data is transmitted to each movable body so as to perform the operation. Note that the predetermined movable pattern will be described later.

The power restoration processing execution means 260 performs the following notifications using each gaming device based on various control commands transmitted in the power recovery restoration processing executed by the power restoration processing execution means 180.
Note that FIG. 10 will be used to explain the notification by the power restoration processing execution means 260. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display mode of the effect display device 80 corresponding to each notification executed by the power restoration processing execution means 260.

The power recovery processing execution unit 260 executes the inspection-in-progress notification in response to the inspection start command (the control command transmitted from the main control board 100 in the process of step S1008).
The notification mode of the inspection notification is such that text information indicating that the operation test is in progress and text information indicating that the game can be played by operating the RAM clear switch 43 again are displayed on the effect display device 80 (Fig. 10(a)), a sound indicating that an operation test is in progress is repeatedly played by the speaker 33, and the production lamp 35 is lit in a lighting pattern (for example, lit in red) corresponding to the notification.

The power restoration processing execution unit 260 executes the restoration notification in response to the restoration command (the control command transmitted from the main control board 100 in the process of step S1004).
The notification mode of the restoration notification is that text information indicating that restoration is in progress is displayed on the effect display device 80 (see FIG. 10(b)), and a sound indicating that restoration is in progress is repeatedly played by the speaker 33. The effect lamp 35 is lit in a lighting pattern (for example, lit in white) corresponding to the notification.
In addition, the restoration notification executed in response to the restoration command indicates that if the information included in the restoration command indicates that the state immediately before the power outage was a jackpot game, the restoration will be returned to the jackpot game. It may be replaced with a notification mode that shows.

The power recovery processing execution unit 260 executes initialization notification in response to the initialization command (the control command transmitted from the main control board 100 in the process of step S1012).
The notification mode of the initialization notification is that text information indicating that the initialization has been performed is displayed on the effect display device 80 (see FIG. 10(c)), a sound indicating that the initialization has been performed is repeatedly played by the speaker 33, The effect lamp 35 is lit in a lighting pattern corresponding to the notification (for example, lit in the order of blue → red → yellow → white (mixture of blue, red, and yellow)).

Therefore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 executes the first notification (inspection notification) during the period of stay in the testable state. Furthermore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 executes the second notification (initialization notification) when setting the game-enabled state after the test-enabled state is started.
Furthermore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 executes a third notification (recovery notification) that is different from both the first notification and the second notification in the game-enabled state that is set without passing through the test-enabled state.

Furthermore, for the first notification (inspection notification), second notification (initialization notification), and third notification (recovery notification), the first game device (normal electric accessory solenoid 62, special electric accessory solenoid 66) , and symbol display device 90) are used.
The first gaming device (normal electric accessory solenoid 62, special electric accessory solenoid 66, and symbol display device 90) is a gaming device controlled by the first control board (main control board 100). It can be said that the second game device (effect display device 80, speaker 33, and effect lamp 35) is a game device controlled by the second control board (first sub-control board 200).

Furthermore, it can be said that the first notification (inspection notification), the second notification (initialization notification), and the third notification (recovery notification) are all different in notification mode.

Furthermore, among the plurality of gaming devices included in the gaming machine 10, there is a third gaming device (for example, a board It can be said that it includes a decorative lamp 30).

As described above, the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to switch from the testable state to the gameable state by operating the RAM clear switch 43. The game devices to be inspected (the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, the special electric accessory solenoid 66, and the symbol display device 90) operate in a predetermined operating mode during the inspection, while distinguishing between an inspection-ready state and a game-ready state. Since the game devices (effect display device 80, speaker 33, and effect lamp 35) used for notification of the situation operate in a predetermined operating mode, the period of stay in the testable state and before and after switching from the testable state to the playable state , there is a concern that it will be difficult to understand the meaning of the operation of each gaming device.
Therefore, the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment eliminates the above concerns by devising the operation of each gaming device in the testable state and the gameable state. This point will be explained in detail below.

