JP7473988B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

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

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, display a reserved icon corresponding to a reserved pattern change and a change icon corresponding to a pattern change in progress, and change the appearance of these icons. For example, see Patent Document 1.

JP 2018-99626 A

Changing the appearance of an icon is an effective way to increase the interest of the player when the pattern corresponding to that icon changes, but there is still room for improvement in terms of increasing the interest of the player.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase the excitement of playing the game by changing the appearance of the icon.

According to the present invention, a gaming machine executes a win/lose judgment to judge whether or not a bonus will be won when a pattern change starts, and suspends the start of the pattern change until a change start condition is satisfied, the gaming machine comprising: a presentation means composed of one or more types of presentation devices; and a presentation control means for controlling the presentation means, the presentation control means being capable of displaying a reserved icon corresponding to a reserved pattern change and a change icon corresponding to a pattern change in progress, and being capable of executing, as control relating to the display mode of a target icon which is the reserved icon or the change icon, a first icon control which suggests the degree of expectation of the pattern change relating to the target icon by controlling at least the color of the target icon, and a second icon control which suggests the degree of expectation of the pattern change relating to the target icon by controlling at least the shape of the target icon. the first icon control may be a first color for the target icon or a second color for the target icon having a higher expectation of a pattern change for the corresponding target icon than the first color; the second icon control may be a first shape for the target icon; when the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the expectation of a pattern change for the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the first color by executing the first icon control; the effect control means is further capable of executing control to cause a specific effect unit, which is a first specific effect unit or a second specific effect unit, to have a plurality of types of colors; when the target icon becomes the second color by executing the first icon control, the expectation of a pattern change for the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the first color by executing the first icon control; The specific performance part becomes the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color, and when the target icon becomes the first shape by execution of the second icon control, the specific performance part becomes a third color different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape, and when the first icon control is executed, in addition to a period during which the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control and the control of the color of the specific performance part are both performed in parallel, there may be a period during which the control of the color of the specific performance part is executed without displaying the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control , and the target icon becomes the second color by execution of the first icon control and the control of the color of the specific performance part is executed. A gaming machine is provided in which, when both a specific performance unit and the second specific performance unit become the second color, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the second color and either the first specific performance unit or the second specific performance unit becomes the second color by execution of the first icon control, the performance related to the first specific performance unit can be started at a timing earlier than the timing at which the performance related to the second specific performance unit is started, and the rate at which the first specific performance unit becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color by execution of the first icon control is higher than the rate at which the second specific performance unit becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color by execution of the first icon control .

The present invention provides a gaming machine that can increase the entertainment value of a game by changing the appearance of the icon.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons arranged in the area III shown in FIG. 1 and their surroundings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board installed in the gaming machine. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. 6(a) to 6(c) are diagrams showing the movable positions of the performance shield 85. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for determining whether a special pattern is a winning combination, Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special pattern 1 stopping pattern, and Figure 9(c) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special pattern 2 stopping pattern. Figure 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for deriving a special chart variation pattern when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for deriving a special chart variation pattern used when the special chart variation pattern HNP is determined. FIG. 11(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. This shows the process by which pending icons and variable icons are consumed. 13(a) to 13(f) are diagrams showing types of aspects related to default icons. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages for a default icon. 15(a) to 15(e) are diagrams showing types of aspects related to box icons. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages for a box icon. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow when the shape of a box icon changes in a pattern variation corresponding to the box icon. 18(a) to 18(c) are diagrams showing the types of aspects related to the trophy icon. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flow in the case where the shape of a box icon does not change during the pattern variation corresponding to the box icon. FIG. 20 shows a flow of the hold icon control process. FIG. 21(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used for lottery selection for executing icon change effects, and FIG. 21(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used for determining the type of icon change. FIG. 22(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used to determine the final color of a default icon, and FIG. 22(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used to determine the final color of a box icon. 23(a) to 23(e) are diagrams that typically show lottery tables used to determine the number of times the color of the default icon changes. 24(a) to 24(d) are diagrams that typically show lottery tables used to determine the number of times the color of the box icon changes. FIG. 25 is a flow chart of the variable icon control process. Figure 26(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used to determine the final shape of the changing icon in the pattern change corresponding to a box icon, Figure 26(b) is a lottery table used to determine the number of shape changes in the pattern change corresponding to a box icon, and Figure 26(c) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used to determine the shape of the changing icon that changes at the time when the pattern change corresponding to the box icon begins. Figure 27 shows a flow chart of the movable decorative object lighting control process. Figure 28(a) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the default icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body, Figure 28(b) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the box icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body, and Figure 28(c) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the shape of the trophy icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body. FIG. 29 is a flow chart of the upper lamp lighting control process. FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing the upper lamp corresponding color determination process. Figures 31(a) to 31(c) are schematic diagrams showing lottery tables used in the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color, and Figure 31(d) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used in the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color. Figure 32(a) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the default icon and the color of the upper lamp, Figure 32(b) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the box icon and the color of the upper lamp, and Figure 32(c) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the shape of the trophy icon and the color of the upper lamp. Figure 33 (a) is a timing chart when the movable decorative body and upper lamp start to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, and Figure 33 (b) is a timing chart when the upper lamp, which is lit in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, is turned off. Figure 34 is a timing chart showing the state of the movable decorative body and the upper lamp when a change in state of the icon corresponding to a pattern variation of one target occurs twice.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1, unless otherwise specified.
In the following explanation, "advantageous (degree of advantage)" refers to an advantage for the player, and further, unless otherwise specified, refers to an advantage in terms of the amount of prize balls (gaming media) obtained (including not only the payout of gaming balls but also the payout of medals), excluding aspects of presentation such as so-called premium images.

<Features of the present invention>
Before describing the details of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, the features of the invention described in this embodiment will be described.
In addition, when explaining the features, the configuration in parentheses is an example of the configuration of this embodiment that corresponds to the immediately preceding configuration, and the configuration may be described in parentheses for a similar purpose in the explanations of the gaming machine 10 that follow.

The present invention relates to
A gaming machine that executes a win/loss judgment to judge whether or not a bonus will be won when a pattern change starts, and suspends the start of the pattern change until a change start condition is satisfied,
A directing means composed of one or more types of directing devices;
A performance control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) for controlling the performance means;
Equipped with
The performance control means includes:
It is possible to display a pending icon corresponding to a pending pattern change and a change icon corresponding to a pattern change in progress,
As a control related to the display mode of the target icon which is the reserved icon or the variable icon,
A first icon control (a reserved icon control process) for indicating the expected degree of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the color of the target icon;
A second icon control (variable icon control process) for indicating the expected degree of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the shape of the target icon;
It is possible to execute
The first icon control may be a case where the target icon is a first color (blue) or a case where the target icon is a second color (red) having a higher expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon than the first color;
The second icon control may cause the target icon to have a first shape (a large trophy);
When the target icon is changed to the first shape by the execution of the second icon control, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon is changed to the first color by the execution of the first icon control,
The performance control means can further execute specific performances (lighting the movable decorative body 22, lighting the upper lamp) that can have multiple colors,
When the target icon becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the specific effect becomes the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color as a result of the execution of the first icon control,
When the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the specific effect becomes a third color (rainbow color) different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape,
When the first icon control is executed, in addition to a period during which both the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control and the execution of the specific performance are performed in parallel, there may be a period during which the specific performance is executed without displaying the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control.
This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, by making it easier for the player to recognize that there is a correlation between the specific effect and the state of the target icon, when the target icon becomes the first shape with high expectation, the player can easily recognize the occurrence of the event. This leads to an increase in interest in the game.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the number of specific effects that become the second color can suggest a sense of expectation, making it easier to recognize the specific effects.

The above-mentioned expectation level may be the expectation level for winning only the big win, or it may be the expectation level for winning a big win or a small win (a big win game occurs when the game ball passes through a specific area provided in the big win opening described below during a small win game), or it may be the expectation level for winning the small win.

In the present invention, a change in shape refers to a change in the outline of the target icon.
Furthermore, the hold icon and the variable icon may be composed of a looped animation, and in this case, the change in shape of the icon refers to the shape changing at the same timing when the animation is played back.

In addition, with regard to the above-mentioned "When the target icon becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the specific effect becomes the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color as a result of the execution of the first icon control," and the above-mentioned "When the target icon becomes the first shape as a result of the execution of the second icon control, the specific effect becomes a third color different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape," as long as the difference in these rates occurs in terms of the phenomenon, the cause (control) that creates the difference in these rates does not matter, and is not limited to the control adopted in this embodiment described below. This is also true in the invention described below that refers to the level of the rate or the expectation.

The gaming machine 10 having the above characteristics will be specifically described based on the following embodiment.

<Structure of the gaming machine 10>
First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10.
1 to 5 are merely components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and components and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. In addition, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the components shown here, and some components or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, in which gaming balls are shot into the front area (hereinafter referred to as "gaming area 50a") of a gaming board 50 on which numerous gaming nails (not shown) are erected, and a prize ball is obtained when the gaming ball enters a prize opening (such as the big prize opening 55). Note that in the following explanation, the entry of a gaming ball into a prize opening may be simply expressed as "entering (a prize opening)."

The gaming machine 10 comprises a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens at the front and rear, a middle frame 17 that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a front frame 20 that is configured to cover the front side of the gaming board 50.

The middle frame 17 is supported so as to be freely rotatable about its left end by a hinge mechanism (not shown) on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed in front of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the front frame 20 (right in this embodiment)).

The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable about the left end side, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)).
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the playing area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the playing area 50a and the playing board 50 from view.
The front frame 20 also has an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart from each other vertically and are formed integrally with the front frame 20.
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.

1 to 5, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame door open sensor 76 that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame door open sensor 77 that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state.
This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 , and the open/closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17 .

3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player is arranged on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. The group of operation buttons includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a return operation of a prepaid card as a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100 described later, and includes an effect button 37 for switching effects occurring during a game or accepting an operation by a player to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 as an operation unit electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200 described later, and cursor buttons 38 (up cursor button 38a, down cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, center cursor button 38e) for instructing operations to the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the operation, and the control board to which it is connected detects the operation of each operation unit by a change in the detection state of the sensor.
In addition, the up cursor button 38a and the down cursor button 38b are operated to adjust the volume of the sound output from the speaker 33 described below, the left cursor button 38c and the right cursor button 38d are operated to adjust the brightness of the frame lamp 35 and the performance display device 80 described below, etc., and the middle cursor button 38e is operated to confirm the results of these adjustments.
In addition, a movable decorative body 22 operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27. Furthermore, a lamp made of a full-color LED is provided inside the movable decorative body 22, and the movable decorative body 22 is configured to be lit up by turning on the lamp.

A ball ejection mechanism 36 is provided below the lower ball tray 29 to eject the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball ejection mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball tray 29 opens, and the game balls fall naturally from the bottom opening and are ejected.
Although not shown in the figure, the upper ball tray 27 is provided with a mechanism which, similar to the ball removal mechanism 36, can be operated to move the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, and by operating both this mechanism and the ball removal mechanism 36, it is possible to remove the stored balls.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. The upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed from a light-transmitting cover, within which are disposed frame lamps 35 (35a, 35b, 35c), all of which are composed of full-color LEDs. The speaker 33 and frame lamp 35 can emit sound or turn on or off in conjunction with multiple types of effects and error effects that occur during play. In the following explanation, the frame lamp 35a will be referred to as the "upper lamp."

The performance display device 80 is composed of a main display section 81 disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and a sub-display section 82 disposed around the main display section 81. The sub-display section 82 further includes an upper sub-display section 82a disposed above the main display section 81, a left sub-display section 82b disposed to the left of the main display section 81, and a right sub-display section 82c disposed to the right of the main display section 81.
Here, the main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal display device, and the upper sub-display unit 82a, the left sub-display unit 82b, and the right sub-display unit 82c are movable liquid crystal display devices operated by actuators such as motors (not shown).

The main display unit 81 can display the changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display in the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects.
In the variable display of the pattern rows (decorative patterns) displayed on the main display unit 81, the displayed decorative patterns form three pattern rows. The direction of the variable display of each pattern row is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, the depth direction, or a combination of these (diagonal direction).
Here, the depth direction refers to a virtual direction recognized by the player in a display mode that uses a technique (e.g., perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the main display unit 81 to the front or vice versa, even though in reality it is a planar changing display on the display screen of the main display unit 81.
In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" that imitates the number "1", a "2 symbol" that imitates the number "2", a "3 symbol" that imitates the number "3", a "4 symbol" that imitates the number "4", a "5 symbol" that imitates the number "5", a "6 symbol" that imitates the number "6", a "7 symbol" that imitates the number "7", an "8 symbol" that imitates the number "8", and a "9 symbol" that imitates the number "9", and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol", "3 symbol", "5 symbol", "7 symbol", and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols", and the "2 symbol", "4 symbol", "6 symbol", and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols".

Each of the sub-display sections 82 is not only provided for the purpose of displaying a performance image related to a performance, but is also configured to be movable.
The initial positions of the upper sub-display unit 82a are on the upper side relative to the main display unit 81, the left sub-display unit 82b are on the left side relative to the main display unit 81, and the right sub-display unit 82c are on the right side relative to the main display unit 81, and each of the sub-display units 82 is configured to be movable from these initial positions to a position where it overlaps with the display area of the decorative pattern in the main display unit 81.

In this embodiment, the performance display device 80 (main display unit 81, upper sub-display unit 82a, left sub-display unit 82b, right sub-display unit 82c) all use liquid crystal display devices, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices, such as drum type and dot matrix type, can be used as the performance display device 80.

A performance shield 85 is disposed between the main display unit 81 and the sub display unit 82. Furthermore, the performance shield 85 is composed of an upper left performance shield 85a, an upper right performance shield 85b, a lower left performance shield 85c, and a lower right performance shield 85d, which are linked together and can move in a direction to shield the main display unit 81, as will be described in detail later.

A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the main display unit 81, and these LEDs form the display area of the pattern display device 90, and the pattern display device 90 displays special patterns and normal patterns.
In addition, the symbol display device 90 is disposed at a position that is more difficult for the player to see than the main display section 81, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the main display section 81.
In addition, the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 2, but this is only one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.

The special symbols are symbols that are stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a special electric device (e.g., the special electric device 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on the second special symbol display device 92.
In addition, the special pattern may be abbreviated as "Special pattern", the first special pattern as "Special pattern 1", and the second special pattern as "Special pattern 2".

The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to operate a normal electric role (for example, the normal electric role 61). The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93.
In addition, normal patterns are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu", and normal electric devices are sometimes called "denchu".

In addition to the above-mentioned display devices, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol reservation lamp 94, a second special symbol reservation lamp 95, and a normal symbol reservation lamp 96.
The first special pattern reserve lamp 94 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 1, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 2, and the normal pattern reserve lamp 96 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved normal patterns, and all of them make it possible to identify the number of corresponding pattern variations by the lighting state of the two LEDs (in this embodiment, right side always lit only = 1, left and right sides always lit = 2, right side flashing + left side always lit = 3, left and right flashing = 4).

In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 displays a special pattern in a variable manner and then stops displaying the special pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the special pattern,'' and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern display device 93 displays a variable manner and then stops displaying the normal pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the normal pattern.''
In addition, in the following description, the change display of the pattern row (decorative pattern) displayed on the above-mentioned main display unit 81 may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern".
In the following explanation, when the term "pattern change" is used, it means a pattern change of a special design unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 4, a number of obstacles such as game pegs (not shown), windmills 52, and decorative parts are arranged on the front of the game board 50, thereby defining a game area 50a in which the shot game ball can roll.
Additionally, on the left and upper sides of the play area 50a, there are arranged a curved outer rail 51 and an inner rail 53 for guiding the game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the play area 50a. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the play area 50a as the reference point. Here, the windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the direction in which the game balls fall.

The gaming machine 10 allows the strength of the ball to be varied by the amount of rotation (e.g., the angle of rotation) of the operating handle 31, and various obstacles are placed in the gaming area 50a to make the ball roll along either the first flow path X (so-called left hit), along which a weaker ball will roll, or the second flow path Y (so-called right hit), along which a stronger ball will roll. Although not shown in the figure, the operating handle 31 is provided with a touch sensor to determine whether or not the player is operating it.

In Figure 4, the main prize openings are shown as the large prize opening 55, the first start opening 57, the second start opening 59, the gate 63, and the general prize opening 67, but the prize openings shown are only examples, and the number and arrangement of the openings may be changed as appropriate.

The large prize opening 55 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A large prize opening sensor 72 is attached to the large prize opening 55, and a prize ball is determined to have been won in the large prize opening 55 based on the detection result of the large prize opening sensor 72, and the number of prize balls associated with the large prize opening 55 (15 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are positioned so that more game balls roll toward the large prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.

A special electric device 65 is disposed above the large prize opening 55. The special electric device 65 is a member that can be switched between an open state, in which it is easy to win a prize in the large prize opening 55, and a closed state, in which it is difficult to win a prize, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a special electric device solenoid 66.
More specifically, the special electric device 65 is in an open state in at least a part of the jackpot game that is set due to the jackpot being derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment described later, and thus entry into the jackpot opening 55 is permitted. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, entry into the jackpot opening 55 becomes easy, so the jackpot game in which the chances of winning prize balls are greatly increased can be said to be an advantageous game state.
In a jackpot game, the special electric device 65 is set alternately between an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round", and the total number of rounds that occur in one jackpot may be referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls have entered the jackpot opening 55, and the special electric device 65 enters a closed state.
In addition, one open state also ends when a sufficient time (30 s (seconds) in this embodiment) has elapsed for a predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55.
Here, when the special electric device 65 is set from the open state to the closed state based on the winning of 10 game balls in one round, it cannot immediately return to the closed state. Therefore, there may be cases where more than 10 game balls win the big winning hole 55 in one round, and such a win may be called an over-win.

The first starting hole 57 is located at the lower center of the play area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined based on the detection result of the first starting hole sensor 70, and the number of prize balls (4 in this embodiment) associated with the first starting hole 57 is awarded. In at least some cases where the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined, the pattern of the special chart 1 is changed.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when they roll from the first flow path X compared to when they roll from the second flow path Y.

