JPH07236727A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a slot machine which gives a strong impression and amusement and which requires less time and cost by reducing an installation space of the game machine to improve profitability and by simplifying planning, designing and construction of a game place. CONSTITUTION:This slot machine which varies a plurality of picture patterns by throwing a game medium into a charging door, by operating a game starting switch, and stopping the variation of each picture pattern at a predetermined stop timing, comprises liquid crystal displayers 20a, 20b, 20c, provided in its front face, a display controlling means 31 for making each of liquid crystal displayers 20a, 20b, 20c display a picture pattern, and a prize-giving determining means for judging whether or not a combination of each picture pattern after stopping the variation coincides with a predetermined prize-giving combination. Further, when the display controlling means judges that the prize giving determining means coincides with the prize-giving combination, it makes the liquid crystal displayers 20a, 20b, 20c display lines along with the arrangement of each picture pattern.

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 changing a plurality of patterns by inserting a game medium into a slot and operating a game start switch and stopping the change of each pattern at a predetermined stop timing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional slot machine of this type, after inserting a game medium such as a medal or a coin into an insertion slot, three drums on which symbols are displayed are rotated and the buttons of a stop switch are sequentially pressed to move the drum The rotation is stopped, and a predetermined number of game contents are awarded according to the combination of the displays after the stop (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-130590).

Also, instead of the rotating drum, C is placed on the front side.
There is a slot machine that has an RT and displays a total of 9 symbols on a CRT in 3 columns and 3 rows.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In a game arcade, the space of the game machines to be installed is reduced and as many game machines as possible are installed so that a large number of game players can be gathered and profitability can be improved. There is a demand to do it. However, in the former slot machine, the size of the drum is limited by the size and the number of symbols displayed on the drum, and thus there is a limit in reducing the depth. Further, in the latter slot machine, since it is an electron gun used in a CRT, similarly, there is a limit in reducing the depth. Therefore, in a game arcade where both conventional slot machines and pachinko machines are installed, the depth of the slot machines cannot be as thin as the depth of the pachinko machines. There is a problem in that planning, design, and construction of the amusement arcade are complicated and time and expense are spent because they must be divided into those for machines.

In the latter slot machine, a CRT is used.
Since the pattern is displayed flat on the screen, there is a problem in that it lacks power as a result compared with the case of using a drum, and lacks in fun.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to reduce the installation space of the game machine to increase profits, and to simplify the planning, design and construction of the game arcade. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine that can reduce the time and cost required for the game, and that is powerful and interesting.

[0007]

In order to solve such an object, the gist of the present invention is to change a plurality of patterns by inserting a game medium into an insertion slot and to operate a game start switch, and to stop a predetermined pattern. In a slot machine for stopping the change of each pattern at a timing, a combination of a liquid crystal display provided on the front face, a display control means for displaying the pattern on the liquid crystal display, and each pattern after the change is stopped is predetermined. Award determination means for determining whether or not the winning combination is matched, and the display control means, when the winning determination means determines that the winning combination is matched, each of the liquid crystal displays A slot machine characterized by including a line display along a pattern arrangement.

[0008]

When the game medium is loaded into the slot and the game start switch is operated, the display control means changes the pattern displayed on the front liquid crystal display, and the change of each pattern is stopped at a predetermined stop timing. To do. After the stop, the award determination means determines whether or not the combination of the respective patterns matches a predetermined award combination. When it is determined that the award combination matches the award combination, the liquid crystal display is instructed to the display control means. Display lines along the arrangement of each pattern.

