JP7462938B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Gaming machines (reel type gaming machines, slot machines) equipped with multiple reels with patterns arranged on the outer circumference have been known for some time. This type of gaming machine provides a fixed gaming value for gaming media such as medals and pachinko balls, and players play to acquire such gaming media. This type of gaming machine also performs an internal lottery and starts the rotation of the multiple reels when the player operates to start the rotation, and controls the multiple reels to stop in a manner according to the result of the internal lottery when the player operates to stop the reels. The result of the game is determined by the combination of patterns displayed on the winning determination line when the multiple reels are stopped, and medals and the like are paid out according to the result of the game.

In recent years, gaming machines that can perform assist time play, which changes the probability of winning a specific role by executing a winning assistance effect that assists in the winning of a specific role under specified conditions and makes it easier to win gaming media such as medals in the AT state in which the winning assistance effect can be executed, have become popular (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2011-125565 A JP 2011-156165 A

In game specifications that allow assist time play, those that allow a high number of game media to be acquired per play in assist time play (hereinafter referred to as high pure increase specifications) are particularly popular, and in order to design a gaming machine that meets the performance predetermined by rules, etc., it becomes necessary to design the acquisition performance for games that are not assist time play (hereinafter referred to as normal play) to be low. One possible measure to achieve this is to increase the number of special roles to lower the winning rate of special roles designed for normal play.

However, increasing the number of different special roles will increase the number of stopping patterns that can occur when a special role is won, which may make it difficult for players to know when they have won a special role.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine with an improved operational interface environment.

(1) The present invention is a gaming machine that includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery thereof, an internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery for determining whether a plurality of types of roles, including a small role, have been won, a reel control means for rotating the plurality of reels for each game and controlling the reels to stop in a manner corresponding to the result of the internal lottery when a stop operation is performed, and a winning determination means for determining that a role has won based on a symbol combination showing a winning form predetermined for each role being displayed on an active line when the plurality of reels are stopped, and a gaming value is paid out based on the winning of the small role, and a plurality of specific winning modes exist as winning modes of the small role, in which a plurality of types of specific small roles are won without overlapping with each other, and a correct operation mode is predetermined as a stopping operation mode corresponding to the type of the specific winning mode. The reel control means controls the reel so that, in a game in which the result of the internal lottery is the specific winning pattern, if the stop operation is performed in the correct operation mode, the specific minor role included in the specific winning pattern can be won, and if the stop operation is not in accordance with the correct operation mode, the reel control means controls the reel so that the specific minor role included in the specific winning pattern cannot be won, and the specific winning patterns include a first specific winning pattern and a second specific winning pattern in which the types of specific minor roles included in each pattern are different but the correct operation mode is set to be the same, and the game in which the first specific winning pattern and the game in which the second specific winning pattern are obtained have different stop control modes when performed in the correct operation mode, and similar symbol combinations are displayed in the same positional relationship.

In the present invention, the correct operation mode is the same for the first specific winning mode and the second specific winning mode, and even if a different specific minor winning combination is won, the displayed pattern combination is similar, so that an operation interface environment can be provided that allows the player to easily understand the game result of winning a specific minor winning combination.

(2) In the gaming machine of the present invention, a correct hitting order and a specific timing are predetermined as the correct operation mode, and the reel control means, in a game in which the result of the internal lottery is the specific winning mode, allows the specific minor role included in the specific winning mode to win if the order of stop operations is in accordance with the correct hitting order and a stop operation on a specific reel among the multiple reels is performed at the specific timing, and controls the specific minor role included in the specific winning mode to not win if the order of stop operations is not in accordance with the correct hitting order or if the order of stop operations is in accordance with the correct hitting order but a stop operation on a specific reel is performed at a timing different from the specific timing. In a game in which the first specific winning mode is obtained and a game in which the second specific winning mode is obtained, the stop control mode for the specific reel may be the same, but the stop control mode for at least one predefined reel different from the specific reel may be different.

In this way, it is difficult to determine the type of specific winning pattern obtained by the internal lottery based on the stopping pattern of the specific reel, and an operation interface environment can be provided that makes it easy to understand the game result of winning a specific small prize.

1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an amusement machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an oblique view showing the internal configuration of a cabinet of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an internal lottery table in the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the winning patterns of minor prizes in the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating the winning patterns of small prizes and replays in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on a reel in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a transition diagram of a gaming state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. A transition diagram of the presentation state in the gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention. A transition diagram of a game zone in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining the role configuration of the batting order bell A1 and the batting order bell B1 in the gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining an example of stop control when the batting order bell A1 and the batting order bell B1 are won in an gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining the role configuration of batting order bell A2 and batting order bell B2 in the gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining an example of stop control when batting order bell A2 and batting order bell B2 are won in an gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in this embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

1. Configuration Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration (excluding the reel unit) of the gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is a so-called slot machine or reel type gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine that uses medals as the gaming medium.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a reel unit consisting of a first reel R1 to a third reel R3 (multiple reels) is stored in a box-shaped housing consisting of a storage box BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD. In addition, a power supply unit EU having a built-in power supply unit and various switches such as a power switch ES, a setting change key cylinder KS, and a setting change button BS, and a hopper unit HP as a medal payout device are stored in the lower part of the reel unit storage space PS in the storage box BX. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a medal storage tank MT for storing medals to be used in a game, a payout motor (not shown) consisting of a stepping motor, and a rotating disk (not shown) supported by the payout motor, and is configured so that the rotating disk is rotated by the payout motor to pay out medals one by one. In addition, when the amount of medals stored in the medal storage tank MT reaches a certain amount, the hopper unit HP sends out surplus medals to a cash box CB. In the housing of the gaming machine of this embodiment, for example, a main board MAIN is attached above the reel unit storage space PS, and a sub-board SUB is attached to the side of the reel unit storage space PS. These control boards (main board MAIN, sub-board SUB) are equipped with a CPU (an example of a calculation means), a ROM (an example of an information storage medium), a RAM (an example of a temporary storage means), etc., so that the operation of the gaming machine can be controlled. In this embodiment, the power supply unit EU is provided with a setting change key cylinder KS and a setting change button BS, but the setting change key cylinder KS and the setting change button BS may also be provided on the surface of the main board MAIN.

The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 shown in FIG. 1 have their outer periphery divided into 20 regions (each region is called a "frame") at regular intervals, and each frame has one of several types of symbols. The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are supported by a stepping motor (reel drive means: not shown), and are rotated around the axis of the stepping motor, and are provided so that they can be stopped in frame units (predetermined rotation angle units, predetermined rotation amount units) by controlling the number of pulses and pulse width of the drive pulse of the stepping motor. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the stepping motor rotates the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 in response to the drive pulse supplied from the control board, and when a drive pulse of full phase excitation is supplied from the control board, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 stop as the rotation of the stepping motor stops.

The upper front door UD and the lower front door DD can be opened and closed separately, and the upper front door UD has a display window DW that allows the spinning and stopped states of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to be observed. When the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped, three patterns (upper row pattern, middle row pattern, and lower row pattern) that are consecutively arranged on the outer periphery of each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 can be observed from the front of the gaming machine through the display window DW.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display position for observing the patterns through the display window DW, and the winning lines are set by the combination of the display positions of each reel. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, the so-called specified insertion number, is set to three, and when a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number are inserted, the winning line L1 formed by the middle rows of each of the first reel R1 to third reel R3 is activated.

The game result is determined by the symbol combination that is stopped and displayed on the winning line in the display window DW, and if the symbol combination on the winning line corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, that winning combination is treated as a winning combination and medals are paid out from the hopper unit HP.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a game information display unit DS and a zone indicator SEC. The game information display unit DS is made up of LEDs, lamps, seven-segment displays, etc., and displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or won in one game, and the total number of medals paid out or won in BB state. The zone indicator SEC also notifies whether or not the player is in an advantageous zone by turning on and off the built-in LED.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a liquid crystal display LCD for game presentation. Various videos (or images) for supporting or livening up the game are displayed on this liquid crystal display LCD. In addition, in this embodiment of the gaming machine, multiple speakers SP for game presentation are provided on the upper front door UD and the lower front door DD. Various sounds for supporting or livening up the game are output from these speakers SP.

The lower front door DD is also provided with various operating means. The operating means include a bet button (insertion operating means) B0 for inserting credited (stored) medals, a start lever (game start operating means) SL for spinning the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to start a game, and stop buttons (stop operating means) B1 to B3 for stopping each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that are driven to rotate by a stepping motor.