The second starting hole 59 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A second starting hole sensor 71 is attached to the second starting hole 59, and the winning of the second starting hole 59 is determined based on the detection result of the second starting hole sensor 71, and the number of prize balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In at least some cases where a winning combination is determined to have been made at the second starting port 59, the pattern on special chart 2 will change.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the second starting hole 59 when they roll from the second flow path Y compared to when they roll from the first flow path X.

A normal electric device 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric device 61 is a member that can be switched between an open state in which it is easy to insert a game ball into the second starting port 59 and a closed state in which it is difficult to insert the ball, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a normal electric device solenoid 62.
More specifically, the normal electric device 61 is in an open state at least in part of the normal winning game that is played by winning the pattern variation of the normal picture, and thus allows winning into the second starting hole 59. In this way, when the normal electric device 61 is in an open state, winning into the second starting hole 59 is easy, so that the chances of the pattern variation of the special picture 2 being executed can be greatly increased while suppressing the decrease in game balls by the prize balls.

The gate 63 is located in the right center of the game area 50a. A gate sensor 74 is attached to the gate 63, and winning at the gate 63 is determined based on the detection result of the gate sensor 74. In at least some cases where winning at the gate 63 is determined, the pattern of the normal symbol is changed.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the gate 63 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.

The general winning opening 67 is located in the lower left of the game area 50a. A general winning opening sensor 73 is attached to the general winning opening 67, and a winning ball is determined based on the detection result of the general winning opening sensor 73, and the number of prize balls associated with the general winning opening 67 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X compared to when rolling from the second flow path Y, but the obstacles may be arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. Also, a plurality of general winning openings 67 may be provided.

The outlet 69 is disposed at the bottom of the game area 50a. Game balls that are shot into the game area 50a and do not enter any of the winning holes described above fall into the outlet 69 and are treated as out balls.
In this embodiment, an out ball sensor 75 (not shown) is provided for detecting game balls (hereinafter referred to as "out balls") that have entered the winning hole and the out hole.

In addition to the above-mentioned sensors, the game board 50 is also provided with a magnetic detection sensor for detecting magnetism and a radio wave detection sensor for detecting radio waves (both not shown) to prevent fraudulent acts such as receiving prize balls illegally.

As shown in Figure 5, the rear of the game board 50 is fitted with a main control board case 109 in which the main control board 100 is stored, a first sub-control board case 209 in which the first sub-control board 200 is stored, a second sub-control board case 309 in which the second sub-control board 300 is stored, a power supply control board case 509 in which the power supply control board 500 is stored, and a payout control board case 409 in which the payout control board 400 is stored.In addition to the rear of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an opening/closing cover 45 which covers part of the rear of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner.
In addition, a RAM clear switch 43 is provided on the main control board 100.
Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, and the corresponding substrates can be seen through each case and cover.

5, a volume adjustment unit 83 operated for adjusting the volume and a brightness adjustment unit 84 operated for adjusting the brightness are provided on the first sub-control board 200. The first sub-control board case 209 stores the first sub-control board 200 so that the volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84 are exposed to the outside, and the opening/closing cover 45 is attached so as to avoid the volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 5, i.e., in the state where the first sub-control board 200 is stored in the first sub-control board case 209 and the opening/closing cover 45 is attached, the volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84 can be operated.
The volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84 are so-called rotary switches, and in this embodiment, the volume adjustment unit 83 can be adjusted to one of three levels: high volume, medium volume, and low volume, and the brightness adjustment unit 84 can be adjusted to one of three levels: high brightness, medium brightness, and low brightness. The volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84 are not limited to rotary switches, and may be slide switches. Furthermore, the volume adjustment unit 83 and the brightness adjustment unit 84 may be switches provided on a board different from the first sub-control board 200 as long as they are electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200. Furthermore, the installation position is not important as long as they are provided on the back side of the game board 50.

The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit 501 which generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit 502 which generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit 503 which detects power interruption (a specified voltage drop in the voltage supplied by the normal power supply).
In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit 501 of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400).
In addition, when a power interruption detection circuit 503 detects a power interruption, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
In addition, the backup power circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island.
In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

A game ball tank 46 is disposed on the back of the game board 50, above the opening and closing cover 45, in which game balls supplied from the game island's ball supply equipment are stored. The game ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 that leads to the upper ball tray 27 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 are paid out through the payout passage 49 to the upper ball tray 27.

So far, we have explained the structure of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, but this is just one specific example, and the present invention can also be implemented with a different configuration.

<Operation of the performance shield 85>
Next, the operation of the effect shield 85 will be described with reference to Figures 6(a) to 6(c). Figures 6(a) to 6(c) are diagrams showing the movable positions of the effect shield 85.
As described above, the effect shielding body 85 is composed of an upper left effect shielding body 85a, an upper right effect shielding body 85b, a lower left effect shielding body 85c, and a lower right effect shielding body 85d, and Fig. 6(a) shows the effect shielding body 85 in the initial position. Note that, at this position, substantially the entire display area of the main display unit 81 is visible.
FIG. 6( b ) shows a state in which a portion (approximately 30% of the entire display area) of the main display unit 81 is covered by the performance shield 85 .
FIG. 6(c) shows a state in which the entire display area related to the main display unit 81 is covered by the performance shield 85 (a state in which the display area related to the main display unit 81 is shielded).
In this way, the upper left performance shield 85a, the upper right performance shield 85b, the lower left performance shield 85c, and the lower right performance shield 85d operate in conjunction with one another in the planar direction of the display area related to the main display unit 81. In the following explanation, the position of the performance shield 85 shown in Fig. 6(a) may be referred to as the original position, the position of the performance shield 85 shown in Fig. 6(b) as the first operating position, and the position of the performance shield 85 shown in Fig. 6(c) as the second operating position.
In addition, "covering" in this embodiment refers to the covering being located in front of the thing being covered (in this embodiment, the display area related to the main display unit 81) and the covering being between the player and the object, making part or all of the thing being covered invisible or difficult to see.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the upper left performance shield 85a has a convex portion imitating the character "Heaven" on its front surface (the front surface when the main display unit 81 side is defined as the rear surface), the upper right performance shield 85b has a convex portion imitating the character "Down" on its front surface, the lower left performance shield 85c has a convex portion imitating the character "No" on its front surface, and the lower right performance shield 85d has a convex portion imitating the character "Two" on its front surface. The shape of the front side (player side) of these performance shields 85 is not limited to the shape of this embodiment and may be any shape, but in this embodiment, the entire shape becomes visible when the performance shield 85 is in the second operating position.

<Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 7.

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

The CPU 101 executes various processes related to the main control of the game by reading out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performing arithmetic processing.
The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power supply generated in a backup power supply circuit described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when power is restored after a power outage, the gaming machine 10 can be restored to the state it was in immediately before the power outage using the data. For example, in addition to the data of the stack pointer and each register held at the time of the power outage, information related to the game, such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (play stopped state or playable state), the current special drawing state, the current normal drawing state, etc., are backed up.

In this embodiment, at least an area in which such information related to the game is stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related area of RAM 103) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of a checksum and a backup flag related to the game-related area of RAM 103 are stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related backup information area of RAM 103). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 returns to normal using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up game-related area of RAM 103 and the game-related backup information area of RAM 103.
In addition, the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited. For example, the area to be backed up in the RAM 103 may be realized with a configuration capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state. As another example, in the RAM 103, different hardware may be provided for a first memory configured to be capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10. In that case, the gaming machine 10 may save the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is cut off, and recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.

The main control board 100 is also electrically connected to the first start gate sensor 70, the second start gate sensor 71, the big prize gate sensor 72, the general prize gate sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame door open sensor 76, the front frame door open sensor 77, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104. Although not shown in the figure, in addition to these sensors, the main control board 100 is also electrically connected to a full tank detection sensor, a magnetic detection sensor, and a radio wave detection sensor, and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104.

In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first special pattern display device 91, the second special pattern display device 92, the normal pattern display device 93, the first special pattern reserve lamp 94, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95, the normal pattern reserve lamp 96, the normal electric role solenoid 62 and the special electric role solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I/O port 104.
Similarly, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the main operation unit 39 and the RAM clear switch 43 , and is configured to be able to detect the operation of the main operation unit 39 .

The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line, and are connected so that communication is possible in only one direction, from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, and various performance control commands are transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, data cannot be transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 is configured so as not to be able to request the main control board 100 to transmit data.
In addition, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is used for transmitting data from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may also be used.

The first sub-control board 200 comprises a CPU 201 which performs various arithmetic processing related to game presentation based on presentation control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 which stores data such as presentation control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 203 which functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 204 which inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and these are connected to each other via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 is configured to execute main control related to game presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 202.
In addition, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the performance button 37 and the cursor button 38, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of these operating sections.

In addition, the first sub-control board 200, through performance control processing based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, generates image control commands that instruct the image to be displayed on the second sub-control board 300, brightness adjustment commands that instruct brightness adjustment, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, volume adjustment commands that instruct volume adjustment, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and movement control data for controlling the movement of movable bodies such as the movable decorative body 22, the sub-display unit 82, and the performance shield 85.
Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the audio control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, brightness adjustment command, audio control command, volume adjustment command) is transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the audio control board 310, while in response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the control command was received successfully is transmitted from each control board (second sub-control board 300, audio control board 310) to the first sub-control board 200.

The first sub-control board 200 is also electrically connected to the frame lamp 35 and the lamps provided on the movable decorative body 22, and transmits lamp control data via the I/O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured so that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.
The lamp control data is generated according to the luminance determined based on the adjustment result by operating the luminance adjustment unit 84, the left cursor button 38c, and the right cursor button 38d. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lamps provided on the frame lamp 35 and the movable decorative body 22 can be turned on at the luminance determined based on the adjustment result. The luminance in this embodiment can be set in a range of 10 levels from luminance 1 to luminance 10, and the luminance increases in this order. In addition, each time the luminance is adjusted, the first sub-control board 200 transmits a luminance adjustment command including data specifying the luminance after the adjustment (hereinafter referred to as "luminance specification data") to the second sub-control board 300. The adjusted luminance is also reflected in the luminance of the displayed image.

The second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a CPU 301 that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 302 that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM 303 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 304 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 301 executes main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 302.
In addition, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP (not shown) that generates image data according to the content of the performance determined by the performance content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU 301, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the performance based on a control signal received from the CPU 301. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to an instruction from the CPU 301, processes the image data, and transmits the generated image data to the main display unit 81 and the sub-display unit 82. A high-speed VRAM that is used to expand and process the image data read from the image ROM is also connected to this VDP.

The audio control board 310 is equipped with a CPU 311 that performs various calculation processes related to audio performance based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs and audio data, etc., a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 311 executes main control related to audio performance according to the control program stored in the ROM 312. Therefore, the audio control board 310 can read audio data stored in the ROM 312 in response to audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesize the read audio data, and transmit the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, causing the speaker 33 to output audio.

The dispensing control board 400 is mainly composed of a CPU, ROM and RAM (all not shown).
In addition, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 for two-way communication, and performs control to drive the payout unit 48 to pay out game balls based on a payout control command from the main control board 100, and controls the launch of game balls by synchronously driving the ball feeding mechanism and the launching mechanism based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31.

The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit that generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above, based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit that generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit (all not shown) that detects power interruption (a specified voltage drop in the supply voltage from the normal power supply).
In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400).
In addition, when a power interruption detection circuit detects a power interruption, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
In addition, the backup power circuit is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island.
In addition, the backup power supply circuit may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

<Functional configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 8 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a functional configuration not shown in Fig. 8. Also, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 9 to 11 will be referred to as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 8, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a pre-determination means 125, a special drawing means 130, a normal drawing means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a pattern display control means 145, an electric role control means 150, a game state control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration process execution means 175, and a power cut process execution means 180. These means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using FIG. 7.

The main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the main control board 100 and data derived by calculations in the means in question in the corresponding storage areas. In particular, the data (performance control commands) stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is transmitted by the command transmission means to the sub-command management means 270 of the first sub-control board 200 (described later) after being stored.

The ball entry determination means 110 determines whether a ball has been entered into each winning hole based on the detection results of the sensors installed in each winning hole.

The main random number generating means 115 is capable of generating multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges depending on the random number circuit 105, and when a win at a winning port is determined, it obtains (latches) one or more random numbers corresponding to that winning port from the random number circuit 105.
More specifically, when it is determined that the first start gate 57 or the second start gate 59 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 obtains a random number for determining whether or not the special symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a special symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a special symbol change pattern, which will be described later. When it is determined that the gate 63 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 stores a random number for determining whether or not the normal symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a normal symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a normal symbol change pattern, which will be described later, in a corresponding storage area of the main information storage means 160.
The random number circuit 105 monitors whether the multiple types of random numbers it updates are being updated normally, and if an update abnormality occurs in which the random numbers are not updated normally, information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is written to a specific storage area of the random number circuit 105. Therefore, the CPU 101 can grasp that an update abnormality has occurred in the random number circuit 105.

The main reservation control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern change of the special chart and the reservation of the pattern change of the normal chart. Regarding the special chart 1, the random number for determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, the random number for drawing the special chart stop pattern, and the random number for drawing the special chart change pattern, which are obtained as a result of winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special chart 1.
More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") which is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the draw by the special chart draw means 130), and controls the operation hold information to be stored in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and moves (shifts) the remaining activation hold information from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter which is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter.
In addition, the main reservation control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and ordinary drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the reservation counter for special drawing 2 is referred to as the special drawing 2 reservation counter.
In addition, in the following explanation, "suspending operation suspension information" may be expressed as "suspending pattern change."
In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, when both the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are reserved, a priority change is performed in which the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 is used preferentially.

The advance judgment means 125 executes an advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a specified advance judgment timing.
More specifically, the pre-judgment means 125 reads out each random number of the operation reservation information reserved this time, and executes pre-judgment for each of the special chart hit/miss judgment, special chart stop pattern lottery, and special chart change pattern lottery, which will be described later. In each pre-judgment, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used in the lottery corresponding to each pre-judgment is used. Therefore, the results of these pre-judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later.
In addition, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the derived result of the pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
As described above, the pre-determination command is transmitted (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160) in at least some cases where the operation pending information of the special chart is reserved at the timing of a predetermined pre-determination, and is therefore transmitted following the above-mentioned reserved command. Here, the predetermined timing of pre-determination refers to not being in a jackpot game, and further, in this embodiment, when the operation pending information of the special chart 1 is reserved during a normal chart high probability to be described later, the pre-determination is restricted, and therefore the transmission of the pre-determination command corresponding to the pre-determination is also restricted.

The special drawing means 130 includes a special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, a special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and a special drawing change pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, the special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and the special drawing change pattern derivation means 133. When the special drawing change start condition is satisfied, the special drawing lottery means 130 reads out the earliest operation pending information among the operation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160.
In addition, "the conditions for the special chart to start changing are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: a jackpot is not being reached, neither special chart 1 nor special chart 2 is changing patterns, and at least one of special chart 1 and special chart 2 has pending activation information.

Here, Figures 9(a) to 9(c), 10(a), and 10(b) are schematic diagrams showing lottery tables used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description.
In addition, in a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one lottery value, the addition count is one), and a result corresponding to the lottery value where a carry (overflow) occurs is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery table, the lottery table is given a name for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data such as the lottery value included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is identifiable and stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, there are items described for convenience of explanation, and there are cases where "-" or "0" is described as the lottery value, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. And the result in which "-" or "0" is described as the lottery value will not win. Furthermore, if the same lottery value as the random number range (the number of random numbers that can be obtained in the range) used in the lottery is described in the lottery table, the result is derived 100%, so it is not necessary to perform a lottery. Furthermore, if the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used in the lottery, a carry will always occur when adding the final lottery value, so that addition does not need to be performed, and in that case, the lottery values used in that addition themselves become unnecessary.

The special pattern hit/miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special pattern hit/miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes a special pattern hit/miss judgment to judge by lottery whether the winning is a jackpot or a miss by using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special pattern hit/miss judgment.
9(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether or not a special drawing is a hit, and the lottery table is used in common for special drawings 1 and 2. The range of random numbers used in the determination is 0 to 65535, so when the special drawing state is low probability (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "low probability of special drawing"), a big hit is derived with a probability of 230/65536 (approximately 1/284.9), and when a big hit is not derived, it is a miss.
Similarly, when the special drawing state is at a high probability (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "special drawing high probability"), a jackpot is derived with a probability of 499/65536 (approximately 1/131.3), and if a jackpot is not derived, it is a miss.

When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit, the special chart stop pattern drawing means 132 reads out a random number for the special chart stop pattern drawing, and determines the special chart stop pattern by drawing lots using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special chart stop pattern drawing.
9(b) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a drawing table for drawing the stop pattern of the special drawing 1, and the range of random numbers used in the drawing is 0 to 99. Therefore, when a jackpot is derived from the special drawing 1, the pattern A is determined as the stop pattern with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), the pattern B with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), and the pattern C with a probability of 10/100 (1/10).
Here, the pattern A is a pattern with 8 rounds, which has a low probability of a special pattern and a high probability of a normal pattern after the end of the jackpot game (hereinafter, it may be referred to as a "normal pattern", and the jackpot related to the pattern may be referred to as a "normal jackpot"). On the other hand, the pattern B is a pattern with 9 rounds, which has a high probability of a special pattern and a high probability of a normal pattern after the end of the jackpot game (hereinafter, it may be referred to as a "probability variable pattern", and the jackpot related to the pattern may be referred to as a "probability variable jackpot"). Furthermore, the pattern C is a probability variable pattern with 16 rounds, which has a high probability of a special pattern and a high probability of a normal pattern after the end of the jackpot game. Therefore, it can be said that the pattern C is a more advantageous pattern than the pattern B in terms of the number of rounds, and the patterns B and C are more advantageous patterns than the pattern A in terms of both the number of rounds and the special pattern selection state thereafter.
9(c) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a drawing table for drawing the stop pattern of the special drawing 2, and the range of the random numbers used in the drawing is 0 to 99, similar to the drawing of the stop pattern of the special drawing 1. Therefore, when a jackpot is derived in the special drawing 2, the pattern a is determined as the stop pattern with a probability of 65/100 (about 1/1.53), and the pattern b is determined as the stop pattern with a probability of 35/100 (about 1/2.85).
Here, the pattern a is a probability variable pattern with 16 rounds and high probability of special and high probability of normal after the end of the jackpot game, and the pattern b is a normal pattern with 4 rounds and low probability of special and high probability after the end of the jackpot game. Therefore, it can be said that the pattern a is more advantageous than the pattern b in both the number of rounds and the subsequent special drawing state.
In addition, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is not a jackpot, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132 uniformly determines pattern D as the stop pattern when special chart 1 is a miss, and pattern c when special chart 2 is a miss.
In addition, in this embodiment, the rate at which the special chart becomes highly probable after the end of a jackpot game using the special chart 1 (50/100) is different from the rate at which the special chart becomes highly probable after the end of a jackpot game using the special chart 2 (65/100) (the pattern change of the special chart 2 is more favorable than the pattern change of the special chart 1). Although details are omitted, this difference is realized by providing a function to make the special chart highly probable after the end of a jackpot game when the game ball passes through the V winning area (not shown) provided in the large winning port 55 during a jackpot game (when the sensor provided in the V winning area detects the game ball), and by changing whether or not to provide a round (the 9th round in this embodiment) that makes it easier to pass through the V winning area, depending on the stopping pattern of the special chart.

