JPH0775687A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure a certain profit for not only a short term but also a middle term for an owner of the game device by providing two or more symbol specifying means for specifying a symbol combination by stopping plural symbols on a pay line. CONSTITUTION:In a center part of the main body, three reel blocks are arranged vertically, and in the vicinity of a first, a second and a third reel blocks 5, 6 and 7, a block indicator 8 of a flickering type is installed. To a first, a second and a third reel blocks 5, 6 and 7, motor driving parts 15, 16 and 17 are connected, and a driving current is supplied separately. These motor driving parts 15, 16 and 17 are connected to a microcomputer 18, and a rotation time, a revolving speed, a stop time, etc., of the reel are controlled altogether. The microcomputer 18 contains a random number generating part, a selecting part for selecting the reel block for the next game based on a random number, and a control part for controlling a game as a whole. Also, in a ROM 19, three kinds of prize-winning tables corresponding to each reel block, etc., are stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention rotates a plurality of rotating bodies having symbols arranged on the outer periphery thereof, and determines whether or not a prize is won based on a combination of symbols stopped on a payline when the rotating bodies are stopped. The present invention relates to a determined game device (eg, slot machine, pachi-slot, etc.).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional slot machine, when three reels are individually driven by a motor and these are sequentially stopped after a lapse of a certain period of time, the presence or absence of a prize is determined by a combination of symbols determined on a payline. Was.

The presence / absence of the winning is judged by collating the symbol combination with the winning table stored in the ROM or the like, and a certain amount of coins are paid when the winning is achieved.

As described above, since the conventional slot machine pays coins and the like based on a single winning table, the game machine wins too much in the short and medium term,
Alternatively, the player may win too much. That is, when a certain amount of time has passed since the game machine was installed and the game was repeatedly executed by many players, the average of the payout results of coins and the like converged to a predetermined payout rate, and the game machine owner Guarantee a certain profit to (the person who provides the game device to the customer to play).

[0005]

However, when the game machine is initially installed or when the number of executed games is small, the average coin payout results deviate greatly from the predetermined payout rate, resulting in a loss to the game machine owner. Give or
It may significantly impair the enjoyment of the player.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for guaranteeing a certain profit in the short term and in the medium term to the owner of the game machine.

[0007]

The amusement device according to the present invention is configured to rotate a plurality of rotating bodies on which symbols are arranged on the outer periphery, and to combine symbols stopped on a payline when the rotating bodies are stopped. Based on the game device in which whether or not to win a prize is determined, a plurality of symbols are stopped on the pay line and two or more symbol specifying means for specifying a symbol combination of these symbols, and two or more symbol specifying means are provided. A first storage means for storing two or more winning tables corresponding to each, a selecting means for selecting one symbol specifying means from the two or more symbol specifying means, and a symbol specifying means selected by the selecting means. And a display unit shown to a person.

Further, the rotation states of a plurality of rotating bodies having symbols arranged on the outer periphery are displayed on the CRT screen, and the CRT is displayed.
In a game device that determines the presence or absence of a prize based on the combination of symbols stopped on the payline of the screen, a plurality of symbols are stopped on the payline of the CRT screen, and a symbol combination of these symbols is specified. Means, first storage means for storing two or more winning tables corresponding to each of the two or more symbol specifying means, selecting means for selecting one symbol specifying means from the two or more symbol specifying means, and Display means for showing the player the symbol specifying means selected by the selecting means.

[0009]

Since the game device according to the present invention has two or more symbol specifying means, the entire game cycle becomes long. Further, since there are two or more winning tables, the converging payout rate fluctuates by controlling the selection frequency.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the game apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

First, a mechanical slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a mechanical slot machine having three reel blocks (symbol specifying means) according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the slot machine, and FIG. 3 is the slot. It is an electric circuit diagram applicable to a machine.

This slot machine has a coin slot 1,
A start lever 2, a display unit 3, a game switch unit 4, a first reel block 5, a second reel block 6, and a third reel block 7 are provided.

At the center of the main body, three reel blocks are vertically arranged, near the first reel block 5 (left side), near the second reel block 6 (left side), and near the third reel block 7 ( A blinking block display (display means) 8 is installed on the left side). And the block indicator 8
The lighting of indicates the reel block to which the game is applied. In the illustrated slot machine, since the first reel block is selected, the block indicator 8 at the top is lit. Each reel block has three reels, and symbols (picture symbols, blank symbols) are drawn on the outer periphery of each reel. The number of these symbols is
The number may be the same for all reels, but may be different for each reel.