In this embodiment of the gaming machine, when a player inserts a medal into the medal slot MI or presses the bet button B0, the machine is set to a ready state in which it is possible to start controlling the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Then, when the player presses the start lever SL, the control board starts to rotate the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by driving a stepping motor, and an internal lottery is performed using a random number value. On the condition that the rotation speed of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 has increased to a predetermined speed, pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 is permitted (enabled).

After that, when the player presses the stop buttons B1 to B3 at any timing, the stop switch (stop signal output means: for example, a photosensor, a continuity sensor, a pressure sensor, etc.) built into each of the stop buttons B1 to B3 turns on, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from the OFF state to the ON state.

When the player releases any of the pressed stop buttons B1 to B3 at any time, the stop switches corresponding to the stop buttons B1 to B3 turn off, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from on to off.

The control board then stops the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 at a stop position that corresponds to the result of the internal lottery based on the change from OFF to ON of the reel stop signal, whose state changes depending on when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed and released.

A medal payout port MO and a medal tray MP are provided at the bottom of the lower front door DD, and a number of medals according to the results of a game are paid out from the hopper unit HP through the medal payout port MO to the medal tray MP. When medals are paid out according to the results of a game, if crediting (internal storage) of medals is permitted, medals equivalent to some or all of the payout number are credited up to a credit limit (50 in this embodiment), and the display value of the credit indicator consisting of a 7-segment display of the game information display unit DS is changed in accordance with the change in the number of medals credited.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine of this embodiment.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is controlled by a gaming control means (main board MAIN and sub board SUB) 100. The gaming control means 100 is started by power supplied from the power supply unit EU by the operation of the power switch ES, and receives input signals from input means such as the medal insertion switch 210, the bet switch 220, the start switch 230, the stop switch 240, the setting change permission switch 250, and the setting change switch 260, and performs various calculations to execute a game, and controls the operation of output means such as the reel unit 310, the hopper unit (payout device) HP, the display device 330, and the sound device 340 based on the calculation results. The functions of the gaming control means 100 are realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), ROMs (an example of information storage media), or RAMs, or software consisting of a given program pre-stored in the ROMs, etc.

The game control means 100 includes a setting change means 103, a throw-in acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state control means 170, an AT control means 175, a performance control means 180, a game information storage means 190a, and a performance information storage means 190b. In this embodiment, the setting change means 103, the throw-in acceptance means 105, the random number generation means 110, the internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state transition control means 170, and an AT control means 175 are realized by the CPU of the main board MAIN executing various programs, and the performance control means 180 is realized by the CPU of the sub board SUB executing various programs. The game information storage means 190a is composed of a main ROM and a main RAM mounted on the main board MAIN, and the performance information storage means 190b is composed of a sub ROM and a sub RAM mounted on the sub board SUB. Various programs executed by the CPU of the main board MAIN are stored in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a, and various programs executed by the CPU of the sub board SUB are stored in the sub ROM of the performance information storage means 190b. The setting change means 103 controls changing the setting values stored in the setting value storage area 1913 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In this embodiment, the game machine is switched between being started in the game mode and being started in the setting change mode depending on the state of the setting change permission switch 250 when the power is turned on. When the setting key is inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS and turned clockwise from the initial position, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 becomes ON. When the power switch ES is operated in this state to supply power from the power supply unit EU, the setting change means 103 starts the game machine in the setting change mode. In this embodiment, the setting value can be selected from six setting values from setting 1 to setting 6, and the winning probability of the internal lottery is changed so that the expected value of the ball payout rate increases from setting 1 to setting 6. In this embodiment, the setting values are expressed in the order of setting 1 < setting 2 < setting 3 < setting 4 < setting 5 < setting 6.

When the setting change switch 260 is activated by pressing the setting change button BS in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 changes the setting value in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → ... setting 6 → setting 1 → ... each time it receives an input signal from the setting change switch 260, confirms the setting value based on a game start signal from the start switch 230 that is activated by pressing the start lever SL, and controls the confirmed setting value to be stored in the setting value memory area 1913. In this embodiment, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 can be changed to the OFF state by returning the setting key inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS to its initial position, thereby making it possible to transition from the setting change mode to the game mode.

In this embodiment, when the power is turned on with the setting change key cylinder KS in the initial position, the gaming machine is started in the game mode based on the signal state of the setting change permission switch 260 being in the off state. In this embodiment, in the game mode, it is possible to play games but it is not possible to change the setting values, and in the setting change mode, it is possible to change the setting values but it is not possible to play games.

In addition, in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined memory area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, the information stored in the lottery flag memory area 1915, the game status memory area 1916, the performance status memory area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 is initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode. More specifically, the memory areas in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a other than the lottery flag memory area 1915, game status memory area 1916, performance status memory area 1917, AT stock number counter 1918, AT game number counter 1919, CZ game number counter 1921, first clear counter 1922, and second clear counter 1923 are designated as information holding areas, and information stored in the memory areas other than the information holding areas of the main RAM is initialized. For this reason, in the main RAM, the setting value memory area 1913 and credit information memory area 1914 are designated as information holding areas, and the information stored in these memory areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode.

The insertion acceptance means 105 accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and performs a process to activate the game start operation for the start lever SL (game start operation means) based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number (3 medals). In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number, is accepted as the game start operation, and serves as a trigger to start the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 and also serves as a trigger to execute an internal lottery.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot MI, the medal insertion switch 210 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the inserted medal to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a maximum of 50 medals can be stored (accumulated) in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a, and when the bet button B0 is pressed with medals credit-stored in the gaming machine, the bet switch 220 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the medals credit-stored in the credit information storage area 1914 to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number.

The random number generating means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for the lottery. The random numbers can be generated, for example, by a 16-bit random number circuit that generates 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535 without duplication within one period. Note that in this embodiment, the "random number" includes not only values that are generated randomly in the mathematical sense, but also values that, even if their generation is regular, can actually function as random numbers because the timing of their acquisition is irregular.

The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be achieved based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is activated when the player operates the start lever SL to start playing (first pressing of the activated start lever SL), and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

In the lottery table selection process, it is determined which of the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a is to be used for the internal lottery. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables (internal lottery table 1 to internal lottery table 3) as shown in FIG. 4 are stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910. In each internal lottery table, various roles such as replays, small roles, and bonuses and misses (non-wins) are associated with each of multiple random number values (for example, 65,536 random number values from 0 to 65,535). In this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables are prepared for each of the six setting values, and the probability of obtaining some winning modes in the internal lottery differs depending on the setting value, and the correspondence between roles and random number values is set so that the higher the setting value, the higher the expected value of the ball payout rate.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, minor prizes 1 to 48 are provided, and the winning patterns of the minor prizes are set as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and include batting order bell group A (batting order bell A1 to batting order bell A12), batting order bell group B (batting order bell B1 to batting order bell B12), batting order bell group C (batting order bell C1 to batting order bell C12), batting order bell group D (batting order bell D1 to batting order bell D12), common 1-coin role A, common 1-coin role B, weak cherry, strong cherry, watermelon A, watermelon B, strong bell, JAC1, and JAC2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, replays are provided as Replay 1 to Replay 3, and normal replay A and normal replay B are set as winning modes of replays, as shown in FIG. 6.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the probability of winning a small prize is the same on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, the probability of winning a replay is higher on internal lottery table 2 than on internal lottery table 1, replays are not included in the lottery on internal lottery table 3, and the way in which small prizes are selected on internal lottery table 3 is different from that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, and the probability of winning a small prize is higher than that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a big bonus (BB) is provided as a bonus, and the big bonus (BB) is the subject of a lottery on the internal lottery table 1.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the game state can be set to a normal state, a BB established state, and a BB state, and in the lottery table selection process, one of internal lottery tables 1 to 3 is selected as the internal lottery table to be used in the internal lottery depending on the game state.

In this embodiment, the probability of winning bonuses and replays does not change depending on the setting value, but the probability of winning some minor winning patterns changes depending on the setting value, and the higher the setting value, the higher the probability of winning JAC1 and JAC2.

In the random number determination process, a random number value (random number for lottery) is obtained from the random number generating means 110 for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 230, and the obtained random number value is used to determine whether or not it has won a winning combination by referring to the internal lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information memory means 190a.