The special chart variation pattern derivation means 133 has multiple types of special chart variation pattern lottery tables to be referenced when determining the special chart variation pattern, and selects one special chart variation pattern lottery table for determining the current special chart variation pattern based on the current special chart variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special chart hit/miss judgment, determines one special chart variation pattern using the selected special chart variation pattern lottery table and a random number for special chart variation pattern lottery, and determines the variation time based on the determined special chart variation pattern.
In addition, although details of the transition conditions etc. will be described later, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state in this embodiment, there are a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. The above-mentioned method of determining the special chart variation pattern is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and the pattern variation of the other special chart in each special chart variation pattern derivation state is determined to be a predetermined special chart variation pattern according to the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.

FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for deriving a special pattern variation pattern in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. Therefore, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11), the special chart fluctuation pattern HRP with a probability of 52/1000 (approximately 1/19.2), HSP1-A with a probability of 13/1000 (approximately 1/76.9), HSP1-B with a probability of 11/1000 (approximately 1/90.9), HSP2-A with a probability of 9/1000 (approximately 1/111), HSP2-B with a probability of 7/1000 (approximately 1/143), HSP3-A with a probability of 5/1000 (1/200), and HSP3-B with a probability of 3/1000 (approximately 1/333). In this case, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A to the special pattern variation pattern ASP3-C are not determined. In addition, although details will be described later using FIG. 10 (b), when the special pattern variation pattern HNP is determined, the special pattern variation pattern is further specified using the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the time of the pattern variation start.
If the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A is determined with a probability of 90/1000 (approximately 1/11.1), the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B with a probability of 110/1000 (approximately 1/9.09), the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A with a probability of 135/1000 (approximately 1/7.41), the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B with a probability of 165/1000 (approximately 1/6.06), the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180/1000 (approximately 1/5.56), the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220/1000 (approximately 1/4.56), and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-C with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10). In this case, the special chart variation pattern HNP to the special chart variation pattern HSP3-B are not determined.
In addition, in the explanation of the special chart variation patterns of this embodiment, when two special chart variation patterns are described with "~" in between, the description of the special chart variation pattern that exists between the special chart variation pattern described earlier and the special chart variation pattern described later in the order described in Figure 10 (a) or Figure 10 (b) described below is omitted.
Also, although not shown in the figures, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the special chart variation pattern is selected by lottery based on the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment, just as in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

Figure 10 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for deriving the special chart variation pattern used when the special chart variation pattern HNP is determined. As described above, in this lottery, the special chart variation pattern is further identified using the value of the special chart 1 pending counter.
First, as shown in Figure 10 (b), the special chart fluctuation patterns HNP include special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-A with a fluctuation time of 3,200 ms (milliseconds), special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-B with a fluctuation time of 5,600 ms, special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-C with a fluctuation time of 8,000 ms, and special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-D with a fluctuation time of 11,200 ms, in that order of longest fluctuation time.
The range of the random numbers used in this lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the lottery table shown in FIG. 10(a)) is 0 to 999. Therefore, when the pattern variation starts, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 3 (hereinafter, may be referred to as "reserved 3"), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in this case, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B to the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D are not determined. Also, when the pattern variation starts, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 2 (hereinafter, may be referred to as "reserved 2"), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (approximately 1/1.18), and in this case, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D are not determined. When the special pattern 1 reserved counter = 1 (hereinafter may be referred to as "reserved 1") at the start of the pattern change, special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), special pattern change pattern HNP-B with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and special pattern change pattern HNP-C with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25), and in this case, special pattern change pattern HNP-D will never be determined. When the pattern change starts, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 0 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "reserved 0"), the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), the special pattern change pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-D is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (approximately 1/1.18), and in this case, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is not determined. In the following explanation, in addition to the above-mentioned "reserved 3", "reserved 2", "reserved 1", and "reserved 0", the case where the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 4 may be referred to as "reserved 4".
In this way, when the special pattern change pattern HNP is determined, the special pattern change pattern (change time) that is likely to be determined by the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern change differs. More specifically, the smaller the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern change, the more likely it is that a long pattern change will be determined (the larger the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern change, the more likely it is that a short change time will be determined).
In addition, such special chart fluctuation patterns (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "basic special chart fluctuation patterns") also exist in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC, and although the types of corresponding basic special chart fluctuation patterns and their respective lengths are different, their tendencies (the relationship between the value of the pending counter (the value of the special chart 2 pending counter in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC) and the special chart fluctuation pattern (fluctuation time) that is likely to be determined) are the same as those in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA.

In addition, at the start of the pattern change, the special pattern change pattern derivation means 133 generates a performance control command (change start command) that includes the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment, the determined special pattern to stop, and the determined special pattern change pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the most recent pending activation information from the pending activation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to execute a regular map hit/miss judgment to determine whether the regular map is a hit or not, and if a regular map hit is won in which the regular electric role device 61 is controlled to an open state as a result of the regular map hit/miss judgment, executes a regular map stop pattern lottery to determine the stopping pattern of the regular map by lottery, and a regular map change pattern lottery to determine the change pattern (change time) of the regular map by lottery.
More specifically, in the normal drawing hit/miss judgment, there are a normal drawing lottery state with a high probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing high probability") and a normal drawing lottery state with a low probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing low probability"). Although the drawing of the lottery table is omitted, in this embodiment, in the normal drawing high probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 65535/65536, and the remaining probability of a 1/65536 miss, while in the normal drawing low probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 1/65536, and the remaining probability of a 65535/65536 miss. In addition, in the normal drawing low probability, it may be set so that the normal drawing does not hit (65536/65536 miss).

In the normal stop pattern lottery, as in the special stop pattern lottery, one stop pattern is selected from multiple types of stop patterns that have different patterns for the opening state of the normal electric role device 61 by lottery using a lottery table (not shown) for normal stop pattern lottery. Note that if the normal pattern is a miss, the stop pattern is determined uniformly, as in special pattern 1 and special pattern 2.

In addition, in the selection of the regular map variation pattern, as in the selection of the special map variation pattern, one regular map variation pattern is determined from multiple types of regular map variation patterns by a selection table (not shown) for selecting regular map variation patterns.

In this way, a high probability of winning is higher than a low probability of winning, and it can be said to be a more advantageous state than a low probability of winning.

When the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery is a winning symbol, the winning game control means 140 determines the demo time for the winning symbol start demo and the demo time for the winning symbol end demo according to the winning symbol determined.
In addition, at the start of a jackpot, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (jackpot start command) including a demo time related to the jackpot start demo and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and at the end of the jackpot, generates a presentation control command (jackpot end command) including a demo time related to the jackpot end demo and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The pattern display control means 145 displays the special pattern 1 on the first special pattern display device 91 in a variable manner according to the variable time based on the special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 1, and displays the special pattern 1 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Similarly, the special pattern 2 is displayed on the second special pattern display device 92 in a variable manner according to the variable time based on the special pattern variable pattern of the second special pattern, and displays the special pattern 2 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a special chart game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of special chart 1 and special chart 2, and when the special chart is stopped from being displayed (at the timing when the value of the special chart game timer becomes "0"), it generates a presentation control command (variation stop command) for requesting a confirmed stop display of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Here, the definite stop display of the decorative pattern refers to the final stop display of the decorative pattern in the pattern change, and is different from the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern that may occur during the execution of the pattern change. In the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern, for example, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is accompanied by a small movement (so-called swinging movement) up and down, while in the definite stop display of the decorative pattern, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is not accompanied by a swinging movement, and so on. Thus, the stop display mode of the definite stop display of the decorative pattern is different from the stop display mode of the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the stop display of the decorative pattern is a definite stop display or a provisional stop display.

In addition, the pattern display control means 145 causes the normal map to be displayed on the normal pattern display device 93 in a variable manner in accordance with the normal map fluctuation pattern (fluctuation time) of the normal map, and after the fluctuation time has elapsed, causes the normal map to be displayed in a stopped pattern determined by a normal map stop pattern lottery.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a regular pattern game timer for managing the time related to the display of the regular pattern (variable time, stop display time).

When the result of the special drawing is a jackpot, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66 after the special device stops, and opens the special electric device 65 according to the opening pattern corresponding to the stopped pattern of the special device. The jackpot game is a game state in which one opening and closing operation of the special electric device 65 is considered as one round of play, and the round play is executed continuously for a specified number of rounds (16R, 9R, 8R in this example).

In addition, if the regular winning/losing lottery is won, the electric role control means 150 outputs a control signal to the regular electric role solenoid 62 to open the regular electric role 61 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the regular role.

The game state control means 155 controls the special symbol lottery state. Specifically, as described above, the game state control means 155 sets the special symbol low probability at the start of a jackpot game regardless of the symbol related to the jackpot, maintains the special symbol low probability at the end of a jackpot game related to a normal jackpot, and sets the special symbol high probability at the end of a jackpot game related to a special jackpot with a high probability.

The game state control means 155 also controls the normal symbol lottery state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal symbol to low probability at the start of a jackpot regardless of the symbol associated with the jackpot, sets the normal symbol to high probability until 100 symbol changes have occurred at the end of the jackpot game associated with a normal jackpot (after 100 symbol changes, the normal symbol is set to low probability), and sets the normal symbol to high probability until the start of the next jackpot game at the end of a jackpot associated with a probability variable jackpot (including, for example, a case where a finite number of times (for example, 5000 times) sufficient to derive a jackpot is set).

In addition, the game state control means 155 controls the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state. The transition of this special chart variation pattern derivation state will be described with reference to Figure 11 (a) and Figure 11 (b). Note that Figure 11 (a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 11 (b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Fig. 11 (a), the special chart variation pattern derivation state is composed of a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA corresponding to a special chart low probability and a normal chart low probability, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB corresponding to a special chart high probability and a normal chart high probability, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC corresponding to a special chart low probability and a normal chart high probability, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state is set according to the special chart lottery state and the normal chart lottery state except during a jackpot game. And, there are transition conditions (i) to (iii) for the transition conditions between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. The transition condition (i) is the end of the jackpot game related to the probability jackpot, the transition condition (ii) is the end of the jackpot game related to the normal jackpot, and the transition condition (iii) is the end of the 100th pattern variation. In addition, when a jackpot game related to a normal jackpot is started in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, the special chart change pattern derivation state PC will be set again after the jackpot game ends (the count of the pattern change in the transition condition (iii) will start from 0).

Also, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the average fluctuation time of each of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC (the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that may occur in any pattern fluctuation, which is derived by multiplying the probability that the result of the special chart win/loss judgment is derived by the winning probability of the special chart fluctuation pattern) by the fluctuation time of the special chart fluctuation pattern that can be selected in that special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state)) is shorter in the order of special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC, and special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB. This is mainly due to the difference in the length of the fluctuation time of the basic special chart fluctuation pattern that is most frequently selected in each special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the difference between the average fluctuation time of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA and the average time of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is greater than the difference between the average fluctuation time of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB.

In addition, when an update occurs to the special chart selection state, the regular chart selection state, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state, the game state control means 155 generates a presentation control command (game state designation command) including each state after the update, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by each means and data derived by calculations or the like by each means in the corresponding storage areas.

The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I/O port 104 and judges whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is judged that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, a performance control command (error command) including information capable of identifying the error state is stored in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, the error states determined by the main error control means 165 include, for example, a main board error based on the occurrence of the update abnormality described above, a magnetic error based on magnetic detection by a magnetic detection sensor, a radio wave error based on radio wave detection by a radio wave detection sensor, a right hit error based on detection of a game ball by the gate sensor 74, a door open error based on detection of the opening of the middle frame 17 by the middle frame open door sensor 76 or the opening of the front frame 20 by the front frame open door sensor 77, a full tank error based on detection of a game ball by a full tank detection sensor, etc. The occurrence or non-occurrence of an error state according to this embodiment is monitored during a playable state described later.
To summarize some of the occurrence conditions of these errors, the main board error is an error state indicating an update abnormality of the random number circuit 105 as described above, and occurs when the update abnormality occurs. The magnetic error is an error state that occurs when the magnetic detection sensor detects magnetic fields continuously for 500 ms, and the radio wave error is an error state that occurs when the number of radio wave detections by the radio wave detection sensor (the cumulative number of times since the last power-on) has occurred a total of five times. In addition, the right-hit error is an error state that occurs when the gate sensor 74 detects a game ball three times (the number of detections is reset 1000 ms after the last detection) during normal times (low probability of special drawing and low probability of normal drawing), and the full tank error is an error state that occurs when the full tank detection sensor is ON, i.e., when a game ball is detected by the full tank detection sensor.

In this embodiment, among these error states, the main board error, magnetic error, and radio wave error are treated as error states of relatively high importance (hereinafter, simply referred to as "error states of high importance"). Therefore, when such an error state of high importance occurs, the main error control means 165 executes a game progress restriction process to prevent the game from progressing, such as having the payout control board 400 restrict the launch of game balls.
Here, the security signal is a type of signal output from an external terminal board (not shown) provided on the gaming machine 10 to a device outside the gaming machine (a data display device or a hall computer). Including the following explanation, turning the security signal ON refers to starting the output of the security signal, and turning the security signal OFF refers to ending the output of the security signal. In addition, in the process of turning the security signal OFF in this embodiment, the elapsed time since the security signal was turned ON is not taken into consideration, but the elapsed time may be taken into consideration, that is, the security signal may not be turned OFF before a certain time has elapsed since the security signal was turned ON. In this embodiment, when a magnetic error and a radio wave error occur, the process of turning the security signal ON is executed, but the payout control board 400 may not execute the above-mentioned game progress regulation process.
In addition, when an error state of high importance occurs, the first sub-control board 200 or the second sub-control board 300 executes a notification display that can identify which error state has occurred.
Furthermore, these error states of high importance can only be released (the error state can be terminated) by cutting off and restoring power, and the security signal related to the error state is turned OFF when the power is cut off (it remains ON until the power is cut off).
The error state with a high degree of importance described above is merely an example, and other error states may be provided as the error state.

On the other hand, in the case of a right-hit error, a door-open error, and a full-tank error, which are relatively less important error states (hereinafter simply referred to as "less important error states"), the release of game balls is not restricted, and the game is allowed to proceed. When these error states occur, the first sub-control board 200 and the second sub-control board 300 execute a notification effect that can identify which error state has occurred.
In addition, a right-hit error ends when the execution of the notification effect related to the error state ends, a door open error ends when the middle frame open door sensor 76 detects the middle frame 17 in a closed state or the front frame open door sensor 77 detects the front frame 20 in a closed state, and a full tank error ends when the full tank detection sensor no longer detects game balls. When the termination conditions for these error states are met, a performance control command (return command) indicating that the termination conditions have been met is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
The above-mentioned error state of low importance is one example, and other error states may be provided as the error state, such as an abnormal winning error that occurs when a game ball is detected by the large winning opening sensor 72 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the large winning opening 55 is closed during a big win game, and when such an error state is provided, a notification effect related to the error state is executed. Note that the abnormal winning error may be terminated when the notification effect related to the error state is completed, similar to the above-mentioned right hit error.

In this embodiment, an error state of high importance is executed with priority over an error state of low importance as described above. Therefore, when an error state of high importance occurs, the door open notification described below is not executed, and there is no open notification suppression period.

In addition, in an error state of high importance, an image notifying the error state is displayed in a display area including the entire display area in which the hold icon and the variable icon described later are displayed (in this embodiment, the entire display area related to the main display unit 81). On the other hand, in an error state of low importance, an image notifying the error state is displayed in a display area that does not overlap with the display area in which the hold icon and the variable icon are displayed.
Furthermore, an error state with a high degree of importance is resolved by a power outage and restoration of power, and the hold icon becomes the default hold and returns to the default color when the power is restored.

When a performance control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the performance control command to the first sub-control board 200.
In principle, each performance control command is transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The power recovery process execution means 175 includes a recovery state setting means 176 and a playable state transition means 179.

The return state setting means 176 executes a return state setting process to set a return state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of the power outage immediately before the power restoration, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the state of the inner frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. The return states set by this process include a game stop state and a game ready state (which may or may not involve a RAM clear process).
Specifically, if there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the game stop state is set regardless of the state of the RAM clear switch 43 and the state of the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored is ON (pressed state), the RAM clear process is executed and the playable state is set on the condition that the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored is ON (if the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored is OFF, the RAM clear process is not executed and the playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored is OFF (not pressed state), the RAM clear process is not executed and the playable state is set. Note that when the RAM clear process is executed, the special low probability and normal low probability are set.
Here, the game stop state is a return state in which the game cannot proceed by not executing the process according to the detection result of the sensor provided at each winning port (the detection result of the sensor itself does not need to be seen), whereas the playable state is a return state in which the game can proceed by executing the process according to the detection result of the sensor provided at each winning port.

Whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 103 is determined by executing a RAM abnormality check at the beginning of the recovery state setting process (specifically, a process which determines whether or not a backup flag is stored (whether or not the backup flag is ON) in the backup information area related to the target area, derives a checksum of the target area and the complement stored in the backup information area related to the area if the backup flag is stored (if the backup flag is ON), and determines that the target area is normal if the calculation result is 0, otherwise determines that the target area is abnormal) on the area related to the game in RAM 103.

