JP7505820B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

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

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, have a function for waiting for the start of an easy winning period during which it becomes easier for the gaming ball to enter the big win slot when a jackpot game is executed, and for starting the easy winning period when the gaming ball passes through a specified area. For example, see Patent Document 1.

JP 2016-209320 A

Gaming machines with such functions have been actively developed in recent years, but there is still room for improvement in terms of convenience for both players and the halls that install these gaming machines.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and provides a gaming machine that has the function of waiting for the start of an easy winning period during which it becomes easier for gaming balls to enter the big winning slot, while also increasing convenience for both players and the hall.

According to the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine capable of launching a gaming ball in a first launching direction or a second launching direction, and capable of executing a special game in which the gaming ball launched in the second launching direction can easily enter a large prize opening, the gaming machine comprising an image display means for displaying an image, and a display control means for controlling the image display means, and when the gaming ball passes through a predetermined area in which the gaming ball launched in the second launching direction can reach during a first period related to the special game, a second period related to the special game in which the gaming ball can easily enter the large prize opening is started compared to the first period. The display control means is capable of displaying a first instruction image and a second instruction image different from the first instruction image as instruction images for instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction, and in the first period, a notification image including the first instruction image is displayed, and in the second period, a notification image including the second instruction image without including the first instruction image is displayed, and in the case where a power interruption occurs in the first period and power is turned on without execution of a RAM clear process, in the second period, a power interruption occurs and the RAM clear process is performed thereafter. a first light-emitting means for emitting light when instructing the launch of a game ball in the second launch direction, and a second light-emitting means for emitting light when instructing the launch of a game ball in the second launch direction, and when power is cut off during the first period and power is turned on thereafter without execution of the RAM clear process, the first light-emitting means has the same light-emitting mode as the first light-emitting means at the time of the power cut, and the second light-emitting means has the same light-emitting mode as the second light-emitting means at the time of the power cut. A gaming machine is provided in which the first light-emitting means has a light-emitting mode different from the light-emitting mode of the light-emitting means, there is a third period which is connected to the first period and in which the passage of the game ball through the specified area is invalid, there are multiple types of special games, the display control means further displays a notification image including the instruction image regardless of the type of special game, and when power is cut off during the third period and then power is turned on without executing the RAM clear process, the first light-emitting means has a light-emitting mode identical to the light-emitting mode of the first light-emitting means at the time of power cut .

The present invention provides a gaming machine that has the function of waiting for the start of an easy winning period during which it becomes easier for gaming balls to enter the big winning slot, while at the same time increasing convenience for both players and the hall.

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. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 8(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for determining whether a special pattern is a winning combination, Figure 8(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special pattern 1 stopping pattern, and Figure 8(c) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special pattern 2 stopping pattern. FIG. 9(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of instruction images displayed during a jackpot game when a jackpot related to the pattern a is derived in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of notification images displayed from the start invalid period to the start valid period during a jackpot game when a jackpot related to pattern a is derived in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of notification images displayed from the easy winning period to the end demo period during a jackpot game when a jackpot related to pattern a is derived in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing notification images that are displayed after a power outage and restoration occurs during the start invalid period without execution of a RAM clear process. Figures 14(a) and 14(b) are figures showing notification images displayed after a power outage and restoration occurs during the effective start period without the execution of a RAM clear process, and Figure 14(c) is a figure showing a notification image displayed after a power outage and restoration occurs during a jackpot game involving the execution of a RAM clear process. Figures 15(a) to 15(c) show notification images that are displayed after a power outage and restoration occurs during the easy winning period or the ending demo period without the execution of a RAM clear process. Figures 16(a) to 16(c) are displays showing the required time for the start invalid period and the end demo period, and Figure 16(a) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, Figure 16(b) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and Figure 16(c) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of instruction images displayed during a jackpot game when a jackpot related to the pattern b is derived in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.

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 capable of launching game balls in a first launch direction or a second launch direction, capable of executing a pattern change based on the entry of the game ball into a start port, executing a win/lose judgment to determine whether or not a jackpot will be won with the start of the pattern change, and when the jackpot is won as a result of the win/lose judgment, starting a jackpot game in which the entry of the game ball into a jackpot port becomes easier upon the end of the pattern change,
An image display unit (main display unit 81) for displaying an image;
A display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) for controlling the image display means;
Equipped with
The jackpot game includes a valid start period and an easy winning period during which it is easy for a game ball to enter the jackpot opening,
When the game ball passes through a predetermined area (gate 63) during the start valid period, the start valid period ends and the easy winning period begins.
The predetermined area and the large prize opening (large prize opening 55) are arranged at a position where the game ball launched in the second launch direction (second flow path Y) is likely to pass through or win,
The display control means includes:
As an instruction image for instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction, a first instruction image (first instruction image sg1) and a second instruction image (second instruction image sg2) different from the first instruction image can be displayed,
During the start effective period, a notification image including the first instruction image is displayed.
During the easy winning period, a notification image not including the first instruction image but including the second instruction image is displayed;
When a power outage occurs during the effective start period and is then restored, it is possible to display the same predetermined notification images (the first return image fg1 and the second indication image sg2) as when a power outage occurs during the easy win period and is then restored.
There are multiple types of the above jackpots,
The display control means displays a notification image including the instruction image during the start valid period, regardless of the type of the jackpot related to the start valid period.
This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to make it easier for hall personnel to recognize that the state is favorable for jackpot play (valid start period or easy win period) when power is restored. Furthermore, this effect can be achieved regardless of the type of jackpot.

First, the notification image displayed during the effective start period may include the second indication image, but the notification image displayed during the easy win period must not include the first indication image.

In this embodiment, an example is given in which the first instruction image is a moving image and the second instruction image is a still image, but the first instruction image may be a still image and the second instruction image may be a moving image.

The specified notification image may or may not include the instruction image.

In addition, in this embodiment, the device that displays the first indication image and the device that displays the second indication image are the same device, but for example, the device that displays the first indication image may be a main display unit (described later) and the device that displays the second indication image may be a sub-display unit (described later).