The first embodiment has three reel blocks, each reel block is provided with three reels arranged substantially coaxially, and the number of symbols differs depending on the reels.

Specifically, in each reel block, the number of symbols on the first reel is 16, the number of symbols on the second reel is 32, and the number of symbols on the third reel is 16.
Therefore, the total number of symbol combinations is 8192.
The symbols include blank symbols, and the length of one blank symbol on the circumference is different. Therefore, there may be a case where a different number of blank symbols are arranged even if the blank areas are evenly spaced. By using blank symbols having a plurality of lengths in this way, even if reels having different numbers of symbols are used for reel blocks, the appearance is the same (the picture symbols of all reels are arranged at equal intervals). ). Therefore, the reel block can be provided with reels having a substantially different number of symbols without giving an unnatural appearance.

A top glass 9 is arranged above the first reel block 5, and a display portion 3 and a bottom glass 10 are arranged below the third reel block 7. The winning table, the game method, etc. are displayed on the top glass 9, and the payout amount of coins, the credit amount, etc. are displayed on the display unit 4. Further, a coin insertion slot 1 is installed near the display unit 4 (on the right side), and a coin ejection opening 11 is installed below the bottom glass 10. The start lever 2 extends upward from the side surface (right side) of the main body, and the game is started by pulling the start lever 2 toward you. The same effect is realized by the start switch arranged in the switch unit 4.

Next, an electrical configuration applicable to the slot machine of the first embodiment will be described. Each reel block is configured to include a plurality of reels, a step motor that drives the reels, a reel protrusion that indicates a reference position of the reel, and a sensor that optically detects the reel protrusion.

The first reel block 5 will be described below as a typical example. The first reel 5a has a step motor 5d,
The second reel 5b has a step motor 5e and a third reel 5
Step motors 5f are connected to c, and the motor drive unit 1 is connected to these step motors 5d, 5e, and 5f.
5 are connected and drive currents are individually supplied. With the same configuration, a motor drive unit 16 is connected to the second reel block 6, and a motor drive unit 17 is connected to the third reel block 7. These motor drive units 15, 16, 17
Is connected to a microcomputer 18, and the microcomputer 18 collectively controls the reel rotation timing, rotation speed, stop timing, and the like. The number of rotations and the rotation position of the reel are determined by the projections 5j, 5k, 5l formed on one side surface of the reels 5a, 5b, 5c, and the optical sensors 5g, 5h, 5i.
It is judged by detecting using. Therefore, based on the game defined in the predetermined program, for example, when the reel has rotated 20 times, the first reel 5a can be stopped at a position 120 degrees from the reference position. Since this control method can apply the conventional slot machine method,
Detailed description is omitted.

The microcomputer 18 includes a random number generator for generating a random number, a selector for selecting a reel block for the next game from a plurality of reel blocks based on the random number, a controller for overall control of the game, and a ROM (first memory block). 1 storage means) 19, memory such as RAM 20, coin detection unit 2
1, a coin payout unit 22, and a game switch unit 24 are connected to the outside.

The random numbers generated by the random number generator are used not only for selecting reel blocks but also for determining combination symbols. A 13-bit random number generator is incorporated in the random number generator, and a maximum of 8192 types of random numbers can be generated. The random number for selecting the reel block is 8
192 kinds of random numbers are processed and used. For example, it can be determined by the number of remainders obtained by dividing the obtained random number value by 3.

A signal indicating the reel block selected by the selection unit is sent to the control unit, and the control unit controls the block indicator 8 of the corresponding reel block to light up.
The lighting of the block display 8 allows the player to know the reel block applied to the game.

In the ROM 19, the number of reel blocks, the number of reels in the reel block, the kind of symbols drawn on the outer circumference of the reel, the reel-related data such as the number of symbols, the game program, and 3 corresponding to each reel block. The type winning table and the like are stored. Ranks for all combinations are defined in the winning table. The respective payout tables are set to different payout rates, the first winning table corresponding to the first reel block 5 has a payout rate of 200%, the second winning table corresponding to the second reel block 6 has a payout rate of 100%, Three
The third winning table corresponding to the reel block 7 is used to realize a payout rate of 50%. In this case, if the reel blocks are evenly selected, the payout rate that converges is 116.67%. Since these data correspond to specific machine configurations, by replacing the reel block and the ROM 19, the content of the game, for example, the change range of the payout rate (50 to 200%-
> 10-300%) can be changed. RAM20
Holds information that changes with time, such as coin insertion amount, coin payment amount, data regarding the selected reel block, and data indicating the rotation state of the reel (rotation speed, rotation angle, etc.).

