JPH10179863A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pachinko game machine which can heighten the playing will of a player and allows a game parlor to have an enhanced rate of service of its facility. SOLUTION: A pachinko game machine includes a plurality of figures, and for the figured not being stopped, a pattern selecting means 14 selects a varying pattern fro thereafter among a plurality of varying patterns 16a, 16b..., 16n. The selected pattern is notified to the player by a pattern notifying means 20. For the other figures which are not stopped, a figure varying display means 18 makes change and displays in a figure display device 10 on the basis of the varying pattern selected by the selecting means 14. The player can previously grasp the playing condition as varying hereafter from the varying pattern given by the pattern notifying means 20. This should heighten the playing will of the player, which leads to a decrease in the number of players who are executing a bonus hit, and the same parlor can have an enhanced rate of service of its facility.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball game machine,
The present invention relates to a technique for notifying a player of a symbol variation pattern during symbol variation of a symbol variation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ball game machine provided with a symbol display device displays symbols on the symbol display device in a fluctuating manner.
After that it is stopped and displayed. When the stopped and displayed symbol matches a predetermined symbol, a special benefit is provided to the player. The special benefits include, for example,
The purpose is to provide the player with an opportunity to obtain more prize balls, such as opening a special winning opening or opening an accessory. By the way, the symbols are displayed according to various variation patterns until the symbols are displayed on the symbol display device in a fluctuating manner and then stopped and displayed. In particular, when the symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device reaches the reach state, a subsequent variation pattern for another symbol that has not been stopped is selected from a plurality of variation patterns. After that, the variation of the symbol is displayed according to the selected variation pattern. For example, it develops through a normal reach that fluctuates after a few seconds and stops, and the symbol display section of the symbol display device blinks and excites it. Is a special reach. In general, the probability of a big hit differs for each variation pattern after reach (that is, for each super reach, special reach, and the like).

[0003]

However, in a conventional ball-and-ball game machine, when a reach state is reached, or what happens to a variation pattern of other symbols which are not stopped before the reach state is reached, a player is asked to know what the change pattern is. Was not informed. Further, the selection process of which variation pattern is selected from a plurality of variation patterns is not displayed. Further, after the reach, the change was suddenly started for the other symbols according to the selected change pattern. In this way, after the reach, until the pattern fluctuation pattern changes,
The player did not know what kind of fluctuation pattern was displayed. This can frustrate the player or cause excessive expectations. Also, even if you reach, you can not judge how much you will win the jackpot, so some unleashed players will break the pachinko ball when it hits the jackpot and miss the opportunity to get many prize balls Sometimes it happened. on the other hand,
In order to avoid such a situation, an increasing number of players are waiting for a hit until a change in fluctuation appears after the reach and it is possible to judge how much the jackpot will result. Therefore, there has been a problem that the operating rate of each ball-and-ball game machine is reduced for a game arcade. The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and displays a process of selecting from among a plurality of variation patterns with respect to variation patterns of other symbols which are not stopped when the reach state is reached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine that improves a player's willingness to play and improves an operation rate for a game arcade.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, symbols are displayed fluctuating on a symbol display device 10 and then stopped and displayed. When the drawn symbol coincides with a predetermined symbol, a plurality of variation patterns 1 in which the symbol is varied and displayed on the symbol display device 10 in the ball game machine that provides a special benefit to the player.
Storage means 16 for storing 6a, 16b, ..., 16n;
Pattern selecting means 14 for selecting a pattern variation pattern
Pattern notification means 20 for notifying the player of the variation pattern selected by the pattern selection means 14,
And a symbol variation display unit for varying other symbols which are not stopped based on the variation pattern selected by the pattern selection unit and displaying the symbols on the symbol display device. According to the first aspect of the present invention, for the other symbols that are not stopped by the pattern selection means 14, the subsequent variation pattern is selected from the plurality of variation patterns 16a, 16b,..., 16n. The variation pattern thus selected is notified to the player by the pattern notification means 20. After that, based on the variation pattern selected by the pattern selection means 14, the other symbols which are not stopped by the symbol variation display means 18 are varied and displayed on the symbol display device 10. Based on the change pattern notified by the pattern notification means 20, the player can determine whether or not the subsequent change in the symbol will lead to a big hit, and can grasp in advance the game state that will change in the future. Therefore, it is possible to improve the player's willingness to play. In addition, since the number of players waiting for driving is reduced due to an increase in game motivation, it is possible to improve the operating rate for the game hall.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine according to the first aspect, there is provided a selection process notifying unit 12 for notifying a player of a change pattern selection process by the pattern selecting unit 14. Features. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the selection process notifying unit 12 notifies the player of the process of selecting the variation pattern by the pattern selecting unit 14. By notifying the selection process of the variation pattern in this way, the player can be given an expectation as to whether or not the variation pattern in which the subsequent symbol variation will lead to a jackpot is selected. Therefore, it is possible to improve the player's willingness to play. In addition, since the number of players waiting for driving is reduced due to an increase in game motivation, it is possible to improve the operating rate for the game hall.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Embodiment 1] First, Embodiment 1 is a mode in which the present invention is applied to a mode in which a fluctuation pattern is notified after reaching, and will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 2 shows a front view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the control unit, FIG. 4 shows a pattern display process by a flowchart, FIG. , FIG. 9
FIG. 7 shows a selection process displayed on the symbol display device, and FIG. 7 shows a special profit process by a flowchart.