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, a movable decorative body 22 that is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.

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. In addition, 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 a frame lamp 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) is disposed. The speaker 33 and the frame lamp 35 can emit sound or turn on or off in conjunction with effects and error effects that occur during play.

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 mainly related to the 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 the entire display area of the sub-display unit 82 overlaps with the display area of 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 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 just 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 variation 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 arranged 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.

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 during at least a part of the easy-to-win period of the jackpot game that starts when a jackpot is derived by the special winning/losing determination described later, and thus allows winning in the large winning hole 55. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, it becomes easy to win in the large winning hole 55, so the easy-to-win period in which the chances of winning prize balls are greatly increased can be said to be an advantageous game state.
During the easy winning period, the special electric device 65 is alternately set to an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round play", and the total number of round plays generated by 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 of play, it cannot immediately return to the closed state. Therefore, there may be a case where more than 10 game balls win the big winning hole 55 in one round of play.

The first starting hole 57 is located at the center of the game 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 jackpot has been determined for the second starting hole 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 due to 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 the winning of the gate 63 is determined based on the detection result of the gate sensor 74. In at least some of the cases where the winning of the gate 63 is determined, the pattern of the normal figure is changed.
In addition, although details will be described later, in this embodiment, winning at the gate 63 triggers the start of an easy winning period in a big win game. This allows the player to leave the seat during an invalid start period and an effective start period, which will be described later.
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 than when rolling from the first flow path X. In particular, the gate 63 is arranged upstream of the large prize winning opening 55 in the second flow path Y. Therefore, there remains a possibility that the game ball related to the winning of the gate 63 that triggered the start of the easy winning period will win the large prize winning opening 55. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gate 63 is used as the trigger for the start of the easy winning period, but a winning opening different from the winning opening related to the execution of the normal pattern variation may be used as the winning opening related to the start of the easy winning period.

The general winning opening 67 is located at 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 out balls, which are game balls that have entered the winning hole and the out hole.

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.

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.

<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. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 6 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. 6.

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 the gaming machine 10 can be restored to the state immediately before the power failure using the data when the power is restored (when the power is turned on) after the power failure. For example, in addition to the data of the stack pointer and each register held at the time of the power failure, information related to the game such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (play stop state or playable state), the current special drawing state, the current normal drawing state, etc. are backed up. Note that these pieces of information are cleared (initialized) by the RAM clear process. Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, the special drawing variation pattern derivation state PA described later is newly set.

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 opening sensor 70, the second start opening sensor 71, the large prize opening sensor 72, the general prize opening sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame open door sensor 76, the front frame open door 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.

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, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, 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 the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, etc.
Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the voice control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, voice control command) is transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the voice 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, voice 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 transmits lamp control data via the I/O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured such that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and transmits movement control data via the I/O port 204. The movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 are configured so that their movement is controlled by the movement control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.

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 also controls the launch of the 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. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a functional configuration not shown in Fig. 7. Also, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 8 and 9 will be referred to as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 7, 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. 6.

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 entry port based on the detection results of the sensors installed in each entry port.

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, "suspended operation information" may be expressed as "suspended pattern change" or simply as "suspended."
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 start of the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: a jackpot game is not being played, the pattern change of neither Special Chart 1 nor Special Chart 2 has stopped (including the case where the pattern change related to Special Chart 1 or Special Chart 2 has stopped), and there is pending operation information on at least one of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2.

Here, Figs. 8(a) to 8(c) are diagrams that typically show a lottery table 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 those other than these 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 is performed once), and a result corresponding to the lottery value in which 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 identifiably stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, items described for convenience of explanation or "-" or "0" may be 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 does not result in a win. Furthermore, when the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range) is written in the lottery table, the result is derived 100%, so there is no need to perform a lottery. Also, when the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used for the lottery, a carry is always generated in the addition of the last lottery value, so the addition does not need to be performed, and in that case, the lottery value used for the addition itself is not necessary.

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.
8(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. Since the range of random numbers used in the determination is 0 to 65535, when the special drawing lottery state is low probability (hereinafter, sometimes abbreviated as "low probability of special drawing"), a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (approximately 1/320).
Similarly, when the special drawing state is in a high probability state (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "special drawing high probability"), a jackpot is derived with a probability of 600/65536 (approximately 1/109).

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.
8(b) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a drawing table for drawing the stop symbol of special symbol 1, and the range of random numbers used in the drawing is 0 to 99. Therefore, when a jackpot is derived from special symbol 1, symbol A is determined as the stop symbol with a probability of 50/100 (1/2), and symbol B is determined as the stop symbol with a probability of 50/100 (1/2).
Here, the number of rounds of the pattern A is 4, and the pattern is highly likely to be a special pattern and highly likely to be 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"). On the other hand, the number of rounds of the pattern B is 4, and the pattern is highly likely to be a special pattern and highly likely to be 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"). Therefore, it can be said that the pattern A is a more advantageous pattern than the pattern B in the special pattern lottery state after the jackpot game.
8(c) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a drawing table for drawing the stop symbol of the special symbol 2, and the range of the random numbers used in the drawing is 0 to 99, similar to the drawing of the stop symbol of the special symbol 1. Therefore, when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol 2, the symbol a is determined as the stop symbol with a probability of 75/100 (about 1/1.33), and the symbol b is determined as the stop symbol with a probability of 25/100 (1/4).
Here, the symbol a is a probability variable symbol with 10 rounds and high probability of special symbol and high probability of normal symbol after the end of the jackpot game, and the symbol b is a normal symbol with 4 rounds and high probability of special symbol and high probability of normal symbol after the end of the jackpot game. Therefore, it can be said that the symbol a is a more advantageous symbol than the symbol b in terms of the number of rounds. In the following explanation, the jackpot related to the symbol a may be referred to as a 10R probability variable jackpot, and the jackpot related to the symbol b may be referred to as a 4R probability variable jackpot.
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 C 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 the 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 the jackpot game using the special chart 2 (100/100) (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 changing whether or not to provide a round game in which it is easy to pass through the V winning area (in this embodiment, it is provided in the fourth round game of the easy winning period related to the probability variable jackpot) depending on the stopping pattern of the special chart, which is provided with a function to provide a high probability of the special chart after the end of the jackpot game when the game ball passes through the V winning area provided in the large winning opening 55 during the jackpot game (when the sensor provided in the V winning area detects the game ball).