In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination determined to be a winning combination is set from a non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to a winning state (second flag state, on state) based on the result of the random number determination process. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are won in a overlapping manner, the lottery flags corresponding to each of the two or more types of combinations that are won in a overlapping manner are set to a winning state. The setting information for the lottery flag is stored in the lottery flag storage area 1915 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a lottery flag (carry-over flag) that can carry over a winning state to the next game or later until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to a non-winning state without carrying over a winning state to the next game or later regardless of whether a prize is won or not are prepared. The former carry-over flag corresponds to a big bonus (BB), and the latter non-carry-over flag corresponds to a small bonus and a replay. In the lottery flag setting process, for example, when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) until the big bonus (BB) is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether or not the small bonus and the replay will be won, even in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small win or replay is won in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the bonus associated with the carryover flag is carried over, the lottery flag corresponding to two or more types of roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already won bonus and the lottery flag of the small win or replay won in the internal lottery is set to the winning state.

The reel control means 130 starts the rotation drive of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by the stepping motor based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is operated by the player's operation to start playing by operating the start lever SL, and controls the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to start rotating at a predetermined speed (approximately 80 rpm: a rotation speed of approximately 80 rotations per minute) by pressing the stop button B1 to B3 (stop operation means) corresponding to the reel, and controls the first reel R1 to the third reel R3, which are rotated by the stepping motor, to stop in a manner according to the setting state of the lottery flag (the result of the internal lottery).

When the player presses the stop button B1 to B3 while the stop operation for the stop buttons B1 to B3 is enabled and the stop switch 240 is activated, the reel control means 130 controls the reels to stop, by supplying a full-phase excitation drive pulse to the stepping motor of the reel unit 310, based on the reel stop signal from the stop switch 240.

That is, each time one of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is pressed, the reel control means 130 determines the stop position of the reel corresponding to the pressed button among the first reel R1 to the third reel R3, and controls the reel to stop at the determined stop position. Note that in the gaming machine of this embodiment, pressing the stop button B1 corresponds to an operation for stopping the first reel R1, pressing the stop button B2 corresponds to an operation for stopping the second reel R2, and pressing the stop button B3 corresponds to an operation for stopping the third reel R3. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, if the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed is changed, the stop order of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is changed.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed. When the reels are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each reel is determined by the number of frames required from the time when the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, which is within the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). The reel control means 130 controls the reel to stop, which corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed, so that when the symbol corresponding to the winning combination in the internal lottery is located within the range of 0 to 4 frames from the display position on the pay line at the time when the stop button was pressed, the symbol corresponding to the winning combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state is displayed at the display position on the pay line on the outer periphery of the reel that corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the red 7 symbol "RED 7", bar symbol "BAR", special symbol 1 "SP1", special symbol 2 "SP2", replay symbol "RP", bell symbol 1 "BL1", bell symbol 2 "BL2", bell symbol 3 "BL3", watermelon symbol "WM", and cherry symbol "CH" are arranged on the outer periphery of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 constituting the reel unit 310, and when symbols existing within 4 frames from the push detection position are drawn onto the active line, the symbols arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on the outer periphery of each reel can be displayed on the active line regardless of the push detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time when the stop switch 240 is activated (the time when the push of the stop button is detected). In this embodiment, the push detection position is the display position of the upper row of each reel.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the reel unit 310 is equipped with a reel index 315 consisting of a photosensor, and the reel control means 130 is able to monitor the current rotation state of the reel by determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotating shaft of the stepping motor) from the reference position of the reel (the frame detected by the reel index 315) based on the reference position signal detected by the reel index 315 each time the reel rotates once. In other words, the reel control means 130 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 240 is activated by determining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

The reel control means 130 also performs a process (logic calculation) to determine the stop position of the spinning reel based on priority, and a process (table reference process) to determine the stop position of the spinning reel by referring to the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage area 1911 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a.

First, in the logic calculation, the priority is calculated for the 5 candidate stop positions within a range of 0 to 4 frames from the press detection position according to the priority data defined for each role. Then, the candidate stop position with the highest priority among the candidate stop positions is determined as the actual stop position. However, in the logic calculation process, the same priority may be calculated for multiple candidate stop positions depending on the results of the internal lottery and the press detection position, and if there are multiple candidates for the highest priority stop position, the actual stop position is determined by a table reference process described below.

In particular, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the order of priority is set as "replay > bonus" and then "minor role > bonus", and in the logic calculation, when the lottery flags for two or more types of roles are set to a winning state, the priority is determined according to the priority associated with each role, so that the candidate stop positions including the symbols that make up the winning form of a role with a higher priority are given a higher priority than the candidate stop positions including the symbols that make up the winning form of a role with a lower priority.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when multiple types of minor roles are won in the internal lottery, the priority of the candidate stop positions may be determined according to the number of symbol combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line, or the number of medals paid out based on a predetermined payout for the minor role. When the priority of the candidate stop positions is determined according to the number of symbol combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line, the priority of each candidate stop position is determined so that the priority is higher for the stop positions with a greater number of symbol combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line. When the priority of the candidate stop positions is determined according to the number of medals paid out, the priority of each candidate stop position is determined so that the priority is higher for the stop positions with a greater number of medals paid out based on the payout for the minor role corresponding to the symbol displayed at the display position on the active line (stop positions that can win minor roles with a greater payout). However, when determining the priority of candidate stop positions according to the number of medals paid out, if multiple minor prizes with the same payout are won, the priority of candidate stop positions that can win each minor prize is treated as being the same, and when determining the priority of candidate stop positions according to the number of symbol combinations that can show winning patterns that can be displayed on an active line, the priority of candidate stop positions that have the same number of symbol combinations that can show winning patterns that can be displayed on an active line is treated as being the same.

In this embodiment, when the batting order bell is won, a logic operation is performed according to the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed. Specifically, the correct batting order is set for each of the batting order bells A (batting order bell A1 to batting order bell A12), B (batting order bell B1 to batting order bell B12), C (batting order bell C1 to C12), and D (batting order bell D1 to batting order bell D12), and a pressing order that is different from the correct batting order is treated as an incorrect batting order. When any of the batting order bells is won, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, the priority is determined so that the candidate for the stop position that will result in the largest number of medals being paid out has the highest priority. Also, when any of the batting order bells is won, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the incorrect batting order, the priority is determined so that the candidate for the stop position that will result in the largest number of medals being paid out has the highest priority.

In this embodiment, if any of the batting order bells is won, logic calculations are performed so that when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, the candidate stop position that can win a 15-coin minor win (a minor win with a payout of 15 coins) has the highest priority, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the incorrect batting order, logic calculations are performed so that the candidate stop position that can win a 1-coin minor win (a minor win with a payout of 1 coin) has the highest priority.

In this embodiment, 15 small prizes are set according to the type of batting order bell, and when 15 small prizes are won when each batting order bell is won, when batting order bell A1 and batting order bell C1 are won, small prize 1 is won, when batting order bell A2 and batting order bell C2 are won, small prize 2 is won, when batting order bell A3 and batting order bell C3 are won, small prize 3 is won, when batting order bell A4 and batting order bell C4 are won, small prize 4 is won, when batting order bell A5 and batting order bell C5 are won, small prize 5 is won, and when batting order bell A6 and batting order bell C7 are won, small prize 6 is won, and when batting order bell A7 and batting order bell C8 are won, small prize 7 is won. When batting order bell A6 and batting order bell C6 are selected, minor prize 6 is awarded, when batting order bell A7 and batting order bell C7 are selected, minor prize 7 is awarded, when batting order bell A8 and batting order bell C8 are selected, minor prize 8 is awarded, when batting order bell A9 and batting order bell C9 are selected, minor prize 9 is awarded, when batting order bell A10 and batting order bell C10 are selected, minor prize 10 is awarded, when batting order bell A11 and batting order bell C11 are selected, minor prize 11 is awarded, and when batting order bell A12 and batting order bell C12 are selected, minor prize 12 is awarded.

In addition, when batting order bells B1 and D1 are selected, small prize 13 is awarded, when batting order bells B2 and D2 are selected, small prize 14 is awarded, when batting order bells B3 and D3 are selected, small prize 15 is awarded, when batting order bells B4 and D4 are selected, small prize 16 is awarded, when batting order bells B5 and D5 are selected, small prize 17 is awarded, when batting order bells B6 and D6 are selected, small prize 18 is awarded, and when batting order bells B7 and B7 are selected, small prize 19 is awarded. When the batting order bell B7 and the batting order bell D7 are selected, the small prize 19 is awarded, when the batting order bell B8 and the batting order bell D8 are selected, the small prize 20 is awarded, when the batting order bell B9 and the batting order bell D9 are selected, the small prize 21 is awarded, when the batting order bell B10 and the batting order bell D10 are selected, the small prize 22 is awarded, when the batting order bell B11 and the batting order bell D11 are selected, the small prize 23 is awarded, and when the batting order bell B12 and the batting order bell D12 are selected, the small prize 24 is awarded.