<About the operation mode of the gaming device in the inspectable state and the playable state>
Next, the operation mode of the gaming device in the testable state and the gameable state mentioned above will be explained using FIGS. 11 to 15.
FIG. 11 is a time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when the game-enabled state is set after the test-enabled state is set in the power restoration process.
FIG. 12 is a time chart showing how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when the game-enabled state is set without passing through the test-enabled state in the power recovery process.
FIG. 13 shows a case where the game-ready state is set after the inspection-ready state is set in the power recovery process, and when the RAM clear switch 43 is operated while checking the operation of the solenoid, each game device It is a time chart showing how the operating mode changes.
FIG. 14 shows a case where a game-ready state is set after the test-ready state is set in the power recovery process, and how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when an error is detected in the test-ready state. It is a time chart showing.
FIG. 15 shows a case where a game-ready state is set without going through an inspection-ready state in the power recovery process, and how the operating mode of each gaming device changes when an error is detected in the game-ready state. FIG.
In addition, in these time charts, the horizontal axis indicates the future in time series (the left side is first, the right side is later). Furthermore, the upper side of the rectangular waves shown in these time charts represents ON or operation, and the lower side represents OFF or non-operation.

First, with reference to FIG. 11, a description will be given of changes in the operating mode of each gaming device when the game enabled state is set after the test enabled state is set in the power recovery process.
Timing t1 represents the time when the gaming machine 10 is powered on (when the power switch 40 is operated).
Timing t2 represents the timing at which the main control board 100 normally starts up (timing at which the RAM clearing process ends).
Timing t3 represents the timing at which the test start command is transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200 (timing to start the notification during the test).
As shown in FIG. 11, strictly speaking, the timings arrive in the order of timing t1, timing t2, and timing t3, but the intervals between these timings are sufficiently small compared to their relationships with other timings, and they are considered to be approximately the same. It is also possible.

From timing t2, the main control board 100 is set to a testable state. The output of the security signal is started in accordance with the setting, and the output is maintained until the set testable state ends. This is to notify the hall computer etc. that the inspection is possible.

Therefore, it can be said that the gaming machine 10 is equipped with an output means for outputting a security signal in the inspectable state.

Further, with the setting of the testable state at timing t2, all the lamps provided in the symbol display device 90 are lit (denoted as "all lit" in FIG. 11).
The lighting pattern in which the lamps of the symbol display device 90 are all lit is for confirming whether the symbol display device 90 is normal or not, and can occur only in a testable state. Therefore, this lighting pattern does not occur in the game-enabled state. When all the lamps of the symbol display device 90 are lit, it can be visually confirmed that the symbol is normal, and when there is even one lamp that is not lit, it can be visually confirmed that there is an abnormality.

From timing t3, the effect display device 80, the speaker 33, and the effect lamp 35 enter the notification mode of the inspection-in-progress notification. As mentioned above, the notification mode of the inspection notification is the display mode shown in FIG. It is to be played back, and the effect lamp 35 is to be lit in red.

Timing t5 represents the timing at which the RAM clear switch 43, which has been continuously ON since the power was turned on (timing t1), is turned OFF, that is, the timing at which the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is stopped.
Here, the period T1 from timing t1 to timing t5 represents the period during which the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is determined to be invalid in the above-described power recovery recovery process (determination in step S1009). That is, even if the RAM clear switch 43 is turned on during the period T1, that operation does not become a condition for ending the testable state, and the gameable state is never set.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, even if the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is continued during the period T1, the first game device to be inspected (the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the symbol display device 90) It does not affect the operation mode, and by visually checking the operation, it is possible to confirm whether each gaming device is normal or not.

Timing t4 represents the timing at which the special electric accessory solenoid 66 is activated, and timing t6 represents the timing at which the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 is activated.
The operation of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 in the inspectable state is performed to confirm whether the special electric accessory 65 and the normal electric accessory 61 open normally. . In addition, in FIG. 11, the operating period of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 is expressed as a period T2, and the operating period of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 is expressed as a period T3.
Timing t4, which is the time when the special electric accessory solenoid 66 starts operating, and timing t6, which is the time when the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 starts operating, are arrived at by operating the operating means (for example, the production button 37 or the cursor button 38). It may also be something that comes without any operation of the operating means (for example, something that comes when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from timing t2 when the game-enabled state was set); (For example, the timing t4 arrives by operating the operating means, and the timing t6 arrives after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the timing t4).

