JPH0539732Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial field of application> This invention is based on the idea that after spinning multiple reels with multiple designs on their circumferential surfaces, when all the reels are stopped by manual operation, the effective line The present invention relates to a slot machine that determines whether or not a predetermined combination of symbols for winning a prize (hereinafter referred to as "winning symbol combination") has been established to determine the outcome of a game.

<Prior art> In general, slot machines have a plurality of combinations of winning symbols, and for each combination of winning symbols, the number of coins to be paid out is appropriately defined in multiple stages depending on the difficulty of achieving the winning symbol combination. .

<Problem that the invention aims to solve> However, if the number of coins paid out for each winning symbol combination is fixed to a specified value, the expectation for the coin payout at the time of winning becomes weak and uniform, and the game becomes difficult to play while repeating the game. The problem is that interest in the game gradually declines.

This idea was made with a focus on the above problem, and provides a new slot machine that improves the interest of the game by changing the number of coins paid out for each combination of winning symbols under certain conditions. The purpose is to

<Means for solving the problem> In order to achieve the above object, in this invention, when a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols are rotated and then stopped manually or automatically, the winning symbols arranged on the active line are In a slot machine that discriminates combinations and pays out a specified number of coins, a lottery means for performing a lottery operation for each game or every arbitrary number of games, and a combination of winning symbols on the active line is generated. a winning symbol detection means for detecting a winning symbol; and a coil for setting a payout number of coins exceeding a specified number when the winning symbol detection means detects generation of a specific or arbitrary combination of winning symbols after a lottery win by the lottery means. It was decided to provide a payout number setting means.

Furthermore, in order to realize a lottery operation using the symbols on the reels, this invention employs means for detecting that a specific symbol has stopped on the active line as a lottery means.

Furthermore, in order to realize other lottery operations,
In this invention, the lottery means includes a means for arbitrarily extracting random number data, a means for determining whether the extracted data matches or does not match setting data for a lottery win, and a means for notifying a lottery win in response to a match determination. We have adopted a system consisting of

<Operation> The lottery means performs a lottery operation for each game or every arbitrary number of games, and determines whether the lottery is a success or a loss. In this case, in the lottery method using the symbols on the reels, the lottery is held on the front side of the machine simultaneously and in parallel with the game, and the player is informed of the lottery status and results. In addition, in the lottery method using random number data, the lottery is held on the back side of the machine, separate from the game, and only the lottery results are notified to the players. As a result, when the lottery is won, when the winning symbol detection means detects the establishment of a combination of winning symbols in a subsequent predetermined game, the coin payout number setting means sets the number of coins to be paid out that exceeds the specified number. . Therefore, if a player wins a lottery during the game, the player's expectations for the next payout of coins will increase, which will greatly increase the interest of the game.

<Example> FIG. 1 shows a slot machine with three reels 1a, 1b, and 1c, and the front of the machine body 2 has a symbol display window 3, a coin slot 4, three stop buttons 5,
A starting handle 6, a coin discharging tray 7, a lottery winning display lamp 8, etc. are provided.

The symbol display window 3 is a part that displays the symbols on the circumference of each reel 1a, 1b, 1c in alignment along three stop lines _L1 to _L3 . , 1b, 1c can be seen through, and when the reels are stopped, the symbols of three pieces on the circumferential surface of each reel can be confirmed from outside the device.

The stop lines are the center stop line L ₁ when one coin is inserted, the center and upper stop lines L 1 and L 2 when two coins are inserted, and the center stop line L ₁ and L ₂ when three coins are inserted. The center, upper, and lower stop lines L ₁ , L ₂ , and L ₃ are active lines, respectively, and when a combination of winning symbols is generated on these active lines when the reels are stopped, regulations are set according to the content of the combination. The number of coins is discharged to the coin discharge tray 7.

Figure 2 shows all three stop lines L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃
indicates that the line has become a valid line. In the figure, three apple symbols 9 are lined up on the upper stop line _L1 to generate a winning symbol combination. Therefore, in this game, the player wins and the specified number of symbols (for example, 10 ) coins are paid out.