In addition, in this embodiment, for all batting order bells, in the normal state, all stopping operation sequences (all batting orders) are treated as incorrect batting orders, and logic calculations are performed so that the candidate stopping position that can win a one-coin minor prize is given the highest priority no matter what order the stopping operations are performed in.

In addition, in this embodiment, if the batting order bell is won when the big bonus (BB) has been won, the winning of the minor prize takes priority over the bonus, so whether the batting order bell is won and the stopping operation is performed along either the correct batting order or the incorrect batting order, the priority of the candidate stopping position that displays on the active line the symbols that make up the winning form of the minor prize included in the batting order bell is high, so a priority is required to avoid winning the big bonus (BB).

In addition, the logic calculation performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-off processing as processing for determining candidates for the reel stop positions. The pull-in processing is processing for determining the priority of candidates for the reel stop positions so that roles with the lottery flag set to a winning state can win as much as possible. On the other hand, the kick-off processing is processing for determining the priority of candidates for the reel stop positions so that roles with the lottery flag set to a non-winning state cannot win. In this way, the reel control means 130 performs logic calculations to determine candidates for the reel stop positions so that symbols of roles with the lottery flag set to a winning state can stop in a winning form, while symbols of roles with the lottery flag set to a non-winning state cannot stop in a winning form.

In the table reference process, when multiple candidates for the highest priority stop position are obtained as a result of the logic calculation, the stop control table stored in the stop control table memory area 1911 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a is referenced to determine which position should be the stop position.

The stop control table sets the correspondence between the push detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time the stop switch 240 is activated (the time the push of the stop button is detected), and the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag. Note that the stop control table may also set the correspondence between the push detection position and the number of sliding frames, which indicates the amount of rotation from the push detection position to the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag.

The stop control table, which is referenced when each batting order bell is selected in the internal lottery, has the correct batting order set for each batting order bell, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, and any pressing order that differs from the correct batting order is treated as an incorrect batting order.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, in the stop control table that is referenced when any of batting order bells 1 to 24 is won, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, a 15-coin small win or a 1-coin small win is won, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the incorrect batting order, a 1-coin small win is won (batting order bells A and B may be missed).

In this embodiment, if a stop operation is performed in the correct batting order when the batting order bell is won, whether a 15-coin small win or a 1-coin small win will be awarded is determined by the press detection position of the stop operation corresponding to the first reel to stop in the correct batting order (hereinafter referred to as the first stop operation), and the winning small win is determined by whether the press detection position of the first stop operation is the first press position or the second press position shown in Figure 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, for the batting order bell group A (batting order bell A1 to batting order bell A12) and the batting order bell group C (batting order bell C1 to batting order bell C12), if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the first push position, a 15-coin small prize will be awarded, and if the batting order is correct but the first stop operation is in the second push position, a 1-coin small prize will be awarded. For the batting order bell group B (batting order bell B1 to batting order bell B12) and the batting order bell group D (batting order bell D1 to batting order bell D12), if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the second push position, a 15-coin small prize will be awarded, and if the batting order is correct but the first stop operation is in the first push position, a 1-coin small prize will be awarded.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, for all batting order bells, in the normal state, all stop operation sequences are treated as incorrect batting orders, and only when a bonus is established, there are stop operation sequences that are treated as correct batting orders and stop operation sequences that are treated as incorrect batting orders.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when the batting order bell is won when the big bonus (BB) has been won, in this embodiment, the winning of a minor role is prioritized over a bonus, so the stop position relative to the press detection position is set to prioritize the winning of a minor role included in the batting order bell in both correct and incorrect batting orders, and the winning of a big bonus (BB) is always avoided by displaying the symbols that make up the winning form of any minor role on the active line, so the big bonus (BB) will never be won in a game in which the batting order bell is won.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when JAC1 wins in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that one of the 15-coin small prizes will win regardless of the type of stop operation, and in the stop control table that is referenced when JAC2 wins in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that one of the 1-coin small prizes will win regardless of the type of stop operation.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when the common 1-coin role A is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that if the stop operation is performed in a manner that causes the first reel R1 or the second reel R2 to stop first (batting order 1 to batting order 4), a small role 43 will be awarded, and if the stop operation is performed in a manner that causes the third reel R3 to stop first, a small role 46 will be awarded.

In addition, in the stop control table which is referenced when common 1-coin role B is won in the internal lottery, the stop positions relative to the press detection positions are set so that if a stop operation is performed in a manner in which the first reel R1 stops first (batting order 1, batting order 2), small role 43 will be awarded, if a stop operation is performed in a manner in which the second reel R2 stops first (batting order 3, batting order 4), small role 48 will be awarded, and if a stop operation is performed in a manner in which the third reel R3 stops first (batting order 5, batting order 6), small role 47 will be awarded. If minor win 47 is won, a symbol combination consisting of at least one of the bar symbol "BAR" and the red 7 symbol "red 7" can be displayed on the inactive line consisting of the bottom row of each reel, and if minor win 48 is won, a symbol combination consisting of at least one of the bar symbol "BAR" and the red 7 symbol "red 7" can be displayed on the inactive line consisting of the top row of the first reel R1, the middle row of the second reel R2, and the bottom row of the third reel R3.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when a weak cherry is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that small win 45 will be won, and in the stop control table that is referenced when a strong cherry is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that small win 43 or small win 45 will be won.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when watermelon A is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that small win 27 will be won, and in the stop control table that is referenced when watermelon B is won in the internal lottery, small win 26 will be won in priority to small win 28, and if the stop operation is performed in a manner that neither small win 26 nor small win 28 can be won, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that neither win will be won.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when a strong bell is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that either small win 15, small win 21, or small win 25 will win. When small win 15, small win 21, or small win 25 wins, a symbol combination consisting of at least one of bell symbol 1 "BL1", bell symbol 2 "BL2", and bell symbol 3 "BL3" is displayed on the invalid line consisting of the middle section of each reel.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when normal Replay A wins in the internal lottery, the stop positions relative to the press detection positions are set so that Replay 1 wins if the stop operation is performed in a manner in which the first reel R1 stops first (batting order 1, batting order 2), and Replay 3 wins if the stop operation is performed in a manner in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first (batting order 3 to batting order 6). In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when normal Replay B wins in the internal lottery, the stop positions relative to the press detection positions are set so that Replay 1 wins no matter how the stop operation is performed. When Replay 3 wins, a symbol combination consisting of at least one of the bar symbol "BAR" and the red 7 symbol "RED 7" can be displayed on the invalid line consisting of the middle section of each reel.

As for the Big Bonus (BB), it can only be won if the Big Bonus (BB) is won alone in the normal state. There are no misses when the BB is formed, and since there are always overlapping wins of minor prizes or replays with higher priority than the Big Bonus (BB), the stop position for the press detection position is set in the stop control table so that the Big Bonus (BB) is not won.

The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping state of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Specifically, the winning determination means 140 refers to a winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage area 1912 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a to determine whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line at the time when all of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 have stopped is a winning form of a predetermined winning combination. Then, a winning determination table is prepared so that the presence or absence of a winning combination of a big bonus (BB), replay 1 to replay 3, and small prize 1 to small prize 48 can be determined based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line when each reel has stopped, as shown in Figures 10 to 15.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a winning combination is achieved, a winning process is executed based on the result of the determination by the winning determination means 140. As the winning process, for example, when a small combination is achieved, a medal payout process is executed by the payout control means 150, when a replay is achieved, a replay process is executed by the replay processing means 160, and when a bonus is achieved, a game state transition process is executed by the game state control means 170 to transition the game state.

The payout control means 150 performs a payout control process for the payout of medals according to the game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is achieved, the payout number of medals in the game is determined based on the payout amount predetermined for each combination, and the payout number of medals corresponding to the determined payout number is controlled to be paid out by the hopper unit HP (payout device).

The hopper unit HP performs the operation of paying out the number of medals instructed by the payout control means 150. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a payout medal detection switch 325 that is activated each time a medal is paid out, and the payout control means 150 is configured to be able to manage the number of medals actually paid out from the hopper unit HP based on the input signal from the payout medal detection switch 325.

When credit storage (accumulation storage) of medals is permitted, instead of actually paying out medals using the hopper unit HP, a credit addition process is performed to add the payout number to the credit number (the number of medals stored as credits) stored in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, and a process of virtually paying out medals is performed.

When a replay wins, the replay processing means 160 performs a replay process (replay process) that sets the next game to the same preparation state as the previous game without the player having to insert any medals owned by the player. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed that automatically inserts a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number required for the next game without using any medals (including credit medals) held by the player, and the machine waits for the next game start operation of the start lever SL with a winning line corresponding to the specified insertion number set.