If an embodiment is adopted in which operation of the operating means is required to confirm the operation of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, the symbol display device 90 will be fully lit in the game ready state. This is done automatically and does not require any operation means. Therefore, in this embodiment, there is no need to operate the operation means for the inspection in the game device to be inspected that is ready for inspection. There will be a mixture of things and things that are not.
In other words, the inspection of the first game device requires operation of the operating means in the testable state (special electric accessory solenoid 66 and normal electric accessory solenoid 62), and the operating means in the testable state. It can be said that this includes a device that does not require any operation (the symbol display device 90).
In this way, the lamps of the symbol display device 90, which can be checked at a glance to see if they are normal or not, can be automatically checked, and the special electric utility solenoids 66 whose operation should be checked to see if they are normal or not. The accuracy of operation confirmation can be increased by making it possible to manually confirm the normal electric accessory solenoid 62.
Note that the classification of those that require operation on the operating means in the inspectable state and those that do not require operation is not limited to the above example, and can be changed as appropriate within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention.

In addition, when adopting an embodiment that requires operation of the operating means for confirming the operation of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 62, during the period when one is checking the operation of the other. It is preferable to adopt a configuration in which operation cannot be confirmed. That is, it is preferable that the operating period T2 of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the operating period T3 of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 do not overlap. This is to ensure that each operation is confirmed.
On the other hand, in the relationship between the symbol display device 90 and the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the relationship between the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the normal electric accessory solenoid 62, even if the operating period of one and the other overlaps, , the accuracy of the confirmation work will not decrease.
Therefore, in the above embodiment, the first gaming device includes a gaming device (symbol display device 90 and other gaming devices) that can perform parallel testing, and a gaming device that cannot perform parallel testing (special It can be said that it includes an electric accessory solenoid 66 and a normal electric accessory solenoid 62).
In this embodiment, the operating period T2 of the special electric accessory solenoid 66 and the operating period T3 of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 are predetermined time lengths (for example, 1 second) and remain unchanged.

Timing t7 represents the timing at which the RAM clear switch 43 is turned ON when the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is valid (after period T1), that is, the timing at which the RAM clear switch 43 is operated.
As described above, in this embodiment, the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 in the testable state is a condition for ending the testable state. Therefore, at substantially the same timing as timing t7, the main control board 100 ends the testable state and immediately enters the gameable state.
Further, with the end of the testable state, the output of the security signal is temporarily stopped.

When the game ready state is set at timing t7, the symbol display device 90 has a lighting pattern according to the state of the main control board 100 at that timing (the initialized state in the case shown in FIG. 11). The lighting pattern is expressed as "normal lighting" in FIG. 11.
In addition, since the game ready state that starts at timing t7 is set after the power is turned on with RAM clear processing, the effect display device 80 and the speaker 33 will be in the initialization notification mode during the stay period. . Here, the notification mode of the initialization notification is a display mode shown in FIG. 10(c) for the effect display device 80, and a sound indicating that the speaker 33 has been initialized is repeatedly played. .

During the period in which the above-mentioned initialization notification is being performed, a security signal is output, and the output is maintained until the initialization notification ends.
In addition, in FIG. 11, the output of the security signal is temporarily stopped at the end of the testable state, and then the security signal is output again with the start of the initialization notification, but it has stopped. The interval is very small, and there may be no interval (the output of the security signal may be maintained across the testable state and the playable state).

In addition, during the stay period in the game-enabled state, the production lamp 35 lights up in the order of blue → red → yellow → white (mixture of blue, red, and yellow) (in FIG. 11, the lighting pattern is "sequential lighting"). write). The lighting pattern is performed to check whether the full-color LED included in the production lamp 35 lights up normally. When all of the LEDs included in the production lamp 35 are normal, the colors change in the above order. On the other hand, if there is an abnormality in some of the LEDs included in the production lamp 35, that LED will light up in a different color from the surrounding LEDs, and this can be visually recognized to indicate that an abnormality has occurred. You can check the LED.

Furthermore, the movable body 22 operates during the period of stay in the game-enabled state. In this embodiment, the operation of the upper movable body 22a starts at approximately the same timing as the timing t7 when the game ready state is set, and the operation of the left and right movable bodies 22b starts at timing t8 after the operation of the upper movable body 22a ends. Start. The upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b move from their original positions to positions that cover a part of the effect display device 80 during their respective operating periods (periods T4 and T5 shown in FIG. Evacuate to position. By operating in this manner, it is possible to visually check whether the upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b can operate normally.
Note that the upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b are controlled so that part of their respective movement ranges overlap, and the period T4 and the period T5 do not overlap in order to avoid collisions with each other. The upper movable body 22a and the left and right movable bodies 22b are operated automatically in a predetermined pattern starting from the time when the game ready state is set (timing t7), and does not require any operation on the operating means.