First, FIG. 2 shows a pachinko machine 50 which is one of the ball game machines. On the game board surface 52 of the pachinko machine 50, a symbol display device 10, a symbol operation port 5
4, a third type starting port 56, a specific area 62, and the like. The symbol display device 10 starts displaying a plurality of symbols in a fluctuating manner by winning a symbol in the symbol operating port 54, and then stops sequentially or simultaneously to display symbols. In this specification, an example in which three symbols (a left symbol, a middle symbol, and a right symbol) are displayed on the symbol display device 10 will be described in order to simplify the description. When the stopped and displayed symbol matches a predetermined symbol, the specific area 62 is opened for a certain period. If the pachinko ball passes through a special area provided in the specific area 62 during this opening period, a right to obtain a special benefit is generated. When the pachinko ball wins the third type starting port 56 after the right is generated, the variable winning device 6
0 is released. By opening the variable winning device 60, the player is given an opportunity to obtain many prize balls.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a control unit 100 provided in the pachinko machine 50. This control unit 10
0 is CPU (processor) 110, ROM 102, R
AM 104, input processing circuit 106, display control circuit 11
2. It is composed of an output processing circuit 114. CP
U110 controls the entire pachinko machine 50 according to a display control program stored in the ROM 102 that embodies the storage unit 16. This display control program includes:
A program for realizing a pattern display process and a special benefit process described later is included. Furthermore, ROM1
02 stores information such as a fluctuation pattern table 200 and a symbol relation table 202. This ROM 10
In general, an EPROM is used for 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an EEPROM or a flash memory may be used. R
The AM 104 stores various data such as a hit determination random number, a hit symbol random number, and work data, or input / output signals. Generally, a DRAM is used as the RAM 104, but a nonvolatile memory such as an SRAM or a flash memory may be used.

The display control circuit 112 controls the symbol display device 10 to perform display control such as symbol fluctuation or stop according to display data sent from the CPU 110 via the bus 116.
The input processing circuit 106 receives the respective detection signals sent from the special area sensor 64, the starting port sensor 68, the working port sensor 70, etc., converts them into a data format that can be processed in the control unit 100, The data is transferred to the CPU 110 (or the RAM 104, etc.) Output processing circuit 114
Receives the operation data sent from the CPU 110 via the bus 116, and operates the solenoids 58 and 66. Note that the solenoid 58 is a solenoid for operating the variable winning device 60, and the solenoid 66 is a solenoid for operating a specific area.

