JPH09271559A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the present play condition in an easily recognizable manner by switchingly illuminating at least two or more colors light sources illuminating a front pannel according to a determination result of play condition discrimination means. SOLUTION: At least two or more colors light sources 130 are arranged to illuminate the outer circumferential surface of a rotation reel 50. According to a determination result of play condition determination means, each fluorescent lamp 131, 132 are switchingly lighted up. For example, as play conditions, there are 'normal game' and so-called 'regular bonus game' more advantageous than the 'normal game', so-called 'big bonus' allowing a player to perform a plurality of 'regular bonus' play, and 'replay' assuring a replay, and the like. Accordingly the present condition can be displayed in an easily recognizable manner without the player's overlooking of the display of a display lamp.

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 a slot machine in which the color of a light source is switched so that the current game state can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of slot machine, a rotating reel is illuminated by a white fluorescent lamp. Also, various display lamps are arranged on the slot machine to display the current gaming state.

[0003]

However, the conventional slot machine described above has a problem that it is difficult to understand the current gaming state. That is, since the player plays the game while looking at the rotating reels, even if the current game state is displayed by various display lamps, the player may be overwhelmed by the game and overlook the display of the display lamps. It was

On the other hand, if attention is paid to the display of the display lamp, it may become impossible to concentrate on the game and it may become impossible to fully enjoy the game.
Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the problems of the above-described conventional techniques, and has the following objects. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is
This is so that the current game state can be understood.

[0005] The second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In addition to the objects of the invention described above, the following objects are provided. That is, the current gaming state can be understood while looking at the rotating reel. Each of the inventions described in claims 3 to 5 is, in addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2,
It aims at the following points.

That is, the inventions according to claims 3 to 5 are as follows:
Various types of light sources can be used.

[0007]

The inventions described in the respective claims are made to achieve the above-mentioned objects, and the features of the inventions are shown in the drawings. This will be described below using embodiments. The invention according to claim 1 is characterized by having the following three configurations.

The first is a light source (130) as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 to 3, and the light source (130) has at least two colors for illuminating the front panel (30) of the slot machine (10). (Eg white fluorescent lamp 131, red fluorescent lamp 132). The second is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a game state determination means (141), and this game state determination means (141) determines the current game state.

The third is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a light source switching means (142), and this light source switching means (142) is based on the judgment result by the game state judging means (141) 130) is switched to emit light. Above light source
The switching of (130) is not limited to the case where the light sources (130) of two or more colors are selectively turned on, for example, a plurality of light sources (130) may be combined and turned on at the same time.

The second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
In addition to the features of the invention described above, the following features are provided. The invention described in claim 2 is characterized by the following points in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in claim 1. That is, the rotating reel
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer peripheral surface of (50) is a light source.
Illuminated by (130).

The third aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the present invention.
Alternatively, in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 2, the following features are provided. That is, as the light source (130), for example, FIGS.
, Different color fluorescent lamps such as white fluorescent lamp 13
1. Red fluorescent lamp 132 is used. The colors of the fluorescent lamp are not limited to white and red, and other colors may be used, or fluorescent lamps of three or more colors may be used.

The invention according to claim 4 is the above-mentioned claim 1.
Alternatively, in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 2, the following features are provided. That is, as the light source (170), for example, as shown in FIG. 5, light bulbs such as red light bulb 171, green light bulb 172, and blue light bulb 173 are used. In addition, the color of the light bulb is red,
The color is not limited to green and blue, and other colors may be used, or a light bulb of four or more colors may be used.

The invention according to claim 5 is the above-described claim 1.
Alternatively, in addition to the features of the invention described in claim 2, the following features are provided. That is, as the light source (180), for example, as shown in FIG. 6, LEDs such as red LEDs 181, green LEDs 1
82, blue LED 183 is used. The colors of the LEDs are not limited to red, green, and blue, and other colors may be used, or a plurality of LEDs may be combined and turned on.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It shows an embodiment. 1 to 3 are schematic block diagrams of the slot machine, FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the slot machine. (Slot Machine) In FIG. 2, 10 indicates a slot machine according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 10 is provided with a front panel 30 on the front surface of a box-shaped main body 20. On the surface of the front panel 30, as shown in FIG. 2, three display windows 40 ... Inside the respective display windows 40, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral surfaces of the three rotary reels 50 ...