The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern selection tables to be referred to when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern selection table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern hit/miss judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern selection table and the random number for special pattern variation pattern selection, and determines the variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from the start of the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) to the end of the pattern variation.
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.

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 symbol game control means 140 controls the winning symbol game according to the determined winning symbol, etc.
In the present embodiment, the jackpot game is a game in which the periods transition in the order of the start invalid period, the start valid period, the easy winning period, and the end demo period. More specifically, when the jackpot game is started, the start invalid period begins, and the start invalid period ends over time and transitions to the start valid period. In the start valid period, the easy winning period transitions to the start valid period when a prize is won at the gate 63. Then, when the easy winning period ends, the end demo period transitions to the end demo period, and the end demo period ends over time, and the jackpot game ends with the end demo period. The details will be described later, but the times of the start invalid period and the end demo period are determined based on the jackpot pattern related to the current jackpot and the game state when the jackpot is won.
Furthermore, at the start of a jackpot game (start invalid period), the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (hereinafter referred to as a "jackpot game start command") including the time required for the start invalid period and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and at the end of the easy win period, generates a presentation control command (hereinafter referred to as a "jackpot game end command") including the time required for the end demo period and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Furthermore, when a win occurs at the gate 63 during the start valid period, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (hereinafter referred to as an "easy win period start command") indicating the start of the easy win period and stores it in 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 swinging movement, and so on. Even if the same decorative pattern is displayed as stopped, the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as definite stop is different from the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as provisional stop. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the 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).

During the easy-to-win period, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, causing the special electric device 65 to open according to an opening pattern that corresponds to the stopping pattern of the special symbol.

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 regardless of the symbol related to the jackpot at the start of the jackpot game, maintains the special symbol low probability at the end of the jackpot game related to the normal jackpot, and sets the special symbol high probability at the end of the jackpot game related to the probability variable jackpot.
In addition, the game state control means 155 controls the normal symbol lottery state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal symbol low probability regardless of the symbol related to the jackpot at the start of the jackpot, sets the normal symbol high probability at the end of the jackpot game related to the normal jackpot or the probability variable jackpot until the symbol changes a specified number of times, and sets the normal symbol low probability after the symbol changes a specified number of times.

Such special drawing state and normal drawing state change in link with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of this special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be described below with reference to Figures 9(a) and 9(b). Note that Figure 9(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 9(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Fig. 9(a), the special chart variation pattern derivation state is composed of a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA corresponding to low probability of special chart and low probability of normal chart, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB corresponding to high probability of special chart and high probability of normal chart, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC corresponding to low probability of special chart and high probability of normal chart, and any of these special chart variation pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. And, the transition conditions between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC include transition conditions (i) to (iv).
Specifically, 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, the transition condition (iii) is the end of the 100th pattern change, and the transition condition (iv) is the end of the 160th pattern change. In addition, when a jackpot game related to a normal jackpot is executed in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC is set again after the jackpot game ends (the count of the pattern change in the transition condition (iii) starts from 0). Similarly, when a jackpot game related to a probability jackpot is executed in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB, the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB is set again after the jackpot game ends (the count of the pattern change in the transition condition (iv) starts from 0).
In addition, when the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB goes to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC via the transition condition (ii), this is an irregular case in which the game ball does not pass through the V prize entry area provided in the large prize entry port 55 during the fourth round of play during the jackpot game, and if the game ball is launched toward the second flow path Y during the jackpot game related to the jackpot won on the special chart 2, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC based on the transition condition (ii) will not be set after the end of the jackpot game.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the average fluctuation times 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 are 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. Note that, 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 determines whether the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, it stores a presentation control command (error command) including information that can identify the error state in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

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 game progress is impossible by not executing processing according to the detection results of the sensors installed at each winning port (it is not necessary to look at the detection results of the sensors themselves).
On the other hand, the playable state is a return state in which the game can proceed by executing a process according to the detection result of the sensor provided at each winning port. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is restored, the game returns to the playable state at the time of the previous power outage. For example, if the previous power outage was during the execution of a jackpot game, the game returns to the jackpot game being executed, and if the previous power outage was during the execution of a pattern change, the game returns to the pattern change being executed. In particular, when returning to a jackpot game, the game returns to the period of the jackpot game at the time of the previous power outage (the start invalid period, the start valid period, the easy winning period, or the end demo period). Furthermore, if the period to which the game is returned to is the start invalid period or the end demo period, the elapsed time (remaining time) of the period after the return also returns to the elapsed time at the time of the power outage. This is also the case when the period to which the game is returned to is the easy winning period, and in this case, the number of remaining rounds and the number of winnings into the big winning port 55 during the round game are also returned to the state at the time of the power outage.

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 7, 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 6.
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, special probability mode, and low probability time-saving 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 performance route determination means 222 receives a pre-determination command, it determines (sets) a performance route corresponding to the currently reserved pattern change based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special pattern change pattern).
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.

When the sub-hold control means 223 receives a hold command (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the occurrence of a hold winning), it sets performance data for displaying the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 1 and the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 2 in the hold display area (not shown) of the main display unit 81 based on the information on the special hold counter 1 and the special hold counter 2 included in the command. Note that the hold images are images that are the subject of a hold pre-reading performance that changes into various forms that suggest the degree of advantage, such as the expectation of a jackpot game.

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 performance is a performance that suggests the expectation for the result of the special symbol determination in the pattern change of the pre-read target, and the content of the performance to be executed in the pattern change of the pre-read target, before the pattern change of the pre-read target begins, with the aim of increasing interest in the game.