The playable state transition means 179 executes a playable state transition process for transitioning to a playable state when a playable state is set.
More specifically, in the game play state transition process, if the security signal output is ON, a process of turning the security signal output OFF and initial settings of the device are performed.
In addition, during the initial setting of the device, processes such as sending a launch permission command to the payout control board 400 to permit the launch of game balls, setting the state in which balls will be valid when they enter each winning port, and setting data to activate the random number circuit 105 are performed.

The power cut-off process execution means 180 executes a power cut-off process based on receiving a power cut-off signal from the power supply control board 500 .
Specifically, for an area of RAM 103 related to gaming, a process is performed in which a checksum for that area is derived and the complement of that checksum is stored in a backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming, and a backup flag indicating that a power cut process has been performed for that area is turned ON (a backup flag is stored in the backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming).

As shown in Figure 8, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generation means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable prop control means 245, a volume adjustment means 250, a brightness adjustment means 255, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 7.
Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply expressed as "receiving a performance control command."

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

The normal presentation control means 220 includes a presentation mode control means 221, a presentation route determination means 222, a sub-hold control means 223, a look-ahead presentation control means 224, a presentation content determination means 225, a decorative pattern control means 226, and a jackpot presentation control means 227.

When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side.
The presentation modes in this embodiment are broadly divided into normal mode, low-probability time-saving mode, and special probability mode, with the normal mode corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the low-probability time-saving mode corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC.

When the presentation route determination means 222 receives a pre-determination command, it determines (sets) a presentation route corresponding to the reserved pattern change based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special pattern change pattern). Note that, when the special pattern change pattern corresponding to the pattern change is the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern HNP, the presentation route determination means 222 does not determine a presentation route when a pre-determination command is sent, and determines a presentation route based on the special pattern change pattern (special pattern change pattern HNP-A to special pattern change pattern HNP-D) included in the change start command at the start of the pattern change.
Here, the presentation route refers to the presentation from the start to the end of the pattern change, and specifies the process of the presentation that notifies the result of the special pattern determination in the pattern change, and the content of the presentation executed in the pattern change is determined by the presentation content determination means 225 described later in accordance with the presentation route corresponding to the pattern change.

In this embodiment, in the normal mode, each of the special pattern variation patterns shown in FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) corresponds to one different presentation route. These presentation routes are roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss (not a jackpot), and a jackpot presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a jackpot. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. Here, the development presentation refers to a presentation that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a jackpot or not after the decorative pattern becomes a reach state (a state in which the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed except for one pattern row, and the remaining pattern rows are displayed in a variable manner), and in this embodiment, there are three types of development presentations A to C, each of which has a different content. These development presentations are also executed in the jackpot presentation route. Below, we will explain the content of the presentation route that corresponds to each special chart change pattern.

In the development performance A to development performance C corresponding to the failure performance route, a series of performances corresponding to each development performance is executed, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is not a big hit. On the other hand, in the development performance A to development performance C corresponding to the big hit performance route, a series of performances corresponding to each development performance is executed, similar to the development performance corresponding to the failure performance route, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit. In other words, all of the development performances A to C can be said to be performances that notify whether the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or not.
In this embodiment, one performance route corresponds to one special chart variation pattern. Therefore, in the following description, the performance route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple performance routes may be made to correspond to one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one performance route may be determined from multiple performance routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern.

The presentation routes corresponding to special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D and special chart fluctuation pattern HRP correspond to the non-development miss presentation route described above.
Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D correspond to a presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss when the decorative pattern is not in a reach state and the decorative pattern is displayed as a barrage (a state in which all pattern rows are stopped and the same decorative pattern is not stopped in each pattern row). Here, the same decorative pattern refers to a decorative pattern that imitates the same number, and the parts other than the numbers that make up the decorative pattern (such as a character image to be described later) may be different. Note that different decorative patterns refer to decorative patterns that imitate different numbers.
The special pattern change pattern HRP corresponds to a performance route in which the decorative pattern becomes a reach state without pseudo-change, and then the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a random eye without executing the development performance described later, thereby notifying that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss. Here, the pseudo-change refers to a period that is divided by the stop of the decorative pattern based on a certain rule (for example, the stop of the decorative pattern in which the 7 pattern stops in the middle pattern row, such as "5 pattern-7 pattern-6 pattern") in the period before the development performance starts (the period until the decorative pattern becomes a reach state in the pattern change in which the development performance is executed). Therefore, it can be said that the pseudo-change occurs only when the number of pseudo-changes is two. In other words, it can be said that the pseudo-change does not occur when the decorative pattern changes once until the reach state is constituted, and in that case, it can be said that one pseudo-change is executed. Note that the maximum number of pseudo-changes in this embodiment is three, but the maximum number of pseudo-changes is not limited to this, and any number of times equal to or more than two may be adopted.

The special chart fluctuation patterns HSP1-A to HSP3-B correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route.
Specifically, the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-change, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread pattern after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to these special pattern change patterns are different from each other, and the above-mentioned development performance A corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A, and the above-mentioned development performance B corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to these special chart fluctuation patterns are different from each other, and the development performance A corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, and the development performance B corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to these special chart fluctuation patterns are different from each other, and the development performance A corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, and the development performance B corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B.

The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B correspond to the jackpot performance route described above.
Specifically, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and the decorative pattern is displayed stopped with the pattern alignment (all pattern rows are stopped, and the same decorative pattern is stopped in each pattern row) after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performance corresponding to these special pattern variation patterns are different from each other, and the above-mentioned development performance A corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A, and the above-mentioned development performance B corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to these special chart fluctuation patterns are different from each other, and the development performance A corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, and the development performance B corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to these special chart fluctuation patterns are different from each other, and the development performance A corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and the development performance B corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B.
The special pattern variation pattern ASP3-C corresponds to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo variations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that the special pattern variation pattern ASP3-C corresponds to a development performance C that is different from both development performance A and development performance B.

In this way, in this embodiment, by making the same development performance correspond, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B. As a result, the contents of the performances of the corresponding performance routes will match from the start to the end (the timing when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is shown by the development performance related to the performance route). Therefore, the player can have a sense of expectation of winning the jackpot in the pattern change in which the development performance A and the development performance B are executed. In addition, the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern in which the performance route in which the development performance A and the development performance B are executed is determined can also be said to be a special pattern change pattern that makes the player expect a jackpot.
In addition, there is no corresponding development failure performance route for the special chart change pattern ASP3-C. Therefore, when the development performance C is executed in the pattern change, the player can be made to recognize the big win definitely. Therefore, it can be said that the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern is a performance route that determines the big win, and the special chart change pattern is a special chart change pattern that determines the big win.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance A is executed (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-A) and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance B is executed (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-B) are less likely to be determined in that order. And, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a jackpot, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance A is executed (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-A) and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance B is executed (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-B) are more likely to be determined in that order. And, as described above, the development performance C is executed only when a jackpot is won.
Therefore, the expectation of winning the jackpot can be increased in the order of development effect A, development effect B, and development effect C.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo-change occurs (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is two (for example, special chart change pattern HSP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is three (for example, special chart change pattern HSP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order. And, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo-change occurs (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is two (for example, special chart change pattern ASP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is three (for example, special chart change pattern ASP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order.
Therefore, the more times the pseudo fluctuation is executed, the higher the expectation of winning the jackpot.

As described above, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, the reach state is reached without any pseudo-fluctuation, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B, the reach state is reached via two pseudo-fluctuations, and in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-C, the reach state is reached via three pseudo-fluctuations.
Therefore, the time until the reach state is reached is long in the order of special chart change patterns in which the reach state is reached without any pseudo-changes, special chart change patterns in which the reach state is reached after two pseudo-changes, and special chart change patterns in which the reach state is reached after three pseudo-changes.

During the execution of the development performances A to C, the main display unit 81 displays an image, the speaker 33 produces sound (BGM), and the frame lamp 35 lights up in a manner corresponding to each development performance. In this embodiment, the performance shield 85 moves from the original position to the first operation position at the end of each development performance, and then returns to the original position without passing through the second operation position (when the decorative pattern is not stopped and displayed with the pattern aligned), or returns to the original position from the first operation via the second operation position (when the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with the pattern aligned). Depending on this, a cover performance is executed to notify whether the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with the pattern aligned after the end of the development performance (whether the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit or not).
In addition, during the period from when the pattern change starts to when each development performance starts, i.e., from when the pattern change starts to when the decorative pattern forms a reach state, images are displayed by the main display unit 81, sound (BGM) is produced by the speaker 33, and the lamp is turned on by the frame lamp 35 in a manner different from that during any of the development performances.

When the sub-hold control means 223 receives a hold command (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as occurrence of a hold winning), it sets performance data for displaying an image (hereinafter referred to as a "hold icon") corresponding to the reserved pattern change in the display area of the main display unit 81 based on the information of the special pattern 1 hold counter and the special pattern 2 hold counter included in the command. In this embodiment, the hold icon is an image corresponding to the pattern change related to the special pattern 1 if the special pattern change pattern is derived state PA, and an image corresponding to the pattern change related to the special pattern 2 if the special pattern change pattern is derived state PB or special pattern change pattern is derived state PC. In addition, although details will be described later, the hold icon is an image that suggests the expectation of a jackpot win in the corresponding reserved pattern change depending on the state of the icon, and the state (color or shape) of the image is determined by information included in the advance judgment command transmitted following the hold command.
Furthermore, the sub-reservation control means 223 sets performance data for displaying an image (hereinafter referred to as a "change icon") corresponding to the current pattern change in the display area of the main display unit 81. As with the reserved icon, the change icon is an image that suggests the expectation of a big win in the corresponding ongoing pattern change depending on the state of the icon, as will be described in detail later.

When the look-ahead performance control means 224 receives a pre-determination command, it determines the content of the look-ahead performance based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command.
A pre-reading effect is an effect that suggests the expectation for the result of a special symbol judgment in the pattern change of the pre-reading target, or the content of the effect to be executed in the pattern change of the pre-reading target, over one or more pattern changes before the pattern change of the pre-reading target begins.

When the effect content determining means 225 receives a variation start command, it determines the content of the effect to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the presentation route already determined by the presentation route determining means 222.
More specifically, the performance content determining means 225 determines the content (performance pattern) of the performance for each performance execution timing in the pattern change, for example, by a lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determining means 222, such as a lottery to determine the type of cut-in performance described later. In this way, it is possible to change the content of the performance related to (executed according to) the determined performance route, and to provide a connection between the performances in one pattern change. Also, even if the same performance route is determined, it is possible to diversify the performances to be executed.
In addition, the timing for determining the content of the performance may be, for example, the start of the pseudo-variation (including the start of the pattern variation), and if there are multiple pseudo-variations in one pattern variation, the lottery is executed at the start of each pseudo-variation. However, at the start of the pattern variation in which multiple pseudo-variations are executed, all of the performance contents in the multiple pseudo-variations may be determined.

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final combination of stopping patterns of the decorative patterns (left pattern, middle pattern, right pattern) based on the stopping patterns of the determined special patterns.
Specifically, the patterns B, C, and a correspond to odd-numbered patterns, the patterns A and b correspond to even-numbered patterns, and the patterns D and c correspond to random patterns.
In addition, when matching the combination of decorative patterns to be stopped with the stopping patterns of the special chart, it is not necessary to have the above-mentioned correspondence. For example, if the combination of decorative patterns to be stopped does not have a high expected value compared to the above-mentioned correspondence, such as matching pattern a with an even-numbered pattern arrangement, in some cases (a rate lower than the rate at which the above-mentioned correspondence is achieved), a combination of decorative patterns different from the above-mentioned correspondence may be adopted, and even in such cases, it can be said that the combination of decorative patterns to be stopped corresponds to the stopping patterns of the special chart.

When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot effect control means 227 determines the content of the jackpot effect that notifies the player that a jackpot game is in progress based on the information contained in the command. The jackpot effects include a start demo effect that notifies the player that a jackpot game has started, a round effect that notifies the player that a round game is in progress, and an end demo effect that notifies the player that a jackpot game has ended.

The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, according to the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read performance data includes performance data related to images, an image control command is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read performance data includes performance data related to sound, an audio control command related to sound is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.

In particular, when the restored state upon power restoration is a playable state (when RAM clear processing is involved), the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying the player that a playable state has been achieved with RAM clear processing, and when the restored state upon power restoration is a playable state (when RAM clear processing is not involved), the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying the player that a playable state has been achieved without RAM clear processing.
Furthermore, when the recovery state upon power restoration is a game stop state, the normal presentation control means 220 reads out presentation data for notifying not only that the game has been stopped, but also that it is necessary to execute a RAM clear process.
Details of these notifications are omitted, but it is preferable that they continue to be executed for a certain period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) after execution has begun, and the presentation device that executes the notification does not matter.

When an error command is transmitted, the sub-error control means 230 determines an error presentation pattern, and reads out presentation data for executing an error presentation in accordance with the error presentation pattern.
In addition, the error performance is executed with priority over the variable performance related to the pattern variation (the execution of the variable performance is regulated by the execution of the error performance). Here, the execution of the error performance with priority is not limited to the case where the device related to the execution of the error performance and the device related to the execution of the variable performance are the same device, and only the error performance is executed in the device, but also includes the case where the error performance is executed in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable performance in the device.
In addition, the sub-error control means 230 may independently (independently of the main error control means 165) determine whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, and if it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, read out presentation data for executing an error presentation. An example of such an error state is a right-hit error state determined based on the number of times gate 63 is won when the probability of winning is low.

The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35. For example, if the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to the frame lamp 35, the lamp control means 240 reads out the lamp control data based on the performance data and transmits the read lamp control data to the frame lamp 35.

When the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a movable role (movable decorative body 22, sub display unit 82, performance shield 85), the movable role control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable role from ROM 202 based on the performance data, and transmits it to the movable body to control the movement of the movable body.

The volume adjustment means 250 executes a volume adjustment process to adjust the volume, and a volume adjustment command generation process to generate the volume adjustment command described above.

The brightness adjustment means 255 executes a brightness adjustment process to adjust the brightness, and a brightness adjustment command generation process to generate the brightness adjustment command described above.

As described above, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in said means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas.

The sub-command management means 270 receives performance control commands transmitted from the main control board 100 and stores the received performance commands in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. If an image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260, the sub-command management means 270 transmits the image control command to the second sub-control board 300. Furthermore, if a voice control command or a volume adjustment command is stored in the storage area, the sub-command management means 270 transmits these commands to the voice control board 310. In principle, these commands are transmitted in the order in which they are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.

As explained above, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment aims to increase the excitement of the game by suggesting the likelihood of winning a jackpot in the pattern change corresponding to the image, using changes in the state of the reserved icon and the variable icon. The following provides a detailed explanation of this function and the invention related to this function.

<Overview of changes in the status of the reserved icon and the variable icon>
First, an overview of the changes in appearance of the hold icon and the variable icon will be explained using Figures 12 to 19.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the process by which pending icons and variable icons are consumed.
13(a) to 13(f) are diagrams showing the types of aspects of the default icon, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages of the default icon.
15(a) to 15(e) are diagrams showing the types of aspects of the box icon, and FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages of the box icon.
Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a flow when the shape of a box icon changes in a pattern change corresponding to the box icon, and Fig. 18(a) to Fig. 18(c) are diagrams showing types of aspects related to a trophy icon. Furthermore, Fig. 19 is a diagram showing a flow when the shape of a box icon does not change in a pattern change corresponding to the box icon.
In the following explanation, the pending icon and the variable icon may be collectively referred to simply as "icon."

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of how pending icons and variable icons are consumed. Below, this flow is explained in detail in chronological order.
In the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 12, a certain pattern change is being performed and four pattern changes are on hold. Therefore, in this scene, the change display area 811 shows a state in which decorative patterns are displayed on a changing basis. In this scene, the pending icon display area 812 displays icon image ag1, icon image ag2, icon image ag3, and icon image ag4 from the left as pending icons, and the changing icon display area 813 displays icon image ag0 as a changing icon corresponding to the pattern change being performed.
The second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 12 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 12, and this scene shows the state immediately before the pattern change that was being performed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 12 ends. Therefore, in this scene, the decorative pattern is temporarily stopped and displayed in the change display area 811. In this scene, the reserved icon display area 812 maintains the state in which the icon image ag1, the icon image ag2, the icon image ag3, and the icon image ag4 are displayed, and the change icon display area 813 maintains the state in which the icon image ag0 is displayed.
The third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 12 is the next scene after the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 12, and this scene shows the timing when the pattern change that was being performed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 12 has ended. Therefore, in this scene, the decorative pattern is displayed in a fixed stopped state in the change display area 811. And, in this scene, the icon image ag1, icon image ag2, icon image ag3, and icon image ag4 are maintained in the reserved icon display area 812, while the icon image ag0 is not displayed in the change icon display area 813.

The leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 12 is the next scene from the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 12, and in this scene, the timing when the next pattern change of the pattern change executed in the scene in the upper part of Fig. 12 is started is shown. Therefore, in this scene, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, the icon image ag2, the icon image ag3, and the icon image ag4 are displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 at the positions where they were displayed in the previous scene. Meanwhile, the icon image ag1 corresponding to the started pattern change is displayed between the reserved icon display area 812 and the change icon display area 813.
The second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 12 is the scene immediately after the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 12. Therefore, in this scene, the decorative pattern is displayed in a variable display area 811. In this scene, the icon image ag2, the icon image ag3, and the icon image ag4 are still displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 at the positions where they were displayed in the previous scene. Meanwhile, the icon image ag1 corresponding to the started pattern change is displayed in the variable icon display area 813.
The third scene from the left in the lower part of FIG. 12 is the scene immediately after the second scene from the left in the lower part of FIG. 12. Therefore, in this scene, the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed in a variable display area 811 is shown. In this scene, the icon image ag2, the icon image ag3, and the icon image ag4 are still displayed in the reserved icon display area 812, but the icon image ag2 has moved to the position where the icon image ag1 was displayed in the scene in the upper part of FIG. 12, the icon image ag3 has moved to the position where the icon image ag2 was displayed in the scene, and the icon image ag4 has moved to the position where the icon image ag3 was displayed in the pattern change in the scene. The icon image ag1 is displayed in the variable icon display area 813.

