JPH06238035A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance a player's interest and speculation spirit by frequently enabling appearance of bonus games while holding in mind an expected value of putout medals in an ordinary game. CONSTITUTION:When the combination of symbols 49-52 is established on an effective line in an ordinary game, bonus games A-D are respectively executed. Concerning the bonus games A-C of the games, a designated number of medals are put out for the establishment of combination of concerned symbols, and then the transition to a bonus game is performed. On the other hand, concerning the bonus game D, medals are not put out for the establishment of combination of concerned symbols 52, and the transition to a bonus game is immediately performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine for deciding whether a game is won or lost according to a combination of symbols arranged on a stop line when each reel is stopped after starting a plurality of reels. The present invention relates to a slot machine adapted to shift from a normal game to a special game when a specific symbol combination is established.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of slot machine, when a combination of specific symbols is established on a stop line during execution of a normal game, a predetermined medal is paid out for this combination of symbols, and then a normal combination of symbols is made. The game is shifting to a special game (hereinafter referred to as "bonus game") that guarantees payout of high-paid medals.

In this bonus game, for example, when all the reels are simultaneously rotated at the same time when a coin is inserted and then the corresponding reels are stopped by operating each stop switch,
A predetermined symbol stops on the stop line with a high probability, and a large number of medals are paid out accordingly. Therefore, by generating these bonus games at an appropriate frequency, the player's interest in the game and motivation for the game can be increased.

[0004]

By the way, in the current slot machines, due to legal regulations, the expected value of the number of medals to be paid out in a normal game (showing a game just before shifting to the bonus game) is set within a predetermined value. It is obligatory to reduce the number of symbols, and it is controlled so that a combination of symbols to be shifted to the bonus game or a combination of symbols related to a normal winning will appear based on the predetermined expected value. Therefore, in order to increase the appearance rate of the bonus game in order to increase the interest and euphoria of the player, it is necessary to change the probability that other combinations of symbols for normal winning will appear and the number of medals paid out. Yes, there is a problem that the program needs to be changed drastically.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem, and the number of medals to be paid out in a normal game is changed by shifting to a bonus game without paying out medals for the establishment of a specific symbol combination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine in which a bonus game is frequently made to appear while keeping the expected value of a constant value, and a player's interest in the game and motivation for the game can be increased.

[0006]

A slot machine according to the present invention has a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols on its peripheral surface, all reels are stopped, and a specific symbol is displayed on a predetermined stop line. When the combination is established, it is configured to shift from the normal game to the special game, and whether or not any one of the combinations of the specific symbols set in two or more kinds on the stop line is established. Determination means, a storage means for storing the number of medals to be paid out for the establishment of each specific symbol combination, and the determination means establishes any specific symbol combination on the stop line. When it is determined that the number of medals to be paid out is read out from the storage means and the payout of medals according to the number of paid-out coins is executed. And it has a door. In the storage means, zero is set as the payout number of medals for any specific combination of symbols.

[0007]

When all reels are stopped, a combination of two or more specific symbols, in which a specific symbol combination in which the number of payout medals is set to zero, is established on the stop line, the medals are paid out. Without a change, the normal game shifts to a special game. With such a configuration, it is possible to cause a special game to frequently appear while keeping the expected value of the number of paid-out medals in a normal game constant.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a slot machine 2 which is an embodiment of the present invention. This slot machine 2 has three reels 1 each having a plurality of symbols displayed on its circumferential surface.
a, 1b, 1c are provided, and a reel display window 3, a medal deposit number indicator 4, a payout number indicator 5, a medal insertion slot 6, a start lever 7, a stop switch 8a, 8 are provided on the front surface of the machine body.
b, 8c, medal insertion switch 9, changeover switch 10,
Settlement switch 11, medal outlet 12, medal tray 1
3 and the like are provided.

