JPH08796A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a slot machine that displays instruction information effectively for players. CONSTITUTION:On an image display 40, a game image stored in a game image storage means 141 and an instruction image stored in an instruction image storage means 142 are displayed alternately. Images are switched by an image switching means 145 according to an operation condition of the slot machine which is detected by an operation condition detection means 143. When no-game condition is detected by the operation condition detection means 143, an image switching control means 144 allows an image switching switch 120 to switch images, and when the image switching switch 120 is operated 10 an image switching allowable condition, an image displayed on the image display 40 is switched to a new image for a certain period of time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly to an image display device capable of displaying instruction information in addition to a normal game image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of slot machine, a plurality of symbols respectively arranged in a plurality of symbol columns are sequentially moved and displayed at high speed on an image display device provided on a front panel, and then symbols in the symbol columns are displayed. When the display mode of the symbols is stopped and the stop display mode of the symbols is a prize mode that is a predetermined combination of symbols, a predetermined number of prize medals are paid out to the player, or a special advantage advantageous for the player. They are playing games.

In addition, instruction information such as the relationship between the number of inserted medals and the number of paid-out medals, and the game method is displayed above the image display device provided on the front panel.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional slot machine, the image display device is located at the center of the front panel so that the player can visually recognize the image display device and play the game. The image display device occupies most of the front panel area. Therefore, only a limited area remains in the front panel around the image display device, and since the instruction information is displayed in this limited area, it is not possible to display the instruction information in large size. There is a problem in that the information becomes difficult for the player to see and the contents of the game cannot be fully understood, which impairs the interest of the game.

Further, since a plurality of symbols are sequentially moved and displayed on the image display device at a high speed, it is not possible to easily grasp the arrangement pattern of each symbol row, and a prize mode which is a fixed symbol combination is obtained. As described above, it is difficult to stop the moving display of the symbols in the symbol sequence. Therefore, the present invention according to claims 1 to 3 is proposed in view of the problems of the above-described conventional technology, and the purpose thereof is to display instruction information in a state that is easy for the player to see. It aims to provide a slot machine that can.

In addition to this, the invention according to claim 2 is intended to provide a slot machine capable of displaying instruction information to a player according to the operating status of the slot machine. Furthermore, in addition to this, the invention according to claim 3 provides a slot machine capable of displaying the arrangement pattern of the symbols in each symbol row, which is moved and displayed on the image display device, so that the player can easily grasp it. Is what you are trying to do.

[0007]

The present invention is to achieve the above-mentioned object, and the contents thereof will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention according to claim 1 is a game image storage means (141) for storing a game image to be displayed on the image display device (40), and an instruction image storage means for storing an instruction image to be displayed on the image display device (40). 142), an operating state determining means (143) for determining the operating state of the slot machine (10), an image changeover switch (120) for instructing switching between a game image and an instruction image, and the operating state determining means. Image switching permission means for permitting image switching by the image switching switch (120) when it is determined that the game is not in progress in (143)
(144) and the game image stored in the game image storage means (141) based on the determination result in the operating state determination means (143), and the instruction image storage means (142)
The image corresponding to the operating state is displayed on the image display device (40) by switching between the instruction image stored in the image display device (40), and in the image switching permission state of the image switching permission means (144), the image switching switch (120). When is operated, the image displayed on the image display device (40) is switched according to the operating state, and the image after switching is displayed on the image display device (40) for a predetermined period of time. Image display switching means (145) for

The invention according to claim 2 is the above-mentioned claim 1.
In addition to the feature points described, the image displayed on the image display device (40) by switching the image display switching means (145) is an instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means (142) before the game start condition is satisfied. Yes, it is the game image stored in the game image storage means (141) after the game start condition is satisfied, and the image switching permission means after the game start condition is satisfied.
In the image switching permission state in (144), when the image switching switch (120) is operated, it is an instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means (142).

The invention according to claim 3 is the above-mentioned claim 1.
Alternatively, in addition to the characteristic points described in 2, the instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means (142) is characterized by including an array pattern of a plurality of symbols in each symbol row.

[0010]

[Operation] According to the invention of claim 1, the front panel (30) is provided with an image display device (40) such as a liquid crystal display device, and the image display device (40) is provided for game play. A game image to be used and an instruction image for displaying instruction information are displayed.

The above-mentioned game image is stored in the game image storage means (1
41) stored, for example, after sequentially moving and displaying a plurality of symbols respectively arranged in a plurality of symbol rows at high speed,
Stop the moving display of the symbols in the symbol row, when the symbol stop display mode is a prize mode that is a predetermined combination of symbols, in order to benefit the player, pay out a prize medal, It is a series of images displaying a game such as a special game that is advantageous to the player.