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 determination means 225 determines the performance content (performance pattern) for each performance execution timing in the pattern change by a lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determination means 222. 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. Even if the same performance route is determined, it is also possible to diversify the performances to be executed. Note that the timing for determining the performance content can be, for example, the start of the pattern change.

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (confirmed stopped) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, middle pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern.
Specifically, the pattern A corresponds to a pattern consisting of odd-numbered symbols, the pattern B corresponds to a pattern consisting of even-numbered symbols, and the pattern C or the pattern c corresponds to a random number. Furthermore, the pattern a corresponds to a pattern consisting of 7 symbols, and the pattern b corresponds to a pattern consisting of odd-numbered symbols excluding 7 symbols.
In addition, when matching the determined combination of decorative patterns to the stopping patterns of the special pattern, it is not necessary to have the above-mentioned correspondence. For example, if the combination of decorative patterns determined for the above-mentioned correspondence does not have a high expected value, such as matching an even-numbered pattern arrangement with pattern A, 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 determined combination of decorative patterns corresponds to the stopping patterns of the special pattern.

The jackpot presentation control means 227 determines the execution of presentation related to the jackpot game based on presentation control commands related to the jackpot game, such as a jackpot game start command, a jackpot game end command, and an easy win period start command.
Details will be described later, but in this embodiment, the jackpot presentation control means 227 causes the main display unit 81 to display an alert image including a first instruction image, which is an instruction image that instructs the player to launch the game ball into the second flow path Y, during the start invalid period and start valid period, while causing the main display unit 81 to display an alert image including a second instruction image, which is the same instruction image but different from the first instruction image, during the easy winning period, thereby allowing the player to recognize whether or not the easy winning period has started during a jackpot game, and making it easier for him to decide whether or not he can leave his seat.

The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with 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 a 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 a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.
In particular, when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, and when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state without the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved without the execution of a RAM clear process.
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.

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, the movable role control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82 from the ROM 202 based on the performance data, transmits the read movement control data to the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and controls the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82.

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 described above, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the jackpot presentation control means 227 causes the main display unit 81 to display an alert image including a first instruction image during the invalid start period and the valid start period, while causing the main display unit 81 to display an alert image including a second instruction image different from the first instruction image during the easy win period, thereby allowing the player to recognize whether or not the easy win period has started during a jackpot game, and making it easier for him or her to determine whether or not he or she can leave his or her seat (hereinafter referred to as the "first identification function").
Incidentally, in the gaming machine 10, because a win at the gate 63 is required to transition from the starting valid period to the easy winning period, it is easy for the starting valid period to end when the hall closes, and there is a risk that the starting valid period will end when the next business day comes. This is also the case when the hall closes during the easy winning period, which not only causes a disadvantage to the hall, but also leads to an increase in the gambling nature of the game. Therefore, when power is restored to reopen the hall, it is necessary to make it easy for hall staff to recognize these advantageous states, but because the first identification function described above is provided, the number of image patterns displayed on the main display unit 81 increases, and there is a risk that it will be difficult for hall staff to recognize these advantageous states.
In response to such problems, the present embodiment is configured to realize a function (hereinafter referred to as the "second identification function") that makes it easier for hall personnel to recognize that the player is in an advantageous state for a jackpot game when power is restored, while still having the above-mentioned first identification function. Details will be described below.

<Display of notification image during big win game related to pattern a>
First, the notification images displayed during a big win game will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG.
10 to 12 are diagrams showing the flow of images displayed during a jackpot game when a jackpot related to the pattern a is derived in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, and Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of instruction images displayed during the jackpot game, Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the flow of notification images displayed from the start invalid period to the start valid period during the jackpot game, and Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of notification images displayed from the easy winning period to the end demo period during the jackpot game. In addition, in these drawings, the same reference numerals as those once given in the same drawing may be omitted as appropriate, and this also applies to subsequent drawings.

As described above, in a jackpot game, the periods transition in the following order: start invalid period, start valid period, easy win period, and end demo period. The transition from the start invalid period to the start valid period, and the end of the end demo period, occur over time. The transition from the start valid period to the easy win period occurs when a win is made at gate 63 during the start valid period, and the transition from the easy win period to the end demo period occurs when all rounds of play executed in the jackpot game related to the end demo period end.

As shown in FIG. 10, a first instruction image is displayed from the start invalid period to the start valid period, and a second instruction image different from the first instruction image is displayed from the easy win period to the end demo period.
In particular, in this embodiment, the display of the first indication image is started midway through the start invalid period so that the display period of the first indication image during the start invalid period is equal to or longer than the first time T1.
In addition, the second instruction image is displayed throughout the entire period from the start of the easy win period to the end of the final demo period.

Next, as shown in Fig. 11, a notification image including a first instruction image sg1 is displayed from the start invalid period to the start valid period. Note that the upper scene in Fig. 11 corresponds to the start invalid period, and the lower scene in the same figure corresponds to the start valid period.
Specifically, as shown in the first scene (top leftmost scene) in Fig. 11, when a jackpot game starts, that is, when the start invalid period starts, a jackpot start image kg (in this example, the text "Congratulations on the 10R jackpot") indicating the start of the jackpot game is displayed. As shown in the next scene (top middle scene), when the display of the jackpot start image kg ends, the display of the first instruction image sg1, which is an instruction image that instructs the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y, starts. Then, as shown in the subsequent scenes, the display of the instruction image continues until the end of the start valid period.
During the period from the invalid start period to the valid start period, for example, a combination of decorative symbols corresponding to the jackpot for the current jackpot game is displayed in the upper left corner of the display area for the main display unit 81.