The game state control means 170 performs a game state transition process to transition the game state between the normal state, the BB established state, and the BB state, as shown in FIG. 16. In this embodiment, information indicating the current game state is stored in a game state storage area 1916 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. The game state transition condition may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the establishment of one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or the establishment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

The normal state is a game state that corresponds to the initial state among multiple game states, and it is possible to transition from the normal state to the BB established state or the BB state. Specifically, if a big bonus (BB) is won in the normal state but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded, the state transitions to the BB established state, and if a big bonus (BB) is won and also awarded in the normal state, the state transitions to the BB state. In the normal state, the internal lottery is performed by referring to internal lottery table 1, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to about 1/7.3 or more and the big bonus (BB) is set as a lottery target, among internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 4.

The BB state is a game state to which a player transitions when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery in the normal state, but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded. Of the internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in Figure 4, the winning probability of a replay is higher than that of internal lottery table 1, so there is no loss (no win), and an internal lottery is held with reference to internal lottery table 2, which excludes the big bonus (BB) from the lottery.

In addition, in the BB established state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus (BB) is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus (BB) is won, and when the symbol combination indicating the winning form of the big bonus (BB) is displayed on the pay line, the game state control means 170 transitions the game state from the BB established state to the BB state.

The BB state is a game state to which the player enters when a symbol combination indicating a big bonus (BB) winning form is displayed on an active line. Of the internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 4, an internal lottery is performed with reference to internal lottery table 3, which has a different selection pattern for minor roles from internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the BB state, the game state control means 170 determines whether or not the end condition is met based on the total number of medals paid out during play in the BB state, and if it determines that more than a predetermined number (e.g., 200 medals) have been paid out, the game state control means 170 performs control to end the BB state and return the game state to the normal state. Note that in this embodiment, count information regarding the number of medals paid out in the BB state is stored in the game state memory area 1916.

The AT control means 175 (an example of a bonus granting means) changes the presentation state between multiple presentation states including a non-AT state, a low AT state, an AT state, and a CZ state, as shown in FIG. 17, sets the presentation state to an AT state (assist time state) under a predetermined condition, determines whether the AT state termination condition is met based on the value of the AT game number counter 1919, and controls the AT state to end when the AT state termination condition is met. In this embodiment, information indicating the current presentation state is stored in a presentation state memory area 1917 provided in the main RAM of the game information memory means 190a. In this embodiment, when the player is in the AT state, the AT control means 175 notifies the player of the correct batting order by displaying information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the correct batting order on the main display 300, which is a 7-segment display provided in the game information display unit DS, when the batting order bell is won, thereby assisting in the winning of the 15-coin minor role (minor role 1 to minor role 24). The performance control means 180 also displays an image corresponding to the correct batting order on the liquid crystal display LCD when the batting order bell is won, thereby providing a winning assistance performance that assists in the winning of the 15-coin minor role (minor role 1 to minor role 24). This allows the player to play an assist time game (an example of an auxiliary game) in which it is easier to win medals than when playing in a non-AT state.

As shown in FIG. 18, the AT control means 175 is capable of setting a normal zone (non-advantageous zone) and an advantageous zone, and in the normal zone, the presentation state is fixed to the initial non-AT state and a lottery for transition to an advantageous zone is conducted, and by winning the lottery for transition to an advantageous zone, an advantageous zone is initiated and the presentation state can be set to the AT state on the condition that the advantageous zone is selected. In the normal zone game, when the game state is normal, the AT control means 175 performs a lottery for transition to a favorable zone based on the fact that any one of the winning patterns of batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D, common 1-coin role A + big bonus (BB), common 1-coin role B + big bonus (BB), watermelon A + big bonus (BB), watermelon B, strong bell, weak cherry + big bonus (BB), strong cherry + big bonus (BB), or normal replay A + big bonus (BB) is obtained in the internal lottery, and when the game state is in a BB establishment state, the AT control means 175 performs a lottery for transition to a favorable zone based on the fact that any one of the winning patterns of batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D, common 1-coin role A, common 1-coin role B, watermelon A, watermelon B, strong bell, weak cherry, strong cherry, or normal replay A is obtained in the internal lottery. In this embodiment, the lottery for transition to the advantageous zone is not held in the following cases: when a big bonus (BB) is won alone in the normal state, when a normal replay B is won in the BB state, and when the game state is the BB state.

In the advantageous zone transition lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the advantageous zone transition lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910, and it is determined whether or not the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won (advantageous zone win) based on the comparison result. In the advantageous zone transition lottery table, advantageous zone win or loss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery associated with each winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery, and it is determined that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with the winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery and is associated with advantageous zone win in the advantageous zone transition lottery table.

The AT control means 175, when the advantageous zone transition lottery is won in the normal zone, performs advantageous zone transition processing based on the fact that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won, and starts the advantageous zone from the next game following the game in which the advantageous zone transition lottery was won. In this embodiment, if the advantageous zone transition lottery results in a win, the presentation state is transitioned to an AT low probability state in the advantageous zone transition processing. Note that there may be two or more types of winning patterns for the advantageous zone transition lottery, and it may be determined whether the presentation state is transitioned to an AT low probability state or an AT state in the advantageous zone transition processing.

The AT control means 175 performs an AT lottery for each game when the performance state is an AT low probability state or a CZ state in the advantageous zone. In the normal state, the AT lottery is performed based on the fact that the winning mode of the batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell A group to the batting order bell D group, the common 1-piece role A + big bonus (BB), the common 1-piece role B + big bonus (BB), watermelon A + big bonus (BB), watermelon B, strong bell, weak cherry + big bonus (BB), strong cherry + big bonus (BB), normal replay A + big bonus (BB), or big bonus (BB) is obtained in the internal lottery. In the BB establishment state, the AT lottery is performed based on the fact that the winning mode of the batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell A group to the batting order bell D group, the common 1-piece role A, the common 1-piece role B, watermelon A, watermelon B, strong bell, weak cherry, strong cherry, normal replay A, or normal replay B is obtained in the internal lottery. In the BB state, the AT lottery is held based on whether a winning pattern of JAC1 or JAC2 has been obtained, or the result of the internal lottery is a miss (non-winning).

In the AT lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the AT lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910, and whether or not the AT lottery has been won is determined based on the comparison result. In the AT lottery table, an AT win or miss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery, and it is determined that the AT lottery has been won if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with an AT win in the AT lottery table. In this embodiment, the probability of winning the AT differs between the low AT state and the CZ state, and the probability of winning the AT is set higher in the CZ state than in the low AT state. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the execution of the AT lottery is prohibited in the normal zone, and the AT lottery is executed only when the player is in the favorable zone.

If the result of the AT lottery in the low AT probability state is an AT win, the AT control means 175 controls the transition of the presentation state from the low AT probability state to the AT state. In addition, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1918 based on the lottery result of an AT win, and when transitioning the presentation state to the AT state upon the end of the game, subtracts a fixed value "1" from the AT stock number counter 1920 and sets a value "50" in the AT game number counter 1919, which corresponds to 50 times of play, which is the condition for ending the AT state.

The AT control means 175 then plays an assist time game based on the fact that the presentation state is the AT state, and subtracts a fixed value "1" equivalent to one game from the value of the AT game number counter 1919 each time an assist time game is played. In this embodiment, when a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D is won in the AT state, a correct batting order notification is given to notify the player of the correct batting order and the pressed position for the first stop operation, and a winning assistance presentation is given.

In this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 notifies the correct batting order, the main display 300 displays information corresponding to the correct batting order and the pressed position related to the first stop operation. Specifically, an operation instruction number is set for each combination of the correct batting order and the pressed position related to the first stop operation, and the first digit of the seven-segment display on the main display 300 corresponds to the first pressed position or the second pressed position shown in FIG. 6, and the last digit corresponds to batting order 1 to batting order 6 shown in FIG. 7. The seven-segment display on the main display 300 displays "11" (batting order 1 and first pressed position). position), "21" (batting order 1 and second pressed position), "12" (batting order 2 and first pressed position), "22" (batting order 2 and second pressed position), "13" (batting order 3 and first pressed position), "23" (batting order 3 and second pressed position), "14" (batting order 4 and first pressed position), "24" (batting order 4 and second pressed position), "15" (batting order 5 and first pressed position), "25" (batting order 5 and second pressed position), "16" (batting order 6 and first pressed position), or "26" (batting order 6 and second pressed position).