Each rotating reel 50 has a plurality of symbol marks (not shown) on its outer peripheral surface. Specifically, a plurality of symbol marks are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 50 by, for example, attaching a reel tape having a plurality of symbol marks printed at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 50. This symbol mark is, for example, a card design such as "A", "2" to "7", "Jack", "Queen", "King", "Joker", or "Angel" or "Cherry". It is composed of symbols such as.

By rotating each rotating reel 50, a plurality of symbol marks can be moved and displayed in the vertical direction in each display window 40 at predetermined intervals. In each of the display windows 40, as shown in FIG. 2, lines 60 in horizontal 3 rows and diagonal 2 rows are displayed. The line 60 shows that lines 1 to 5 are valid according to the number of medals inserted, and the combination of the symbol marks stopped and displayed on the activated lines will result in winning of the prize. decide.

A plurality of symbol marks may be moved and displayed by a liquid crystal display device or the like without providing the rotary reel 50. As shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the front panel 30, three rotating reels 50 are rotated diagonally downward to the left toward the display windows 40, and a plurality of symbol marks displayed on each display window 40 are displayed. A lever-shaped start switch 70 for starting movement display is provided.

Below each display window 40, as shown in FIG. 2, three button-shaped buttons for stopping the rotation of each rotating reel 50 and individually stopping the moving display of a plurality of symbol marks. Stop switches 80 ... are provided respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, a medal insertion slot 90 for inserting medals into the slot machine 10 is provided on the lower right side of the display window 40 on the right side.

On the further left side of the stop switch 80 on the left side, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a button-shaped medal insertion switch 100 for instructing the insertion of medals for a game. As shown in FIG. 2, a button-shaped settlement switch 110 for ejecting inserted medals or medals given as prizes is provided on the further right side of the right stop switch 80.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the slot machine 10 below the front panel 30, there is provided a medal ejection tray 120 for accumulating medals ejected by a medal ejection device (not shown) or the like. . (Light Source) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a light source 130 of at least two colors for illuminating the front panel 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel 50 in this embodiment is provided inside the main body 20.

In the present embodiment, the light source 130 is a two-color fluorescent lamp. As shown in FIGS.
1. It is composed of a red fluorescent lamp 132. The colors of the fluorescent lamp are not limited to white and red, and other colors may be used, or fluorescent lamps of three or more colors may be used. Further, the color of the fluorescent lamp may be changed by using a filter.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two fluorescent lamps 131 and 132 are vertically arranged in two stages diagonally ahead of the three rotating reels 50 in the main body 20. Although the white fluorescent lamp 131 is arranged on the lower side and the red fluorescent lamp 132 is arranged on the upper side, they may be arranged in reverse. Further, the fluorescent lamps 131 and 132 are attached along the left and right width directions of the main body 20, and can illuminate the outer peripheral surface of each rotating reel 50. (Game Control Means) Inside the slot machine 10, as shown in FIG. 1, a game control means 140 for controlling a game in the slot machine 10 is provided.

The game control means 140 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and a slot machine according to a program stored in a ROM (read only memory).
It controls the game in 10. Game control means 14
As shown in FIG. 1, the start switch 70 and the stop switch 80 are connected to the input side of 0 through the I / O port 150, respectively.

On the output side of the game control means 140, as shown in FIG. 1, a white fluorescent lamp 131, 2 is passed through a driver 160.
A light source 130 having color fluorescent lights 131, 132 is connected.
As shown in FIG. 1, the game control means 140, based on the game state determination means 141 for determining the current game state, and the determination result in this game state determination means 141, the fluorescent lamps 131, 1
A light source switching unit 142 that switches 32 to turn on the light is provided.

