JPH0157591B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video slot machine that displays symbols and plays games on a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

Conventional slot machines can be roughly divided into mechanical machines that move and stop symbol rows by physically rotating reels with multiple symbols drawn on the surface, and machines that move and stop symbols displayed on a CRT display screen electronically. There is also a video type that is controlled and moved.

An example of the configuration of a conventional device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a mechanical configuration, and the number of reels is three. A central shaft 2 is fixed to an outer box 1, and three cylindrical reels 3 are attached to it.
a, 3b, and 3c are provided rotatably. reel 3
n symbols 4 of m types (where m and n are natural numbers) are drawn on each of a, 3b, and 3c, and the combination of symbols differs for each reel. The outer box 1 is provided with a lid 6 having an observation window 5,
The symbols drawn on the reels 3a, 3b, 3c can be observed through the observation window 5. Further, the outer box 1 is provided with a coin dispensing port 7 and an operating lever 8.

Next, the operation of the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a view of the symbols 4 drawn on the rotating reels 3a, 3b, and 3c of the slot machine of FIG. 1, viewed from the observation window 5, and the same elements as in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same symbols. First, a payline is selected depending on the number of coins inserted by the player. Next, when the player operates the control lever 8, the game starts, and the reels 3a, 3
b and 3c are rotated in the same direction by a drive device (not shown). The rotation of each reel is then stopped independently by a stop device (not shown). Here, it is assumed that the reels 3a, 3b, and 3c have stopped at the symbol arrangement shown in FIG. 2
Assume that there are five lines, 0, 30, 40, and 50. In this case, since the rectangular symbols are lined up in a row on the payline 40, the sensor and hit determination device (not shown) determine that it is a win, and coins are dispensed from the coin payout port 7 according to a predetermined payout rate. paid out.

The above situation is the same in recent video slot machines that display symbols on CRTs. In other words, symbols are displayed on the display screen as if multiple reels were arranged in parallel around a single central axis inside the slot machine, and the symbols are displayed on the display screen as if multiple reels were arranged in parallel around a single central axis. The symbols on the display screen are electronically controlled to move in a certain direction as if the symbols were moving in a fixed direction, and the movement of the symbols is stopped using electronic control.As a result, when a winning combination is achieved on the payline, coins are paid out according to a predetermined payout rate. is paying out.

As mentioned above, conventional slot machines have a structure in which symbol rows consisting of multiple symbols are moved in parallel to each other in the same direction around a single central axis, and the movement is stopped for each symbol row. It is not possible to set paylines for the game. This is because the symbol arrangement, moving conditions, and stopping conditions differ for each symbol string, so the combinations of symbols between different symbol strings are subject to chance, but the combinations of symbols in the same symbol string are predetermined. This is because there is no chance involved. Slot machines are gaming machines that focus on chance in symbol combinations and set payout rates according to the probability of the combination occurring, so paylines are set for combinations of symbols in the same symbol string that do not involve chance. I can't.
In this way, conventional slot machines have a structure in which symbol rows are arranged parallel to each other around a single central axis, so there is a lack of variety in symbol combinations, and the lack of paylines limits the player's enjoyment. It was hot.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine that can increase the variety of symbol combinations and increase the number of pay lines for the game to enhance player enjoyment.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides k virtual reels that store m types of symbol codes (m is a natural number and m≦n) at addresses from the first address to the nth address (n is a natural number). xl virtual reel memory (k, l are natural numbers), a CRT that displays symbol columns corresponding to the virtual reels in a matrix of k rows and l columns, and a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the symbol columns (in a mechanical slot machine To provide a video-type slot machine in which the payline for the game can be set not only in the direction of the central axis but also in the moving direction of the symbol row.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The input device 101 selects a payline according to the number of coins inserted by the player and issues a payline selection signal, issues a game start signal based on an external input such as a lever operation by the player, and supplies this to the processor 102. When the processor 102 receives the game start signal, it issues a start signal, which is sent to the random number generator 103 and the CRT controller 10.
Give to 4. The random numbers generated by the random number generator 103 are given to the virtual reel memory 105. Here, the virtual reel memory 105 stores k×l (3×3 in this embodiment) virtual reels R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ ,
It has R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₃₁ , R ₃₂ , R ₃₃ ,
Each virtual reel has m types of symbol codes stored in addresses from the 1st address to the nth address (in the case of this embodiment, they are stored in hexadecimal representation at addresses 0 to C). 0 to 4
It consists of 5 types of symbol codes). The virtual reel memory 105 can be configured with a ROM, for example. The CRT controller 10 reads the stored contents of the virtual reel memory 105 via the bus _106a , refers to the symbol memory 107, and displays a symbol string on the display screen of the CRT 108. Here, symbol memory 107
is m symbol codes (0 to 4 in this example)
It stores the image of each symbol corresponding to the five symbol codes (up to 5 symbol codes), and can be configured, for example, in ROM. CRT controller 104
is the virtual reel memory 105 via the bus _106b .
Based on the pointer data signal given by
It controls the CRT 108 and provides a reel stop signal to the processor 102 via the bus _106c . The processor 102 determines a win based on the contents stored in the win combination memory 109, the payline selection signal given from the input device 101, and the pointer data signal given via the bus _106b , and when it is a win, the output device 110 outputs a coin. We will provide refunds, etc. Here, the winning combination memory 109 stores winning combinations and payout rates for each payline, and can be configured by, for example, a ROM.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the display screen of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in which symbol columns are arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns. Also, since each symbol column moves and stops independently, the payline is at the solid line 100 in the figure.
It can be made into 8 pieces of ~800. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the contents stored in the winning combination memory 109, in which winning symbol combinations and corresponding payout rates are stored for each of paylines 100 to 800. In this example,
Assume that on the payline 800 as shown in FIG. 6, a payout rate of 250 times is set for the combination of symbol code "4".