Also, in this slot machine, there are 3 reels 1
One or more of the reels a, 1b, and 1c or all of the reels are provided with a specific symbol for the lottery, and when this specific symbol stops on the active line, it is considered a lottery win, and the winning symbol is used in subsequent games. It is configured to pay out coins exceeding a specified number when a combination is established.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, symbols 10 per lottery (hereinafter referred to as "double payout symbols") are provided on the third reel 1c to pay out double the specified number of coins. Yes, when this double payout symbol 10 stops on any active line, the lottery is considered a win, and when any combination of winning symbols is established in the subsequent games, twice the specified number of coins will be paid out. It's becoming like that. In the case of this embodiment, the coin payout is doubled only for the next combination of winning symbols, but this is not limited to this, and the double payout may be made over multiple winnings. Thereafter, double payouts may be made for all combinations of winning symbols established within a certain period of time (for example, 20 seconds). Also, the number of coins to be paid out is 2 of the specified number.
It does not have to be twice as much, it can be more than three times,
Alternatively, an appropriate number (for example, 10) may be added to the specified number and dispensed. Furthermore, in this example, 1
When the double payout symbol 10 appears, a double payout of coins is given. For example, if a specific symbol of this kind is provided on each reel and three specific symbols line up on the same active line, a double payout is given. You may do so.

Returning to FIG. 1, the coin slot 4 is a part that accepts the insertion of 1 to 3 coins per game. The three stop buttons 5 are used to individually stop the rotating reels 1a, 1b, and 1c, and the start handle 6 is used to start all the reels 1a, 1b, and 1c at once after inserting a coin. be.

The lottery win display lamp 8 starts blinking when the double payout symbol 10 stops on the active line and the lottery win is achieved, and this blinking operation indicates that the double payout coins are paid out. It will stop at that point.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the circuit configuration of the slot machine.

In the figure, the coin detection sensor 11 is connected to the coin slot 4.
It detects that a coin is inserted into the machine and outputs a coin detection signal. The stop button switch 12 detects that each stop button 5 is pressed and outputs a stop signal. The starting handle switch 13 is connected to the starting handle 6, and outputs a starting signal when the handle is operated.

A motor control section 14 controls the operation of stepping motors for driving each reel, and a coin counting section 15 counts the number of coins inserted and coins paid out. The sound generation section 16 generates sound effects of the game, and the lamp control section 17 controls the lighting operation of lamps such as the lottery win display lamp 8.

These input/output parts are interface 18,
It is electrically connected via 19 to a computer circuit section 20 consisting of a microcomputer. This computer circuit unit 20 uses a CPU 21 as the main body for control and calculation, and stores programs and fixed data.
It includes a ROM 22 and a RAM 23 as a work area. Note that data such as the number of coins to be paid out when each combination of winning symbols is established is stored in the ROM 22 as fixed data.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the motor control section 14, and this figure shows the circuit configuration for one reel (the same applies to other reels) for the computer circuit section 20.

In the figure, a motor control circuit 26 receives a clock signal, generates a drive pulse p, supplies this drive pulse p to a drive circuit 25, and drives a stepping motor 24 for driving the reel. A start signal and a stop signal are applied to this motor control circuit 26 from the computer circuit section 20. The start signal is sent to the CPU 2 of the computer circuit section 20 when a coin is inserted and the start handle 6 is operated.
1 and operates the motor control circuit 26. The stop signal corresponds to the stop button operation.
Output from CPU 21, motor control circuit 26
stop the operation.

The drive pulse p is applied to the computer circuit section 20.
The count value of the counter section 27 is reset by a reference signal given each time the reel rotates once. In this way, the symbol detection section 28 detects this counter section 2.
Which symbol on the reel is located on the active line is detected from the count value of 7, and the detection result is output. In this case, double payout symbol 1 is on the active line
When it is detected that 0 has stopped, the computer circuit unit 20 sets a flag to be described later, and stores this fact. Note that the counter section 27
Of course, each operation of the symbol detecting section 28 is realized by the functions of the CPU 21.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the slot machine, in other words, the control procedure of the slot machine by the computer circuit section 20.

