JPH0898912A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To further heighten the interest of a slot machine game by providing a new prize mode called a big chance game in which bonus prize winning for obtaining the right of a bonus game is generated with high probability in addition to the prize mode of such a bonus game in which prize winning can be obtained with a higher probability than the ordinary game. CONSTITUTION: When the reels 2-4 are stopped, the stop positions are input to CPU 15 through a position detection input port 23. If the combination of symbols gives the right to start a big chance game, big chance game processing stored in ROM 25 is executed by the CPU 15. During the period of a big chance game, a designated combination among combinations of symbols, by which bonus prize winning is not usually obtained, is taken as bonus prize winning, and as a result, the generating probability of bonus prize winning is set higher than usual.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine capable of playing a bonus game in which a prize can be easily obtained in addition to a normal game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A slot machine has, for example, three reels on which a plurality of kinds of symbols are arranged. After inserting the medal, the player rotates all the reels by operating the start lever or the like. Then, when all of these reels are stopped by the operation of the stop button or the automatic stop mechanism, the winning is determined by the combination of the symbols of the reels located on the winning line. Then, when it corresponds to the winning, the number of medals corresponding to the type of the winning is paid out.

In recent slot machines, in addition to the above-described normal games, there are some slot machines that can play bonus games in order to enhance the game quality. In the bonus game, when a bonus prize is obtained as a result of playing the base game, for example, as a combination of symbols, "BAR
-BAR-BAR "or" Water Melon-Water
Melon-Water Melon ". When this bonus game is started, the three reels are stopped one by one while the medals are thrown one by one, and whether or not there is a winning is determined for each reel, or the three reels are rotated by throwing one medal. Then, when these are stopped, the presence or absence of a prize is determined.
And the symbol stopped on the winning line is "JA
When the ones with the "C" mark or the ones with the "JAC" mark are lined up, the prize is won, the prescribed number of medals are paid out, and the probability of winning is higher than in the normal game.

The bonus game described above is played in a state where the payout rate (ratio of the number of paid-out medals to the number of inserted medals) is higher than that of the normal game. The bonus game can be played 12 times in a row, for example, but the bonus game ends when 6 bonus prizes are obtained during the bonus game period. Even if there are such restrictions, the player will have a great chance to win a large number of medals during the bonus game period. Therefore, for the player, a bonus prize can be obtained during the normal game. Whether or not it becomes the biggest concern.

[0005]

However, if a bonus prize having a high payout rate as described above is frequently generated during a period in which a normal game is played, the profit rate on the sales side becomes small, so that the bonus prize is usually won. The probability of occurrence is kept small. Therefore, up to now, in most cases, bonus prizes have been sporadically generated, and it has been difficult for the player to enjoy the real pleasure of the bonus game and to maintain the interest.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in addition to the bonus game, a new game mode called a special bonus game in which a bonus prize is apt to occur frequently within a certain game period is introduced to a player. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine capable of giving a unique interest.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when it is detected that a combination of symbols is a combination of special bonus prizes different from the bonus prize, the bonus prizes are more than usual. A special bonus game award mode is provided in which the game can be continuously played within a predetermined number of times in a state where the combination of A control means is provided.

The special bonus game is started up to, for example, 30 times when a combination of symbols different from the bonus winning, such as "7-7-7", occurs.
When a bonus prize is obtained during this special bonus game period, the bonus game can be played, for example, up to three times. During the special bonus game period, the probability of occurrence of a bonus prize is set higher than usual, so that the player can enjoy the real pleasure of the bonus game. In order to set the probability of occurrence of bonus prizes to be high, if a bonus prize is given to a combination of symbols that would not normally be a bonus prize, it is necessary to add or change a new symbol for bonus prizes. Even if the combination of the same symbols does not exist, the value changes depending on the mode of the game, and a new interest can be created.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 4 showing the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention, three reels 2 to 4 having symbols arranged on the outer periphery thereof are rotatably provided in the main body of the slot machine 1. Has been. Three symbols of these reels 2 to 4 can be observed through the observation windows 5 to 7, respectively. Five winning lines are set in the observation windows 5 to 7 in order to determine a combination of symbols visually recognized through the observation windows 5 to 7 as horizontal 3 rows and diagonal 2 rows. After inserting 1 to 3 medals from the coin insertion slot 8, pulling the start lever 9 causes the reels 2 to 4 to rotate simultaneously. At this time, the number of activated pay lines is determined according to the number of inserted medals.