In this manner, in this embodiment, an icon image corresponding to the pending icon is displayed in the pending icon display area 812 located below the variable display area 811 in which the decorative pattern is displayed in a variable manner among the display areas related to the main display unit 81, and an icon image corresponding to the variable icon is displayed in the variable icon display area 813 located to the left of the variable display area 811. The icon image corresponding to the pending icon displayed in the pending icon display area 812 moves toward the variable icon display area 813 each time a pattern change prior to the pattern change corresponding to it is executed, and the icon image moves from the pending icon display area 812 toward the variable icon display area 813 when the pattern change corresponding to it is executed, becoming the icon image corresponding to the variable icon.

As shown in FIG. 12, the icon images displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 include the round icon images shown in icon image ag0, icon image ag1, icon image ag2, or icon image ag4 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "default icons"), and the box-shaped icon image shown in icon image ag3 (hereinafter "box icon"). As will be described in detail later, these icon images change into various forms, and the change in form (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "reserved icon change effect") suggests the likelihood of winning a jackpot in the corresponding pattern change.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the center of the icon image displayed in the variable icon display area 813 is not on the extension of the line connecting the centers of the icon images displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 (the imaginary line shown in the rightmost scene in the lower part of FIG. 12). Therefore, even if the shape of the icon image displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 and the shape of the icon image displayed in the variable icon display area 813 are the same, the player can distinguish whether the icon image corresponds to a reserved icon or a variable icon.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13(a) to FIG. 13(f), the default icon in this embodiment has a total of six stages of the same shape but different colors.
Specifically, there is a white default icon shown in Fig. 13(a), a blue default icon shown in Fig. 13(b), a green default icon shown in Fig. 13(c), a red default icon shown in Fig. 13(d), a gold default icon shown in Fig. 13(e), and a rainbow default icon shown in Fig. 13(f), and the order in which the icons are arranged increases the likelihood of winning a jackpot in the corresponding pattern variation, as will be described in detail later. Each default icon includes the characters "white", "blue", "green", "red", "gold", or "rainbow", but these are characters written for the sake of convenience and do not actually exist.

Next, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages for the default icon. Hereinafter, this flow will be specifically described in chronological order.
In the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 14, a certain pattern change is being performed and four pattern changes are pending. Therefore, in this scene, the change display area 811 shows a state in which a decorative pattern is being displayed. In this scene, three white default icons are lined up from the left in the pending icon display area 812, and a blue default icon ag5 is displayed behind them, and a white default icon is displayed in the variable icon display area 813 as a variable icon corresponding to the pattern change being performed.
The second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 14, and this scene shows the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 14 is started. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, two white default icons are lined up from the left in the pending icon display area 812, and behind them, the default icon ag5 that has changed from blue to green is displayed, and the white default icon is displayed in the change icon display area 813 as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14 is the next scene after the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14, and this scene shows the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14 is started. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, one white default icon is displayed in the reserved icon display area 812, and a green default icon ag5 is displayed behind it, and a white default icon is displayed in the change icon display area 813 as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 14 is the next scene after the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14, and in this scene, the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 14 is started is shown. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, the reserved icon display area 812 displays the default icon ag5 that has changed from green to gold, and the change icon display area 813 displays a white default icon as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 14 is the scene immediately after the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 14, and this scene shows the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 14 is started. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. And, in this scene, the reserved icon display area 812 does not display an icon image, and the gold default icon ag5 is displayed in the change icon display area 813 as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.

In this manner, in this embodiment, a default icon may be displayed at the timing when the corresponding pattern change is suspended, and the color stage of the displayed default icon may progress every time the pattern change is started during the period when the corresponding pattern change is suspended. However, in this embodiment, the color stage of the default icon does not regress.
As shown in the flow from the second scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 14 to the third scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 14, the color stages related to the default icon may not progress with the progression of a single pattern change.
Also, as shown by the flow from the third scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 14 to the leftmost scene in the lower row of Figure 14, the color stage of the default icon may progress through multiple stages rather than just one stage with the progression of a single pattern change.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the color stage associated with the default icon may change when the pattern change is initiated, but the timing at which the color stage associated with the default icon changes is not limited to the timing at which the pattern change is initiated, and may be any timing while the pattern change is in progress.

Next, as shown in Figures 15(a) to 15(e), there are a total of five types of box icon configurations in this embodiment, all of which have the same shape but different colors, and this number of types is less than the number of types of configurations related to the default icon.
Specifically, there are a white box icon shown in FIG. 15(a), a blue box icon shown in FIG. 15(b), a green box icon shown in FIG. 15(c), a red box icon shown in FIG. 15(d), and a gold box icon shown in FIG. 15(e). The details will be described later, but according to the order, the expectation of winning the big prize in the corresponding pattern change increases. Note that, like the above-mentioned default icon, each box icon includes the characters "white", "blue", "green", "red", or "gold", but these are characters written for the convenience of explanation and do not actually exist. Also, in this embodiment, there is no rainbow box icon.

Next, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the progression of color stages related to a box icon, and the progression will be specifically described below in chronological order.
In the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 16, a certain pattern change is being performed and four pattern changes are pending. Therefore, in this scene, the change display area 811 shows a state in which a decorative pattern is being displayed. In this scene, three white default icons are lined up from the left in the pending icon display area 812, and a white box icon ag6 is displayed behind them, and in the variable icon display area 813, a white default icon is displayed as a variable icon corresponding to the pattern change being performed.
The second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 16 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 16, and this scene shows the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 16 is started. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, two white default icons are lined up from the left in the pending icon display area 812, and a white box icon ag6 is displayed behind them, and a white default icon is displayed in the change icon display area 813 as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 16 is the next scene from the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 16, and in this scene, the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 16 is started is shown. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, one white default icon is displayed in the pending icon display area 812, and behind it, a box icon ag6 that has changed from white to green is displayed, and in the change icon display area 813, a white default icon is displayed as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 16 is the next scene after the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 16, and this scene shows the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 16 is started. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, the pending icon display area 812 displays a box icon ag6 that has changed from green to red, and the change icon display area 813 displays a white default icon as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The second scene from the left in the lower part of FIG. 16 is the scene immediately after the leftmost scene in the lower part of FIG. 16, and in this scene, the timing when the next pattern change after the pattern change executed in the leftmost scene in the lower part of FIG. 16 is started is shown. Therefore, the change display area 811 shows the state in which the decorative pattern is displayed. In this scene, the pending icon display area 812 does not display an icon image, and the change icon display area 813 displays a red box icon ag6 as a change icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed. Note that, although details will be described later, in this embodiment, in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, the shape of the box icon displayed in the change icon display area 813 may change to a trophy icon.

In this manner, in this embodiment, a box icon may be displayed at the time when the corresponding pattern change is put on hold, and the color stage associated with the displayed box icon may progress each time a pattern change is initiated during the period in which the corresponding pattern change is put on hold, similar to the progression of the color stages associated with the default icon, and the color stage associated with the box icon will not regress.
As shown in the flow from the leftmost scene in the upper row of Figure 16 to the second scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 16, the color stages of the box icon may not progress with the progression of a single pattern change.
Also, as shown in the flow from the second scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 16 to the third scene from the left in the upper row of Figure 16, the color stage of the box icon may progress through multiple stages rather than just one stage with the progression of a single pattern change.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the color stage of the box icon changes when the pattern change begins, but similar to the progression of the color stages of the default icon, the timing at which the color stage of the box icon changes is not limited to the timing at which the pattern change begins, and may be any timing while the pattern change is in progress.

Next, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow when the shape of a box icon changes in a pattern variation corresponding to the box icon. Hereinafter, this flow will be specifically described in chronological order.
The leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 17 is the same as the second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 16, and in this scene, the state in which all of the pattern rows related to the decorative pattern are displayed in a variable display area 811 is shown. In this scene, no icon image is displayed in the reserved icon display area 812, and a red box icon ag6 is displayed in the variable icon display area 813 as a variable icon corresponding to the pattern change being executed.
The second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 17 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 17, and in this scene, the variable display area 811 shows how all of the pattern rows related to the decorative patterns are displayed in a variable manner. In this scene, the reserved icon display area 812 displays a smoke image kg that imitates smoke and indicates whether the shape of the box icon ag6 displayed in the previous scene will change.
The third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 17 is the next scene after the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 17, and in this scene, the state in which all of the pattern rows related to the decorative patterns are variably displayed is shown in the variable display area 811. In this scene, the smoke image kg is not displayed in the reserved icon display area 812, and a trophy icon ag7, which is an icon image imitating a trophy and has a different shape from the box icon ag6 that was displayed until then, is displayed.
The leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 17 is the next scene after the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 17, and in this scene, a decorative pattern row that has reached a reach state is displayed in the variable display area 811. In this scene, a smoke image kg that imitates smoke and indicates whether the shape of the trophy icon ag7 displayed in the previous scene will change further is displayed in the reserved icon display area 812.
The second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 17 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 17, and in this scene, the decorative pattern row that is in a reach state continues to be displayed in the variable display area 811. In this scene, the smoke image kg displayed in the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 17 is hidden in the reserved icon display area 812, and a trophy icon ag8, which is an icon image with a different shape from the trophy icon ag7, is displayed.

Thus, in this embodiment, when a pattern change corresponding to a box icon occurs, at the timing when the pattern change begins, the shape of the box icon displayed in the pending icon display area 812 may change to an icon image (trophy icon) of a different shape than the box icon.
In addition, the icon image whose shape has changed at the timing when the pattern change starts in the reserved icon display area 812 may further change in shape at the timing when the decorative pattern constitutes a reach state. Although not shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the shape of the icon image (changing icon) displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 may also change between the timing when the development performance starts and the timing when the cover performance in the development performance starts. That is, in this embodiment, in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, if the shape of the icon image changes at the timing when the pattern change starts, the shape of the icon image whose shape has changed may further change at the timing when the reach state occurs thereafter and the timing when the development performance starts and the timing when the cover performance in the development performance starts.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when multiple shape changes occur to the changing icon in a pattern change corresponding to a box icon, the time from the first shape change to the changing icon in the pattern change to the next shape change is longer than the time from the start of the pattern change to the first shape change to the changing icon.
This makes it easier to recognize each of the shape changes that occur multiple times for the variable icon.In addition, when achieving this effect, in some cases where the shape changes occur multiple times for the variable icon in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, the time from the first shape change to the next shape change in the variable icon in the pattern change may be shorter than the time from the start of the pattern change to the first shape change for the variable icon.

Although this was omitted in the explanation of the default icon above, in this embodiment, the color of the default icon may change in the pattern change corresponding to the default icon at three different times: when the pattern change starts, when a reach state occurs, and when the development performance starts and when the cover performance in the development performance starts.

Next, as shown in Figures 18(a) to 18(c), in this embodiment, there are three different types of trophy icons that imitate a trophy, each with a different shape, and this number of types is less than both the number of types of aspects associated with the default icon and the number of types of aspects associated with the box icon.
Specifically, there is a small trophy icon shown in Fig. 18(a), a medium trophy icon shown in Fig. 18(b), and a large trophy icon shown in Fig. 18(c), and the details will be described later, but according to the order, the expectation of winning the big prize in the corresponding pattern change increases. Note that the trophy icon displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 in the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 17 is a small trophy icon, and the trophy icon displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 in the second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 17 is a medium trophy icon.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, like the default icon and box icon, the stage of the shape of the trophy icon does not regress, and the stage may advance by several stages at the same time.

Next, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flow in the case where the shape of a box icon does not change in a pattern variation corresponding to the box icon. The flow will be specifically described below in chronological order.
The leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 19 shows the timing when the pattern change related to the white box icon starts, and in this scene, the state in which all of the pattern rows related to the decorative pattern are displayed in a changing display area 811. In this scene, the white box icon ag9 is displayed in the reserved icon display area 812.
The second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 19 is the next scene to the leftmost scene in the upper part of Fig. 19, and in this scene, the state in which all of the pattern rows related to the decorative pattern are displayed in a variable display area 811 is shown. In this scene, the white box icon ag9 is displayed between the reserved icon display area 812 and the variable icon display area 813.
The third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 19 is the next scene after the second scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 19, and in this scene, the variable display area 811 shows how all of the pattern rows related to the decorative patterns are displayed. In this scene, the white box icon ag9 is displayed in the variable icon display area 813.
The leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 19 is the next scene after the third scene from the left in the upper part of Fig. 19, and in this scene, the variable display area 811 shows how all of the pattern rows related to the decorative patterns are variably displayed. In this scene, the reserved icon display area 812 displays a smoke image kg that imitates smoke and indicates whether the shape of the box icon ag9 displayed in the previous scene will change.
The second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 19 is the next scene after the leftmost scene in the lower part of Fig. 19, and in this scene, the state in which all of the pattern rows related to the decorative patterns are variably displayed is shown in the variable display area 811. In this scene, the smoke image kg is hidden, and the box icon ag9 that was displayed up until then is displayed.
The third scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 19 is the next scene after the second scene from the left in the lower part of Fig. 19, and in this scene, a pattern string related to a decorative pattern is displayed in a random manner and fixed in the variable display area 811. In this scene, the box icon ag9 that was displayed up until that point is not displayed.

In this embodiment, in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, the shape of the box icon displayed in the reserved icon display area 812 may not change at the timing when the pattern change starts. In this case, the pattern change ends without the decorative pattern forming a reach state, and the development performance is not executed.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, if the shape of the box icon displayed in the pending icon display area 812 does not change, the box icon is displayed again in the variable icon display area 813. In this case, a white default icon may be displayed in the variable icon display area 813, or no icon image may be displayed in the variable icon display area 813.
Also, although not shown in Figure 17, in the case of the box icon, similarly to the default icon, when the pattern change related to the box icon begins, the box icon image moves from the pending icon display area 812 toward the changing icon display area 813 and becomes an icon image corresponding to the changing icon.

<Regarding variable icon control processing and reserved icon control processing>
In the above explanation, an overview of the changes in the state of the hold icon and the variable icon, such as the type of state and the timing of change of the hold icon and the variable icon, has been explained, but the flow of the state (color) change of the hold icon is determined by a color change scenario determined by the hold icon control process, and the flow of the state (shape) change of the variable icon is determined by a shape change scenario determined by the variable icon control process. The details of these control processes will be explained below using Figures 20 to 24.

First, the details of the hold icon control process will be explained using Figures 20 to 24.
20 is a flow of the reserved icon control process, which is executed every time a reserved command is received by the sub-reserved control means 223. In the explanation of this process, the pattern change corresponding to the reserved command for which this process is executed may be referred to as the target pattern change.
Fig. 21(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used in a lottery for executing an icon change effect, and Fig. 21(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used in determining an icon change type. Fig. 22(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used in determining a final color of a default icon, and Fig. 22(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table used in determining a final color of a box icon. Figs. 23(a) to 23(e) are schematic diagrams showing lottery tables used in determining the number of times the default icon changes color. Figs. 24(a) to 24(d) are schematic diagrams showing lottery tables used in determining the number of times the box icon changes color. The random numbers used in these lotteries range from 0 to 99.

As shown in Fig. 20, in step S202, which is the first step of the reserved icon control process, it is determined whether or not a development performance is executed in the previous pattern change, and if the condition is satisfied, the reserved icon control process is terminated, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S204. Note that the previous pattern change includes not only the reserved pattern change, but also the pattern change if a pattern change is being executed. Also, when the reserved icon control process is terminated by the determination process, the reserved icon corresponding to the target pattern change becomes a white default icon.
In step S204, whether or not to execute the reserved icon change effect is determined by lottery. The details of the lottery will be described later.
In step S206, it is determined whether or not the lottery in step S204 has been won, and if the lottery has been won, the process proceeds to step S208, and if the lottery has not been won, the reserved icon control process is terminated. Note that, when the reserved icon control process is terminated by the determination process, the reserved icon corresponding to the target pattern change becomes a white default icon.
In step S208, the icon change type is determined by lottery. In the present embodiment, the icon change type includes a type in which the reserved icon related to the reserved icon change performance is a default icon (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a "default icon"), and a type in which the reserved icon related to the reserved icon change performance is a box icon (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a "box icon"). The details of the lottery will be described later.
In step S210, the final color of the target icon image (mainly the reserved icon) is determined by lottery based on the determined icon change type, etc. The details of the lottery will be described later.
In step S212, the number of times the color of the target icon image is to be changed is determined by lottery based on the determined icon change type and the determined final color, etc. The details of this lottery will be described later.

In step S214, one change scenario is determined from a plurality of color change scenarios based on the determined icon change type, the determined final color, and the determined number of color changes, and the pending icon control process is terminated.
In this embodiment, a color change scenario refers to a flow in which a color is changed from an initial color (white) to a determined final color through a determined number of color changes, and each color change is fitted to a color change timing corresponding to a determined icon change type.

As shown in Figure 21 (a), in the lottery that determines whether or not to execute the pending icon change performance, in addition to the result of the special chart determination for the target pattern change, the special chart change pattern determined for that pattern change is referenced.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special chart change pattern is determined in which a development effect is not executed in the pattern change, then there is a 20/100 (1/5) probability that a pending icon change effect will be executed, and there is an 80/100 (1/1.25) probability that a pending icon change effect will not be executed.
When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development effect is executed in the pattern change is determined, there is a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25) that the reserved icon change effect will be executed, and there is a probability of 20/100 (1/5) that the reserved icon change effect will not be executed.
Furthermore, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot, there is a 90/100 (approximately 1/1.11) probability that the execution of the reserved icon change performance is determined, and there is a 10/100 (1/10) probability that the execution of the reserved icon change performance is not determined.

Thus, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot, and when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined, the execution of the pending icon change performance is determined with a higher probability than when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change is determined.
Therefore, by executing the pending icon change effect, the player can expect to win a jackpot with the pattern change corresponding to that effect.

Also, as shown in FIG. 21(b), in the lottery that determines the type of icon change, in addition to the result of the special symbol determination in the target symbol change, the special symbol change pattern determined in the said symbol change is referenced.
Specifically, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change is determined, there is a 90/100 (approximately 1/1.11) probability that a default icon will be determined as the icon change type, and there is a 10/100 (1/10) probability that a box icon will be determined as the icon change type.
If the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined, there is a 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43) probability that a default icon will be determined as the icon change type, and there is a 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33) probability that a box icon will be determined as the icon change type.
Furthermore, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot, there is a 50/100 (1/2) probability that a default icon will be determined as the icon change type, and there is a 50/100 (1/2) probability that a box icon will be determined as the icon change type.