Next, a processing procedure for realizing the present invention will be described. 4 and 7 are realized by the CPU 110 executing the display control program stored in the ROM 102 shown in FIG. Here, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 includes a process for displaying a process of selecting one variation pattern from a plurality of variation patterns 16a, 16b,..., 16n. In FIG. 4, step S16 is a processing step that embodies the pattern selecting means 14, and
18 is a processing step that embodies the selection process notifying means 12, and step S22 is a processing step that embodies the symbol change display means 18. In the processing procedure shown in FIG. 7, a processing for giving a special benefit to the player is performed.

First, in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not a pachinko ball has won the symbol operating port 54 shown in FIG. 2 (step S10). Specifically, whether or not a winning has occurred is determined based on whether or not the operating port sensor 70 provided in the symbol operating port 54 has detected a winning of a pachinko ball. If the symbol opening 5
4 wins the pachinko ball (YE in step S10)
S), the variable display of all the symbols for the three symbols displayed on the symbol display device 10 is started (step S12).
Some time after the start of the change, the left symbol and the right symbol are stopped and displayed. If this part of the symbol matches a predetermined symbol (for example, a symbol with a zigzag pattern), a “reach state” is set. At this time, the middle symbol is still displayed fluctuating.

Then, it is determined whether or not a reach state has been reached (step S14). If the reach state has been reached (YES), a variation pattern is selected (step S1).
6). This selection process is displayed on the symbol display device 10 until the selection end time is reached (step S20) (step S18). Here, in step S16, regarding the middle symbol displayed fluctuating even after the left symbol and the right symbol are stopped,
One variation pattern is selected from a plurality of variation patterns stored in the ROM 102. As described above, by changing the fluctuation pattern after the reach, it is possible to further increase the expectation of winning or not, and to improve the player's willingness to play.

Here, an example of the variation pattern to be selected is shown in FIG. 5 together with the type, content, and selection probability of the variation pattern. The variation pattern table 200 shown in FIG. 5 embodies the variation patterns 16a, 16b,..., 16n. The types of the fluctuation patterns include normal reach, super reach, long reach, reversion reach, and re-reach reach. Normal reach is a pattern that stops in about 2 seconds, and its selection probability is 33%. The super reach is a pattern in which the symbol display section 10c shown in FIG.
%. Long reach is a pattern in which slow fluctuation occurs in the middle and the fluctuation time is relatively long, and the selection probability is 17
%. The reversing reach is a pattern in which reversing is performed once after passing the jackpot symbol, and the selection probability is 12%. The re-fluctuation reach is a pattern in which the fluctuation is restarted after stopping once, and the selection probability is 17%.

The display screen 10 of the symbol display device 10
In addition to the symbol display section 10c, a selection display section 10b as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in a. This selection display section 10b
Is displayed only after the li-zhi state is reached, and five fluctuation patterns are set in areas according to the selection probabilities as in a pie chart. A plurality of small circular blinking portions (24 in the case of FIG. 5) are provided around this pie graph, and when a variation pattern is selected, the lighting position moves so that the roulette ball just rotates. . The variation pattern corresponding to the stopped lighting position then determines the variation pattern of the medium symbol.

Returning to FIG. 4, the remaining symbols (ie, the middle symbols) are displayed in a variable manner in accordance with the variation pattern selected and determined in step S16, and after a while, the variation of the middle symbols is stopped (step S22). After all the symbols in step S22 have been stopped in this way, or when the pachinko ball has not been won in the symbol operating port 54 (NO in step S10), when the reach state has not been reached (NO in step S14), the pattern The display processing ends.

If the three symbols stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 10 match a predetermined symbol (for example, a zigzag symbol), the special profit shown in FIG. The processing is executed. In FIG. 7, the specific area 62 is opened for a predetermined period (step S30).
If the pachinko ball passes through the special area provided in the specific area 62 during the opening period (YE in step S32).
S), a right is generated (step S34). In the state that this right is generated, the pachinko ball is the third kind starting port 5
When the player wins No. 6 (YES in step S36), the variable winning device 60 is opened (step S38). This open state is continued until the closing time is reached (step S4).
0), and thereafter, the variable winning device 60 is closed (step S42).