The liquid crystal display can have a small depth without changing the number and size of the patterns and saves space.
By providing multiple liquid crystal displays, it is possible to give the same force as a picture with a drum, and the player can quickly and emotionally know that the winning state has been reached by the line display, which is interesting for the game. Will improve.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 10
Are three vertically long liquid crystal displays 2 on the front surface 11a of the box 11.
0a, 20b, 20c are arranged side by side in the lateral direction. As shown in FIG. 3, inside a frame 2 of a normal slot machine 1, a drum 3 on which a pattern is displayed is housed with its central axis 3a arranged in the lateral direction of the frame 2.
Part 3b of is a space of a pattern portion that can be confirmed by the customer side during the game. It sticks out of the box 2. The liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b and 20c are, as shown in FIG.
The display portion 21 has a radius of curvature R equal to the radius of curvature R of the protruding portion 3b of the drum 3 as described above, and is projected and curved toward the front side.

The liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b and 20c may be constructed by combining a plurality of liquid crystal display plates 22 at an angle as shown in FIG. 5 in order to give the display portion 21 a radius of curvature R. Good. The liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 2
The tilt angle of the liquid crystal display panel 22 which is the upper and lower ends of 0c is adjusted so as not to be difficult to see from the front side. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal display panel 22 is a flat plate, and in order to give a stereoscopic effect, a portion 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 22 is used.
The 2a may be recessed in an R shape.

Further, the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c
In the interior of the
have. The backlight 23 illuminates the display unit 21 from the rear side thereof, and a pattern 24 displayed on the display unit 21 is displayed.
To make it look bright and shining from the front.

Below the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b and 20c, three stop operation switches 25 are provided corresponding to each.
a, 25b, 25c are provided. The stop operation switches 25a, 25b, 25c are the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20c.
This is a stop button for selecting the stop timing of the change of the patterns 24 of b and 20c. Further, a medal insertion slot 12 used as a game medium and a game start switch 13 are formed on the front surface 11a. Inside the slot machine 10, an identification unit 14 for identifying the authenticity of the medals inserted into the insertion slot 12 is provided.

A controller 30 shown in FIG. 6 is provided inside the slot machine 10. Control device 30
Is a display control means 31, a prize combination setting means 32,
The award determination means 33 is provided.

When the identification unit 14 identifies the authenticity of the inserted medal, the display control means 31 responds to the operation of the game start switch 14 by three liquid crystal displays 20a, 20.
A plurality of types of pictures 24 such as pictures, symbols, numbers and characters are vertically changed and displayed on each of b and 20c. Further, the display control means 31 has three liquid crystal displays 20a, 2 at a predetermined stop timing, that is, a stop timing selected by operating the three stop operation switches 25a, 25b, 25c.
The change of the design 24 of the corresponding liquid crystal display of 0b and 20c is stopped.

The display control means 31 is the liquid crystal display 2
A line display 35 is displayed on 0a, 20b, and 20c along the arrangement of the pictures 24 of the winning combination set by the winning combination setting means 32.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, line displays 35, 35 ... Are set on the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c, and the line displays 35, 35 are set.
... are displayed corresponding to the thick lines shown in (B), (C), and (D) of FIG. 7, and blink in a predetermined winning state where the lines match, or highlighting such as coloring and light emission. Is being done.

In addition to the line displays 35, 35 ... On the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c, the display control means 31, when the award determination means 33 determines that the award combination matches, a predetermined award display. Is displayed.
The predetermined prize display includes liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b,
The blinking display of the back portion 26 of each pattern 24 of 20c, which is determined as the winning combination by the winning determination means 33, and the liquid crystal display 20.
The a, 20b and 20c are displayed in any one or a plurality of combinations of blinking frame displays 36 surrounding each of the pictures 24 determined by the prize judging means 33 as a prize combination.

The prize combination setting means 32 gives a prize according to the number of medals identified as authentic by the identification unit 14 from a plurality of predetermined combinations of the patterns 24 arranged in a straight line among the respective patterns 24. It is designed to set combinations.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the number of medals identified by the identification unit 14 is one, as compared with the state in which no medals are inserted as shown in FIG. This is a combination of three liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, and 20c, in each of which the three prize-winning patterns 24, for example, "7", are arranged side by side. Further, when the number of medals is two, as shown in FIG. 7C, three liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, and 20c are used to give three prizes in one of the upper, middle, and lower tiers, respectively. This is a combination in which the pictures 24 are arranged right next to each other.