The above-mentioned instruction image is stored in the instruction image storage means (142), for example, a game mode of a bonus game which is a special game, and is stopped and displayed on each symbol row display section (41). It is an image that displays the number of prize medals to be paid out for a combination of symbols. Then, the operating state of the slot machine (10) is determined by the operating state determination means (143), the image display switching means (145), based on the determination result of the operating state determination means (143), the operating state at that time The game image or the instruction image is displayed on the image display device (40) so as to correspond to.

The image switching permission means (144) permits switching of images by the image switching switch (120) when the operating state determination means (143) determines that the game is not in progress. Then, in the image switching permission state in the image switching permission means (144), when the image switching switch (120) is operated, the image displayed on the image display device 40 corresponding to the operating state is switched, The image after switching is displayed on the image display device (40) only for a predetermined period.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the instruction image is displayed on the image display device 40 before the game conditions are met, that is, when no medals have been inserted for the game or no credit medals remain. Is displayed. Then, when a game start condition is satisfied by inserting a medal into the slot machine (10), the game image stored in the game image storage means (141) is displayed.

Further, in a state where the image switching is permitted by the image switching permission means (144), the image switching switch is
When (120) is operated, the game image displayed on the image display device (40) is switched, and the instruction image is displayed on the image display device (40) for a predetermined period. Therefore, it is possible to display the instruction information in the image display device (40) that occupies a large area in the front panel (30) as needed, and thus it is possible to display the instruction information in a state that is easy for the player to see. It will be possible. Therefore, the player can fully understand the contents of the game, and the interest of the game can be enhanced.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the instruction image displayed on the image display device (40), in addition to the above-mentioned instruction information, the arrangement pattern of the symbols in each symbol column is displayed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric control device, and FIG. 3 shows instruction information. FIG. 4 is a front view of the image display device, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the image display device displaying an array pattern of symbols in each symbol column.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a slot machine. This slot machine 10 has a front panel 30 provided on the surface of a front door 20, and an image display is provided on almost the entire area of the front panel 30. A device 40 is provided. The image display device 40 is a liquid crystal display device. The image display device 40
Is not limited to a liquid crystal display device, and may be any device as long as it can display a plurality of symbol arrays, such as a CRT, but it is possible to provide a compact image display device 40 with a thin depth. From the viewpoint, a liquid crystal display device is preferable.

On the surface of the slot machine 10 described above, a medal insertion slot 50 for inserting medals is provided obliquely to the lower right of the image display device 40, and a credit medal is provided on the right side of the medal insertion slot 50. A credit display unit 60 for displaying the number of sheets is provided. Further, on the left side of the image display device 40, an effective line display section 70 for displaying the winning line that is effective corresponding to the number of inserted medals is provided, and diagonally downward on the left side of the image display device 40. The lever-shaped start switch 80 for starting the moving display of the symbol rows displayed on the image display device 40, and the symbol rows located below each symbol row, and moving and displayed individually. Three button-shaped stop switches 90 ... For stopping are provided. On the right side of the stop switch 90 described above, a button-shaped credit medal insertion switch 10 for inserting a credit medal.
0 and a button-shaped payment switch 110 for ejecting credit medals are arranged on the surface of the slot machine 10. Further, a button-shaped image changeover switch 120 for instructing the image changeover is provided on the lower left side of the front panel.

Below the surface of the slot machine 10 described above, a medal discharge tray in which discharged prize medals are accumulated.
130 is provided. An electric control device 140 that electrically controls the slot machine 10 is provided at an appropriate position inside the slot machine 10. This electrical control device 140 is a CPU
(Central processing unit), ROM (Read only memory),
The microcomputer is composed of a RAM (random access memory), an input / output control device, and the like.

With reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, a schematic structure of a portion of the electric control device 140 which performs control according to the present invention will be described. The electric control device 140 has a game image storage means 141, an instruction image storage means 142, an operating state determination means 143, an image switching permission means 144, and an image display switching means 145 as main constituent elements, and an input side. There are a start switch 80, a stop switch 90, an image changeover switch 120, etc. on the output side. The image display device 40 is electrically connected.

The above-mentioned game image storage means 141 is means for storing a game image to be displayed on the image display device 40, and the instruction image storage means 142 is for the image display device 40.
Is a means for storing the instruction image to be displayed on. In addition, the operating state determination means 143 is the slot machine 10
Is a means for determining the operating state of, for example, the state of inserting game medals, the state of remaining credit medals, the state of games, and the like.

The image switching permission means 144 is means for permitting switching of images by the image switching switch 120 when the operating state determination means 143 determines that the game is not in progress. Further, the image display switching means 145 switches the game image stored in the game image storage means 141 and the instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means 142 based on the determination result in the operating state determination means 143, and the operating state. Image display device
The image displayed on the image display device 40 corresponding to the operating state when the image switching switch 120 is operated in the image switching permission state in the image switching permission means 144 while displaying the It is a means for displaying the switched image on the display device 40 only for a predetermined period.