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

When a coin is inserted into a coin slot (not shown), a payline is selected by the input device 101. Here, it is assumed that all paylines 100 to 800 have been selected. A payline selection signal is provided to processor 102.

When a lever (not shown) is operated, processor 1
02 is given a game start signal. Processor 102 issues a start signal based on this.

When the start signal is issued at time t ₁ ,
A CRT controller 104 controls the CRT 108 so that a matrix of symbols displayed on the display screen of the CRT 108 moves in a fixed direction. Note that the reel image is read from the virtual reel memory 105 via the bus _106b ,
Images of symbols are read from symbol memory 107. The start signal is also given to the random number generator 103, and the random numbers are generated in the virtual reel memory 1.
Given on 05. Addresses from address 0 to address C in hexadecimal representation are selected for each of the virtual reels R ₁₁ to R ₃₃ using the given random number.

At time _t2 , virtual reel memory 105 issues a pointer data signal. The pointer data signal consists of an address and symbol code for each virtual reel selected by random numbers, and is given to the processor 102 and the CRT controller 104. Here, it _is assumed that the combinations of symbol codes at addresses from address ₀ to address C _{of the} virtual reels are as shown in FIG _. 3, 7, 0,
5. Assume that address C is selected by random numbers. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, symbols with the symbol code "4" line up on the payline 800, and the processor 102 determines that it is a win. The refund rate in this case is 250 times as shown in Figure 6.

When the hit determination is completed at time t ₃ , reel stop control signals are sequentially issued from the CRT controller 104 and applied to the CRT 108 . As a result, the movement of the symbol strings displayed on the display screen of the CRT 108 is sequentially stopped. Note that each symbol string stops at the position where the symbol designated by the pointer data signal is at the center of the display.

When all symbol rows stop moving at time _t4 , the reel stop signal is output to the CRT controller 104.
The signal is generated from the processor 102 and given to the processor 102.
Then, the processor 102 controls the output device 110 so that coins are paid out at a predetermined payout rate (250 times in this embodiment).

As described above, according to the present invention, mechanical reels arranged in a matrix of k rows and l columns are formed as virtual reels in a storage device such as a ROM, symbol combinations are created using random numbers, and the results are displayed on a CRT. Since a matrix can be displayed on the display screen, a slot machine can be obtained which can increase the variety of combinations of symbol strings and increase the number of pay lines for the game. In particular, paylines can be set in the direction of movement of symbol rows, which has not been a problem in conventional devices, so it is possible to obtain a slot machine with significantly improved entertainment. Further, in the slot machine of the present invention, in order to display k×l symbol strings on the display screen, k rows and l
In a display area arranged in a matrix of columns,
Not only is the identified symbol displayed approximately in the center, but also parts of the symbols before and after it are displayed at the edges of the display area, so the player has k×l The reels of the book will be perceived as being displayed, which has the effect of increasing the fun that is unique to slot machines.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a configuration example of a conventional device, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the configuration example of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the display screen of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the winning combination memory in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is. 105...Virtual reel memory, 107...Symbol memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An input device that issues a game start signal based on an external input such as inserting a coin or operating a lever, and also issues a payline selection signal that selects a payline for the game from preset paylines, and a random number. A random number generating means for generating k×l virtual reels (k, l are 2 or more natural numbers), and when the game start signal is given, a virtual reel storage means emits an instruction signal instructing a symbol code specified for each of the virtual reels by the random number; a symbol memory for storing, and a display area arranged in a matrix of k rows and l columns on a display screen to display the k×l virtual reels as a symbol string consisting of m types and n symbols, and to receive the game start signal. The symbol string is moved in the symbol arrangement direction based on the symbol code, and then the symbol corresponding to the symbol code designated by the instruction signal is displayed approximately in the center of each display area of the display screen, and the symbol is displayed in front of the symbol. , stopping the movement of the symbol rows for each symbol row so that a part of the subsequent symbols is displayed at the end of each display area, and issuing a reel stop signal when the movement of the symbol rows has all stopped. a CRT display device, and a winning set memory that stores winning combinations and payout rates of the symbols for at least l paylines provided in the moving direction of the symbol string and k paylines provided in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. a determining means that determines whether or not it is a win based on the payline selection signal, the instruction signal, and the contents stored in the winning set memory, and issues a payout signal when the payout signal is given; A slot machine that is equipped with an output device that dispenses coins, etc.