In this embodiment, the first indication image sg1 is a moving image. More specifically, the first indication image sg1 changes continuously from the scene in the middle of the upper row in FIG. 11 (corresponding to the first frame of the moving image) to the scene at the right end of the upper row (corresponding to the last frame of the moving image). The first indication image sg1 is displayed from the first indication image sg1a to the first indication image sg1b, that is, when the first indication image sg1 is played once, it returns to the first indication image sg1a and is played again, and thereafter, until the display ends, the moving image changing from the first indication image sg1a to the first indication image sg1b is repeatedly played. In particular, the display of the first indication image sg1 from the first indication image sg1a to the first indication image sg1b ends before the above-mentioned first time T1 has elapsed since the display of the first indication image sg1 started during the start invalid period. This makes it easier for the player to recognize the first indication image sg1, which is a moving image, and makes it easier for the player to recognize whether or not the start is invalid or valid during a jackpot game. Note that, in order to achieve this effect, the first indication image sg1 may be displayed such that the first indication image sg1b continues to be displayed after the first indication image sg1 has been played back once, or the first indication image sg1b may be repeatedly played back from a playback position midway between the first indication image sg1a and the first indication image sg1b to the first indication image sg1b.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the easy winning period does not start even if the gaming ball passes through a specified area (gate 63) and ends with the passage of time, the start invalid period starts at the start of the jackpot game, the start valid period starts at the end of the start invalid period, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) displays a notification image including a first instruction image (first instruction image sg1) from the start invalid period and continues to display the first instruction image until the start valid period, the first instruction image includes at least a moving image, and in other words, the moving image is played back once between the start of playback of the moving image related to the first instruction image and the start valid period.

Next, as shown in Fig. 12, from the easy win period to the end demo period, a notification image including the second instruction image sg2 is displayed. Note that the scene from the top left corner to the bottom left corner in Fig. 12 corresponds to the easy win period, and the subsequent scenes (the scene in the middle of the bottom row and the scene at the bottom right corner) correspond to the end demo period.
Specifically, as shown in the first scene (the top leftmost scene) to the bottom leftmost scene in Fig. 12, during the easy winning period, a round identification image rg capable of identifying the number of the current round of play is displayed, and a second instruction image sg2 which is an instruction image for instructing the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y is displayed. Then, as shown in the subsequent scenes, the display of the instruction image continues until the end of the end demo period.
During the end demo period, as shown in the scene in the middle of the bottom row in Figure 12, a first end image eg1 is displayed, which allows the player to identify the number of game balls won in the previous easy winning period, and then, as shown in the scene on the far right of the bottom row, the display of the end image ends and a second end image eg2 is displayed, which allows the player to identify the game status after the big win game ends.
In addition, from the easy winning period to the end demo period, similar to the period from the start invalid period to the start valid period, a combination of decorative patterns corresponding to the jackpot for the current jackpot game is displayed in the upper left corner of the display area for the main display unit 81.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, during the effective start period, a notification image including the first indication image sg1 is displayed, whereas during the easy win period, a notification image including the second indication image sg2 is displayed. This realizes the above-mentioned first identification function.
In addition, in order to realize this function, if the first instruction image sg1 is not displayed during the easy win period, the second instruction image sg2 may be displayed during the start valid period as well.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the jackpot game includes a valid start period and an easy winning period in which it is easy for the gaming ball to enter the jackpot opening, and when the gaming ball passes through a specified area during the valid start period, the valid start period ends and the easy winning period begins, and the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can display a first instruction image (first instruction image sg1) and a second instruction image (second instruction image sg2) different from the first instruction image as instruction images that instruct the gaming ball to be launched in the second launch direction (second flow path Y). In other words, during the valid start period, a notification image including the first instruction image is displayed, while during the easy winning period, a notification image not including the first instruction image but including the second instruction image is displayed.

As described above, in this embodiment, a transition to the easy win period is triggered by the occurrence of a gaming ball entering the gate 63 during the effective start period. Therefore, the playback of the first instruction image sg1, which is a moving image played during the easy win period, is stopped when the gaming ball enters the gate 63.
This makes it easier for players to recognize the transition from the valid start period to the easy win period.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the first instruction image (first instruction image sg1) includes at least a moving image, and in other words, if the gaming ball passes through a specified area (gate 63) during playback of the moving image related to the first instruction image, playback of the moving image being played is stopped.

Next, the above-mentioned second identification function, i.e., the function of making it easier for hall staff to recognize that the state is favorable for a jackpot game when power is restored, will be described in detail with reference to Figures 13 to 15.
13(a) to 13(c) are diagrams showing notification images displayed after a power outage and restoration without the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during a start invalid period, 14(a) and 14(b) are diagrams showing notification images displayed after a power outage and restoration without the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during a start valid period, and 14(c) is a diagram showing a notification image displayed after a power outage and restoration with the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during a jackpot game. Also, 15(a) to 15(c) are diagrams showing notification images displayed after a power outage and restoration without the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during a winning easy period or a finishing demo period.

As shown in Figure 13 (a), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during which the jackpot start image kg is displayed during the start invalid period, a first return image fg1 consisting of the words "Attacker open" is displayed, and a second instruction image sg2 is displayed.
As shown in Figure 13 (b), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the start invalid period when the first instruction image sg1a is displayed, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the start invalid period when the jackpot start image kg is displayed.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13 (c), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the start invalid period when the first indication image sg1b is displayed, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second indication image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the start invalid period when the jackpot start image kg or the first indication image sg1a is displayed.

As shown in Figure 14 (a), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the valid start period in which the first instruction image sg1a is displayed, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the invalid start period.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14(b), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during which the first instruction image sg1b is displayed during the valid start period, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, in the same manner as when a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during which the first instruction image sg1a is displayed during the invalid start period and the valid start period.

In this manner, in this embodiment, when a power outage and restoration occurs during the start invalid period and the start valid period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the first restoration image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed.
In addition, if a power outage and restoration occurs during the start invalid period or start valid period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the combination of decorative patterns corresponding to the jackpot for the current jackpot game that was displayed in the upper left corner of the display area of the main display unit 81 before the power outage will no longer be displayed.

14(c), if a power outage occurs during the period in which the first instruction image sg1b is displayed during the effective start period, the jackpot game being played before the power outage is stopped, and the second return image fg2 showing the initial combination of decorative symbols is displayed. At this time, the game state is set to a game state of low probability of special symbol and low probability of normal symbol, rather than a jackpot game, so that the instruction image instructing the launch of the game ball to the second flow path Y is not displayed.
In addition, even if a power outage and restoration accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during other periods during a jackpot game (the start invalid period, the start valid period, the easy winning period, and the end demo period), the second return image fg2 showing the initial combination of decorative patterns is displayed, as in the example shown in Figure 14 (c), but the instruction image instructing the launch of the game ball into the second flow path Y is not displayed.