The image displayed on the image display device 40 by the switching of the image display switching means 145 is the instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means 142 before the game start condition is satisfied, and the game image after the game start condition is satisfied. When the image changeover switch 120 is operated in the game image stored in the storage means 141 and after the game start condition is satisfied and the image changeover permission means 144 is in the image changeover permission state, the instruction image storage means 142
It is the instruction image stored in.

Here, the game starting condition means a condition for starting the game by operating the start switch 80,
For example, it is established when a medal for a game is inserted or when there is a remaining number of credit medals. Further, the timing of switching the image by the image display switching means 145 is not limited to the above timing, in the state that the instruction screen is displayed before the game start condition is satisfied,
When the image changeover switch 120 is operated, the game image stored in the game image storage means 141 may be displayed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game image is an image for use in a game in a slot machine or for displaying a demonstration of the game, and three symbols are vertically arranged in the image display device 40. Symbol row display section with 3 rows arranged side by side for high speed movement display at predetermined intervals
41, etc., and a prize line 42, etc. for displaying a line which becomes effective according to the number of medals used in the game are displayed.

The instruction image is, as shown in FIG. 3, the number of award medals paid out for a game mode of a bonus game which is a special game and a combination of symbols stopped and displayed on each symbol row display section 41. Etc. are displayed. It should be noted that the instruction image is not limited to the one described above, and other instruction information such as a game method or notification may be displayed.

The switching operation of the image displayed on the image display device 40 in the above slot machine will be described. The operating state determination means 143 monitors the operating state of the slot machine 10. Then, the operating state determination means 143,
When it is determined that the game start condition is not satisfied, that is,
No medals have been put in for playing games,
If you determine that there are no credit medals remaining,
The instruction image is displayed on the image display device 40.

Then, the fact that the game start condition is satisfied by inserting a medal into the slot machine 10 is the operating state judging means 143.
When judged by, the image display switching means 145 switches the instruction image displayed on the image display device 40 to the game image. The image switching permission means 144,
It is determined whether or not to permit image switching based on the determination result in the operating state determination means 143, and when it is determined that the operating state determination means 143 is not playing,
Allow switching of images. Here, the state determined not to be in the game is a state before the game start condition is satisfied, or
After the game start condition is satisfied, the player operates the start switch 80 to start the game, and the player operates the stop switch 90 ... to stop the symbol conversion in the symbol array display section 41, and the symbol stop mode. When the prize mode is established, the award medals are paid out, or when the prize mode is not established, the winning determination is finished.

If the operating state determining means 143 determines that a game is being played, switching of images is not permitted. Therefore, even if the image changeover switch 120 is operated, the image does not change. Then, when the image changeover switch 120 is operated in a state where the image changeover is permitted by the image changeover permission means 144, the game image displayed on the image display device 40 is the instruction stored in the instruction image storage means 142. The display is switched to the image and displayed only for a predetermined period.

Here, the predetermined period of time is defined as a period from when the image changeover switch 120 is operated until a certain time elapses, or during operation of the image changeover switch 120. That is, in the case where the image changeover switch 120 is composed of a push button switch, the game image is replaced while the push button switch is pressed until a certain time elapses or while the push button switch is pressed. The instruction image is displayed on the image display device 40.

The switching of images at this time may be performed by switching the entire screen, but it is also possible to display the instruction image in a window in a partial area of the game image displayed on the image display device 40. Good. Further, when the image changeover switch 120 is operated in a state where the game start condition is not satisfied, the instruction image displayed on the image display device 40 is switched to the game image stored in the game image storage means 141 and displayed.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the instruction image is displayed on the image display device 40 when the operating state determination means 143 determines that the game start condition is not satisfied. However, in a different embodiment, when the operating state determination means 143 determines that the game start condition is not satisfied, that is, it is determined that no medals have been inserted for the game or no credit medals remain. If it does, a predetermined time (for example, 30
The instruction image may be displayed on the image display device 40 after a lapse of seconds.

In this way, it is necessary to elapse a predetermined time in order for the screens to be automatically switched in this way, for example, without storing the credit medals in the machine, the medals directly used for the game from the medal insertion slot 50 This is because even when throwing in and playing a game, the player can smoothly play the game without interrupting the flow of the game. This is because, when the above-mentioned game method is adopted, if no medals are paid out in the game immediately after the insertion of medals, no credit medals remain. Therefore, if it is determined that no medals for use in the game have been inserted or that no credit medals are left, and the screen immediately switches to the instruction image, the medals are inserted.
When the game is to be continued after the game is finished and the medals to be used for the game are inserted into the medal insertion slot 50 again, the instruction image is switched to the game image again. Such frequent switching of images may cause a player discomfort and may hinder the flow of the game. Therefore, the screen is switched after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the instruction image displayed on the image display device 40 may be added with a pattern of a pattern arrangement in each symbol row. From the time the image changeover switch 120 is operated until a certain period of time elapses, or while the image changeover switch 120 is operated, the instruction image is displayed on the image display device 40 in place of the game image. I explained. But,
As shown in FIG. 3, while the instruction image is displayed, after a predetermined time elapses, or when the image changeover switch 120 is further operated, as shown in FIG. 4, a pattern array pattern in each symbol row. May be displayed.