The reel display window 3 has three reels 1
a, 1b, 1c are located, the rotation state of each reel 1a, 1b, 1c can be seen through the reel display window 3, and when the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are stopped, three reels of each reel are displayed. symbol of the upper, middle, so that the arrayed in a line down, diagonal on each stop line L ₁ ~L _5. These stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ are sequentially activated in accordance with the number of inserted medals, and when one medal is inserted, the stop line L ₁ is inserted two medals. In this case, the stop lines L _{1 to} L ₃ become valid lines, and when three medals are inserted, the stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ become valid lines, respectively, and any combination of symbols arranged on the valid line will win. If so, a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

The starting lever 7 includes three reels 1a, 1
b, 1c are for starting all at once, and the stop switches 8a, 8b, 8c are for stopping the reels 1a, 1b, 1c, respectively.

The medal insertion slot 6 is a portion for inserting a large number of medals or one or a plurality of medals for each game prior to the start of the game. The medals discharged from the medal discharge port 12 at the time of payment are stored.

This slot machine 2 employs a system in which a player can store a large number of medals in a machine and store the medals, and execute the game using the stored medals.
The remaining number of stored medals is digitally displayed on the deposit number display unit 4. The medal insertion switch 9 is for instructing to set the number of medals to be inserted by using the stored medals at the time of executing the game. When pressed once, one medal is pressed, and when pressed twice, two medals are pressed. However, when it is pushed three times, three medals are automatically inserted.

The settlement switch 10 settles the stored medals and discharges the number of medals to be returned to the medal receiving tray 13. The change-over switch 11 is a switch for switching between playing a game by inserting a medal from the medal insertion slot 6 or playing a game by consuming stored medals for each game.
The payout number display 5 digitally displays the number of medals to be paid out.

In this slot machine, in a normal game, when a combination of symbols as shown in FIG. 2 is established on any of the valid stop lines, the bonus game is started and the game is repeated 1 to 5 times. It is configured so that a bonus game can be executed. In this bonus game, by inserting one medal, the three reels 1a, 1
b, 1c start at the same time, and each stop button 8a, 8b, 8
When the corresponding reels 1a, 1b, 1c are sequentially stopped by the operation of c and a predetermined symbol combination is established on any of the stop lines, a high payout medal is paid out.

FIG. 2 shows a setting example of this bonus game. When the combination of the symbols 49 of the number "7" is established, 15 medals are paid out for each inserted medal, and then 5 medals are paid out. The bonus game can be executed once (hereinafter referred to as "bonus game A").

When the combination of the apple symbols 50 is established, the bonus game can be executed twice after paying out eight medals for each inserted medal (hereinafter referred to as " When a combination of pineapple symbols 51 is established, one bonus game can be executed after five coins have been paid out for each inserted medal (hereinafter referred to as “bonus game B”). This is called "Bonus Game C". On the other hand, when the combination of the cherries symbols 52 is established, the bonus game is executed without paying out medals, and the bonus game can be executed four times (hereinafter referred to as "bonus game D"). ).

The contents of each of the bonus games (the number of executable bonus games, etc.) are not limited to the above, and may be set freely, but at least one of these bonus games does not pay out medals. The contents are such that the bonus game is transferred to.

The combinations of the symbols 49 to 52 in the bonus games A to D are respectively expressed in probabilities a, b, so that they are established on the activated line by the pull-in stop control (details will be described later) by the control unit. c and d (both units are%) are set. These appearance probabilities are specifically set by allocating a range of random number values output from the random number generator 29 described later, and the "hit condition" column in the figure shows each bonus game A ~. A range of random value is set for each D.

In order to keep the expected value of the number of paid-out medals in a normal game at a constant value, the appearance probabilities a, b and c of the bonus games A, B and C need to be fixed, but the bonus game D. With respect to, since the payout of medals is not performed for the establishment of the combination of the symbols 52, the appearance probability d can be freely changed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the main circuit configuration of the slot machine 2. In the figure, 15 is a control unit,
CPU16, ROM17, RAM18, random number generator 29
The CPU 16 is provided with an input port 20, an output port 21, and a display interface 22 via a bus 19.
Etc. are connected.