Timing t9 represents the timing at which a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed from timing t7. The initialization notification started at timing t7 ends at timing t9. That is, the condition for ending the initialization notification in this embodiment is that a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
When the initialization notification is completed, the production display device 80 displays a demonstration screen, the speaker 33 is muted, and the production lamp 35 is turned on in a waiting state (indicated as "normal lighting" in FIG. 11), Security signal output will stop.

As explained using FIG. 11, for the inspection related to the first game device (normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and special electric accessory solenoid 66) that can be performed in the testable state, the first game device is This includes a method that changes in one operating mode (a method that operates the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and the special electric accessory solenoid 66 for a predetermined period of time).
Here, during the notification period of the first notification (inspection notification), even if the first game device changes in the first operation mode, the second game device (effect display device 80, speaker 33, effect lamp 35 ) is maintained and is not affected by changes in the first gaming device.
As a result, during the notification period of the first notification, the first gaming device that is operating for the purpose of operation inspection and the second gaming device that is operating for the purpose of the first notification can be distinguished and recognized. It is possible to improve the accuracy of operation inspection.

Further, as explained using FIG. 11, during the notification period of the second notification (initialization notification), at least a part of the second gaming device (the production lamp 35) changes to the second operating mode (blue→red→ Even if the second game device changes in the second operating mode, the first game device (normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and special electric accessory solenoid 66) does not operate. The aspect is maintained and unaffected by changes in the second gaming device.
As a result, during the notification period of the second notification, the second game device is activated for the purpose of operation inspection, and the first game device is activated according to the state of the game (main control board 100) at that time. The devices (normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and special electric accessory solenoid 66) can be distinguished and recognized, and the accuracy of operation inspection can be improved.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, a description will be given of changes in the operating mode of each gaming device when the game enabled state is set without going through the test enabled state in the power recovery process.
Timing t11, timing t12, and timing t13 illustrated in FIG. 12 are similar to timing t1, timing t2, and timing t3 illustrated in FIG. 11, respectively, and a detailed explanation will be omitted here. .

From timing t12, the main control board 100 is set to a playable state. At this time, the situation differs from the situation illustrated in FIG. 11 in that a security signal is not output in conjunction with the setting.

In addition, with the setting of the playable state at timing t12, the lamp provided on the symbol display device 90 indicates the state of the main control board 100 at that time (in FIG. 12, the state backed up in the RAM 103 before the power was turned on). ) lights up accordingly. The lighting pattern is expressed as "normal lighting" in FIG. 12 as well.

From timing t13, the effect display device 80, the speaker 33, and the effect lamp 35 become in the notification mode of the restoration notification. Here, the notification mode of the restoration notification is, as described above, the display mode shown in FIG. The effect lamp 35 is to be lit in white.

Timing t14 represents the timing when the RAM clear switch 43 is turned on, that is, the timing when the RAM clear switch 43 is operated. In this embodiment, the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is never enabled in the game ready state. Therefore, the operation 43 at timing t14 does not affect the operation mode of other gaming devices. In this respect, the situation is different from the situation illustrated in FIG.

Timing t15 represents the timing at which a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed from timing t13. The restoration notification started at timing t13 ends at timing t15. That is, the condition for ending the restoration notification in this embodiment is that a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
Note that in this embodiment, the length of the predetermined period during which the initialization notification is executed and the length of the predetermined period during which the recovery notification is executed are the same, but the lengths may differ from each other. The present invention may be implemented by.

Note that the operation of each gaming device to check whether it is normal or not as described using FIG. 11 is not performed in the situation shown in FIG. 12. This is because power-on without RAM clear processing is often performed after the error has been resolved when an error occurs during a game, and there is little necessity to check the operation of each gaming device in such a situation.

As explained using FIG. 12, during the notification period of the third notification (restoration notification), the second game device (effect lamp 35) is in the third operation mode (white only), which is different from the second operation mode. It can be said that the second gaming device is maintained in the third operating mode until the notification period of the third notification ends.
In the present embodiment, during the third notification period, each gaming device does not perform an operation mode for the purpose of operation inspection. Therefore, by doing the above, it is possible to realize notification according to the situation, and it is possible to make the relationship between the first notification and the second notification period more sharp.