The coin detecting section 21, coin paying section 22 and game switch section 24 are the same as those of the conventional slot machine, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a video type slot machine using a TV monitor according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the slot machine, and FIG.
Is an electric circuit diagram applicable to the slot machine.

Although the basic construction of this slot machine is the same as that of the mechanical slot machine according to the first embodiment, the first embodiment has a single CRT 12 and characters are displayed on the block display 8. Is different from.

The reel blocks 5 ', 6', 7'and the winning tables corresponding to these reel blocks 5 ', 6', 7'developed on the memory and displayed on the CRT screen are stored in the ROM 19. On the CRT 12, one of the three types of reel blocks stored in the ROM 19 is displayed. The selection of the reel block is executed by the selection unit of the microcomputer 18 based on the random number obtained by the random number generation unit of the microcomputer 18. The data related to the reel block selected by the selection unit is sent to the CRT control unit by the control unit, and CR is sent via the CRT control unit 13 by the control unit.
It is displayed on the screen of T12. Since the number corresponding to the selected reel block is displayed in characters on the block display 8, the player can recognize the reel block used in the game.

Next, a playing method of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a playing method of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This playing method can be applied to any of the slot machines according to the first and second embodiments. Hereinafter, the mechanical slot machine according to the first embodiment will be described as an example.

First, the player inserts coins from the coin insertion slot 1 prior to the game. The number of valid pay lines is determined by the number of coins inserted. For example, if the number of coins inserted is one, the pay line is one line, but if the number of coins is three, there are three pay lines. Therefore, the probability of winning increases according to the number of coins. Further, the number of inserted coins is displayed as a digital number on the display unit 3. The game starts by pulling the start lever 2 or pushing the start switch,
The first reel 5a, the second reel 5b, and the third reel 5c start at the same time.

When the game is started, first, a random number for selecting a reel block is generated (step 10).
1). The random number is output from a random number generator incorporated in the microcomputer 18, and the random number is used to obtain three types of random numbers. For example, a random number value for reel block selection can be obtained by dividing an arbitrary random number value out of a maximum of 8192 kinds obtained as a 13-bit random number by 3.

Next, a reel block is selected based on this random number value. That is, it is first determined whether or not the random number value indicates the first reel block (step 102), and if the determination result is negative (N), then it is determined whether or not the random number value indicates the second reel block. If it is determined (step 103) and the result of the determination is negative (N), the random number value is a value indicating the third reel block, so the stop symbol of the third reel block is next determined (step 104). A random number obtained from the random number generator of the microcomputer is also used for determining the stop symbol. In the first embodiment,
In the first reel block, the number of symbols on the first reel is 16, the number of symbols on the second reel is 32, and the number of symbols on the third reel is 16, so the total number of combinations is 819.
There are two types. The random number generator of the microcomputer 18 has the ability to generate 8192 kinds of random numbers, and each random number corresponds to one combination. Therefore, when the random number value is determined, the symbol combination is inevitably determined. Since information about the reel stop position corresponds to the symbol combination, when the random number is determined, the reel stop position is determined. When the random number value indicates the first reel block, the stop symbol of the first reel block is determined (step 106), and when the random number value indicates the second reel block, the stop symbol of the second reel block is determined. (Step 105). When the stop symbol is determined, all reels of the determined reel block are rotated, the reels are rotated for a predetermined time, and then all reels are stopped (step 107).

After the reels are stopped, the winning determination is made based on the symbols stopped on the pay line (step 108).
If a special symbol (for example, a symbol with a wild function or a symbol with a function to increase / decrease the rank) is selected in this winning determination, the symbol is replaced to make a hit, or the initial rank is changed. change.

Next, it is judged whether or not there is a prize (step 10).
9) If the prize does not apply (N), the game ends, and if the prize applies (Y), a predetermined coin amount is paid out from the coin outlet 11 according to the prize rank. In this case, instead of actually paying out the coins,
It may be stored in the memory as a credit. The accumulated credit amount is displayed on the display unit 3.