The ROM 17 stores a program showing a control procedure of machine operation, a symbol arrangement table of each reel 1a, 1b, 1c, and a table having the contents shown in FIG. 2 as information on a bonus game. ing. The CPU 16 is the main body of control / calculation, reads / writes data from / to the RAM 18 according to the programs and data in the ROM 17, and controls the operation of each input / output unit in series.

The random number generator 29 outputs an arbitrary integer value at a predetermined time interval, and the CPU 16 fetches the random number value and executes a lottery as described later.

The starting lever 7 and the stop switches 8a to 8
c, the medal shooting switch 9, the changeover switch 10, etc. are respectively connected to the input port 20, and the detection signal and the electric signal by the operation are fetched by the CPU 30 via the input port 20 and the bus 19.

A reel driving unit 23 and a hopper driving unit 24 are connected to the bus 19 via an output port 21, and a display circuit 25 is connected to the bus 19 via a display interface 22. The reel drive unit 23 receives a command from the CPU 16 and drives a stepping motor 26 for driving each reel (see FIG. 4).
Control). Similarly, the hopper drive section 24 drives a hopper (not shown) inside the machine body in response to a command from the CPU 16, and outputs a predetermined number of medals to the medal ejection port 1.
The medal tray 13 is discharged from 2. Also display circuit 2
Reference numeral 5 causes the deposit number display unit 4, the payout number display unit 5 and the like to perform a display operation.

FIG. 4 also shows an example of the circuit configuration of the reel drive section 23 and the function of the CPU 16. In the figure, only the circuit configuration of the reel 1a (same for other reels) is shown.

In the figure, the reel drive section 23 receives a clock signal to generate a drive pulse p, and supplies this drive pulse p to the stepping motor 26 to drive the reel. The reel drive unit 23 includes a reel control unit 30 of the CPU 16.
Start command and stop command are given by

When a medal is inserted and the starting lever 7 is operated, a start signal is input to the reel control section 30, and the reel control section 30 issues a start command to operate the reel drive section 23.

The start signal is also given to the lottery section 31 in the CPU 16. The lottery section 31 is for determining whether or not to perform pull-in stop control so that a combination of symbols related to any of the bonus games A to D is established, and receives a start signal and outputs the random number generator 29. Each of the bonus games A to D determines whether or not the random number value is included in the range of the random number value stored in the ROM 17, and the result is output to the reel control unit 30.

The drive pulse p is given to the counter section 27 of the CPU 16 and counted. This counter unit 27
The count value of is reset by a reset signal output when the reel makes one rotation. The symbol detection unit 28 refers to the ROM 17 from the count value of the counter unit 44 and outputs to the reel control unit 30 and the determination unit 32 which symbol on the reel is located on the activated line.

When the stop switch 8a is operated, a stop signal is input to the reel controller 30 in response to this operation. When the stop signal is received, the reel controller 30
Refers to the determination result of the lottery section 31 and the detection result of the symbol detection section 28 and issues a stop designation to the reel drive section 23 at a predetermined timing to stop the operation of the stepping motor 26.

Specifically, when pull-in stop control is performed so that a combination of symbols related to a bonus game is established, the corresponding symbol is located within a few frames before the stop line when the stop signal is received. If so, the reel is stop-controlled so that the symbol stops on the stop line, and if not, the reel is stopped at a predetermined timing.

The determination unit 32 determines whether the symbol stopped on the activated line is a symbol related to any of the bonus games A to D or other normal winning, and outputs the determination result.

The result of the lottery by the lottery section 31 is
It is also transmitted to the reel controller of the second and third reels 1b and 1c, and the same stop control as described above is performed according to the lottery result.