The game state determination means 141 is a part for determining the current game state in the slot machine 10. As the game state, for example, "normal game",
There are so-called "regular bonuses" that allow games to be played under conditions that are more advantageous than normal games, so-called "big bonuses" that allow multiple regular bonuses, and "replays" that allow replays.

In the above-mentioned "normal game", for example, when three normal symbols such as "King" and "Queen" are aligned on the activated line, for example, 12 medals are paid out or credits are given. Is added to.
The "regular bonus" is started on condition that three specific symbol marks, for example, "A", are aligned on the activated line, and at this time, for example, 15 medals are paid out or added to the credit. To be done.

After the regular bonus is started, for example, one medal is inserted and the start switch 70 is operated to start the rotation of the rotary reel 50. Then, each stop switch 80 is operated to operate each rotary reel. Stop spinning 50. And if you have three regular bonuses, such as "A" and "Angel", on the center effective line, 1
Five medals are paid out or added to the credits.

The regular bonus ends when the maximum number of games, that is, 12 times, or when the maximum number of winnings, 8, is reached, whichever comes first. The "big bonus" is started when three special symbols such as "7" and "joker" are lined up on the activated line, and 15 medals are paid out or added to credits.

The big bonus ends when three sets of regular bonus games are played or the normal game is played 30 times, whichever is first achieved. The replay is started on the condition that, for example, three replay symbol marks (for example, angels) are aligned on the activated line, and the same number of medals as the previous time is automatically inserted, and the normal game is restarted. It will be possible.

The light source switching means 142 includes two fluorescent lamps 13
In the part for switching and lighting 1,132, as shown in FIG. 1, it is connected to each fluorescent lamp 131,132, and each fluorescent lamp 13 is connected based on the judgment result by the game state judging means 141.
Selectively light 1,132. (Switching Method of Light Source) Next, a switching method of the light source 130 of the slot machine 10 having the above configuration will be described.

First, when the power is turned on, the white fluorescent lamp 131 in the lower stage is turned on to illuminate the three rotating reels 50 in white. After that, a special symbol mark on the activated line,
For example, when three "7" and "joker" are prepared, the game state determination means 141 determines that the bonus game start condition is achieved. After that, in response to the determination result by the game state determination means 141, the light source switching means 142 turns off the white fluorescent lamp 131 in the lower row that is lit, and at the same time, the red fluorescent lamp 1 in the upper row.
Turn on 32.

As a result, the three red reels 50 illuminate the three rotating reels 50 in red. Therefore, the player can recognize at a glance that the combination of the bonus game start conditions has been completed. After that, when the bonus game is started, the red fluorescent lamp 132 is switched to the white fluorescent lamp 131 again.

The switching from the white fluorescent lamp 131 to the red fluorescent lamp 132 is not limited to the case where the combination of the start conditions of the bonus game is complete, but the regular bonus (during the bonus game) including.)
It is also possible to switch when the combination of the starting conditions of (3) is complete, or when the regular bonus combination is completed during the regular bonus (including during the bonus game).

In addition, the red fluorescent lamp 13 during the bonus game and the regular bonus (including during the bonus game).
You can switch to 2. Further, in addition to the above-mentioned gaming state, the red fluorescent lamp 132 may be switched to at the time of so-called stoppage, or at the time of error or illegal occurrence. In addition to this, not only the white fluorescent lamp 131 and the red fluorescent lamp 132 are turned on alternatively, but both fluorescent lamps 131 and 132 may be turned on at the same time. (Second Example) Next, a second example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the slot machine. The feature of the second embodiment is that two fluorescent lamps 131 and 132, which are light sources 130, are arranged in the front-rear direction. (Third Example) Next, a third example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a light source. The feature of the third embodiment is that the three-color light bulbs 171 to 173 are used as the light source 170. That is, the three-color light bulbs 171-173 are shown in FIG.
As shown in, red light bulb 171, green light bulb 172, blue light bulb 17
It consists of three.