Since the embodiment according to the present invention is configured as described above, since it has a plurality of symbol specifying means, the entire game cycle becomes long and many winning combinations can be held. Therefore, the entertainment property of the game device can be improved.

The payout rate can be freely changed without changing the symbol specifying means.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although the reel block is selected using a random number after the game starts in the above embodiment, the reel block may be selected at the end of the previous game and the result may be displayed on the display unit.

Although the slot machine has been described as an example in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a so-called pachi-slot.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a memory (second storage means) for storing a payout rate to be a target, and a calculation section (calculation for calculating an average payout rate by accumulating the payout rates from past game results). Means), a comparing section (comparing means) for comparing the payout rate stored in the memory with the average payout rate calculated by the calculating section, and a second control section for controlling the selecting section based on the result of the comparing section. It may be further provided. In this case, the memory, the ROM, the calculation unit, the comparison unit, and the second control unit are incorporated in the microcomputer. With this configuration, for example, the average payout rate is 200% from the past game results,
When the target value is 100%, the selection unit is controlled so that the probability of selecting 50% is high.

Further, although the display lamp and the character display device are illustrated as the block display device in the above embodiment, the block display device is not limited to these. For example, the reel block to be applied can be shown to the player by suddenly rotating the reel of the corresponding reel block.

In the above embodiment, the number of reel blocks, the number of reels, the number of symbols on each reel, etc. vary depending on the usage conditions and design conditions of the game machine, and the present invention is not limited to these conditions. Needless to say.

[0043]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is easy to guarantee a certain profit in the short and medium terms by having a plurality of symbol specifying means and selecting them appropriately. become.

Further, if the symbol specifying means are not selected at equal intervals and weights are given to the respective means, the payout rate can be freely changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a mechanical slot machine having three reel blocks (symbol specifying means) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the slot machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram applicable to the slot machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a video slot machine having three reel blocks according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram applicable to the slot machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a playing method of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... coin slot, 2 ... start lever, 3 ... display part,
4 ... Game switch section, 5 ... First reel block, 6 ...
Second reel block, 7 ... Third reel block, 8 ... Block indicator, 9 ... Top glass, 10 ... Bottom glass, 11 ... Coin outlet, 12 ... CRT, 13 ... CRT
Control unit, 15, 16, 17 ... Motor control unit, 18 ... Microcomputer, 19 ... ROM, 20 ... RAM, 21
... coin detection section, 22 ... coin payment section, 24 ... game switch section.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A game device in which the presence or absence of a prize is determined based on a combination of symbols which are rotated on a plurality of rotating bodies having symbols arranged on the outer periphery and which are stopped on a payline when the rotating bodies are stopped. , First storage means for storing two or more symbol specifying means for specifying a symbol combination by stopping a plurality of symbols on a payline, and two or more winning table corresponding to each of the two or more symbol specifying means And a selecting means for selecting one symbol specifying means from the two or more symbol specifying means, and a display means for showing the player the symbol specifying means selected by the selecting means. . 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the symbol specifying means includes a reel block in which a plurality of reels are arranged substantially coaxially and each reel is independently driven. 3. The game device further comprises a random number generator, the display means includes a display lamp arranged near each symbol specifying means, and a plurality of random numbers are output based on the random numbers output by the random number generator. Select one symbol identification means from the symbol identification means of
The game device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a display lamp of the selected symbol specifying means is turned on to display to a player. 4. A game device for displaying a rotation state of a plurality of rotating bodies having symbols arranged on the outer periphery on a CRT screen, and determining the presence or absence of a prize based on a combination of symbols stopped on a payline of the CRT screen. Storing two or more symbol specifying means for specifying a symbol combination by stopping a plurality of symbols on the payline of the CRT screen, and two or more winning table corresponding to each of the two or more symbol specifying means. One storage means, a selection means for selecting one symbol identification means from the two or more symbol identification means, and a display means for showing the player the symbol identification means selected by the selection means. Playing device. 5. The symbol specifying means displays a plurality of reels arranged substantially coaxially on a CRT screen, and displays a state in which each reel independently rotates on the CRT screen. Playing device. 6. A second storage means for storing a payout rate to be a target, a calculation means for accumulating payout rates from past game results to calculate an average payout rate, and a second storage means. 5. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising: a comparison unit that compares the payout rate with the average payout rate calculated by the calculation unit; and a control unit that controls the selection unit based on the result of the comparison unit.