5 and 6 show the control procedure by the control unit 16 from step 1 (indicated by "ST1" in the figure) to step 23.

First, the CPU 16 first resets each part of the machine body in step 1, and then determines in step 2 whether or not to insert a medal. When the medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 or the stored medals are automatically inserted by operating the medal insertion switch 9, the determination in step 2 is "YES", and then the CPU 16 in step 3 starts the lever. Wait for operation 7.

When the starting lever 7 is operated, the determination in step 3 becomes "YES", and the CPU 16 starts all reels 1a, 1b, 1c all at once in the next step 4.
In the next step 5, the CPU 16 waits for the push operation of the stop switches 8a to 8c after carrying out the lottery with the contents described above (step 6). When any one of the stop switches 8a, 8b, 8c is pushed, step 6 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step 7, and the lottery result carried out in step 5 is checked.

If it is a lottery, step 7 is "YE
S ”, and the reel control unit 30 of the CPU 16 outputs a stop command based on the pull-in stop control to the reel drive unit 23 (step 8).

If the lottery result is "out of order", step 7
Becomes "NO" and the process proceeds to step 9, and the reel control unit 30 outputs a stop command in accordance with the operation timing of the stop switch.

At the next step 10, all reels 1a,
It is checked whether or not 1b and 1c are stopped, and if this determination is "YES", then the CPU 16 determines whether or not a combination of bonus games A to D or other winning symbols is established on the activated line. Is checked (step 11 to step 15).

When the combination of the symbols 49 mentioned above is established, step 11 becomes "YES", and the CPU
16 drives the hopper drive unit 24 to pay out 15 medals for each inserted medal, and then executes the bonus game 5 times (steps 16 and 17).

When the combination of the symbols 50 is established, step 11 is "NO" and step 12 is "YE."
S ”, the CPU 16 pays out eight medals for each inserted medal, and then executes the bonus game twice (steps 18 and 19).

When the combination of the symbols 51 is established, steps 11 and 12 are "NO", step 13 is "YES", and the CPU 16 pays out five medals for each inserted medal. The bonus game is executed once (steps 20 and 21).

When the combination of the symbols 52 is established, steps 11 to 13 are "NO", step 14 is "YES", the CPU 16 does not pay out medals, and the bonus game is repeated four times in step 22. To execute.

In steps 17, 19, 21 and 22, the CPU 16 switches the control program of the game for the bonus game, and executes the bonus game having the above-mentioned content a set number of times.

On the other hand, the determinations in steps 11 to 14 are all "NO", and step 15 is "YES".
When the combination of symbols related to the bonus game is not established, but the combination of symbols related to the other winning is established, the game is ended after paying out the corresponding number of medals in step 23.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention sets zero as the payout number of medals for any one of the specific symbol combinations of the two or more specific symbol combinations, and the specific symbol combination is When it is established on the stop line, the normal game is switched to the special game without paying out medals, so the special game is frequently played while keeping the expected value of the number of medals paid out in the normal game constant. It is possible to make it appear, and there is a remarkable effect that the interest and euphoria of the player can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a bonus game.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a reel drive unit and a function of a CPU.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by a control unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 slot machine 16 CPU 17 ROM A, B, C, D Bonus game

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A normal game when a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols on a peripheral surface are provided, and all reels stop to form a specific symbol combination on a predetermined stop line. In a slot machine configured to shift to a special game, a determination means for determining whether or not any one of a combination of two or more specific symbols set on the stop line is established, and a determination unit for each specific symbol. When the determination means determines that a combination of any specific symbols is established on the stop line, the storage means that stores the number of medals to be paid out for the establishment of the combination, and the combination of the symbols is determined. And a control unit that reads out the corresponding number of paid-out medals from the storage unit and executes the payout of medals according to the number of paid-out medals, wherein the storage unit includes: Displacement of the slot machine comprising set to zero as the payout number of medals for the combination of a particular symbol.