When the performance state is in the AT state in the favorable zone, the AT control means 175 performs an add-on lottery based on the fact that a weak cherry, a strong cherry, a watermelon A, a watermelon B, or a strong bell has been won in the internal lottery. In the add-on lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the add-on lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910, and whether or not the add-on lottery has been won is determined based on the comparison result. In the add-on lottery table, an add-on win or a miss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery associated with the winning mode that triggers the execution of the add-on lottery, and it is determined that the add-on lottery has been won when the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with either a weak cherry, a strong cherry, a watermelon A, a watermelon B, or a strong bell, and is associated with an add-on win in the add-on lottery table. In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1918 based on the fact that the lottery result in the add-on lottery is an add-on win.

When the value of the AT game number counter 1919, which is decremented by a fixed value each time an assist time game is played, reaches the initial value "0", the AT control means 175 determines that the condition for ending the AT state has been met and sets the presentation state to the CZ state. In this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 transitions the presentation state to the CZ state, it sets the number of plays that is the condition for ending the CZ state to 50, and sets the value "50", which corresponds to the set number of plays of 50, to the CZ game number counter 1921.

In addition, in the CZ state of this embodiment, even if a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D is won, no correct batting order notification or winning assistance performance is performed, so the medal acquisition performance is such that the medals held by the player gradually decrease (the expected value of the ball payout rate is less than 100%). Also, in this embodiment, the medal acquisition performance of the AT state is sufficiently higher than that of the CZ state, with the net increase in the number of medals per game being approximately 4.5 medals (the expected value of the ball payout rate is approximately 250%).

The AT control means 175 subtracts a fixed value "1" equivalent to one game from the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 each time a game is played in the CZ state, and when the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 reaches the initial value "0", it determines that the condition for terminating the CZ state has been met, and determines the destination presentation state based on the value of the AT stock number counter 1918. Specifically, if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is greater than the initial value "0", it sets the destination presentation state to the AT state, and if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is the initial value "0", it sets the destination presentation state to the low AT probability state.

In the CZ state, the AT lottery is held as described above, but even if the AT lottery results in an AT win, the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 only increases, and if the player is in a favorable zone, the player will not transition to another presentation state until at least the condition for ending the CZ state (the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 reaching the initial value "0") is met. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ state, the CZ state may be ended based on the fact that the AT lottery was won.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 sets the value of the first clear counter 1922 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a to a predetermined value "1" in the advantageous zone transition process, and in the advantageous zone, an incremental update is performed by adding a certain value (e.g., 1) equivalent to one game to the value of the first clear counter 1922 each time one game is played, and when the value of the first clear counter 1922 exceeds a threshold value (e.g., 1500) (when the value of the first clear counter 1922 reaches "1501"), it is determined that the end condition of the advantageous zone is met. In this embodiment, the first clear counter 1922 is updated after all reels rotating in each game have stopped, but the first clear counter 1922 may be updated at any time as long as it is predetermined for each game. For example, the update may be triggered by the game start operation on the start lever SL.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 sets the value of the second clear counter 1923 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a to an initial value of "0" in the advantageous zone transition process, and in the advantageous zone, updates the value of the second clear counter 1923 according to the difference in the number of medals in each game, subtracts the value "3" corresponding to the number of medals inserted in the game (3 medals) from the value corresponding to the number of medals paid out (for example, "15" if 15 medals are paid out, and "0" if no role is won and no medals are paid out) to obtain a calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game, and performs an update process in which this calculation result is added to the value of the second clear counter 1923, and also determines that the condition for ending the advantageous zone has been met if the value of the second clear counter 1923 exceeds a threshold value (for example, 2400). The value of the second clear counter 1923 is controlled so that it does not fall below the initial value "0". For example, if the value of the second clear counter 1923 at the start of a game is "2" and no winning combination is won as a result of playing the game and no medals are paid out, the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game will be "-3", and if the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals is added to the value of the second clear counter 1923, it will fall below the initial value "0". However, the count of the updated value of the second clear counter 1923 is stopped with the initial value "0" as the lower limit. Also, if a replay is won in a game, the difference in the number of medals is calculated by treating the game in which the replay was won as having been paid out with medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, and the difference in the number of medals for the next game provided free of charge due to the replay winning as having been inserted with medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, even if no actual medals have been inserted.

In addition, in the advantageous zone, the first clear counter 1922 and the second clear counter 1923 are updated even if a transition in the game state or presentation state occurs, unless the conditions for ending the advantageous zone are met.

The AT control means 175 also performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined storage area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a based on the end of the favorable zone. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190, the information stored in the performance state storage area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 is initialized by an initialization process associated with the end of the favorable zone. More specifically, the storage areas other than the performance state storage area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a are designated as information storage areas, and the information stored in the storage areas other than the information storage areas of the main RAM is initialized. Therefore, when the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, unlike the case where the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, in addition to the setting value storage area 1913 and credit information storage area 1914, the lottery flag storage area 1915 and game status storage area 1916 are also designated as information storage areas, and the information stored in these storage areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process following the end of the favorable zone. When the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, AT game number counter 1919, CZ game number counter 1921, first clear counter 1922, and second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0) to return to the normal zone.

In this embodiment, an initialization process is executed upon the end of the favorable zone to return to the normal zone, so that if the value of the first clear counter 1922 or the second clear counter 1923 exceeds a threshold value while remaining in the AT state, the initialization process upon the end of the favorable zone forcibly terminates the AT state and initializes the presentation state to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, AT game number counter 1919, CZ game number counter 1921, first clear counter 1922, and second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). Also, when the value of the first clear counter 1922 or the second clear counter 1923 exceeds the threshold value while remaining in another presentation state, the currently present presentation state is forcibly terminated by the initialization process associated with the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). In this embodiment, the presentation state is not initialized by turning the power on/off, but when the device is started in the setting change mode, even if the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0).

In addition, in this embodiment, the advantageous zone begins when the advantageous zone transition lottery is won in the normal zone, and within the advantageous zone, the presentation state is set to the AT state under certain conditions to play the assist time, but even if the AT state ends, the advantageous zone is maintained as long as the conditions for the advantageous zone termination are not met. In other words, in this embodiment, since the advantageous zone continues even after the AT state ends, there are cases where the player remains in the advantageous zone even if the presentation state transitions from the AT state to a presentation state different from the AT state.

The AT control means 175 also controls the LED built into the section indicator SEC to light up when the advantageous section starts, to indicate that the user is in the advantageous section, and the LED built into the section indicator SEC to turn off when the advantageous section ends. In this embodiment, the LED built into the section indicator SEC is turned off during normal sections, so that it is possible to determine whether or not the user is in an advantageous section by checking the lighting state of the section indicator SEC.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 starts or ends a favorable zone notification, which is a notification that the player is staying in a favorable zone, based on the value of the first clear counter 1922. For example, when a predetermined value "1" is set to the first clear counter 1922 upon transition to a favorable zone, the favorable zone notification is started based on the value of the first clear counter 1922 becoming greater than the initial value "0" (the value of the first clear counter 1922 not being the initial value "0"), and when the value of the first clear counter 1922 is initialized to the initial value "0" upon the end of the favorable zone and transition to the normal zone, the favorable zone notification is ended based on the value of the first clear counter 1922 becoming the initial value "0".

The section indicator SEC does not need to be provided exclusively as in this embodiment, and may be used in combination with the main display 300. For example, whether or not the player is in an advantageous section may be indicated by switching on and off a dot display section that displays decimal points and the like on a seven-segment display, and the dot display section may be turned off in normal sections, and turned on in advantageous sections to notify the player of the advantageous section. When an advantageous section starts, an LED built into the section indicator SEC lights up to immediately notify the player of the advantageous section, but the advantageous section may be a non-notification section that does not notify the player of the advantageous section until a predetermined number of plays have been played since the start of the advantageous section, or a non-notification section that does not notify the player of the advantageous section until the first correct batting order notification in the advantageous section is executed.

The performance control means 180 controls the display performance using the display device 330 (an example of a performance device) and the sound performance using the sound device 340 (an example of a performance device) based on the performance data stored in the performance data storage area 1926 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b. For example, in response to the occurrence of game events such as the insertion of medals, the operation of the bet button B0, the start lever SL, and the stop buttons B1 to B3, and changes in the game state, the means 180 controls the execution of performances to liven up the game or assist the game according to the progress of the game, by turning on or blinking lamps and LEDs, changing the display content of the liquid crystal display LCD, and outputting sounds from the speaker SP. The content of the performance executed in the game is determined by referring to the performance lottery table stored in the sub-lottery table storage area 1927 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b, depending on the game state, the performance state, the result of the internal lottery, etc. In this embodiment, image data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into an image buffer 1928 provided in the sub-RAM, and an image based on the image data read into the image buffer 1928 is output to the liquid crystal display LCD, and sound data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into a sound buffer 1929 provided in the sub-RAM, and sound based on the sound data read into the sound buffer 1929 is output from the speaker SP.