As shown in Figure 15 (a), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during which the round-specific image rg and the second instruction image sg2 are displayed during the easy-to-win period, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the start invalid period and start valid period.
As shown in Figure 15 (b), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the end demo period in which the first end image eg1 and the second instruction image sg2 are displayed, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the start invalid period, start valid period, and easy winning period.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15 (c), if a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the end demo period when the second end image eg2 and the second instruction image sg2 are displayed, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the period during the start invalid period, start valid period, easy winning period, and end demo period when the first end image eg1 is displayed.

In this way, in this embodiment, if a power outage and restoration occurs during the easy winning period and the end demo period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the first return image fg1 is displayed and the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, just as in the case where a power outage and restoration occurs during the start invalid period and the start valid period without the execution of a RAM clear process.
In addition, when a power outage occurs during the easy winning period and the end demo period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the combination of decorative symbols corresponding to the jackpot for the current jackpot game that was displayed in the upper left of the display area related to the main display unit 81 before the power outage will no longer be displayed, similar to the case where a power outage occurs during the start invalid period and the start valid period without the execution of a RAM clear process. However, when a power outage occurs during the start invalid period, the start valid period, the easy winning period, and the end demo period without the execution of a RAM clear process, a combination of decorative symbols (a predetermined combination of symbols) that has been determined in advance may be displayed in the upper left of the display area related to the main display unit 81.

As described above, in this embodiment, the notification image displayed after power restoration is the same when a power outage occurs during the valid start period without the execution of a RAM clear process and when a power outage occurs during the easy win period without the execution of a RAM clear process. This realizes a second identification function that makes it easier for hall personnel to recognize that the game is in a favorable state for a jackpot game (valid start period or easy win period) when power is restored.
In this embodiment, when a power outage occurs and is restored without the execution of a RAM clear process, the image displayed indicates that it is easy to win a prize in the large prize slot 55, but the effect is not limited to this.
Furthermore, the notification image displayed when a power outage occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the start valid period, and the notification image displayed when a power outage occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during the winning-prone machine period do not necessarily need to include the second instruction image sg2. However, by including the instruction image in these notification images, the effect of the second identification function can be enhanced, and it is also possible to prevent a player from being disadvantaged when a power outage occurs during an advantageous state for a jackpot game.
In particular, these notification images include the second indication image sg2 but do not include the first indication image sg1. This allows the indication images included in these notification images to be the same as the indication images included in notification images displayed during a more advantageous easy-to-win period in a jackpot game, thereby further enhancing the effect of the second identification function and preventing the player from being disadvantaged when a power outage and restoration occurs in an advantageous state for a jackpot game.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, when a power outage occurs during the effective start period and power is restored, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can display the same predetermined notification images (first return image fg1 and second indication image sg2) as when a power outage occurs during the easy winning period and power is restored.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10, the specified notification images (first return image fg1 and second instruction image sg2) can be said to include instruction images.

Furthermore, in gaming machine 10, the specified notification image can be said to include a second instruction image but not a first instruction image.

Although not shown in the figure, for example, when a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, an alert image including the second instruction image sg2 is displayed, but this image is a different alert image from the one displayed when a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clear process during a jackpot game.
This can enhance the effect of the second identification function described above.
In addition, when a power outage and restoration accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process occurs in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, the second return image fg2 is displayed, just as in the case when a power outage and restoration accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during a jackpot game, but the instruction image instructing the launch of the game ball into the second flow path Y is not displayed.

In other words, in the gaming machine 10, the jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the easy winning period does not start even if the gaming ball passes through a specified area and ends with the passage of time, the start invalid period starts at the start of the jackpot game, the start valid period starts at the end of the start invalid period, and the display control means is capable of displaying a notification image different from the specified notification image when a power interruption occurs and is restored during a specified period that is different from any of the start invalid period, start valid period, and easy winning period.

In addition, in this embodiment, if a power outage occurs during the start invalid period without the execution of a RAM clear process, a notification image that is the same as the notification image that is displayed when a power outage occurs during the start valid period and the winning easy period without the execution of a RAM clear process is displayed. This makes it easier for hall personnel to recognize that the situation is favorable for jackpot play, including the start invalid period, when power is restored.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) is capable of displaying a predetermined notification image (first return image fg1 and second indication image sg2) when a power outage occurs during the start invalid period and then is restored.

<Time required for the start invalid period and end demo period>
As mentioned above, the start invalid period and the end demo period end with the passage of time. The time required to execute these periods depends on the type of special chart stop pattern at the time of the jackpot and the type of special chart variation pattern derivation state at the time of the jackpot. The following will be specifically explained using Figures 16 and 17.
16(a) to 16(c) are displays showing the required time for the start invalid period and the end demo period, and FIG. 16(a) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, FIG. 16(b) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, and FIG. 16(c) is a table showing the required time for the jackpot game related to the jackpot when the jackpot is won in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. Also, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the flow of instruction images displayed during the jackpot game when the jackpot related to the pattern b is derived in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB.

As shown in FIG. 16(a), when a jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, regardless of the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 20 seconds, and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 35 seconds.

As shown in FIG. 16(b), when a jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, if the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern A, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 20 seconds, and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 15 seconds. If the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern B, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 20 seconds, and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 30 seconds. Furthermore, if the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern a, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 10 seconds, and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 15 seconds. If the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern b, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 5 seconds, and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 15 seconds.

In particular, in this embodiment, in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, the required time of the start invalid period determined when the stopped pattern of the special pattern is pattern b is shorter than the required time of the start invalid period determined when the stopped pattern of the special pattern is pattern b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the second time T2 from the start of displaying the first indication image in the start invalid period to the transition to the start valid period is shorter than the above-mentioned first time T1, and the second time T2 is shorter than the time required to play all the moving images related to the first indication image.
This makes it difficult for the player to recognize the timing of the transition to the start valid period based on the playback status of the moving image related to the first instruction image, thereby encouraging careful game progress.

