JPH0260357B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to improvements in slot machines.

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 the configuration of the machine, 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.

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. As a result, there is a lack of variety in symbol combinations, and the player's enjoyment is limited due to the small number of paylines.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and
To provide a slot machine which can set a payline for a game object also in the moving direction of symbols and can enhance player's enjoyment.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a screen and a projection device for projecting a symbol string on the screen, and has k rows and j columns (k, j
The present invention provides a slot machine in which symbol strings arranged in a matrix of natural numbers) can be observed through an observation window.

The present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Elements that are the same as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing symbol columns arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns on the screen. The outer box 1 is provided with support plates 11 in three stages, and the projection device 1 is placed on top of the support plates 11.
Place three pieces of 2 each. A screen for displaying symbols is provided inside the observation window 5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the projection device 12 and how symbol strings are projected on the screen. A cover 22 is placed on the bottom plate 21, and optical means 23, 24 such as lenses and a light source 25 are provided therein. The light emitted from the light source 25 is applied to the transparent film 2 via the optical means 24. Note that n symbols of m types are drawn on the film 26. The film 26 is suspended on a main wheel 27 and auxiliary wheels 28, 29, and 30, and the main wheel 27 is driven by a driver (not shown). The light passing through the film 26 is applied via the optical means 23 onto the screen 31, where it forms an image of the symbol sequence.

The operation of this device will be explained with reference to FIG.
A payline for the game is selected according to the number of coins inserted from a coin slot (not shown). Here, the payline is a solid line 100-800
It is assumed that 8 books have been selected. Next, when the operating lever 8 is operated, the main wheel 27 of the projection device 12 is rotated by a drive device (not shown), and the film 26 is moved in a fixed direction. As a result, the 3×3 symbol rows displayed in a matrix on the screen change as if the symbols were moving in a fixed direction. and,
The main wheels 27 stop for each projection device 12, and when all the main wheels 27 stop, the symbol row projected on the screen also stops.

Here, if the symbols on the screen are stationary as shown in FIG. 5, and the winning combination is the same symbols lined up in a row on the payline, then the winning combination will be on the payline 800. This winning combination is detected by a sensor (not shown), and coins are paid out from the payout port 7 according to a predetermined payout rate.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the symbol row member on which the symbols are drawn is a translucent film, which is driven by a wheel. Various structures such as rotation are possible. Further, the screen may have a structure in which an opaque flat plate is provided inside the observation window, or a frosted glass or the like may be used in place of the transparent plate constituting the observation window.

As described above, according to the present invention, symbol rows are projected in a matrix on the screen by the projection device, and these projected symbol rows can be moved in the same direction on the screen and stopped, so that the game object This provides a slot machine that can increase the number of paylines and enrich the variety of winning combinations. Above all,
Since paylines can be set in the direction of movement of symbol rows, which is not a problem in conventional slot machines, a slot machine can be obtained that significantly increases the enjoyment of players. In addition, since the slot machine according to the present invention is configured to project symbol rows on the screen, it has a smaller outer box than a conventional slot machine in which rotating reels are arranged in a matrix and pay lines are provided in the moving direction of the symbol rows. The volume can be significantly reduced. In addition, in the slot machine of the present invention, in the display area arranged in a matrix of k rows and j columns in order to project k×j symbol columns on the screen, the symbols specified by each projection device 12 are displayed in a manner similar to the abbreviation thereof. Not only is it displayed in the center, but also in front of it.
Some of the later symbols are displayed at the edges of the display area (see Figures 4 and 5).
(see figure), the player will perceive that k×j reels are being displayed, which has the effect of increasing the enjoyment unique to slot machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one configuration example of a conventional device, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of one configuration example shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the projection apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12... Projection device, 23, 24... Optical means,
25...light source, 26...film, 31...screen.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. m types (m is a natural number) of n symbols (n is a natural number, n≧m) appear sequentially from the 1st to the nth symbol, and the nth symbol is followed by the 1st symbol.
A slot machine in which a symbol string is moved in the direction in which the symbols are arranged so that the symbol th symbol appears, and the symbol string is observed from an observation window, the slot machine having a symbol string in which the symbols are arranged in a line at equal intervals. a transparent symbol row member, a driving means for driving the symbol row member in the direction in which the symbols are arranged, a light source that illuminates the symbol row member, and a light emitted from the light source that illuminates one symbol in the symbol row and its k×j projection devices (k, j are natural numbers) each equipped with an optical means including a lens etc. that also projects the symbols arranged in the front and rear arrays; 1. A slot machine comprising: a screen that displays a matrix of k rows and j columns; and a payline is set on the screen in the direction in which the symbols displayed on the matrix are arranged.