Then, when the presentation state is the AT state, the presentation control means 180 controls the display device 330 and the audio device 340 to execute a winning assistance presentation that notifies the player of the correct batting order and the pressed position for the first stop operation when a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D is won, and assists in the winning of 15 small prizes (small prize 1 to small prize 24).

When playing in the AT state or the CZ state, the presentation control means 180 also controls the execution of a remaining number display presentation that displays the remaining number of plays until the AT state or the CZ state ends on the display device 330 such as a liquid crystal display LCD. In the remaining number display presentation, when the value of the AT game number counter 1919 or the CZ game number counter 1921 is subtracted by playing, the display content is changed so that the remaining number of plays also decreases to reflect the subtraction.

In addition, when the AT lottery performed in the CZ state results in an AT win, the presentation control means 180 withholds notification of the right to transition to the AT state until the final play in the CZ state (the play in which the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 becomes the initial value "0"), and controls the display device 330 and the sound device 340 to execute an AT confirmation presentation to notify the player of the right to transition to the AT state if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is greater than the initial value "0" in the final play in the CZ state.

The functional block configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to computer systems (including game systems). In these systems, the functions of the game control means 100 of this embodiment can be realized by downloading a program that causes a computer to function from an information storage medium such as a CD or DVD, or from a web server on the Internet via a network. In the above computer system, the medal insertion switch 210, bet switch 220, start switch 230, stop switch 240, etc. can be realized by virtually assigning their functions to operating means such as a keyboard, pointing device (mouse, etc.), touch panel, or controller. In the above computer system, the reel unit 310, hopper unit HP, etc. are not essential components, and these device units can virtually realize their functions by controlling the images displayed and output on the display (display device 330).

2. Method of the present embodiment In the present embodiment, a total of 48 types of batting order bells belonging to batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D are provided as winning modes of small roles in which 15-coin small roles are won when multiple types of small roles including 15-coin small roles are won in overlapping fashion, the order of stop operations is correct, and the stop operation is performed at a predetermined pressing position for the first reel to stop (when the stop operation is performed in a correct operation mode). Among these 48 types of batting order bells, 15-coin small roles can be won in the same correct batting order and the same pressing detection position, but there are some reels in which the stop control mode is different and similar pattern combinations are displayed in the same positional relationship. The following is a specific explanation with reference to Figures 19 to 22.

First, we will explain batting order bell A1 and batting order bell B1. Figure 19 shows the types of minor roles that make up batting order bell A1 and the types of minor roles that make up batting order bell B1.

As shown in FIG. 19, batting order bell A1 is a winning pattern that includes 15 small prizes of small prize 1, and batting order bell B1 is a winning pattern that includes 15 small prizes of small prize 13. In addition, the 1 small prizes included in batting order bell A1 and batting order bell B1 are the same.

Figure 20 is a diagram that explains the process leading up to the winning of a 15-coin minor prize when batting order bell A1 is obtained and when batting order bell B1 is obtained.

First, the correct batting order for both batting order bells A1 and B1 is the same, and in order to win a 15-coin minor prize (minor prize 1 or minor prize 13), the operation order must be batting order 1 (B1 → B2 → B3) as shown in Figure 8, and the first reel R1 must be stopped at the first pressed position.

As shown in FIG. 20(A), when the first reel R1 through the third reel R3 are all spinning, if the stop button B1 is pressed for the first reel R1 when the number 5 bell symbol 2 "BL2" is located on the top row, stopping the first reel R1 first is in line with the correct batting order, and since the press detection position shown in FIG. 20(A) corresponds to the first press position, the stop position is determined to maximize the number of medals paid out, and the first reel R1 stops at a position where the bell symbol 2 "BL2" that constitutes the winning form of minor prize 1 and minor prize 13 is displayed on the bottom row, as shown in FIG. 20(B).

When the first reel R1 shown in FIG. 20(B) stops, the possible winning combinations for the batting order bell A1 are small win 1, small win 28, small win 31, and small win 40, and the possible winning combinations for the batting order bell B1 are small win 13, small win 28, small win 31, and small win 40.

Next, if the stop button B2 is pressed after the first reel R1 has stopped, stopping the second reel R2 after the first reel R1 is in line with the correct hitting order, so the stopping position is determined to maximize the number of medals paid out, and since it is possible for the second or subsequent reels to be stopped to display the symbols that make up the winning forms of minor prize 1 and minor prize 13 on the pay line regardless of the timing of the stopping operation, for example, as shown in Figure 20 (C), the second reel R2 will stop at a position that displays bell symbol 3 "BL3" in the middle row.

When the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 shown in FIG. 20(C) come to a halt, only minor win 1 is possible for the batting order bell A1, and only minor win 13 is possible for the batting order bell B1.

And finally, when stopping the third reel R3, if the batting order bell A1 is obtained and if the batting order bell B1 is obtained, the third reel R3 will stop at a different sliding piece even if the stopping operation is performed at the same press detection position.

For example, as shown in FIG. 20(D), if the stop button B3 is pressed when the No. 3 bar symbol "BAR" is in the top row, if the batting order bell A1 is obtained, the No. 1 bell symbol 2 "BL2" can be displayed in the top row to win minor win 1, so the third reel R3 is slid two frames and stopped as shown in FIG. 20(E), and if the batting order bell B1 is obtained, the No. 2 bell symbol 3 "BL3" can be displayed in the top row to win minor win 13, so the third reel R3 is slid one frame and stopped as shown in FIG. 20(F).

Thus, when batting order bell A1 is obtained and when batting order bell B1 is obtained, even if the stopping operation is performed in exactly the same manner for all reels, the control manner of the third reel R3, which stops last, is different, and as shown in Figures 20 (E) and 20 (F), a stopping manner appears in which similar bell pattern combinations are displayed on an upward sloping line to the right (the positional relationship of the bottom row of the first reel R1, the middle row of the second reel R2, and the top row of the third reel R3).

Next, we will explain batting order bell A2 and batting order bell B2. Figure 21 shows the types of minor roles that make up batting order bell A2 and the types of minor roles that make up batting order bell B2.

As shown in FIG. 21, batting order bell A1 is a winning pattern that includes 15 small prizes including small prize 2, and batting order bell B1 is a winning pattern that includes 15 small prizes including small prize 14. In addition, for the one-coin small prizes included in batting order bell A2 and batting order bell B2, small prize 29, small prize 30, small prize 37, and small prize 38 are common, batting order bell A2 includes small prize 43 and small prize 44 but batting order bell B2 does not include small prize 43 and small prize 44, and batting order bell B2 includes small prize 40 but batting order bell A2 does not include small prize 40.

Figure 22 is a diagram that explains the process leading up to the winning of a 15-coin minor prize when batting order bell A2 is obtained and when batting order bell B2 is obtained.

First, the correct batting order for both batting order bells A2 and B2 is the same, and in order to win a 15-coin minor prize (minor prize 2 or minor prize 14), as shown in Figure 8, the operation order must be batting order 2 (B1 → B3 → B2) and the first reel R1 must be stopped at the first pressed position.

As shown in FIG. 22(A), when the first reel R1 through the third reel R3 are all spinning, if the stop button B1 is pressed for the first reel R1 when the number 5 bell symbol 2 "BL2" is located on the top row, stopping the first reel R1 first is in line with the correct batting order, and since the press detection position shown in FIG. 22(A) corresponds to the first press position, the stop position is determined to maximize the number of medals paid out, and the first reel R1 stops at a position where the bell symbol 2 "BL2" that constitutes the winning form of minor prize 2 and minor prize 14 is displayed on the bottom row, as shown in FIG. 22(B).

When the first reel R1 shown in FIG. 22(B) stops, the possible winning combinations for batting order bell A2 are small win 2, small win 29, small win 30, small win 43, and small win 44, and the possible winning combinations for batting order bell B2 are small win 14, small win 29, small win 30, and small win 40.

Next, if the stop button B3 is pressed after the first reel R1 has stopped, stopping the third reel R3 after the first reel R1 is in line with the correct batting order, so the stopping position is determined to maximize the number of medals paid out, and for the reels that stop second or later, it is possible to display the symbols that make up the winning forms of minor prize 2 and minor prize 14 on the pay line regardless of the timing of the stopping operation. Then, when stopping the third reel R3, if the batting order bell A2 is obtained and if the batting order bell B2 is obtained, the third reel R3 will stop with a different sliding piece even if the stopping operation is performed at the same pressing detection position.