Thus, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot, and when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined, a box icon is determined as the icon change type with a higher probability than when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change is determined.
Therefore, when the reserved icon corresponding to the target pattern change during execution of the reserved icon change effect becomes a box icon, the player can be more likely to expect a jackpot win with the pattern change corresponding to that effect.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 21, the probability (proportion) of a box icon being determined when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss is lower than the probability of a default icon being determined when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss, and the probability (proportion) of a box icon being determined when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot is the same as the probability of a default icon being determined when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot. Therefore, in this embodiment, it can be said that the box icon has a higher expectation of winning the jackpot than the default icon.

As shown in Figure 22 (a), in the lottery to determine the final color of the icon image when a default icon is determined as the icon change type, in addition to the result of the special pattern determination for the target pattern change, the special pattern change pattern determined for the pattern change is referenced.
Specifically, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern is determined in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change, blue is determined as the final color with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and in this case, green, red, gold, and rainbow are never determined as the final color.
If the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined, the final color is determined to be blue with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), green with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), red with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), or gold with a probability of 5/100 (1/20), and in this case, rainbow is never determined as the final color.
Furthermore, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot, the final color will be blue with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), green with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), red with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), gold with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), or rainbow with a probability of 5/100 (1/20).

Thus, in this embodiment, when a default icon is determined as the icon change type, the probability that green, red, or gold will be determined as the final color is higher when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot than when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined.
When the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot, rainbow is determined as the final color, whereas when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special pattern change pattern is determined in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change, or when the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special pattern change pattern is determined in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change, rainbow is not determined as the final color.
Furthermore, the probability that blue will be determined as the final color decreases in the following order: when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change is determined; when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined; and when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot.
Therefore, when the default icon is determined as the icon change type, the final color has the highest expectation of winning the jackpot in the target pattern change in the order of blue, green, red, gold, and rainbow. In particular, rainbow is the color that determines the jackpot in the target pattern change. The white default icon is generated when the execution of the reserved icon change performance is not determined, and has the lowest expectation of winning the jackpot.

As shown in Figure 22 (b), in the lottery to determine the final color of the icon image when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, in addition to the result of the special pattern determination for the target pattern change, the special pattern change pattern determined for the pattern change is referenced.
Specifically, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in that pattern change is determined, the final color will be white with a probability of 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43), blue with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), and green with a probability of 10/100 (1/10); in this case, red and gold will never be determined as the final color.
If the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, and a special pattern change pattern in which a development performance is executed in that pattern change is determined, the final color will be white with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), blue with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), green with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), red with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), or gold with a probability of 5/100 (1/20).
Furthermore, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot, the final color will be white with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), blue with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), green with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), red with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), or gold with a probability of 10/100 (1/10).

Thus, in this embodiment, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the probability that blue or green will be determined as the final color increases in the following order: when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern is determined in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change; when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern is determined in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change; and when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot.
In addition, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the probability that red or gold will be determined as the final colors increases in the following order: when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is executed in the pattern change is determined; when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a jackpot; and when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and a special chart change pattern in which a development performance is not executed in the pattern change is determined, red or gold will not be determined as the final colors.
Therefore, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the final colors have a higher probability of winning a jackpot in the target pattern change in the order of white, blue, green, red, and gold.

Also, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, if the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss and no development performance is performed in that pattern change, in addition to white, blue and green are determined as the final colors. In other words, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type and blue and green are determined as the final colors, there are cases where a development performance is not performed in the target pattern change, and the rate increases in the order of green, blue.

As shown in Figures 23(a) to 23(e), in the lottery for determining the number of color changes when the default icon is determined as the icon change type, in addition to the final color, the reserved position of the target pattern change at the time of winning is referenced. Note that the reserved position at the time of winning is the reserved position determined by the reserved counter value incremented by the winning, and is not the reserved position determined by the reserved counter value before incremented by the winning.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 23(a), if blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Reserve 4, there is a 100/100 (1/1) probability that the number of color changes will be 1, and the number of color changes will never be between 2 and 5.
When blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Reserve 3, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes is never determined to be 2 to 5.
When blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is H2, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes is never determined to be 2 to 5.
Furthermore, if blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is HOLD 1, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes will never be determined as 2 to 5.
In addition, when blue is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be 2 to 5 because the number of color changes required for the default icon to turn blue is 1 or less.

As shown in FIG. 23(b), if green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25), and will never be determined to be 3 to 5 times.
When green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 2 with a probability of 75/100 (approximately 1/1.33), and 3 to 5 times is never determined as the number of color changes.
When green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern variation is H2, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 2 with a probability of 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43), and 3 to 5 times is never determined as the number of color changes.
Furthermore, if green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 35/100 (approximately 1/2.86), 2 with a probability of 65/100 (approximately 1/1.54), and the number of color changes will never be determined as 3 to 5.
In addition, when green is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be 3 to 5 because the number of color changes required for the default icon to turn green is 2 or less.

As shown in FIG. 23(c), if red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 2 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), or 3 with a probability of 65/100 (approximately 1/1.54), and will never be determined to be 4 or 5 times.
If red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), or 3 with a probability of 55/100 (approximately 1/1.82), and will never be determined as 4 or 5 times.
If red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), or 3 with a probability of 45/100 (approximately 1/2.22), and will never be determined as 4 or 5 times.
Furthermore, if red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 2 with a probability of 35/100 (approximately 1/2.86), and 3 with a probability of 35/100 (approximately 1/2.86), and 4 and 5 times will never be determined as the number of color changes.
In addition, when red is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be four or five because the number of color changes required for the default icon to turn red is three or less.

As shown in FIG. 23(d), if gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 2 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 3 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 4 with a probability of 55/100 (approximately 1/1.82), and 5 times will never be determined as the number of color changes.
If gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 2 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 3 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 4 with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), and will never be determined as 5 times.
If gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 3 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 4 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), and 5 will never be determined as the number of color changes.
Furthermore, if gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 3 with a probability of 35/100 (approximately 1/2.86), 4 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), and 5 will never be determined as the number of color changes.
In addition, when gold is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be five because the number of color changes required for the default icon to turn gold is four or less.

As shown in FIG. 23(e), if rainbow colors are determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes determined will be 1 with a probability of 5/100 (1/20), 2 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 3 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 4 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), or 5 with a probability of 50/100 (1/2).
If the final color is determined to be rainbow color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 2 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 3 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 4 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), or 5 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33).
If the final color is determined to be rainbow colored and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 15/100 (approximately 1/6.67), 2 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 3 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 4 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), and 5 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10).
Furthermore, if the final color is determined to be rainbow color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), 3 with a probability of 30/100 (about 1/3.33), 4 with a probability of 25/100 (1/4), and 5 is never determined as the number of color changes. This is because 5 color change timings cannot be secured even if the color change timings of the three places during the execution of the target pattern change described above (at the start of the pattern change, when the reach occurs, during the development performance) of the target pattern change are taken into consideration.

Thus, in this embodiment, when the default icon is determined as the icon change type, the number of color changes tends to be greatest in the following order: the color determined as the final color is blue, then green, then red, then gold, and finally rainbow.

As shown in Figures 24(a) to 24(d), in the lottery to determine the number of color changes when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, in addition to the final color, the reserved position of the target pattern change at the time of winning is referenced, as in the lottery to determine the number of color changes when a default icon is determined as the icon change type.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24(a), if blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Reserve 4, there is a 100/100 (1/1) probability that the number of color changes will be determined to be 1, and the number of color changes will never be determined to be 2 to 4.
When blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes is never determined to be 2 to 4.
When blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is H2, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes is never determined to be 2 to 4.
Furthermore, if blue is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is HOLD 1, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 100/100 (1/1), and the number of color changes will never be determined as 2 to 4.
In addition, when blue is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be two to four because the number of color changes required for the box icon to turn blue is one or less.

As shown in FIG. 24(b), if green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25), and 3 and 4 times will never be determined as the number of color changes.
When green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern variation is Hold 3, the number of color changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), 2 with a probability of 60/100 (approximately 1/1.67), and 3 to 4 times is never determined as the number of color changes.
If green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 60/100 (approximately 1/1.67), 2 with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), and 3 and 4 times will never be determined as the number of color changes.
Furthermore, if green is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is reserved 1, there is a 100/100 probability that the number of color changes will be determined as 1, and the number of color changes will never be determined as 2 in addition to 3 and 4. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change begins.
In addition, when green is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be three or four because the number of color changes required for the box icon to turn green is two or less.

As shown in FIG. 24(c), if red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined to be 1 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), or 3 with a probability of 60/100 (approximately 1/1.67), and will never be determined to be 4.
If red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 3 with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5), and 3 times, and will never be determined as 4 times.
If red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), 2 with a probability of 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43), and the number of color changes will never be determined as 3 in addition to 4. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change starts.
Furthermore, if red is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, there is a 100/100 probability that the number of color changes will be 1, and the number of color changes will never be determined to be 4, 2, or 3. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change begins.
In addition, when red is determined as the final color, the number of color changes is not determined to be four because the number of color changes required for the box icon to turn red is three or less.

As shown in FIG. 24(d), if gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 4, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 2 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 3 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), or 4 with a probability of 40/100 (1/2.5).
If gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 3, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (about 1/3.33), 3 with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), and 4 will never be determined as the number of color changes. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change starts.
If gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 2, the number of color changes will be determined as 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25), and 3 or 4 will never be determined as the number of color changes. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change starts.
If gold is determined as the final color and the reserved position at the time of winning of the target pattern change is Hold 1, there is a 100/100 probability that the number of color changes will be 1, and the number of color changes will never be 2 to 4. This is because the timing of the color change cannot be secured before the execution of the target pattern change begins.

In this way, in this embodiment, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the number of color changes tends to be greatest in the following order: the final color determined is blue, then green, then red, and finally gold.

Here, as explained in Fig. 22(b), when the box icon is determined as the icon change type, if blue and green are determined as the final color, there are cases where the development performance is not executed in the target pattern change, and the rate increases in the order of green, blue. And, as described later, if the development performance is not executed in the target pattern change, the shape change of the changing icon is not executed.
Therefore, in this embodiment, it can be said that the rate at which a shape change of the variable icon is executed in the target pattern change tends to be higher as the number of color changes increases when a box icon is determined as the icon change type.

Also, as described above, in this embodiment, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the final colors have the highest expected probability of winning a jackpot in the target pattern change, in the order of white, blue, green, red, and gold.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the time from the start of the pattern change to the occurrence of the reach state becomes longer as the number of pseudo changes that occur increases. And, the expectation of winning the jackpot in the pattern change increases as the number of pattern changes that occur increases.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when multiple shape changes occur to the changing icon in the target pattern change, the time from the first shape change to the next shape change occurs to the changing icon in the pattern change tends to be longer the more times color changes are performed on the pending icon corresponding to the pattern change.

Next, the details of the variable icon control process will be described with reference to Figures 25 and 26 .
25 is a flow of the variable icon control process, which is executed every time a variable start command for starting the pattern variable corresponding to the box icon is received by the sub-reservation control means 223. In the explanation of the process, the pattern variable corresponding to the variable start command for which the process is executed may be referred to as the target pattern variable.
Fig. 26(a) is a schematic drawing of a lottery table used to determine the final shape of the variable icon in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, Fig. 26(b) is a schematic drawing of a lottery table used to determine the number of shape changes in the pattern change corresponding to the box icon, and Fig. 26(c) is a schematic drawing of a lottery table used to determine the shape of the variable icon that changes at the timing when the pattern change corresponding to the box icon starts. The range of random numbers used in these lotteries is 0 to 99.

As shown in FIG. 25, in step S302, which is the first step of the variable icon control process, it is determined whether or not a development effect will be executed in the current pattern change. If the condition is not met, the variable icon control process is terminated, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S304.
In step S304, the final shape of the variable icon is determined by lottery. The details of the lottery will be described later.
In step S306, the number of shape changes is determined based on the final shape of the determined variable icon, etc.
In step S308, a shape change scenario that defines the flow of shape changes is determined based on the determined final shape and the determined number of shape changes, and the variable icon control process is terminated. Here, the shape change scenario in this embodiment refers to a flow that changes from the initial shape (box icon) to the determined final shape with the determined number of shape changes, similar to the above-mentioned color change scenario, and each shape change is fitted to a predetermined shape change timing. In this embodiment, the first shape change is assigned to the timing when the target pattern change starts.
In this manner, in this embodiment, the shape change scenario is determined by the determined final shape and the determined number of shape changes. However, a shape change scenario including the final shape and the number of shape changes may be adopted, and one shape change scenario may be determined from a plurality of such shape change scenarios.

As shown in FIG. 26(a), in the lottery that determines the final shape of the variable icon in the target pattern change, the result of the special pattern win/loss judgment is referenced.
Specifically, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the target pattern change is a miss, a small trophy icon will be determined as the final shape of the changing icon with a probability of 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43), and a medium trophy icon will be determined as the final shape of the changing icon with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), and a large trophy icon will never be determined as the final shape of the changing icon.
On the other hand, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the target pattern change is a jackpot, the final shape of the changing icon will be determined to be a small trophy icon with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), a medium trophy icon with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), or a large trophy icon with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33).

Thus, in this embodiment, the probability that a medium trophy icon or a large trophy icon will be determined as the final shape of the changing icon in a target pattern change is higher when the result of the judgment on whether the pattern change is a hit or miss than when the result of the judgment on whether the pattern change is a miss.
Furthermore, with regard to the probability that a small trophy icon will be determined as the final shape of the changing icon in the target pattern change, the probability when the result of the judgment on whether the pattern change is a hit or miss is lower than the probability when the result of the judgment on whether the pattern change is a hit or miss.
Therefore, the probability of winning the jackpot increases in the order of the small trophy icon, the medium trophy icon, and the large trophy icon when the final shape of the variable icon is determined. In particular, when the result of the hit/miss judgment of the target pattern change is a miss, the large trophy icon is not determined as the final shape of the variable icon in the pattern change. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the variable icon related to the target pattern change changes to the large trophy icon, the result of the hit/miss judgment of the pattern change is determined to be a jackpot.
As described above, the trophy icon is displayed only when the box icon is displayed (when the development effect is executed). Therefore, in this embodiment, the trophy icon has a higher chance of winning the jackpot than the box icon.

As shown in FIG. 26(b), in the lottery that determines the number of shape changes in the target pattern change, the final shape of the changing icon is referenced.
Specifically, when the final shape of the variable icon is a small trophy, there is a 100/100 (1/1) probability that the number of shape changes will be determined as 1, and the number of shape changes will never be determined as 2 or 3. This is because the number of shape changes required for the box icon to become a small trophy icon is 1 or less.
When the final shape of the variable icon is a medium trophy, the number of shape changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 20/100 (1/5), 2 with a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25), and never 3. This is because the number of shape changes required for the box icon to become a small trophy icon is 2 or less.
If the final shape of the changing icon is a grand trophy, the number of shape changes is determined to be 1 with a probability of 10/100 (1/10), 2 with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33), or 3 with a probability of 60/100 (approximately 1/1.67).

Thus, in this embodiment, the final shape of the determined variable icon tends to be in the order of small trophy icon, medium trophy icon, and large trophy icon, that is, the number of shape changes determined tends to increase in the order of increasing expectancy of winning a jackpot.
As described above, when a box icon is determined as the icon change type, the number of color changes determined tends to increase in the following order: the final color determined is blue, then green, then red, and finally gold, and the expected probability of winning the jackpot in the target pattern change increases in this order.
Therefore, in this embodiment, it can be said that the more the number of color changes during the period in which the target pattern change is suspended, the more the number of shape changes in the target pattern change tends to increase.

In the present embodiment, the shape change scenario is assigned the first shape change at the timing when the target pattern change starts. Therefore, except for the case surrounded by a thick frame in FIG. 26(b), that is, the final shape of the change icon is a large trophy icon and the determined number of shape changes is two, the shape change scenario remains one pattern. On the other hand, the shape change scenario in this case has a pattern in which the change icon shape at the time of the first shape change is a small trophy icon and a pattern in which it is a medium trophy icon, and which of these shape change scenarios is adopted is determined by lottery with reference to the number of pseudo-changes in the target pattern change.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 26(c), when the number of pseudo-changes in the target pattern change is one, a shape-change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a small trophy icon with a probability of 80/100 (1/1.25), and a shape-change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a medium trophy icon with a probability of 20/100 (1/5).
When the number of pseudo-changes in the target pattern change is two, a shape change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a small trophy icon with a probability of 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43), and a shape change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a medium trophy icon with a probability of 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33).
Furthermore, if the number of pseudo-changes in the target pattern change is three, a shape change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a small trophy icon with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), and a shape change scenario is determined in which the shape of the changed icon at the first shape change becomes a medium trophy icon with a probability of 50/100 (1/2).

As described above, in this embodiment, when multiple shape changes are performed on the changing icon during the target pattern change, the number of pseudo-changes performed may differ between when the shape of the changing icon at the first shape change is a small trophy icon and when the shape of the changing icon at the first shape change is a medium trophy icon.
In this embodiment, as described above, the time from the start of the pattern change to the occurrence of the reach state differs depending on the number of pseudo changes that occur. In other words, when multiple shape changes occur for the change icon in the target pattern change, the time from the first shape change to the next shape change occurs for the change icon in the pattern change differs depending on the number of pseudo changes that occur.

As described above, in the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, the aspect (color, shape) of the icon indicates the expected probability of winning the jackpot related to the pattern change (target pattern change) corresponding to the icon.
In addition, in this embodiment, in order to make it easier to recognize the state of the icon, the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp (frame lamp 35a) have a function of lighting in a lighting color related to the state of the icon. The details of this function will be explained below.

<About the lighting colors of movable decorative objects>
First, using Figures 27 and 28, the details of the movable decorative body lighting control process that controls the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 will be explained.
Figure 27 shows a flow of the movable decorative object lighting control process, which is executed when the display of a pending icon other than the white default icon is started and when the appearance of the displayed icon changes.
Figure 28 (a) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the default icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body 22, Figure 28 (b) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the box icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body 22, and Figure 28 (c) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the shape of the trophy icon and the lighting color of the movable decorative body 22.