As shown in FIG. 5, the three-color light bulbs 171 to 173 are repeatedly arranged in the order of red, green, and blue, and are linearly arranged along the left-right width direction of the main body 20. Then, for example, by turning on all the red light bulbs 171, the rotating reel 50
Can be illuminated in red. Similarly, by turning on all the green light bulbs 172, the rotary reel 50 can be illuminated in green.

Further, by turning on all the blue light bulbs 173, the rotating reel 50 can be illuminated in blue. According to the third embodiment, by switching and lighting the three-color light bulbs 171 to 173, it is possible to display more game states than in the first embodiment. The color of the light bulb is not limited to red, green, and blue, and other colors may be used, or light bulbs of four or more colors may be used.

Further, the color of the light bulb may be changed by using a filter. Further, not only the three-color light bulbs 171 to 173 are turned on selectively, but also a plurality of color light bulbs may be turned on at the same time. (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the light source. The feature of the fourth embodiment is that LEDs 181 to 183 of three colors are used as the light source 180. That is, the three-color LEDs 181-183 are
As shown in FIG. 5, it is composed of a red LED 181, a green LED 182, and a blue LED 183.

As shown in FIG. 5, the LEDs 181 to 183 of the above three colors are repeated in the order of red, green and blue, and are linearly arranged along the width direction of the main body 20. Then, for example, by turning on all the red LEDs 181, the rotating reel 50 can be illuminated in red. Similarly, green L
By turning on all the ED182, the rotating reel 50 can be illuminated in green.

Further, by turning on all the blue LEDs 183, the rotating reel 50 can be illuminated in blue.
According to the fourth embodiment, since the LED is used, it is possible to reduce the power consumption as compared with the third embodiment using the light bulb. In addition, using a filter, L
You may change the color of ED.

Further, not only the three-color LEDs 181 to 183 are turned on selectively, but also the LEDs of a plurality of colors may be turned on at the same time. As the light source, in addition to a fluorescent lamp, a light bulb, and an LED, for example, EL (electroluminescence) or the like may be used.

[0045]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. That is, according to the invention described in claim 1, the following effects are obtained. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the current game state can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner due to the difference in the color of the light source.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the following effect is exhibited. That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the current game state can be seen at a glance while watching the rotating reel, so that the player can enjoy the game while concentrating on it.

According to each of the inventions described in claims 3 to 5, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, the following effects are exhibited. That is, according to each of the inventions described in claims 3 to 5, various light sources can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a slot machine.

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

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the slot machine showing the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a light source according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a light source showing a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Slot machine 20 Main body 30 Front panel 40 Display window 50 Rotating reel 60 Line 70 Start switch 80 Stop switch 90 Medal insertion slot 100 Medal insertion switch 110 Settlement switch 120 Medal discharge tray 130 Light source 131 White fluorescent lamp 132 Red fluorescent lamp 140 Game control Means 141 Game state determination means 142 Light source switching means 150 I / O port 160 Driver 170 Light source 171 Red light emitting LED 172 Green light emitting LED 173 Blue light emitting LED 180 Light source 181 Red light bulb 182 Green light bulb 183 Blue light bulb

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rotating reels are arranged side by side in a lateral direction, a plurality of symbol marks are displayed at predetermined intervals on an outer peripheral surface of each rotating reel, and each rotating reel is rotated to move and display the symbol marks. In a slot machine that gives a profit to a player when the mark stop display mode is a predetermined combination, at least two or more color light sources that illuminate the front panel of the slot machine, and a current game state A slot machine, comprising: a gaming state determining means for determining and a light source switching means for switching the light sources to emit light based on a determination result in the gaming state determining means. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the rotating reel is illuminated by a light source. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein a fluorescent lamp is used as the light source. 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein a light bulb is used as the light source. 5. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein an LED is used as the light source.