When the rotation of the reels 2 to 4 reaches a steady state, the operation of the stop buttons 10 to 12 becomes effective, and the reels 2 to 4 are sequentially stopped in accordance with the operation thereof. When a combination of symbols stopped on the pay line determined by the number of inserted medals corresponds to the winning, the number of medals corresponding to the type of the winning is paid out to the tray 13.

The above-mentioned game processing is controlled and controlled by the circuit configuration shown in FIG. The main CPU 15
It is operated by a pulse from the clock pulse generation circuit 16 supplied via the frequency divider 17. Then, when the start lever 9 is operated, a drive pulse is supplied to the stepping motors 19 to 21 via the motor drive input port 18, and the reels 2 to 4 rotate. The number of drive pulses supplied to each of the stepping motors 19 to 21 is counted by the RAM 22. In addition, reels 2-4
A reset pulse for each rotation is obtained from this, and this is input to the main CPU 15 via the position detection input port 23. The reset pulse thus obtained is the RAM2
The number of drive pulses counted in 2 is reset to "0". As a result, the RAM 22 stores the count value corresponding to the rotation position within one rotation range for each of the reels 2 to 4.

When the stop buttons 10 to 12 are operated, the drive pulse is not supplied to the stepping motors 19 to 21 in response to the operation, so that the reels 2 to 4 are driven.
Also stop. The RAM 22 stores the reel rotation stop position corresponding to the number of drive pulses supplied up to that point, that is, the number of pulses corresponding to the symbols located on the pay line. Therefore, the combination of the count values is stored. Corresponds to the combination of symbols. By comparing this symbol combination with the winning symbol combination stored in the ROM 25, the presence or absence of the winning and the type of the winning are determined.

When a winning is obtained as a result of the game,
Through the counter drive input port 26, the number of payout medals according to the type of winning is displayed on the counter lamp 27. Further, the hopper 29 is driven through the hopper drive input port 28, and medals are paid out. The medal detection unit 30 counts the number of medals paid out from the hopper 29. When the counted value reaches the number signal from the counter drive input port 26, a payout stop signal is input to the main CPU 15 via the input port 31, and the medal payout process is also completed. The block M shown by a broken line is composed of a microcomputer, and the sequence of the above-described series of game processing, winning determination, and medal payout processing is as follows.
It is programmed in the ROM 25.

As a result of playing the game, if the symbol combination is "BAR-BAR-BAR", after the medals are paid out, the bonus game can be played according to the program in the ROM 25. In the bonus game, a prize is obtained for each reel, and one medal is inserted to rotate only one reel. Then, when the reel is stopped and the symbol with the "JAC" mark is located on the pay line, the win corresponds to, for example, 15 medals are paid out. This bonus game can be played up to 12 times as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
When the bonus prize is obtained twice, the bonus game ends at that point. In addition, instead of deciding whether to win a prize during the bonus game period for each reel as described above,
When the three reels are stopped, "JA
It is also possible to decide as a prize when all the symbols with "C" mark are prepared.

When the bonus game is started, "6" is set up in the bonus winning counter 33. Then, when a prize is generated in the process of playing the bonus game, a subtraction pulse signal of "-1" is output to the bonus prize counter 33. Therefore, the count value of the bonus payout counter 33 is subtracted from "6" each time a prize is won during the bonus game. Since the count signal from the bonus payout counter 33 is input to the LED drive circuit 34, the 7-segment light emitting diode 35 arranged on the upper panel of the slot machine body digitally displays the count value of the bonus payout counter 33. This allows the player to easily know how many more winnings are allowed while playing the bonus game.