As shown in FIG. 27, in step S402, which is the first step of the movable decorative object lighting control process, it is determined whether the icon that triggered the execution of this movable decorative object lighting control process is a default icon, and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S404, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S404, a lighting color corresponding to the color of the default icon is determined.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28(a), if the color of the default icon that triggered the execution of the movable decoration lighting control process is blue, blue is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22; if the color of the default icon is green, green is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22; if the color of the default icon is red, red is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22; if the color of the default icon is gold, gold is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22; and if the color of the default icon is rainbow, rainbow is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22.
In other words, in this embodiment, if the icon that triggers the execution of the movable decorative body lighting control process is a default icon, the movable decorative body 22 will light up in the same color as the default icon.
Furthermore, when the white default icon is displayed, the movable decorative body 22 does not light up.

In step S406, it is determined whether the icon that triggered the execution of the movable decorative object lighting control process is a box icon, and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S408, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S410.

In step S408, a lighting color corresponding to the color of the box icon is determined.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 28 (b), if the color of the box icon that triggered the execution of the movable decoration body lighting control process is white, white is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration body 22, if the color of the box icon is blue, blue is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration body 22, if the color of the box icon is green, green is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration body 22, if the color of the box icon is red, red is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration body 22, and if the color of the box icon is gold, gold is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration body 22.
In other words, in this embodiment, if the icon that triggers the execution of the movable decorative object lighting control process is a box icon, the movable decorative object 22 will light up in the same color as the box icon.
As described above, when a white box icon is displayed, the movable ornament 22 lights up in white. This allows a sense of expectation for a box icon to be generated when the box icon is displayed in white, which is not expected in the default icon.

In step S410, a lighting color corresponding to the shape of the trophy icon is determined.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 28 (c), if the shape of the trophy icon that triggered the execution of the movable decoration lighting control process is a small trophy, red is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22, if the shape of the trophy icon is a medium trophy, gold is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22, and if the shape of the trophy icon is a large trophy, rainbow is determined as the lighting color of the movable decoration 22.

In step S412, the performance data for lighting the movable decorative body 22 in the currently determined lighting color is set, and then the movable decorative body lighting control process is terminated. As a result, the movable decorative body 22 lights up in the currently determined lighting color.

Thus, in this embodiment, the movable decorative body 22 lights up in a color corresponding to the aspect of the icon, and no lottery is held to determine the lighting color.
In particular, the movable decorative body 22 does not light up except in the lighting color corresponding to the state of the icon. In other words, the movable decorative body 22 is a dedicated device provided only for executing the performance of changing the lighting color according to the state of the icon.

<About the color of the upper lamp>
Next, the upper lamp lighting control process for controlling the lighting of the upper lamp (frame lamp 35a) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
Figure 29 is a flow chart of the upper lamp lighting control process, which, like the movable decorative object lighting control process, is executed when the display of a pending icon other than the white default icon is started and when the appearance of the icon being displayed changes.
FIG. 30 shows a flow of the upper lamp corresponding color determination process, and this process is called in the upper lamp lighting control process.
Figures 31(a) to 31(c) are schematic diagrams showing lottery tables used for the execution lottery for lighting up the corresponding color, and Figure 31(d) is a schematic diagram showing the lottery table used for the execution lottery for lighting up the confirmed color.The range of random numbers used in these lotteries is 0 to 99.
Figure 32(a) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the default icon and the color of the upper lamp, Figure 32(b) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the color of the box icon and the color of the upper lamp, and Figure 32(c) is a table summarizing the correspondence between the shape of the trophy icon and the color of the upper lamp.

29, in step S502, which is the first step of the upper lamp lighting control process, a lottery is performed to determine whether to light up a corresponding color. Here, lighting up a corresponding color refers to changing the lighting color of the upper lamp to the color corresponding to the state of the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process.
Specifically, as shown in Figures 31(a) to 31(c), in the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color, the type of icon that triggered the execution of this upper lamp lighting control process (default icon, box icon, trophy icon) is referenced, as well as the result of the special pattern win/loss determination for the pattern change corresponding to that icon.
As shown in Figure 31 (a), if the type of icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a default icon, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the pattern change corresponding to the icon is a miss, there is a 20/100 (1/5) probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting up the corresponding color and a 80/100 (1/1.25) probability of not winning the execution lottery for lighting up the corresponding color, while if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a jackpot, there is a 50/100 (1/2) probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting up the corresponding color and a 50/100 (1/2) probability of not winning the execution lottery for lighting up the corresponding color.
As shown in Figure 31 (b), if the type of icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a box icon, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the pattern change corresponding to the icon is a miss, there is a 20/100 (1/5) probability of winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting and a 80/100 (1/1.25) probability of not winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting, while if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a jackpot, there is a 70/100 (approximately 1/1.43) probability of winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting and a 30/100 (approximately 1/3.33) probability of not winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting.
As shown in Figure 31 (c), if the type of icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a trophy icon, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for the pattern change corresponding to the icon is a miss, there is a 20/100 (1/5) probability of winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting and a 80/100 (1/1.25) probability of not winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting, whereas if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a jackpot, there is a 60/100 (approximately 1/1.67) probability of winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting and a 40/100 (1/2.5) probability of not winning the execution lottery for the corresponding color lighting.

Next, in step S504, it is determined whether or not the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color has been won. If the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S506, and if the condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S508.
In step S506, an upper lamp corresponding color determination process is executed to determine the upper lamp lighting color.

Moving to FIG. 30, in step S602, which is the first step of the upper lamp corresponding color determination process, it is determined whether the icon that triggered the execution of this upper lamp lighting control process is a default icon, and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S604, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S606.

In step S604, a lighting color corresponding to the color of the default icon is determined, and then the upper lamp corresponding color determination process ends.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 32(a), if the color of the default icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is blue, blue is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the default icon is green, green is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the default icon is red, red is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the default icon is gold, gold is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, and if the color of the default icon is rainbow, rainbow is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp.
In other words, in this embodiment, if the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a default icon and the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color described above is won, the upper lamp will light up in the same color as the default icon.
In addition, as shown in Figure 32 (a), when only the white default icon is displayed, the upper lamp may light up in white, unlike the movable decorative body 22.

In step S606, it is determined whether the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process this time is a box icon, and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S608, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S610.

In step S608, a lighting color corresponding to the color of the box icon is determined, and then the upper lamp corresponding color determination process ends.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 32(b), if the color of the box icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is white, white is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the box icon is blue, blue is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the box icon is green, green is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, if the color of the box icon is red, red is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp, and if the color of the box icon is gold, gold is determined as the lighting color of the upper lamp.
In other words, in this embodiment, if the icon that triggers the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a box icon and the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color described above is won, the upper lamp will light up in the same color as the box icon.
As mentioned above, when the white box icon is displayed, the upper lamp is lit in white.

In step S610, the lighting color corresponding to the shape of the trophy icon is determined, and then the upper lamp corresponding color determination process ends.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 32 (c), if the shape of the trophy icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a small trophy, the lighting color of the upper lamp is determined to be red, if the shape of the trophy icon is a medium trophy, the lighting color of the upper lamp is determined to be gold, and if the shape of the trophy icon is a large trophy, the lighting color of the upper lamp is determined to be rainbow.

Returning to FIG. 29, in step S508, a lottery is held to determine whether a fixed color will be lit. Here, fixed color lighting refers to the lighting color of the upper lamp being a rainbow color that determines a jackpot win.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 31(d), in the execution lottery of the confirmation color lighting, the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to the pattern change corresponding to the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process this time is referred to. Then, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment is a big hit, the lottery is won with a probability of 30/100 (about 1/3.33), and the lottery is not won with a probability of 70/100 (about 1/1.43). On the other hand, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment is a miss, the lottery is not won, and the lottery is not won. In this embodiment, the type of icon (default icon, box icon, trophy icon) that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process this time is not referred to in the execution lottery of the confirmation color lighting.

In step S510, it is determined whether or not the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color has been won, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S512, and if the condition is not met, the upper lamp lighting control process is terminated.
In step S512, the rainbow colors are determined as the lighting colors of the upper lamp.
In step S514, the effect data for lighting the upper lamp in the currently determined lighting color is set, and then the upper lamp lighting control process is terminated. As a result, the upper lamp is lit in the currently determined lighting color.

Thus, in this embodiment, the upper lamp can light up in a color according to the state of the icon, and can also light up in rainbow colors (colors that indicate a jackpot win) in some cases when the state of the icon changes (including when the display of an icon other than the white default icon begins).
As mentioned above, the upper lamp can be lit up in other ways besides these (lighting up according to the icon's appearance, lighting up in rainbow colors), and in this respect it differs from the movable decorative body 22.
In addition, in the present embodiment, in the upper lamp lighting control process, the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color is executed when the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color is not won, but this is not limited to this. In other words, if the relationship between the high and low occurrence rates of the corresponding color lighting and the confirmed color lighting related to the upper lamp is the same as that of the present embodiment, the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color may be executed before the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color, so that the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color is executed when the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color is not won, or the execution lottery for lighting the confirmed color and the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color may be executed simultaneously.

<Function to make icon appearances easier to recognize>
As described above, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a movable decorative body 22 and an upper lamp (frame lamp 35a) to make it easier to recognize the shape of the icons, and is configured so that when a default icon or box icon is displayed, these lamps can light up in the same color as the color of the icon, and when a trophy icon is displayed, these lamps can light up in a color corresponding to the shape of the icon.
Below, the above functions using the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamps will be explained in detail.
In addition, when implementing this function, the default icon and the box icon only change in color, and the shape does not change, but the shape of the icon may be allowed to change. On the other hand, the trophy icon only changes in shape, and the color does not change, but the color of the icon may be allowed to change. However, when adopting the above function using the movable ornament 22 and the upper lamp, it is preferable to configure the default icon and the box icon so that the shape does not change, and the color of the icon does not change, as in this embodiment.

First, according to the above-mentioned function using the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp, in the gaming machine 10, the performance control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) is capable of displaying a reserved icon corresponding to a reserved pattern change and a changing icon corresponding to a pattern change being executed, and as a control related to the display mode of a target icon which is a reserved icon or a changing icon, a first icon control (reserved icon control processing) which suggests the degree of expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the color of the target icon, and a second icon control (changing icon control processing) which suggests the degree of expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the shape of the target icon, and the first icon control is capable of executing a first icon control when the target icon is a first color (blue) and a second color (red) when the target icon is a second color (red) which has a higher expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon than the first color. In other words, when the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the first color by executing the first icon control, and the performance control means is further capable of executing a specific performance (lighting up the movable decorative body 22, lighting up the upper lamp) which can take on a plurality of colors, when the target icon becomes the second color by executing the first icon control, the specific performance will be the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color by executing the first icon control, and when the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the specific performance will be a third color (rainbow) different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize that there is a correlation between the specific effect and the state of the target icon, making it easier for the player to recognize the occurrence of the event when the target icon takes on the first shape with high expectations.
As described above, in this embodiment, color control of icons based on the pending icon control process corresponding to the first icon control is executed at various times, but the effect is achieved regardless of the execution timing of the color control.
Similarly, in this embodiment, icon shape control based on the variable icon control process corresponding to the above-mentioned second icon control is executed at various times, but the effect is achieved regardless of the execution timing of the shape control.

In the above-described embodiment, the pending icon control corresponding to the first icon control changes the state of the pending icon, but the target may include a variable icon, or the target may be only a variable icon. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the variable icon control corresponding to the second icon control changes the state of the variable icon, but the target may include a variable icon, or the target may be only a variable icon. The same applies to each function described later.
In addition, the above-mentioned expectation level refers to the expectation level for winning a big win in this embodiment, but the above-mentioned expectation level may be the expectation level for winning either a big win or a small win after providing a small win that can cause a big win game, or the expectation level for winning a small win without providing a big win. These are also the same for each function described later.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10, when the target icon becomes a first color (blue) by executing the first icon control (pending icon control process), the specific effect (lighting of the movable decorative body 22, lighting of the upper lamp) will be the first color (blue) at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes a second color (red) by executing the first icon control.
This makes it easier for the player to more clearly recognize that there is a correlation between the specific effect and the state of the target icon.

31(a) to 31(c), in the execution lottery for determining whether the upper lamp will light up in the corresponding color, the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment regarding the pattern change corresponding to the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is referenced. If the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment is a big hit, the player wins the execution lottery at a higher rate than if the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment is a miss.
On the other hand, the movable decorative body 22 is lit up in the corresponding color without any lottery being held.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, there are a first specific effect (lighting up the movable decorative body 22) and a second specific effect (lighting up the upper lamp), and in other words, when the target icon becomes the second color (red) by executing the first icon control (pending icon control process) and both the first specific effect and the second specific effect become the second color, the expectation for the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the second color by executing the first icon control and either one of the first specific effect or the second specific effect becomes the second color.
According to this, a sense of expectation can be suggested by the number of the specific effects that become the second color, making it easier to recognize the specific effects.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color when the icon that triggers the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a default icon is different from the probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color when the icon that triggers the execution is a box icon.
This allows the player to guess whether the icon is a default icon or a box icon based on the number of specific effects that change to the second color.
In this embodiment, the differences between the default icon and the box icon include the fact that one (the default icon) has a color that confirms a jackpot (the percentage of default icons that have a color that confirms a jackpot may be higher than the same percentage for box icons), and the number of different colors is different (the default icon has more).

In particular, in this embodiment, the probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color when the icon that triggers the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process is a box icon is higher than the probability of winning the execution lottery for lighting the corresponding color when the icon that triggers the execution is a default icon.
According to this, when the number of specific effects that become the second color is large, it can be inferred that the icon is a box icon with a higher expectation (compared to the default icon).

Also, as described above, in this embodiment, the device is configured to be able to execute a lottery to determine whether or not the upper lamp will light up in a confirmed color, and if the lottery is won, the icon that triggered the execution of the upper lamp lighting control process will turn rainbow colored.
This allows the user to recognize that there is a correlation between the color of the icon and the color of the upper lamp, and makes it easier for the user to recognize that the upper lamp can light up in any color of the rainbow.

Therefore, in other words, in some cases where the target icon becomes the second color (red) due to the execution of the first icon control (reserved icon control process) on the gaming machine 10, the specific effect (illumination of the upper lamp) becomes the third color (rainbow).

Furthermore, by the upper lamp lighting control process shown in Figures 29 to 32, the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment is configured so that the rate at which the special effect (upper lamp lighting) becomes a third color (rainbow) when the target icon becomes a second color (red) by execution of the first icon control (pending icon control process) is different from the rate at which the special effect becomes a third color when the target icon becomes a first shape (large trophy) by execution of the second icon control (variable icon control process).
This enhances the effect of making it easier to recognize that the specific effect can be the third color.

In particular, the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment is configured so that the rate at which the special effect (lighting of the upper lamp) becomes a third color (rainbow) when the target icon becomes a second color (red) by execution of the first icon control (pending icon control process) is lower than the rate at which the special effect becomes a third color when the target icon becomes a first shape (large trophy) by execution of the second icon control (variable icon control process).
This further enhances the effect of making it easier to recognize that the specific effect can be the third color.

Furthermore, by controlling the upper lamp lighting as shown in Figures 29 to 32, the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment is further configured so that the specific effect (lighting of the upper lamp) becomes a third color (rainbow) in at least some of the cases when the target icon becomes a first color (blue) by executing the first icon control (pending icon control process), and the rate at which the specific effect becomes the third color (rainbow) when the target icon becomes the first color by executing the first icon control is lower than the rate at which the specific effect becomes the third color when the target icon becomes the second color (red) by executing the second icon control (variable icon control process).
This makes it easier for people to recognize that the lighting of the upper lamp can be rainbow-colored.

In addition, according to the lottery tables shown in Figures 21, 22, and 28, the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment is configured so that the second icon control (variable icon control process) may cause the target icon to have a second shape (small trophy), and when the target icon becomes the second shape by executing the second icon control, the expected degree of pattern change for the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the first color (blue) by executing the first icon control (reserved icon control process), and when the target icon becomes the second shape by executing the second icon control, the expected degree of pattern change for the corresponding target icon is lower than when the target icon becomes the first shape (large trophy) by executing the second icon control, and when the target icon becomes the second shape by executing the second icon control, the specific performance (lighting of the movable decorative body 22, lighting of the upper lamp) becomes the second color (red) at a higher rate than when the second icon control is not executed.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize the relationship between the change in shape of the target icon and the color of the specific effect.

<About the difference in the lighting period between the movable decoration and the upper lamp>
Next, using Figure 33, the difference in the lighting period of the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp when they are lit in a color corresponding to the icon state will be explained in detail.
Figure 33 (a) is a timing chart when the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp start to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, and Figure 33 (b) is a timing chart when the upper lamp, which is lit in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 33(a), in this embodiment, at the timing of an icon state change (including the timing when the display of an icon other than the white default icon begins), the movable decorative body 22 starts to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, and after a time T has elapsed from that timing, the upper lamp starts to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon. This can also be said that, for a change in the state of an icon, the movable decorative body 22 starts to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon before the upper lamp starts to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon.

Here, as described above, in this embodiment, a lottery is held to determine whether the upper lamp will be lit in the corresponding color, while the movable ornament 22 is lit in the corresponding color without a lottery. Therefore, the proportion of the movable ornament 22 that is lit in the corresponding color is higher than the proportion of the upper lamp that is lit in the corresponding color.
According to this, the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 that is executed first is likely to be lit in the corresponding color, making it easier to recognize the lighting of the corresponding color.
In order to achieve this effect, it is sufficient that some of the icon state change timings can have such a start timing relationship, and it is acceptable for some of these lighting start timings to coincide.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the first specific effect (lighting of the movable decorative body 22) is an effect that can be started at a timing earlier than the timing at which the second specific effect (lighting of the upper lamp) starts, and in other words, the rate at which the first specific effect becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color (red) as a result of the execution of the first icon control is higher than the rate at which the second specific effect becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control.

Also, as shown in Figure 33 (b), in this embodiment, after an overlapping period in which both the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp are lit in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, the lighting of the upper lamp ends as time passes since the lighting of the upper lamp began.
Therefore, in this embodiment, after the overlap period, there is a period during which the upper lamp does not light up in the color corresponding to the aspect of the icon, and the movable decorative body 22 lights up in the color corresponding to the aspect of the icon.
This makes it easier to recognize the lighting of the movable decorative body 22, which is a dedicated device that lights up in a color that corresponds to the aspect of the icon.