Next, in the case where the gaming enabled state is set after the testing enabled state is set in the power recovery process, and the RAM clear switch 43 is operated while the solenoid operation is being confirmed, the operating state of each gaming device The change in will be explained with reference to FIG.

Timing t21 to timing t25, timing t28, and timing t29 illustrated in FIG. 13 are similar to timing t1 to timing t5, timing t8, and timing t9 illustrated in FIG. 11, respectively, and the details here are as follows. I will omit the explanation.
Further, the periods T1 to T5 shown in FIG. 13 represent the same periods as those shown in FIG. 11 with similar notations, so detailed explanations will be omitted here.

Timing t26 represents the start of the operating period T3 of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62. Here, it is assumed that the RAM clear switch 43 is operated at substantially the same time as timing t26 (timing that overlaps with period T3).
At this time, the main control board 100 (power restoration processing execution means 180) waits until timing t27 after the operation period T3 of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 has elapsed, in order to give priority to checking the operation of the normal electric accessory solenoid 62. The testable state is ended and the gameable state is set.
In this embodiment, the timing t27 at which the testable state ends is later than the timing t26 at which the RAM clear switch 43 is operated. It is sufficient for the gaming device to continue until its operation mode ends, and it is not necessarily necessary to delay the timing of ending the testable state.

Therefore, when the playable state is set while the first game device is operating in the first operation mode in the testable state, the first game device (the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and the special electric accessory solenoid 62) The physical solenoid 66) continues in the first operating mode until the operation in the first operating mode is completed, while the second game device (effect display device 80, speaker 33, effect lamp 35) is in a game ready state. It can be said that the operation mode corresponding to the second notification is started after the operation mode corresponding to the first notification is stopped at the timing (timing t27) when is set.
In this way, even if the end conditions for the playable state are satisfied during the operation test, the operation continues until the operation according to the first operation mode corresponding to the operation test is completed, so the operation test of the first gaming device can be done reliably. On the other hand, by switching the notification regarding the state (first notification and second notification) at the transition timing, accurate transition timing can be notified.

Next, FIG. 14 shows changes in the operating mode of each gaming device when the game-ready state is set after the test-ready state is set in the power recovery process, and an error is detected in the test-ready state. Explain with reference to.
Note that the error state that can be detected in the testable state illustrated in FIG. 14 will be explained as being a magnetic error, as described above. However, similar processing may be performed when detecting other error conditions in implementing the present invention.

Timing t31 to timing t36 and timing t39 illustrated in FIG. 14 are similar to timing t1 to timing t6 and timing t8 illustrated in FIG. 11, respectively, and detailed explanations will be omitted here.
Furthermore, since the periods T1 to T5 shown in FIG. 14 represent the same periods as those shown in FIG. 11 with similar notations, detailed explanations will be omitted here.

Timing t37 represents the timing at which a magnetic error is detected by a magnetic sensor (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 14, detection of a magnetic error is not a condition for ending the testable state. Therefore, the operation mode of the game device (first game device) to be tested is not affected in the testable state. Furthermore, the operating mode of the gaming device (second gaming device) that is operating in a mode corresponding to the notification during inspection is not affected. Furthermore, since the security signal is output in the testable state to notify the testable state, the output is maintained even if a magnetic error is detected.

Timing t38 represents the timing at which the RAM clear switch 43 is turned ON when the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is valid (after period T1), that is, the timing at which the RAM clear switch 43 is operated.
As described above, in this embodiment, the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 in the testable state is a condition for ending the testable state, and at substantially the same timing as timing t38, the main control board 100 changes the testable state. The situation is the same as that shown in FIG. 11 in that the output of the security signal is temporarily stopped upon completion of the testable state.
On the other hand, the testable state shown in FIG. 14 differs from the situation shown in FIG. 11 in that, since a magnetic error has been detected during the stay period, the game-disabled state is set thereafter. Here, the game-disabled state is a state in which progress in the game is restricted. At this time, all the lamps included in the symbol display device 90 are turned off.

Even when the gaming disabled state is set at timing t38, the RAM clearing process is executed when the power is turned on, which is the same as the situation shown in FIG. 100 to the first sub-control board 200. Therefore, the performance display device 80 and the speaker 33 will be in the initialization notification mode even if the game is disabled. Furthermore, the operation mode of the production lamp 35 and the movable body 22 (operation performed to determine whether or not they are normal) performed during the initialization notification is also explained using FIG. 11. The same is done.