Further, when the number of medals is three, as shown in FIG. 7D, three liquid crystal displays 20a, 20 are provided.
b, 20c, a combination of three prize-winning patterns 24 arranged right next to each other in the upper, middle, or lower tier, or the lower tier of the left liquid crystal display 20a and the central liquid crystal display 20b.
A combination of three prize-winning patterns 24 diagonally arranged in the middle row and the upper row of the right liquid crystal display 20c, or in the middle row and the right side liquid crystal of the left side liquid crystal display 20a and the middle liquid crystal display 20b. Three prize-winning patterns 24 at the bottom of the display 20c
Is any combination of diagonally arranged.

The prize determination means 33 is a liquid crystal display device 20a,
The combination of the patterns 24 of 20b and 20c after the change is stopped is a predetermined winning combination, that is, the winning combination setting means 3
It is determined whether or not it matches the winning combination set by 2.

Inside the box body 11, the sound generating means 3 is provided.
7 is provided. The sound generating means 37 is adapted to generate a sound informing that a prize has been won, in accordance with the judgment of the prize judging means 33.

The box 11 is provided with a winning means 38. The prize paying means 38 discharges a plurality of medals as prizes into the prize payout tray 39 provided at the bottom of the box 11 when the prize judging means 33 judges that the winning combination matches.

The controller 30 has the functions of the display control means 31, the award combination setting means 32 and the award determination means 33.
It can be realized by using a programmable microcomputer or its equivalent as appropriate. For example, if realized by a microcomputer, a central processing unit, a read-only memory, a random access memory, an interface, etc. are prepared. Configure.

Next, the operation will be described.

When playing a game, first,
Insert the number of medals according to the winning combination to be set. That is, when setting one winning combination as shown in FIG. 7B, one medal is thrown in,
When three winning combinations are set as shown in FIG. 7C, two medals are thrown in, and five winning combinations are set as shown in FIG. 7D. Throws in three medals.

When the identification unit 14 identifies the inserted medals as authentic, the prize combination setting means 32 sets the prize combination according to the identified number, and the display control means 31 sets the number of inserted medals. According to Figure 1
As shown in (A), liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20
A line display 35 is displayed on c. This line display 35
Are displayed corresponding to the thick lines shown in (B), (C), and (D) of FIG. Note that the line display 35 is not displayed on the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, and 20c when no medals are inserted.

Next, when the game start switch 13 is pressed and operated, the display control means 31 changes the 3 × 3 patterns 24 on the three liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c one after another with a plurality of patterns. Will be displayed.

At this time, the stop operation switches 25a, 25
When b, 25c is pressed, the change of the pattern 24 of the corresponding liquid crystal display 20a, 20b, 20c is stopped at the stop timing according to the operation.

When the stopped pattern 24 matches any or all of the winning combinations, that is, the line display 3 displayed on the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c.
When the prize-winning pattern 24 is displayed overlapping with 5, the prize-winning determination means 33 causes the prize-winning means 38 to win the medal to the prize-winning tray 39, and at the same time, the sound generating means 37 informs that the prize has been won. Emit. At the same time, the display control means 31 causes the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c to display a prize display, thereby increasing the fun of the game.

As a prize display for increasing the enjoyment, blinking display of the line display 35 along with the arrangement of the respective patterns 24 matching the prize combination or highlighting such as colored light emission is performed. Further, a blinking display of the back portion 26 of each design 24, a frame display 36 surrounding each design 24 and blinking, and the like are displayed.
Alternatively, a combination of any two kinds of displays among these various kinds of displays or a combination of all three kinds of displays may be displayed. As a result, it is possible to inform which array the winning combination is displayed in and to stimulate the joy of shooting.