<When the icon changes appearance multiple times>
As described above, in this embodiment, changes in the appearance of an icon corresponding to a pattern change of a single target may occur multiple times (including the timing when display of an icon other than the white default icon begins).
Below, using Figure 34, we will explain in detail the behavior of the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp when changes in the behavior of the icon corresponding to the pattern variation of a single target occur multiple times (especially when the upper lamp lights up due to the change).
Figure 34 is a timing chart showing the state of the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp when a change in state of the icon corresponding to a pattern variation of one target occurs twice.
Note that the hatching in the timing chart in Figure 34 indicates that the appearance changes or can change before and after each type of performance (icon display, lighting of the movable decorative body 22, lighting of the upper lamp), and does not indicate that the same hatching across different types of performance indicates the same appearance.

As shown in Figure 34, at each icon change timing (all of which are timings at which the appearance of an icon corresponding to a common target pattern change), the movable decorative body 22 lights up (due to the movable decorative body lighting control process), and the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 continues for the display period of the icon.
On the other hand, the upper lamp starts to light up at each icon change timing (due to the upper lamp lighting control process, and the same will be true in the following explanations), and since each of these stops over time, it is possible for the lighting to start again at a later icon change timing.
As a result, in this embodiment, the movable decorative body 22 continues to light up across icon change timing (especially from the second time onwards), making it easier to recognize that an icon other than the white default icon is being displayed, but when the icon's appearance changes, the upper lamp begins to light up due to the change, making it easier to recognize the change in the icon's appearance.

In particular, in this embodiment, the length of the period from the arrival of one icon change timing to the timing when the upper lamp starts to light (T1) and the length of the period from the arrival of another icon change timing to the timing when the upper lamp starts to light (T2) are configured to be different.
This makes it possible to make the change in the icon appearance more easily recognizable.
In order to achieve this effect, if there are three or more icon change timings in a pattern change of one target, it is sufficient that at least any two of them have such a relationship. In particular, as shown in Fig. 34, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the length of the period (T2) from the later icon change timing of the two arbitrary icon change timings to the timing when the upper lamp starts to light up may be longer than the length of the period (T1) from the earlier icon change timing of the two arbitrary icon change timings to the timing when the upper lamp starts to light up.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 34, the length of the period during which the upper lamp continues to be lit, which begins at one of the icon change timings, is configured to be the same as the length of the period during which the upper lamp continues to be lit, which begins at the other icon change timing.
This makes it possible to make the change in the icon appearance more easily recognizable.
Similarly, in order to achieve this effect, if there are three or more icon change timings, it is sufficient that any two of them have this relationship.

Also, as explained using Figures 29 to 32, in this embodiment, the upper lamp lighting control process, which can be a lighting mode that does not correspond to the icon state as well as a lighting mode (including rainbow lighting), is determined for each icon change timing by referring to the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the pattern change of a target at which the icon change timing occurs.
Therefore, when the appearance of the icon corresponding to the pattern change of a certain target changes multiple times, the combination of the lighting color of the movable decorative body 22 corresponding to each change timing and the lighting color of the upper lamp makes it easier to guess the expectation of the pattern change of the target, thereby increasing interest in the game.
In addition, the flow of the lighting mode of the upper lamp corresponding to each icon change timing may be determined at the start of the pattern change including the icon change timing. Furthermore, the flow of the lighting mode of the upper lamp corresponding to each icon change timing may be determined at once by performing a lottery (referring to the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment) to determine one pattern from a plurality of patterns in which the flow of the lighting mode of the upper lamp is determined.

<Other Modifications, etc.>
Modifications not described above and supplementary features to the above-mentioned functions are listed below.

First, in the above-described embodiment, lighting control of the movable decorative body 22 (referring to control related to the lighting color and timing, which also applies to the lighting control of the upper lamp described below) and lighting control of the upper lamp are executed based on the aspect of the icon (color, shape, etc.) determined by the pending icon control process and the variable icon control process, and then the functions already described and the functions described below are realized, but this is not limited to this.
In other words, as long as the method is capable of realizing the events related to the functions described above and the functions described below, for example, the lighting control of the movable decorative body 22 and the lighting control of the upper lamp may be carried out to determine the lighting mode of each lamp (lighting color and lighting timing), and then the pending icon control process and the variable icon control process may be carried out, or these controls may be carried out simultaneously.

As described above, in this embodiment, both the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp are configured to be able to light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon. In addition, while the movable decorative body 22 is a device dedicated to this lighting, the upper lamp also lights up for other effects.
This makes it easier to recognize that the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp are lit up in a color that corresponds to the state of the icon.
In addition, to achieve this effect, the movable decorative body 22 does not need to be a dedicated device that lights up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, but rather the number of types of other effects (lighting) executed by the movable decorative body 22 needs to be less than the number of types of other effects executed by the upper lamp.

Therefore, in other words, the performance means includes a first performance device (movable decorative body 22) and a second performance device (upper lamp), the first specific performance is executed by the first performance device, the second specific performance is executed by the second performance device, and the number of types of performances other than the specific performances executed by the first performance device is less than the number of types of performances other than the specific performances executed by the second performance device.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the color of the default icon or box icon changes (including the timing when the display of these icons starts), a predetermined sound is generated in accordance with the change. In addition, a special sound different from the predetermined sound can be generated, and this special sound is generated at a higher rate when the trophy icon becomes a large trophy than when the default icon becomes blue and when the default icon becomes red.
This makes it easy to recognize the color change of the icon (changing to blue or red), while also making it easy to recognize the display of the trophy icon relating to the grand trophy.
In producing this effect, the timing of the special sound may be any timing within the pattern change in which the icon's appearance changes (such as changing its shape to a large trophy), but if the sound is to be emitted in accordance with the appearance change, it is preferable to restrict the emission of the specified sound.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the presentation control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can further emit a predetermined sound in accordance with the execution of color control of the target icon based on the first icon control (reserved icon control processing), and can emit a special sound different from the predetermined sound, and in other words, the rate at which a special sound is emitted when the target icon becomes a first shape (large trophy) through the second icon control (variable icon control processing) is higher than both the rate at which a special sound is emitted when the target icon becomes a first color (blue) through the execution of the first icon control, and the rate at which a special sound is emitted when the target icon becomes a second color (red) through the execution of the first icon control.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the predetermined sound be made in a manner that corresponds to the color of the icon after the change, and that the predetermined sound be not made when the shape of the icon is changed.
This makes it easier to recognize the occurrence of a color change in the icon.

Therefore, the specified sound may be composed of a first sound or a second sound, and the performance control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can output a first sound in accordance with the execution of the first icon control when the target icon becomes a first color (blue) as a result of the execution of the first icon control (pending icon control process), and can output a second sound in accordance with the execution of the first icon control when the target icon becomes a second color (red) as a result of the execution of the first icon control, and in other words, neither the first sound nor the second sound is output in accordance with the change in shape of the target icon due to the execution of the second icon control (variable icon control process).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the shape of the trophy icon changes to a large trophy, a dedicated sound may be output in accordance with the change.
In this case, it is necessary to prevent the sound output period of the special sound from overlapping with the sound output period of the dedicated sound. Since the execution triggers are different, the sound output period of the dedicated sound will not overlap with the sound output period of the predetermined sound.
This makes it easier to recognize the display of the trophy icon relating to the grand trophy.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, when the target icon becomes a first shape (large trophy) through the second icon control (variable icon control process), the presentation control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can output a third sound (dedicated sound) different from any of the first sound, second sound, and special sound in accordance with the execution of the second icon control, and in other words, the sound output period of the special sound does not overlap with the sound output period of any of the first sound, second sound, and third sound.

Furthermore, as described above, in this embodiment, the display period of an icon (default icon or box icon) whose color has changed due to the pending icon change control overlaps with the lighting period of the movable decorative body 22 and upper lamp, which light up in a color corresponding to the state of the icon, but during this overlapping period, there may be cases where the icon is no longer displayed (cannot be seen) due to the execution of other variable performances, etc.
This makes it easier to notice when the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamps are lit.
In order to achieve this effect, the cause of the icon not being displayed during the overlapping period is not limited to the above-mentioned, and it is sufficient that the event occurs.

Therefore, in other words, when the first icon control (pending icon control process) is executed on the gaming machine 10, in addition to a period during which the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control and the execution of a specific performance (lighting of the movable decorative body 22 and lighting of the upper lamp) are both performed in parallel, there may be a period during which a specific performance is executed without the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the power is restored after a power outage (without executing the RAM clear process) while the movable decorative body 22 is lit, while the upper lamp is lit (particularly when the lighting is caused by a corresponding change in the icon), and during a period in which these lights overlap, the lighting is configured not to be restored to any of the lights. On the other hand, some of the effects that were being performed at the time of the power outage (for example, a display that can identify the number of pattern changes that were on hold at the time of the power outage) are configured to be restored.
This makes it easier to recognize that a power outage or restoration of power, such as a momentary power outage, has occurred.
In addition, when producing this effect, the type of some of the above-mentioned effects that are restored when power is restored does not matter.

Therefore, in other words, if power is restored to the gaming machine 10 while a specific effect (lighting of the movable decorative body 22, lighting of the upper lamp) is being performed, some of the effects that were being performed at the time of the power outage will return, but the specific effect that was being performed at the time of the power outage will not return.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, if power is restored during the execution of a target pattern change corresponding to an icon that has become a color with a relatively high expectation (in this embodiment, a pending icon, but as described above, it may be a changing icon), the timing of the return of the main display unit 81 on which the icon was displayed (the timing at which the changing performance can be executed) may differ depending on the color of the icon at the time of power loss.
According to this, since the time from when power is restored until the main display unit 81 returns to normal may differ, the color of the icon at the time of power outage can be inferred depending on that time.

In other words, in the gaming machine 10, when power is restored after an interruption while a target icon of a first color (blue) is displayed, the length of the period from when the power is restored until the device (main display unit 81) that displayed the target icon can execute an effect corresponding to the pattern change can be different from the length of the period from when power is restored after an interruption while a target icon of a second color (red) is displayed until the device that displayed the target icon can execute an effect corresponding to the pattern change.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the power is restored (without executing the RAM clear process) during a period in which a pending icon other than the white default icon is displayed, and then a pattern change corresponding to that icon begins, the state of the changing icon in that pattern change will not return (more specifically, it will become the white default icon), but the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 and the upper lamp corresponding to the state of the changing icon may be executed.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize that a power outage such as a momentary power outage has occurred, while making it difficult for his or her interest in playing the game to decrease after power is restored.

Therefore, in other words, in the case where the power is restored on the gaming machine 10 while a reserved icon of the first color (blue), second color (red), or first shape (large trophy) is being displayed, and a pattern change related to the reserved icon is then initiated, the changing icon corresponding to the pattern change will not return to the display state at the time of the power loss, but a specific performance (lighting of the movable decorative body 22, lighting of the upper lamp) may be executed during the pattern change.

In addition, in this embodiment, the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 and the lighting of the upper lamp described above are, as the name suggests, effects that use lamps, but the subject that performs these effects is not limited to lamps and various other devices may be used.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as long as the relationship between the probability, rate, frequency, and expectation is guaranteed, the lower the probability, the higher the expectation, the more likely it is that the winner will not win, or the higher the expectation, the more likely it is that the winner will always win. In either case, the lottery may not be held at all.
Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is just an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.

In addition, in the above explanation, the recovery state when power is restored is determined by referring to the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, but it is also possible to refer to whether the time that the RAM clear switch 43 has been ON since power was restored exceeds a specified time (e.g., 3 seconds). In this way, the occurrence of erroneous RAM clear processing can be further reduced.

In addition, in the above explanation, the state of the middle frame open door sensor 76 (open/closed state of the middle frame 17) was referenced when determining the return state when power was restored, but the return state may be set without reference to that state. In this case, the return state when power is restored may be set uniformly according to the case when the middle frame open door sensor 76 is ON (the middle frame 17 is open).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above description, but includes various modifications, improvements, and other aspects as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

<Additional Notes>
The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea.
(1)
A gaming machine that executes a win/loss judgment to judge whether or not a bonus will be won when a pattern change starts, and suspends the start of the pattern change until a change start condition is satisfied,
A directing means composed of one or more types of directing devices;
A performance control means for controlling the performance means;
Equipped with
The performance control means includes:
It is possible to display a pending icon corresponding to a pending pattern change and a change icon corresponding to a pattern change in progress,
As a control related to the display mode of the target icon which is the reserved icon or the variable icon,
A first icon control that indicates an expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the color of the target icon;
A second icon control that indicates an expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the shape of the target icon;
It is possible to execute
The first icon control may be a first color for the target icon, or a second color for the target icon having a higher expectation of a pattern change for the corresponding target icon than the first color.
The second icon control may cause the target icon to have a first shape,
When the target icon is changed to the first shape by the execution of the second icon control, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon is changed to the first color by the execution of the first icon control,
The performance control means is further capable of executing a specific performance that can have a plurality of types of colors,
When the target icon becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the specific effect becomes the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color as a result of the execution of the first icon control,
When the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the specific effect becomes a third color different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape,
When the first icon control is executed, in addition to a period during which the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control and the execution of the specific effect are both performed in parallel, there may be a period during which the specific effect is executed without displaying the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(2)
The gaming machine according to (1) above,
The specific performance includes a first specific performance and a second specific performance,
When the target icon becomes the second color and both the first specific effect and the second specific effect become the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the expectation level for the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the second color and either one of the first specific effect and the second specific effect becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control,
The first specific effect is an effect that can be started at a timing before the timing at which the second specific effect is started,
a rate at which the first specific effect becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color as a result of execution of the first icon control is higher than a rate at which the second specific effect becomes the second color when the target icon becomes the second color as a result of execution of the first icon control;
A gaming machine characterized by:

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable decorative body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame portions 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) Frame lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Performance button 38 Cursor button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Center cursor button 39 Main operation portion 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 46 Gaming ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Gaming board 50a Gaming area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 54 Protective member 55 Large prize opening 57 First start opening 59 Second start opening 61 Normal electric role 62 Normal electric role solenoid 63 Gate 65 Special electric role 66 Special electric role solenoid 67 General prize opening 69 Out opening 70 First start opening sensor 71 Second start opening sensor 72 Large prize opening sensor 73 General prize opening sensor 74 Gate sensor 75 Out ball sensor 76 Middle frame door opening sensor 77 Front frame door opening sensor 80 Performance display device 81 Main display section 82 Sub-display section 82a Upper sub-display section 82b Left sub-display section 82c Right sub-display section 83 Volume adjustment section 84 Brightness adjustment section 85 Performance shield 85a Upper left performance shield 85b Upper right performance shield 85c Lower left performance shield 85d Lower right performance shield 90 Pattern display device 91 First special pattern display device 92 Second special pattern display device 93 Normal symbol display device 94 First special symbol reserved lamp 95 Second special symbol reserved lamp 96 Normal symbol reserved lamp 100 Main control board 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 I/O port 105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main hold control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special chart lottery means 131 Special chart win/loss determination means 132 Special chart stop pattern lottery means 133 Special chart change pattern derivation means 135 Regular chart lottery means 140 Big win game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electric role control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power restoration process execution means 176 Recovery state setting means 179 Playable state transition means 180 Power cut process execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 I/O port 209 First sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generation means 220 Normal presentation control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Presentation route determination means 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Pre-reading presentation control means 225 Presentation content determination means 226 Decoration pattern control means 227 Big win presentation control means 230 Sub-error control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable role control means 250 Volume adjustment means 255 Brightness adjustment means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 I/O port 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Audio control board 311 CPU
312 ROM
313 RAM
314 I/O port 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case 811 Variable display area 812 Reserve icon display area 813 Variable icon display area X First flow path Y Second flow path ag1 Icon image ag2 Icon image ag3 Icon image ag4 Icon image ag5 Default icon ag6 Box icon ag7 Trophy icon ag8 Trophy icon ag9 Box icon kg Smoke image

Claims (1)

A gaming machine that executes a win/loss judgment to judge whether or not a bonus will be won when a pattern change starts, and suspends the start of the pattern change until a change start condition is satisfied,
A directing means composed of one or more types of directing devices;
A performance control means for controlling the performance means;
Equipped with
The performance control means includes:
It is possible to display a pending icon corresponding to a pending pattern change and a change icon corresponding to a pattern change in progress,
As a control related to the display mode of the target icon which is the reserved icon or the variable icon,
A first icon control that indicates an expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the color of the target icon;
A second icon control that indicates an expectation of a pattern change related to the target icon by controlling at least the shape of the target icon;
It is possible to execute
The first icon control may be a first color for the target icon, or a second color for the target icon having a higher expectation of a pattern change for the corresponding target icon than the first color.
The second icon control may cause the target icon to have a first shape,
When the target icon is changed to the first shape by the execution of the second icon control, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon is changed to the first color by the execution of the first icon control,
The performance control means is further capable of executing control to cause the specific performance unit, which is the first specific performance unit or the second specific performance unit, to have a plurality of types of colors;
When the target icon becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the specific performance unit becomes the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon becomes the first color as a result of the execution of the first icon control,
When the target icon becomes the first shape by executing the second icon control, the specific effect portion becomes a third color different from both the first color and the second color at a higher rate than when the target icon does not become the first shape,
When the first icon control is executed, in addition to a period during which the display of the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control and the control of the color of the specific performance unit are both performed in parallel, there may be a period during which the control of the color of the specific performance unit is executed without displaying the target icon whose color is controlled by the first icon control ,
When the target icon becomes the second color and both the first specific performance section and the second specific performance section become the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control, the expectation of a pattern change related to the corresponding target icon is higher than when the target icon becomes the second color and either one of the first specific performance section and the second specific performance section becomes the second color as a result of the execution of the first icon control,
The performance related to the first specific performance unit may be started at a timing prior to the start of the performance related to the second specific performance unit,
a rate at which the first specific effect portion changes to the second color when the target icon changes to the second color by executing the first icon control is higher than a rate at which the second specific effect portion changes to the second color when the target icon changes to the second color by executing the first icon control;
A gaming machine characterized by:

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