Timing t40 represents the timing at which a predetermined period of time has elapsed from timing t38. The initialization notification started at timing t38 ends at timing t40. This predetermined period has the same time length as the predetermined period from timing t7 to timing t9.
When the initialization notification is completed, the effect display device 80, the speaker 33, and the effect lamp 35 perform error notification corresponding to the magnetic error. That is, the error notification corresponding to the magnetic error detected in the testable state is executed after the testing notification and the initialization notification are completed. Regarding the output of the security signal, although the output corresponding to the initialization notification is temporarily stopped at timing t40, the output corresponding to the error notification is performed immediately thereafter.

Since the processing is as described above, the inspection notification and initialization notification have a higher priority than the error notification corresponding to the error state (magnetic error) that can be detected in the testable state. I can say it.

Next, FIG. 15 shows changes in the operating mode of each gaming device in the case where the game-ready state is set without passing through the test-ready state in the power recovery process, and an error is detected in the game-ready state. Refer to and explain.
Although the error state that can be detected in the playable state shown in FIG. 15 is not limited unlike the testable state, it will be described as a magnetic error, similar to the situation shown in FIG. .

Timing t41 to timing t43 and timing t45 illustrated in FIG. 15 are the same as timing t11 to timing t14 illustrated in FIG. 12, respectively, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Timing t44 represents the timing at which a magnetic error is detected by a magnetic sensor (not shown). As shown in FIG. 15, the game mode is different from FIG. 12 in that at timing t44 when a magnetic error is detected, the playable state ends and a playable state is set.
Here, at timing t44 when the game-disabled state is set, all the lamps included in the symbol display device 90 are turned off.

On the other hand, since the restoration notification is set to be executed for a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds), it is continued even if a magnetic error is detected.
Therefore, the magnetic error detected in the recovery notification does not affect the operating mode of the gaming device (second gaming device) that is operating in a manner corresponding to the recovery notification.
Even if a magnetic error is detected during the restoration notification, the security signal is not output during the restoration notification, which is the same as the situation shown in FIG. 12.

Timing t46 represents the timing at which a predetermined period of time has elapsed from timing t43. The restoration notification started at timing t43 ends at timing t46. This predetermined period has the same time length as the predetermined period from timing t13 to timing t15.
When the restoration notification ends, the effect display device 80, the speaker 33, and the effect lamp 35 perform error notification corresponding to the magnetic error. That is, the error notification corresponding to the magnetic error detected during the reporting period of the restoration notification is executed after the restoration notification ends. Note that the security signal is output corresponding to the error notification from timing t46.

Since the processing is as described above, it can be said that the recovery notification has a higher priority than the error notification corresponding to the magnetic error.

With the above configuration, the first notification, second notification, and third notification according to the present invention are executed preferentially compared to the error notification corresponding to the error state detected during the notification period. In this way, the status of each gaming machine 10 can be reliably recognized by the hall clerk.
In this embodiment, the priority of error notifications corresponding to a specific error state (magnetic error) that can be detected in the testable state is the first notification (inspection notification), the second notification (initialization notification), Although the explanation has been made assuming that the third notification (recovery notification) is lower than any of the third notifications (restoration notification), the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, among the error states that can be detected in the testable state, there is an error state (first error state) whose error notification has a higher priority than the first, second, and third notifications. The error notification corresponding to the first error state may be executable during the stay in the testable state. In addition, in this modified example, among the error states that can be detected in the testable state, the priority of the error notification is lower than the first notification, second notification, and third notification (second error notification). state) may be included, and the error notification corresponding to the second error state may be executable after the testable state ends (after the gameable state is set).

In addition, in FIG. 13, reference is made to the case where the RAM clear switch 43 is operated, which is a condition for ending the testable state, during the operation test of the first game device to be tested (normal electric accessory solenoid 62). .
As a situation similar to this, it is assumed that a power outage occurs during the operation test of the first gaming device in the testable state (while it is operating in the first operating mode), so we would like to add an additional comment regarding this case. .
In the above case, of course, the operation of the first gaming device under operation test stops in response to the power outage. Here, if the power is turned on without RAM clear processing after the power outage, it is preferable to set the game enabled state without setting the state before the power outage (testable state). This is because there is a high probability that the person who turned on the power judged that the inspection was not necessary.

<Other variations>
Modifications not described in the above description are listed below.