First, step 1 in the same figure (indicated by "ST1" in the figure)
In step 2, the computer circuit section 20 is initially cleared, and in the next step 2, it waits for coin insertion. If the player inserts 1 to 3 coins into the coin slot 4 and operates the starting handle 6, the judgments in steps 2 and 3 will both be "YES" and the game will start, and the three reels will start playing. 1a, 1
b and 1c start rotating at the same time (step 4).
Next, when the player presses the three stop buttons 5, the corresponding reels stop in sequence (step 5).
In the next step 6, it is determined whether a combination of winning symbols has been generated on the active line. If the combination of winning symbols is not generated on the active line, the determination of "Win?" in step 6 is "NO" and the process skips to step 11.
Step 11 is 2x payout symbol 10 on the active line
It is determined whether or not the system has stopped, and as a result,
If the judgment is “YES”, the flag area of the computer circuit unit 20 (for example, a predetermined area of the RAM 23) is
The double flag is set and the game moves on to the next game (step 12).

If the determination in step 6 is "YES", it is checked in step 7 whether or not the double flag is set. In this case, since the determination is "NO", the process proceeds to step 8, and a specified number of coins are paid out in response to the establishment of a predetermined combination of winning symbols. In addition, if a combination of winning symbols is generated on an active line and a double payout symbol 10 appears on another active line (see Figure 2), the next step 11 becomes "YES" and the process continues. Of course, the double flag is set at 12.

In this way, after setting the 2x flag, the player moves on to the next game and performs the same game operation, and as a result, the determination of "Was it a win?" in step 6 becomes "YES".
The next step 7, ``Is it a double flag set?'', is determined as ``YES'', so the process advances to step 9. In step 9, the CPU 21 reads the payout number data of coins from the ROM 22 for the combination of winning symbols, multiplies that value by "2" to calculate the number of coins paid out for double payout, and then uses the coin payout mechanism (not shown). ) to release that number of coins. After the coins are paid out, the double payout flag is cleared in step 10, and in the next step 11, the presence or absence of the double payout symbol 10 is checked before proceeding to the next game.

If this game is not a "win" after the 2x flag is set, the 2x payout will be withheld until a "win" is achieved in the subsequent games.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of this invention, in which a lottery win display tube 31 is provided on the front surface of the container body 2 in place of the lottery win display lamp 8. This lottery winning display tube 31 is for displaying text to inform the player when a lottery win is achieved as a result of a lottery operation to be described later.
As this notification means, a display means other than a display tube may be used, and a sound may be used. The display operation of the lottery win display tube 31 is controlled by a display control section 33 shown in FIG.

Thus, in the case of this embodiment, the lottery operation is performed by the internal processing of the computer circuit section 20 shown in FIG. 7, and the computer circuit section 20 executes the lottery operation using random number data for each game. As a result, when a lottery is won and a specific combination of winning symbols is established in a subsequent game, coins exceeding a specified number are paid out.

In this embodiment, when a lottery is won, in the next game, when a specific combination of winning symbols 32 as shown in FIG.
Double the coins are now being paid out. In this embodiment, a lottery is held for each game, but a lottery may be held for each arbitrary number of games. Further, in this embodiment, only the next game is subject to double payout, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a predetermined number of subsequent games may be subject to double payout. Furthermore, in this embodiment, after winning the lottery, the coins with double payout are paid out only when a specific combination of winning symbols 32 is established, but after winning the lottery, when any combination of winning symbols 32 is established, You may also pay out double dividend coins. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the number of coins to be paid out does not necessarily need to be set to twice the prescribed number as in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a functional block of the computer circuit section 20 related to the lottery operation, and includes a counter section 34, a lottery section 35, and a comparison section 36. The counter section 34 performs a constant counting operation, and repeatedly counts from 0 to 7, for example. The lottery section 35 extracts the current value of the counter section 34 at a predetermined timing before the start of each game. The comparison unit 36 determines whether the data extracted by the lottery unit 35 matches a predetermined setting value (for example, 0 or 1), and when the two match, it sends out a matching output to notify you of a lottery win. .