Thus, the special profit processing ends. If the pachinko ball has not passed through the special area within the opening period of the specific area 62 (NO in step S32),
Immediately thereafter, the special profit processing ends. The specific area 62 is opened by transmitting operation data from the CPU 110 shown in FIG. 3 to the output processing circuit 114 via the bus 116 and driving the solenoid 66. Also,
The opening / closing of the variable winning device 60 is similarly performed by the CPU 110.
From the output processing circuit 11 via the bus 116.
4 and is performed by driving the solenoid 58.

According to the first embodiment, the symbol display device 10
4 reaches the reach state, the subsequent variation patterns of the other symbols which have not been stopped by the execution of step S16 (pattern selection means 14) in FIG. , 16n).
The selection process is performed in step S18 (selection process notification means 1).
The information is displayed on the symbol display device 10 by the execution of 2), so that the player is notified. By watching the process of selecting the variation pattern displayed on the symbol display device 10, the player can know whether or not the variation pattern of the symbol that changes thereafter is a variation pattern that leads to a jackpot. In this way, the player can grasp in advance the game state that will change in the future, so that the player plays the game to obtain more prize balls. Therefore, the player's willingness to play can be improved. In addition, since the player can know the change pattern of the jackpot in advance, the number of persons waiting for driving until a change in the change appears after the reach is reduced. Therefore, the operating rate can be improved for the game arcade.

In the first embodiment, the selection display section 10b displayed by executing step S18 in FIG. 4 is not a roulette type as shown in FIG.
The process of selecting the variation pattern may be displayed in another format. For example, a table format as shown in FIG. 8 or a format in which a variation pattern is varied as shown in FIG. 9 may be used. In the table format shown in FIG. 8, the fluctuation pattern currently selected during the selection period (normal reach in the case of FIG. 8) is displayed (for example, inverted display, highlighted display, blinking display, etc.) in a prominent manner. Further, in the format shown in FIG. 9, the display is performed while sequentially changing the type of the variation pattern. Even with such a display format, the player can grasp in advance the game state that will change in the future, so that the player's willingness to play can be improved.

[Embodiment 2] Next, Embodiment 2 is a mode in which the present invention is applied to a mode in which a fluctuation pattern is notified before reaching, and will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 10 shows a pattern display process by a flowchart, FIG. 11 shows a relationship between a reach symbol and a middle symbol, FIG. 12 shows a selection process displayed on a symbol display device, and FIG. The notification time of the fluctuation pattern is shown. Since the configurations of the pachinko machine 50 and the control unit 100 are the same as those in the first embodiment,
A description thereof will be omitted.

A processing procedure for realizing the present invention will be described based on a processing procedure shown in FIG. This processing procedure includes a plurality of variation patterns 16a, 16b,.
The process includes a process for displaying a process of selecting one variation pattern from n, and is realized by the CPU 110 executing a display control program stored in the ROM 102 shown in FIG. Step S64 is a processing step that embodies the pattern selection means 14, step S66 is a processing step that embodies the pattern notification means 20, and step S72 is a symbol variation display means 18
Is a processing step that has been implemented.

In FIG. 10, the symbol operating port 5 shown in FIG.
Then, it is determined whether or not the pachinko ball wins No. 4 (step S50). Specifically, it is the same as step S10 shown in FIG. If a pachinko ball wins in the symbol operation port 54 (YES in step S50), a hit determination random number,
The random numbers for winning symbols are read and stored (step S52), and three symbols are variably displayed (step S5).
4). Here, the random number for hit determination is from “0” to “19”.
It consists of 196 numerical values of "5", of which "7" is a random number indicating a hit (hereinafter, referred to as "hit random number").
In addition, for each of the three symbols, the winning symbol random number consists of 14 numbers from "0" to "13",
For example, a numerical value such as “000” or “777” indicates “hit”.