In the above embodiment, the first gaming device to be inspected in the inspectable state is controlled by the first control board (main control board 100), and the second gaming device used for the first notification and the second notification is Although the second gaming device is controlled by the second control board (first sub-control board 200), the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.
The first gaming device may include a gaming device (for example, the performance button 37 and an LED included therein) controlled by the second control board, and the second gaming device may include a gaming device controlled by the second control board. may include gaming devices controlled by. In this modification, when an operating means such as the production button 37 is to be inspected in the testable state, the test is to confirm whether or not the operating means normally accepts the operation. The sensor that detects the operation must be functioning effectively.
In this modification, when an operating means such as the production button 37 is to be inspected in the testable state, the test is to confirm whether or not the operating means normally accepts the operation. The sensor that detects the operation must be functioning effectively. Then, while an inspection is being carried out by manually operating the operating means in a state where inspection is possible, another gaming device to be inspected (for example, each solenoid, each lamp, etc.) automatically operates, thereby allowing manual operation. It is preferable that the test to be performed and the test to be automatically performed can proceed in parallel.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the predetermined operation means (RAM clear switch 43) needs to be operated as a condition for setting the playable state after starting the testable state. The example is not limited to this example.
For example, the game-enabled state may be set on the condition that a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the power is turned on or the start of the test-enabled state.

In the above embodiment, the normal electric accessory solenoid 62 and the special electric accessory solenoid 66 are exemplified as the solenoids to be inspected. In carrying out the present invention, it is not necessarily necessary to test both the solenoid relating to the normal electric accessory and the solenoid relating to the special electric accessory; either one of them may be inspected.

In the above embodiment, a gaming machine with a single special electric accessory was exemplified, but the present invention may be implemented by a gaming machine with a plurality of special electric accessories. At this time, there may be a plurality of solenoids (solenoids corresponding to the first game device) related to the special electric accessory to be inspected.
In addition, when implementing the present invention with a gaming machine equipped with a plurality of special electric accessories, each special electric accessory is arranged in a right-handed game area, and each special electric accessory is activated alternately or simultaneously. It is desirable to operate at a timing other than that, so that in a situation where it is easy to win a prize on one side, it is difficult to win a prize on the other.

In the above embodiment, it is mentioned that an inspection function is provided for the purpose of confirming the operation of the solenoid corresponding to each electric accessory (whether the electric accessory operates normally or not) in the testable state. It was only. In addition, in the gaming machine that implements the present invention, it is confirmed whether or not the winning detection sensor corresponding to the winning opening (big winning opening or starting opening) to which each electric accessory is attached is effective. It may also be equipped with an inspection function for the purpose of

The operation mode of each gaming device explained using FIGS. 11 to 15 in the above embodiment is a specific example of implementing the present invention, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention.
In the above embodiment, when the RAM clear switch 43 is operated while the gaming device in operation for inspection is operating in that operating mode, the operating mode continues until the end of the operating mode. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be implemented by a modified example in which the operation of the RAM clear switch 43 is used as a trigger to immediately stop the operation of the gaming device, terminate the testable state, and set the gameable state.
According to this modification, after the playable state is set (during the notification period of the second notification), the second game device is inspected to check whether it is normal by changing in a predetermined operating mode. This can be done quickly and confirmation can be made easily.