For example, as shown in FIG. 22(C), if the stop button B3 is pressed when the bell symbol 1 "BL1" number 6 is located in the upper row, if the batting order bell A2 is obtained, the watermelon symbol "WM" number 4 will be displayed in the lower row to win the 15-coin minor role (minor role 2) which will pay out the most medals, so as shown in FIG. 22(D), the third reel R3 will slide two frames and stop, and if the batting order bell B2 is obtained, the replay symbol "RP" number 5 will be displayed in the upper row to win the 15-coin minor role (minor role 13) which will pay out the most medals, so as shown in FIG. 22(F), the third reel R3 will slide one frame and stop.

When the first reel R1 and third reel R3 shown in FIG. 22(D) come to a stop, only minor win 2 is possible for the batting order bell A2, and when the first reel R1 and third reel R3 shown in FIG. 22(F) come to a stop, only minor win 14 is possible for the batting order bell B2.

And finally, when the second reel R2 is stopped, it is possible to display the symbols that make up the winning forms of minor win 2 and minor win 14 on the pay line regardless of the timing of the stopping operation, so that if the batting order bell A2 is obtained, the second reel R2 will stop in a position where the watermelon symbol "WM" is displayed in the middle row, for example, as shown in FIG. 22(E), and if the batting order bell B2 is obtained, the second reel R2 will stop in a position where the watermelon symbol "WM" is displayed in the middle row, for example, as shown in FIG. 22(G).

Thus, even if the stopping operation is performed in the same manner when batting order bell A2 is obtained and when batting order bell B2 is obtained, the control manner of the third reel R3, which stops second, is different, and a stopping manner appears in which similar bell pattern combinations are displayed on the lower line (the positional relationship of the lower line of each reel), as shown in Figures 22 (E) and 22 (G).

In the present embodiment described above, the winning mode of the small prize is a batting order bell belonging to any of batting order bell group A to batting order bell group D, in which small prizes 1 to 24 do not overlap and are winnable, and the correct operation mode is predefined as the mode of the stopping operation that allows the winning of 15 small prizes according to the type of batting order bell.

Specifically, as the correct operation mode, the correct batting order and the pressing position for the first stop operation are predetermined, and when any of the batting order bells is won, if the order of the stop operations is in accordance with the correct batting order and the first stop operation is performed at a pressing position corresponding to the type of 15-coin minor win that has been won, the 15-coin minor win included in the batting order bell can win, but if the order of the stop operations is not in accordance with the correct batting order, or if the order of the stop operations is in accordance with the correct batting order but the first stop operation is performed at a pressing position other than the pressing position corresponding to the type of 15-coin minor win, the 15-coin minor win included in the batting order bell cannot win.

In this embodiment, the correct operation mode is set to be the same as described above, but for two sets of batting order bells containing different types of 15-coin small roles, the stop control mode for the reels corresponding to the first stop operation is set to be the same, but the stop control mode for the reels corresponding to the second stop operation or the third stop operation is set to be different, and when all reels are stopped, similar bell pattern combinations are displayed on the same effective line or the same ineffective line. In other words, in this embodiment, even if different 15-coin small roles are won, the display results of the pattern combinations are similar, so it is possible to provide an operation interface environment that makes it easy for the player to understand the game result of winning a 15-coin small role. In addition, in this embodiment, since the stop control mode corresponding to the first stop operation is the same for batting order bells with the same correct operation mode, it is also expected that the type of batting order bell cannot be immediately discerned from the stop mode of the reels stopped by the first stop operation.

In addition, in this embodiment, JAC1 is set as the winning mode of the 15-coin small prize in the BB state, and the probability of winning JAC1 is lower than the probability of winning any of the batting order bells, thereby reducing the chances of winning the 15-coin small prize in the BB state compared to the normal state and the BB state, and realizing that the expected value of the ball payout rate in the BB state is less than 100%. Therefore, the effect of increasing the number of types of 15-coin small prizes is not only the effect of lowering the expected value of the ball payout rate in games that are not assist time games, but also the effect of efficiently lowering the ball payout rate in the BB state or the effect of expanding the range of design adjustments for the ball payout rate in the BB state.

In this embodiment, the correct operation mode specifies the push position for the first stop operation, but the correct operation mode may specify the push positions for the second stop operation or the third stop operation. In addition, for a batting order bell with the same correct operation mode, the reels with different stop control modes are not limited to one reel, but may be multiple reels, and in this case, similar symbol combinations may be displayed on the same effective or ineffective line. In addition, the correct operation mode specifies both the order of stop operations and the push positions, but either one of them may be specified as the correct operation mode.

BX storage box, UD front upper door, DD front lower door, DW display window,
L1: active line, DS: game information display, LCD: liquid crystal display,
BS Setting change button, KS Setting change key cylinder, SEC Section indicator,
EU power supply unit, ES power switch, SP speaker,
PS Reel unit storage space, MAIN Main board, SUB Sub board,
HP Hopper unit, MT Medal storage tank, CB Cash box,
R1 1st reel, R2 2nd reel, R3 3rd reel,
B0 bet button, SL start lever, B1-B3 stop buttons,
MI medal insertion slot, MO medal payout slot, MP medal tray,
100 Game control means,
103 setting change means, 105 input acceptance means, 110 random number generation means,
120 Internal lottery means, 130 Reel control means, 140 Winning determination means,
150 Payout control means, 160 Replay processing means,
170 game state control means, 175 AT control means,
180 performance control means,
190a game information storage means, 1910 main lottery table storage area,
1911 stop control table storage area, 1912 winning determination table storage area,
1913: setting value storage area; 1914: credit information storage area;
1915 lottery flag storage area, 1916 game status storage area,
1917 performance state memory area,
1918 AT stock number counter, 1919 AT game number counter,
1921 CZ game counter,
1922 first clear counter, 1923 second clear counter,
190b performance information storage means, 1926 performance data storage area,
1927 Sub lottery table storage area,
1928 Image buffer, 1929 Sound buffer,
210 coin insertion switch, 220 bet switch, 230 start switch,
240 stop switch, 250 setting change permission switch,
260 setting change switch, 300 main display unit,
310 reel unit, 315 reel index,
325 payout medal detection switch, 330 display device, 340 sound device,

Claims (2)

A plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer circumferential surface thereof;
An internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery to determine whether or not a plurality of types of roles including small roles are won;
a reel control means for rotating the plurality of reels for each game and controlling the reels to stop in a manner corresponding to a result of an internal lottery when a stop operation is initiated;
When a symbol combination showing a winning form predetermined for each winning combination is displayed on an active line, the winning combination wins, and a gaming value is paid out based on the winning of the minor winning combination.
As the winning mode of the small win, there are a plurality of types of specific winning modes in which a plurality of types of specific small wins are won without overlapping with each other, and a correct operation mode is previously determined as a mode of a stop operation according to the type of the specific winning mode,
The reel control means
In a game in which the result of the internal lottery is the specific winning pattern, if a stop operation is performed in the correct operation pattern, the specific minor role included in the specific winning pattern can be won, and if the stop operation is not in accordance with the correct operation pattern, the specific minor role included in the specific winning pattern cannot be won.
As the specific winning modes, there are a first specific winning mode and a second specific winning mode in which the types of the specific minor winning combinations included in each mode are different but the correct operation mode is set to be the same;
A gaming machine characterized in that in a game in which the first specific winning mode is obtained and a game in which the second specific winning mode is obtained, the mode of stop control when performed in the correct operation mode is different, and similar pattern combinations are displayed in the same positional relationship. In claim 1,
As the correct operation mode, a correct batting order and a specific timing are determined in advance,
The reel control means
In a game in which the result of the internal lottery is the specific winning mode, if the order of the stop operations is in accordance with the correct batting order and the stop operations for a specific reel among the multiple reels are performed at the specific timing, the specific minor role included in the specific winning mode can be won; and if the order of the stop operations is not in accordance with the correct batting order or if the order of the stop operations is in accordance with the correct batting order but the stop operations for a specific reel are performed at a timing other than the specific timing, the specific minor role included in the specific winning mode cannot be won;
A gaming machine characterized in that, in a game in which the first specific winning pattern is obtained and a game in which the second specific winning pattern is obtained, the mode of stop control for the specific reel is the same, but the mode of stop control for at least one predetermined reel different from the specific reel is different.

Images