Next, one random number is selected from the random numbers for hit determination stored in step S52, and it is determined whether or not the selected random number is a hit random number (step S56).
If the selected random number is a hit random number (YE
S), the winning symbol data is read (step S58), and the pattern random numbers are read (step S6).
3), a variation pattern is selected (step S64).
As shown in FIG. 11, this variation pattern is selected by a symbol relationship table 202 indicating the relationship between the reach symbol and the middle symbol.
It is performed based on. Here, in step S63, the pattern random number is 1 from “0” to “10”.
Only two random numbers are read at random. If the pattern random number is “3”, for example, and the symbol data read in steps S58 and S60 is a hit symbol (the same symbol), the re-variable reach (shown) is selected. Also,
When the symbol data read in steps S58 and S60 is one symbol before, one symbol after, two symbols after, and in other cases, the normal reach (shown) is selected. Thus, the variation pattern after reach is selected based on the pattern random number read in step S63 and the symbol data read in steps S58 and S60. In addition,
The numerical value of the pattern random number shown here is an example, and is not limited to this numerical value, and may be another numerical value and a combination of the numerical values.

Then, the result of the selection in step S64 is notified to the player (step S66). As a specific notification method, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the selection result is displayed on the selection display section 10b of the display screen 10a. At this time, three symbols fluctuate and are displayed on the symbol display section 10c. Note that the present invention is not limited to the mode in which the selection result is displayed on the symbol display device 10, but may be another method of notifying the player of the selection result. For example, music (including a melody or a chime, etc.) or a mode such as lighting / flashing of a specific lamp is applicable.
Further, these notification methods may be arbitrarily combined.

Then, the reach state is displayed to inform the player that the reach state has been reached (step S6).
8) The remaining symbols are variably displayed according to the variance pattern selected in step S64 (step S7).
2). Further, after that, the change display of all the symbols is stopped (step S74), and it is determined whether or not the symbol displayed on the symbol display device 10 is a hit (step S76).
According to this determination, a hit process is performed in the case of “hit” (step S78), and a hit process is performed in the case of “miss” (step S80), and the pattern display process ends. Here, in the hitting process, for example, a process of opening the specific area 62 shown in FIG. 2 for a certain period is performed. In the disconnection process, for example, a symbol displayed in a disconnection symbol data box provided in the RAM 104 is stored, and at the same time, a process such as playing music at the time of disconnection is performed.

On the other hand, if the selected random number is not a hit random number in step S56 (NO), after reading out the missing symbol data (step S60), the symbol displayed on the symbol display device 10 is determined (step S60). S6
2). If it is a reach symbol (YES), the process proceeds to step S64 to select a variation pattern and the like. Conversely, if the symbol is not a reach symbol (NO), normal fluctuation display is performed (step S70), and the process proceeds to step S74 to perform the process when all symbols are stopped. In the above processing procedure, the final collision determination is performed in the last step S76 in order to prepare for a case where the display of the symbol display device 10 and the value of the internal processing do not match due to noise or the like. Such inconsistencies include a case where a winning symbol is displayed on the symbol display device 10 despite the reading of random numbers, and a case where the winning symbol is read despite the reading of random numbers. May be displayed. In particular, if a winning symbol is displayed on the symbol display device 10 even if the random number is read and the symbol is displayed as it is, the player who expects the winning loses his or her willingness to play. Therefore, by prioritizing the symbols displayed on the symbol display device 10 to determine whether or not a jackpot is achieved, it is possible to maintain the player's willingness to play.

According to the second embodiment, the selection process of the variation pattern is notified to the player through the symbol display device 10 by step S64 (pattern selection means 14) in FIG. The player can see whether or not the change pattern of the symbol that changes thereafter is a change pattern that leads to a jackpot by looking at the notified change process and the selection result of the change pattern. In this way, the player can know in advance the game state that will change in the future, so that the player plays a game to obtain more prize balls.
Therefore, the player's willingness to play can be improved. In addition, since the player can know the change pattern of the jackpot in advance, the number of persons waiting for driving until a change in the change appears after the reach is reduced. Therefore, the operating rate can be improved for the game arcade.