<Additional notes>
This embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
(1) A gaming machine that can shoot game balls, obtain prize balls based on the winning of the game balls into the winning slot, and execute RAM clearing processing when the power is turned on, which is used for multiple games. a gaming device, and a state management means for setting a gaming enabled state in which a game can be executed and an inspection enabled state in which a first gaming device among the plurality of gaming devices can be inspected, The state is a state that can be set after the power is turned on with the RAM clearing process, the first notification is executed during the stay period of the testable state, and the gameable state is set after the testable state is started. When set after the start of the testable state, a second notification is executed, and the first notification and the second notification include information about the first gaming device. A different second gaming device is used, and the test related to the first gaming device that can be performed in the testable state includes changing the first gaming device in a first operating mode, During the notification period of the first notification, even if the first gaming device changes in the first operating mode, the operating mode of the second gaming device is maintained and a security signal is output in the inspectable state. A gaming machine further comprising an output means for.
(2) An operation means is provided, and the inspection of the first gaming device requires an operation on the operation means in the testable state and an operation on the operation means in the testable state. The gaming machine according to (1), which includes a gaming machine that does not.
(3) The first gaming device includes a first control board and a second control board configured to be able to receive signals from the first control board in one direction, and the first gaming device includes the first control board The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), wherein the second gaming device is a gaming device controlled by the second control board.
(4) The first gaming device includes a gaming device that is capable of parallel processing of tests and a gaming device that is not capable of parallel processing of tests. The gaming machine described in .
(5) When the playable state is set while the first gaming device is operating in the first operating mode in the testable state, the first gaming device While continuing the first operating mode until the operation according to the operating mode is completed, the second gaming device stops the operating mode corresponding to the first notification at the timing when the playable state is set. The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (4), which subsequently starts an operating mode corresponding to the second notification.
(6) During the notification period of the second notification, at least a part of the second gaming device changes in the second operating mode, and even if the second gaming device changes in the second operating mode, , the gaming machine according to (5), wherein the operating mode of the first gaming device is maintained.
(7) The state management means is capable of setting the game ready state without going through the testable state after power is turned on without the RAM clearing process, and the state management means is configured to set the game ready state without going through the testable state, In the playable state, a third notification that is different from both the first notification and the second notification is executed, and during the notification period of the third notification, the second gaming device operates in a manner different from the second operation mode. The gaming machine according to (6), wherein the second gaming device enters a third operating mode and is maintained in the third operating mode until a notification period of the third notification ends.

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 28 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 30 Board decoration lamp 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 Speaker 34 Side frame portion 35 Production lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Production button 38 Cursor button 39 Main operation unit 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 45 Opening/closing cover 46 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 55 Big prize opening 57 First starting opening 59 Second starting opening 61 Normal electric accessory 62 Normal electric accessory solenoid 63 Gate 65 Special electric accessory 66 Special electric accessory solenoid 67 General winning opening 69 Out opening 70 First starting opening Sensor 71 Second starting opening sensor 72 Big winning opening sensor 73 General winning opening sensor 74 Gate sensor 75 Out ball sensor 76 Middle frame opening sensor 80 Production display device 90 Symbol display device 91 First special symbol display device 92 Second special symbol Display device 93 Normal symbol display device 94 First special symbol retention lamp 95 Second special symbol retention lamp 96 Normal symbol retention lamp 100 Main control board 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main reservation control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special figure lottery means 131 Special figure validity determination means 132 Special figure stop symbol lottery means 133 Special figure fluctuation pattern Derivation means 135 Common figure lottery means 140 Jackpot game control means 145 Symbol display control means 150 Electric accessory control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power outage processing execution means 180 Power recovery processing execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
209 First sub control board case 210 Sub random number generation means 220 Normal performance control means 221 Performance mode control means 222 Performance route determination means 223 Sub hold control means 224 Pre-read performance control means 225 Performance content determination means 226 Decorative pattern control means 227 Jackpot performance Control means 230 Sub-error control means 235 Voice control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable accessory control means 260 Power recovery processing execution means 270 Sub-information storage means 275 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
309 Second sub-control board case 400 Payout control board 401 CPU
402 ROM
403 RAM
409 Payout control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power failure detection circuit 504 RAM clear switch circuit 509 Power supply control board case

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of firing a game ball, receiving a prize ball based on winning of the game ball into a prize opening, and capable of executing RAM clear processing when the power is turned on,
A plurality of gaming devices used for gaming,
a state management means for setting a game-enabled state in which a game can be executed and an inspection-enabled state in which a first gaming device among the plurality of gaming devices can be inspected;
a first control board;
a second control board configured to be able to receive signals from the first control board in one direction;
Equipped with
The testable state is a state that can be set after the power is turned on with the RAM clearing process, and the first notification is executed during the period in which the testable state is set ,
The playable state is a state that can be set after the testable state is started, and when the playable state is set after the testable state is started, a second notification is executed,
A second gaming device different from the first gaming device is used for the first notification and the second notification,
The inspection related to the first gaming device that can be performed in the inspectable state includes changing the first gaming device in a first operating mode,
During the notification period of the first notification, even if the first gaming device changes in the first operating mode, the operating mode of the second gaming device is maintained;
There are multiple gaming devices that correspond to the first gaming device,
The first gaming device includes specific operating means controlled by the second control board,
When the inspection related to the specific operating means is manually conducted, inspections related to other gaming devices can be automatically conducted,
further comprising an output means for outputting a security signal in the testable state;
A gaming machine characterized by:

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