At the start of the bonus game, the bonus game counter 36 is also set to "12". After that, each time the bonus game is executed, the count value is decremented by "1". And
As shown in FIG. 3, the number of winnings during the bonus game is 6
The bonus game ends when it reaches the number of times or when the bonus game is executed 12 times. Also,
When a bonus game is played once for each of reels 2 to 4, when there is no winning, the winning determination in the normal game is also performed. The count value of the bonus game counter 36 may be displayed on the same display device as the light emitting diode 35.

When the symbol combination is "7-7-7" as a result of playing the normal game, 15 medals are paid out, and then the right to the big chance game (special bonus game) is given. . During the period of this big chance game, the above-mentioned symbol combinations “BAR-BAR-BAR”, “Water Melon-W” are displayed.
In addition to "ater Melon-Water Melon", when a combination of symbols becomes a combination of symbols with a "red JAC" mark, it is determined to be a bonus prize and the bonus game can be played. That is, the probability that a bonus prize will occur is higher than that in the normal game. The processing of such a big chance game is performed according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 by the control means composed of the microcomputer represented by the block M, similarly to the processing of the bonus game. This big chance game is 3
The limit is 0 times, during which time bonus games can be played up to 3 times.

When the big chance game is started, the big chance game counter 37 is set to "30" and the bonus game hit counter 38 is set to "3". Then, each time the big chance game is played, the count value in the big chance game counter 37 is decremented by "1", and when a combination of symbols that enables the bonus game is obtained, the bonus game hit counter is obtained. The count value of 38 is subtracted by "1".

The count signal from the bonus game hit counter 38 is input to the LED drive circuit 39, whereby the three-point display type light emitting diode 40 is driven. Therefore, at the start of the big chance game, all of the three-point display type light emitting diodes 40 are turned on to indicate that the bonus game is permitted three times. Then, during the period of 30 big chance games, each time the bonus game is ready, the three-point display type light emitting diodes 40 are turned off one by one, so that the player can easily determine the remaining number of bonus games. You will be able to know. It should be noted that the count signal from the big chance game counter 37 may be used to display the remaining number of big chance games together.

Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention can be applied not only to a reel type slot machine but also to a video type slot machine. In addition, the number of bonus games performed after the bonus prize is obtained, the limit number of bonus prizes during one bonus game period, the number of big chance games, and the execution of bonus games during the big chance game period. For the number of times,
It can be selected appropriately. In addition, when displaying the count value in the bonus winning counter 33 or the bonus game hit counter 38, the total number of times is displayed and displayed, or another display device such as a liquid crystal is used to perform this display. Of course it is possible.

[0021]

As described above, in the slot machine of the present invention, in addition to the bonus game in which the winning probability is higher than usual, the bonus game can be played in addition to the bonus game. Since there is a new prize mode called a special bonus game in which the prize is generated with a higher probability than usual, the possibility of several bonus games is increased during the predetermined number of special bonus games, and the bonus is given to the player. You will be able to enjoy the real pleasure of the game, and you will be able to have a unique interest that has never existed before.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a bonus game process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of a big chance game.

FIG. 4 is an external front view of a slot machine using the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Slot Machine 2-4 Reel 5-7 Observation Window 15 Main CPU 33 Bonus Winning Counter 35 Light Emitting Diode 36 Bonus Game Counter 37 Big Chance Game Counter 38 Bonus Game Hit Counter 40 3 Point Display Light Emitting Diode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine in which a winning combination is determined by a combination of symbols located on a pay line when a plurality of symbol arrays are stopped, and the combination of symbols is a bonus winning combination. A combination of symbols in a slot machine that is started so that a bonus game can be played continuously within a certain number of times with a higher probability of winning than usual within a certain number of times Is detected to be a combination of special bonus prizes different from the bonus prize, it is possible to continuously play the game within a predetermined number of times in a state where the combination of the bonus prizes is more likely to occur than usual, and A special bonus that enables the bonus game for a certain number of bonus prizes during this game period Slot machine, characterized in that it comprises a control means for providing a prize mode of Nasugemu. 2. The control means gives a bonus prize more than usual by giving a bonus prize also to a predetermined symbol combination that does not normally correspond to a bonus prize during a period in which the prize mode of the special bonus game is given. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the slot machine is in a state in which it is easy to produce.