In this way, by displaying the pattern arrangement pattern in each symbol row on the image display device 40, the player can easily grasp the pattern arrangement pattern in each symbol row and move it. It becomes easy to stop the moving display of the symbols in the symbol sequence so that the prize mode, which is a fixed combination of symbols, is achieved while visually checking the order of the symbol arrangement when stopping the symbols.

[0037]

Since the present invention is constituted as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1
According to the invention described in 3 to 3, the front panel is provided with an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and in this image display device, the game image stored in the game image storage means and the instruction image storage means. The instruction image stored in and is displayed.

Then, the operating state of the slot machine is judged by the operating state judging means, and the image display switching means, based on the judgment result of the operating state judging means, corresponds to the operating state at that time, the game image or the instruction. The image is displayed on the image display device. Further, in the image switching permission unit, when the operating state determination unit determines that the game is not in progress, the image switching switch is permitted to switch the image, and the image switching switch is operated in the image switching permission state of the image switching permission unit. In this case, the image displayed on the image display device is switched according to the operating state, and the switched image is displayed on the image display device for a predetermined period.

In addition to this, according to the invention of claim 2, before the game condition is established, the instruction image is displayed on the image display device, and when the game start condition is established, it is stored in the game image storage means. The game image is displayed. Then, when the image switching switch is operated while the image switching is permitted by the image switching permission unit, the game image displayed on the image display device is switched, and the instruction image is predetermined on the image display device. Display only for a predetermined period.

Therefore, not only the game screen used for the game is displayed in the image display device which occupies a large area in the front panel, but it corresponds to the operating state of the slot machine or is operated by the player. Correspondingly, instruction information can be displayed. Therefore, by displaying the instruction information on the image display device arranged in the most visible position for the player, the instruction information can be surely transmitted to the player.
Because the player can fully understand the game contents and play the game,
The interest of the game can be enhanced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, by displaying the arrangement pattern of the symbols in each symbol row on the image display device in addition to the instruction information.
The player can easily grasp the arrangement pattern of the symbols in each symbol row, and when the movement display of the symbols on the image display device is stopped, the symbol row is a combination of certain symbols so as to form a prize mode. It becomes easy to stop the moving display of the symbols in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric control device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the image display device displaying an instruction image.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an image display device displaying an arrangement pattern of symbols in each symbol row.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 slot machine 20 front door 30 front panel 40 image display device 41 pattern display section 42 award line 50 medal insertion slot 60 credit display section 70 valid line display section 80 start switch 90 stop switch 100 credit medal insertion switch 110 settlement switch 120 image switching Switch 130 Medal discharge tray 140 Electric control device 141 Game image storage means 142 Instruction image storage means 143 Operating state determination means 144 Image switching permission means 145 Image display switching means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image display device provided on a front panel, after sequentially moving and displaying a plurality of symbols respectively arranged in a plurality of symbol rows at high speed, stopping the moving display of the symbols in the symbol rows, When the stop display mode is a prize mode that is a combination of predetermined constant symbols, in a slot machine that gives a profit to the player, a game image storage unit that stores a game image displayed on the image display device, An instruction image storage unit that stores an instruction image to be displayed on the image display device, an operating state determination unit that determines the operating state of the slot machine, an image changeover switch for instructing switching between a game image and an instruction image, When the operating state determination means determines that the game is not in progress, the image changeover switch is allowed to switch the image. Corresponding to the operating state by switching the image switching permission means and the game image stored in the game image storage means and the instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means based on the determination result in the operating state determination means The displayed image is displayed on the image display device, and the image displayed on the image display device corresponding to the operating state is displayed when the image changeover switch is operated in the image changeover permission state of the image changeover permission means. An image display switching means for switching and displaying the switched image on the image display device only for a predetermined period of time, and a slot machine. 2. The image displayed on the image display device by switching the image display switching means is an instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means before the game start condition is satisfied, and the game image storage after the game start condition is satisfied. It is a game image stored in the means, and is an instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means when the image changeover switch is operated after the game start condition is satisfied and the image changeover is permitted in the image changeover permission means. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the instruction image stored in the instruction image storage means includes an array pattern of a plurality of symbols in each symbol column.