Note that in FIGS. 6 and 7, the configurations other than those described above are the same as those in the first embodiment, and corresponding configurations are designated by the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted here.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the second embodiment, that is, the control procedure by the computer circuit section 20.

First, in step 1 of the figure, the computer circuit section 20 is initially cleared, and then in the following steps 2 and 3, the computer circuit section 20 clears the double flag in the flag area and executes a lottery operation.
As a result, if the lottery is won, step 4 becomes "YES", and in the next step 5, a double flag is set in the flag area.

Below, the game starts after the coin insertion is checked in step 6 and the handle operation is checked in the next step 7 (step 8), and when the three reels 1a, 1b, and 1c are stopped by button operation, the reel is activated. It is determined whether a combination of winning symbols has been generated on the line (steps 9 and 10).
If the combination of winning symbols is not generated on the active line, step 10 "Was it a win?"
The determination is "NO", and the game ends and the process returns to step 2.

If a combination of winning symbols is generated on the active line, the determination in step 10 is "YES", and in the next step 11, it is determined whether the combination of winning symbols is the combination of the specific symbols 32 shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not. If the determination in step 11 is "YES", it is determined in the next step 12 whether or not a double flag has been set due to a lottery win, and if the determination is "YES", the winning symbol's The number of coins that is twice the specified number of coins to be paid out for the combination will be released (Step 13).

On the other hand, if the judgment of "Is it a combination of specific symbols?" in Step 11 or the judgment of "Is it a double flag set?" in Step 12 is "NO", then the prescribed number of coins to be paid out for that winning symbol combination is is released (step 14).

When one game is thus completed, the process returns to step 2, the contents of the flag area are cleared, and the next lottery operation is executed.

<Effects of the device> As mentioned above, this device pays out more than the specified number of coins when a combination of winning symbols is established after winning a lottery, which increases expectations for the payout of coins when winning a prize. This increases the interest in the game. In addition, if a method that uses the symbols on the reels is adopted as a lottery method, a feeling of anticipation for each game and a feeling of expectation for winning a lottery can be obtained at the same time in a single game, and furthermore, if a method that uses random number data is adopted as a lottery method, , it achieves the purpose of the invention and has a remarkable effect, such as providing a sense of anticipation of suddenly winning a lottery, apart from the game itself.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the symbols of each reel lined up on the effective line, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an example of the circuit configuration of the slot machine. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the motor control section, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the slot machine, FIG. 6 is a front view of the slot machine according to the second embodiment of this invention, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration example of the second embodiment, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a specific combination of winning symbols is established on the active line, and FIG. 9 is a computer circuit section related to lottery operation. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. 1a, 1b, 1c... reel, 20... computer circuit section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] 1. When multiple reels with multiple symbols are rotated and then stopped manually or automatically, the combination of winning symbols aligned on the active line is determined and a specified number of coins are paid out. a lottery means for performing a lottery operation for each game or every arbitrary number of games; a winning symbol detection means for detecting that a combination of winning symbols has been generated on the active line; and a lottery. This slot machine is equipped with a coil payout number setting means for setting a payout number of coins exceeding a specified number when the winning symbol detection means detects the generation of a specific or arbitrary combination of winning symbols after a lottery win by the means. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the lottery means is means for detecting that a specific symbol has stopped on an active line. 3. The lottery means includes a means for arbitrarily extracting random number data, a means for determining whether the extracted data matches or does not match setting data for a lottery win, and a means for notifying a lottery win in response to a match determination. 2. A slot machine according to claim 1.