When the stopped picture 24 does not match the winning combination, none of the winning, displaying of the winning, and generation of sound are performed.

The liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c can be made thinner than the case where the drum 3 is used, without changing the number and size of the patterns 24, and therefore the depth of the slot machine 10 itself. Can be thinned. Therefore, the dimensions such as the depth and width of the slot machine 10 can be manufactured in conformity with the dimensions of a normal pachinko machine. In that case, the slot machine 10 and the pachinko machine can be attached to the same island, and Planning, design and construction are simplified and facilitated.

Further, the liquid crystal displays 20a, 20b, 20c
By providing three pieces, it is possible to give the same force as the picture by the drum 3 as compared with the case where the picture is displayed on one screen using the CRT. Furthermore, since each liquid crystal display 20a, 20b, 20c is curved with the radius of curvature R of the drum 3, if the change of the pattern 24 is real,
It is possible to create the illusion and power that the drum is rotating.

Although the liquid crystal display having three liquid crystal displays has been described, the number is not limited to three, and any number of two or more may be used.

Further, the liquid crystal display may be curved alone without using a plurality of liquid crystal display plates. Further, the liquid crystal display plate may be a flat plate, the panel surface of the case may be concave, and the liquid crystal display surface may be designed to protrude from the panel surface.

Further, the stop timing may be selected according to the operation of the stop operation switch, or may be automatically selected after a lapse of a fixed time after the display of the pattern is changed.

Further, as the prize display, instead of the blinking display of the back portion of each pattern, the blinking display of the pattern itself may be performed.

Further, instead of displaying the line display on the liquid crystal display without inserting the medal, all the line displays that can be displayed are displayed, or the line display displayed in the previous game is left as it is. You may display it.

The sound generated by the sound generating means may be a voice forming a word. Further, the sound generating means may be a sound notifying that a prize has been given or a sound such as "sorry" when the prize is not given.

Further, instead of the sound generating means, or by providing the vibration generating means together with the sound generating means, the force at the time of the winning may be increased.

[0045]

According to the slot machine of the present invention,
Since the depth can be reduced by using a liquid crystal display for displaying the pattern, the installation space of the game machine can be reduced and profitability can be increased. In particular, when the dimensions are designed to be the same as those of a pachinko machine, the planning, design, and construction of the game hall can be simplified, and the time and cost required for these can be reduced. In addition, since a plurality of liquid crystal displays are provided, the liquid crystal display has the same power and a variety of interests as when a drum is used.

Since a line display is displayed on the liquid crystal display as a prize display, the player can immediately and emotionally know the prize winning state, and the enjoyment of the game can be enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a liquid crystal display displaying a prize display of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a slot machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the drum for explaining the radius of curvature of the liquid crystal display.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display plate of a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions of the slot machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a liquid crystal display showing a winning combination.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the liquid crystal display.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Slot machine, 11 ... Box, 12 ... Slot, 1
3 ... Game start switch, 14 ... Identification part, 20a, 20
b, 20c ... Liquid crystal display, 22 ... Liquid crystal display plate, 23 ... Backlight, 24 ... Design, 25a, 25b, 25c ... Stop operation switch, 30 ... Control device, 31 ... Display control means, 32 ... Prize combination setting Means, 33 ... Prize determination means,
35 ... Line display, 36 ... Frame display, 37 ... Sound generating means,
38 ... Award winning means, 39 ... Award winning dish.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine for changing a plurality of patterns by inserting a game medium into a slot and operating a game start switch, and stopping the change of each pattern at a predetermined stop timing, a liquid crystal display provided in front of the slot machine. A display unit, display control means for displaying the design on the liquid crystal display, and award determination means for determining whether or not the combination of the respective designs after the change is stopped matches a predetermined winning combination. The slot machine, wherein the display control means includes means for causing the liquid crystal display to display a line along the arrangement of each pattern when the award determination means determines that the award combination matches.