As shown in FIG. 16(c), in the case where a jackpot is won in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, if the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern A or pattern B, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 20 seconds and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 35 seconds, and if the stopped pattern of the special chart related to the jackpot is pattern a or pattern b, the required time for the start invalid period is determined to be 15 seconds and the required time for the end demo period is determined to be 35 seconds.

In this way, in this embodiment, the length of time required for the start invalid period depends on the type of special stop pattern at the time of the jackpot and the type of special pattern variation pattern derivation state at the time of the jackpot. This is also the same for the required time for the end demo period.
In addition, in the above explanation, the types of instruction images displayed during jackpot play, the period during which these instruction images are displayed, and the contents of the notification image after power is restored are explained using a jackpot play involving pattern a as an example, but the same applies when the special pattern that is stopped at the time of a jackpot is other than pattern a.
Therefore, it can be said that the present embodiment provides an effect related to the second identification function regardless of the length of the start invalid period.
In addition, the length of time required for the start invalid period may be different depending on either the type of special stop pattern at the time of the jackpot or the type of special pattern variation pattern derivation state when the jackpot is won. In other words, the length of time required for the start invalid period may be different depending on at least one of the type of special stop pattern at the time of the jackpot or the type of special pattern variation pattern derivation state when the jackpot is won.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the easy winning period does not start even if the gaming ball passes through a specified area (gate 63) and ends with the passage of time, the start invalid period starts at the start of the jackpot game, the start valid period starts upon the end of the start invalid period, and the length of the start invalid period may differ depending on at least one of the type of jackpot and the game state at the time of winning the jackpot.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) can be said to display a notification image including an instruction image during the start valid period, regardless of the type of jackpot related to the start valid period.
According to this, it can be said that the effect of the second identification function is achieved regardless of the type of jackpot.

The first instruction image may be a predetermined one as in this embodiment, but if it is an image different from the second instruction image, the appearance may differ depending on at least one of the type of special chart stop pattern at the time of a jackpot and the type of special chart change pattern derivation state at the time of winning a jackpot.

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

First, in the above description, the main display unit 81 is caused to issue a notification instructing the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y during the start invalid period and the start valid period, but the notification may be issued, for example, by the presentation mode (lighting mode) of the frame lamp 35 in parallel with the display of the instruction image by the main display unit 81. However, the light-emitting means in the following modified examples is not limited to the frame lamp 35, and various lamps may be adopted. Furthermore, the control means for controlling the lighting of the light-emitting means is not limited to the above-mentioned first sub-control board 200, and may be the main control board 100.
In this case, when a power outage and restoration occurs during the start invalid period and start valid period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the presentation mode of the frame lamp 35 may be a different presentation mode (including being turned off) from the presentation mode at the time of power outage, similar to the image display related to the main display unit 81.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize that a power outage has occurred and been restored when the player is in an advantageous state for winning a jackpot.
In order to achieve this effect, the presentation mode of the frame lamp 35 during the start invalid period and the start valid period does not have to be a presentation mode that instructs the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 further includes a light emitting means (frame lamp 35) and a light emitting control means (first sub-control board 200) that controls the light emitting means, and in other words, when a power outage occurs during the effective start period and then is restored, the light emitting control means can set the light emitting means to a different presentation mode from the presentation mode of the light emitting means at the time of the power outage.

Similarly, when a power outage and restoration occurs during the easy winning period and the ending demo period without the execution of a RAM clear process, the presentation mode of the frame lamp 35 may be a different presentation mode (including being turned off) from the presentation mode at the time of the power outage.
Even in this way, it is possible to make it easier for the player to recognize that a power outage has occurred and been restored when the player is in an advantageous state for winning a jackpot.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 further includes a light emitting means (frame lamp 35) and a light emitting control means (first sub-control board 200) that controls the light emitting means, and in other words, when a power outage occurs during the winning-prone period and then is restored, the light emitting control means can set the light emitting means to a different presentation mode from the presentation mode of the light emitting means at the time of the power outage.

In addition, if the presentation mode of the frame lamp 35 during the start invalid period, start valid period, easy winning period, and end demo period is set to a presentation mode that instructs the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y, when a power outage occurs and is restored without the execution of a RAM clear process, the presentation mode may be the same as the presentation mode at the time of power outage.
This makes it possible to prevent the player from being disadvantaged in the event of a power outage and restoration when the player is in an advantageous state for winning a jackpot.
In addition, in order to achieve this effect, two types of light-emitting means are provided, at least one of which has a presentation mode that instructs the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y, and when a power outage occurs and power is restored without executing a RAM clear process, one of the light-emitting means is set to a presentation mode different from the presentation mode at the time of power outage, and the other light-emitting means, whose presentation mode at the time of power outage is a presentation mode that instructs the launch of a game ball into the second flow path Y, is set to the same presentation mode as the presentation mode at the time of power outage.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 further includes a light emitting means and a light emitting control means (first sub-control board 200) that controls the light emitting means (frame lamp 35), and in other words, the light emitting control means sets the light emitting means to a presentation mode that instructs the launch of the gaming ball in the second launch direction (second flow path Y) during the effective start period, and when a power interruption occurs during the effective start period and is then restored, the light emitting means can be set to a presentation mode that is the same as the presentation mode of the light emitting means at the time of the power interruption.

Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 further includes a light emitting means and a light emitting control means (first sub-control board 200) that controls the light emitting means (frame lamp 35), and in other words, the light emitting control means sets the light emitting means to a presentation mode that instructs the launch of the gaming ball in the second launch direction (second flow path Y) during the easy winning period, and when a power interruption occurs during the easy winning period and the power is restored, the light emitting means can be set to a presentation mode that is the same as the presentation mode of the light emitting means at the time of the power interruption.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as long as the relationship between the probability, rate, and frequency is guaranteed, the lower probability, rate, and frequency may be set so that the winner is not likely to win, or the higher probability, rate, and frequency may be set so that the winner is likely to 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 capable of launching game balls in a first launch direction or a second launch direction, capable of executing a pattern change based on the entry of the game ball into a start port, executing a win/lose judgment to determine whether or not a jackpot will be won with the start of the pattern change, and when the jackpot is won as a result of the win/lose judgment, starting a jackpot game in which the entry of the game ball into a jackpot port becomes easier upon the end of the pattern change,
an image display means for displaying an image;
A display control means for controlling the image display means;
Equipped with
The jackpot game includes a start valid period and an easy winning period during which it is easy for a game ball to enter the jackpot opening,
When the game ball passes through a predetermined area during the start valid period, the start valid period ends and the easy winning period begins.
The predetermined area and the big prize opening are arranged at a position where the game ball launched in the second launch direction is likely to pass through or win,
The display control means
As an instruction image for instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction, a first instruction image and a second instruction image different from the first instruction image can be displayed,
During the start effective period, a notification image including the first instruction image is displayed.
During the easy winning period, a notification image not including the first instruction image but including the second instruction image is displayed;
When a power outage occurs during the effective start period and is then restored, it is possible to display a predetermined notification image that is the same as that displayed when a power outage occurs during the easy win period and is then restored.
There are multiple types of jackpots.
The display control means displays a notification image including the instruction image during the start valid period, regardless of the type of the jackpot related to the start valid period.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(2)
The gaming machine according to (1) above,
The jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the winning easy period does not start even if the game ball passes through the predetermined area and ends with the passage of time,
The start invalid period starts at the start of the big win game, and the start valid period starts at the end of the start invalid period.
The display control means is capable of displaying a notification image different from the predetermined notification image when a power outage occurs during a predetermined period other than the start invalid period, the start valid period, and the winning easy period and then the power is restored.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(3)
The gaming machine according to (2) above,
The display control means is capable of displaying the predetermined notification image when a power interruption occurs during the start invalid period and then the power is restored.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(4)
A gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (3) above,
The first instruction image includes at least a moving image,
When the game ball passes through the predetermined area during playback of the moving image related to the first instruction image, playback of the moving image being played is stopped.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(5)
A gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (4) above,
The jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the winning easy period does not start even if the game ball passes through the predetermined area and ends with the passage of time,
The start invalid period starts at the start of the big win game, and the start valid period starts at the end of the start invalid period.
the display control means displays a notification image including the first instruction image from the start invalid period and continues to display the first instruction image until the start valid period;
The first instruction image includes at least a moving image,
the video associated with the first instruction image is played back once during a period from when playback of the video associated with the first instruction image is started to when the start valid period is started;
A gaming machine characterized by:
(6)
The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (5) above,
The jackpot game includes a start invalid period during which the winning easy period does not start even if the game ball passes through the predetermined area and ends with the passage of time,
The start invalid period starts at the start of the big win game, and the start valid period starts at the end of the start invalid period.
The length of the start invalid period may vary depending on at least one of the type of the jackpot and the game state at the time of winning the jackpot.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(a)
The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (6) above,
The predetermined notification image includes the instruction image.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(b)
The gaming machine according to (a) above,
The predetermined notification image does not include the first instruction image but includes the second instruction image.
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 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 50a Game 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, outlet 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, outlet ball sensor 76, middle frame door open sensor 77, front frame door open 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 90, pattern display device 91, first special pattern display device 92, second special pattern display device 93, normal pattern display device 94, first special pattern hold lamp 95, second special pattern hold lamp 96, normal pattern hold 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 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 Payout control board 409 Payout 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 X First flow path Y Second flow path T1 First time T2 Second time kg Big win start image sg1 First indication image sg1a First indication image sg1b First indication image rg Round specific image sg2 Second indication image eg1 First end image eg2 Second end image fg1 First return image fg2 Second return image

Claims (2)

A gaming machine capable of launching a gaming ball in a first launching direction or a second launching direction, and capable of executing a special game in which the gaming ball launched in the second launching direction can easily enter a big prize hole that the gaming ball can reach,
an image display means for displaying an image;
A display control means for controlling the image display means;
Equipped with
When the game ball passes through a predetermined area that the game ball launched in the second launch direction can reach during the first period related to the special game, a second period related to the special game is started in which the game ball can enter the big prize opening more easily than during the first period.
The display control means
As an instruction image for instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction, a first instruction image and a second instruction image different from the first instruction image can be displayed,
In the first period, a notification image including the first instruction image is displayed,
during the second period, a notification image including the second indication image but not the first indication image is displayed;
When a power interruption occurs during the first period and the power is turned on thereafter without executing a RAM clear process, it is possible to display a predetermined notification image that is the same as that displayed when a power interruption occurs during the second period and the power is turned on thereafter without executing a RAM clear process,
A first light emitting means that emits light when instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction;
A second light emitting means that emits light when instructing the launch of the game ball in the second launch direction;
Furthermore,
If the power is turned off during the first period and then turned on without executing the RAM clear process,
The first light-emitting means has the same light-emitting mode as the light-emitting mode of the first light-emitting means at the time of the power interruption,
The second light-emitting means has a light-emitting mode different from the light-emitting mode of the second light-emitting means at the time of the power interruption,
There is a third period which is connected to the first period and in which the passage of the game ball through the predetermined area is invalidated,
There are multiple types of special games,
The display control means further displays a notification image including the instruction image regardless of the type of the special game .
When the power is cut off during the third period and then the power is turned on without executing the RAM clear process, the first light-emitting means has the same light-emitting mode as the first light-emitting means at the time of the power cut.
A gaming machine characterized by: 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1,
The special games include a first special game and a second special game,
the third period and a display period of the instruction image overlap with each other,
Regarding the length of a period during which the third period and the display period of the instruction image overlap, the length of the period related to the first special game and the length of the period related to the second special game are different.
A gaming machine characterized by:

Images