Further, since the pattern notifying means 20 (step S64 in FIG. 10) notifies the fluctuation pattern almost simultaneously with the start of the fluctuation of the symbol, the period from the start to the stop of the fluctuation of the symbol can be shortened. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, in the first embodiment, the fluctuation pattern is notified after the reach, and in the second embodiment, the fluctuation pattern is notified before the reach. The period from the start of symbol fluctuation to the stop is
In the first embodiment, the period of (t2 + t4 + t6) is required, whereas in the second embodiment, the notification of the fluctuation pattern before reach and the pattern fluctuation can be performed simultaneously (t2 + t6).
This is because only the period is required. In this way, the player can know in advance that the game will be reached by the notification of the fluctuation pattern. Therefore, a sense of expectation can be further enhanced for the player, and a rich display can be performed in a short time.

[Other Embodiments] The structure, shape, size, material, number, arrangement, operating conditions, and the like of other parts in the above-described ball game machine are not limited to the above-described embodiment. . For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied may be implemented. (1) Although the present invention is applied to the pachinko machine 50, the present invention can be similarly applied to other ball game machines such as an arrangement ball. In addition, the process of selecting the variation pattern displayed on the symbol display device 10 is not limited to each of the formats shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, and may be displayed in another display mode. For example, a pattern (picture) that specifies a fluctuation pattern
May be displayed in a fluctuating manner, or the fluctuating pattern may be determined according to the rolled dice.

(2) The present invention has been described with reference to the case where three symbols (left symbol, middle symbol, right symbol) displayed on the symbol display device 10 are varied. However, the number of symbols is 1, 2, 4 or more. Even if it is, it can be applied similarly. Further, the notification time of the fluctuation pattern is not limited to the time of the start of the fluctuation or the time of the reach, and the notification to the player may be performed in a state where a predetermined number of symbols are stopped. For example, when changing four symbols,
Of these, the two symbols stopped may be in a state in which the symbols match the winning symbols.

[0031]

Other Embodiments The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. This embodiment has aspects of the invention other than the aspects of the invention described in the claims.
Embodiments of the present invention will be enumerated below, and related explanations will be provided as necessary.

[Mode 1] The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the pattern notifying means notifies the player of the change pattern almost simultaneously with the start of the change of the symbol. . [Relevant Description of Aspect 1] According to Aspect 1, since the pattern notifying unit notifies the player of the change pattern when the change of the symbol starts, the player can know in advance whether or not the reach is reached. Therefore, a sense of expectation can be further enhanced for the player, and a rich display can be performed in a short time.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the player can grasp in advance the game state that will change in the future, so that the player's willingness to play can be improved. Since the player's willingness to play is reduced due to the improvement of the willingness to play,
The operating rate can be improved for a game arcade.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit provided in the pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a pattern display process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a fluctuation pattern.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a selection process displayed on the symbol display device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing special profit processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another selection process displayed on the symbol display device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another selection process displayed on the symbol display device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a pattern display process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a reach symbol and a middle symbol.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a selection process displayed on the symbol display device.

FIG. 13 is a time chart showing a notification time of a fluctuation pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Symbol display apparatus 10a Display screen 10b Selection display part 10c Symbol display part 12 Selection process notification means 14 Pattern selection means 16 Storage means 16a, 16b, ..., 16n Variation pattern 18 Symbol variation display means 20 Pattern notification means 50 Pachinko machine 52 Board 54 Symbol opening 56 Type 3 starting opening 58 Solenoid for variable winning device 60 Variable winning device 62 Specific region 64 Special region sensor 66 Solenoid for specific region 68 Starting opening sensor 70 Working opening sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] When a symbol is fluctuated and displayed on a symbol display device, and thereafter the symbol stopped and displayed matches a predetermined symbol, in a ball game machine that provides a special benefit to a player, Storage means for storing a plurality of change patterns for changing and displaying symbols on the symbol display device; pattern selection means for selecting a symbol variation pattern; and informing the player of the variation pattern selected by the pattern selection means. Pattern notifying means, and a symbol variation display means for varying other symbols that are not stopped based on the variation pattern selected by the pattern selection means and displaying the variation on the symbol display device. Ball game machine to do. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a selection process notifying means for notifying a player of a change pattern selection process by said pattern selecting means.