JPH11216219A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine with a new interest in a game by improving design in a symbol display state. SOLUTION: Respective reels 3-5 are provided with the double constitutions of outer reels 3a-5a and inner reels 3b-5b. Then, the symbols of the inner reels 3b-5b appear through the 'blanks' of the outer reels 3a-5a or the symbols of the outer ones 3a-5a are superimposed on the symbols of the inner ones 3b-5b so that the symbols are changed. Thus, the kinds of the symbols are increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine in which a symbol display mode is devised.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two types of slot machines: a reel drive type in which a plurality of reels each of which various symbols are arranged on the outer periphery are actually rotated, and a reel in which a reel is rotated in a pseudo manner based on graphic data stored in a ROM. There is a video type which displays a moving image of a symbol on a CRT. In any type, when the moving display of the symbols is stopped, the presence or absence of the winning is displayed by the combination of the symbols stopped on the winning line.

[0003] In the above-described slot machine, a real stop signal is generated by a stop signal generated when a player operates a stop button or a stop signal automatically generated from a random timer built in the slot machine. The symbols are stopped and displayed on the winning line by stopping the rotation or stopping the rotation display of the pseudo reel. When a prize is obtained, a payout coin is paid out, and a bonus in a game such as a bonus game is given.

[0004]

However, in the conventional slot machine, when the rotation display of the reel is generally stopped by the stop signal, the symbol is specified on the winning line at that time, and the game becomes monotonous. There was a drawback that it was easy. Further, in the reel drive type, the types and number of symbols allocated to one reel cannot be increased so much, and it is very difficult to give variety to the taste of the game.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is unique to the rotation display of a reel itself or a pseudo reel displayed on a CRT or the symbol display at the time of reel stop. An object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine incorporating a new interest in a game by changing the taste.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a symbol array is composed of multiple layers, and when moving and displaying the symbol array, each of the overlapping symbol arrays has a different speed (including a different direction). ), And when the symbol rows are stopped, the overlapping symbol rows are superimposed on each other to form a symbol on the pay line.

[0007]

According to the moving display of the symbol row, since the multi-layered symbol row is moved and displayed at different speeds, the player can recognize that the symbol row is the multi-layered pattern. It is possible to give a new interest to the slot machine game that was a drawback. Further, when the moving display of the symbol arrays is stopped and the winning determination is performed, the symbols are changed by overlapping the multi-layered symbol arrays. It is possible to keep the player entertained until stopped.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a video type slot machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 5 showing the appearance of a video type slot machine using the present invention, a CRT 2 is fitted in the center of the slot machine main body, and this is used as a symbol display window. The CRT 2 has pseudo first reels 3 and 2 that are visualized based on graphic data.
A reel 4, a third reel 5, and three horizontal and two oblique pay lines 6 are displayed.

On the first to third reels 3 to 5, symbols (including blank symbols) are arranged in a vertical direction, whereby a symbol row is formed for each of the reels 3 to 5.
The CRT 2 displays nine symbols in total, three for each reel. The winning line 6 is for each reel 3-5
Is stopped, the line becomes a line for determining a combination of symbols, and the number of activated coins is determined by the number of coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 7 prior to the start of the game.

When one to five coins are inserted and the start button 8 is pressed, the reels 3 to 5 rotate simultaneously.
As shown in FIG. 1, each of the reels 3 to 5 includes an outer reel 3a, an inner reel 3b, an outer reel 4a, an inner reel 4b, an outer reel 5a, and an inner reel 5b. Outer reels 3a-5
a and the inner reels 3b to 5b include "blank (blank)", "star", "7", "1BAR", "2BA".
Symbols such as "R", "3BAR", and "Cherry" are arranged. When the start button 8 is pressed, the outer reels 3a to 5a are moved and displayed from top to bottom,
The inner reels 3b to 5b are displayed moving upward from below.
In performing such a moving display, the outer reel 3
Graphic data for displaying a to 5a and graphic data for displaying the inner reels 3b to 5b may be combined, and the CRT 2 may be driven based on the combined data.

The stop buttons 9a to 9c are first to third
The reels 3 to 5 are provided corresponding to the reels 3 to 5. By pressing the reels 3 to 5, the movement display of the reels 3 to 5 can be stopped. The stop display of each of the reels 3 to 5 is performed when the stop buttons 9a to 9c are pressed.
Are stopped, and after a lapse of a random time, the inner reels 3b to 5b are sequentially stopped and displayed. When the inner reels 3b to 5b stop, as shown on the right side of FIG. 1, the symbols of the outer reels 3a to 5a and the symbols of the inner reels 3b to 5b are synthesized and stopped and displayed on each pay line. You.

In this manner, all reels 3 to 5 are stopped and displayed, and when the combination of the symbols located on the activated pay line 6 corresponds to the winning, the number of payouts corresponding to the winning combination is obtained. One coin is paid out to the tray 10 and one game ends. In the illustrated example, “3BAR” − “3BAR” − “3BA” on the winning line 6a.
R "," Cherry "-" Cherry "on the winning line 6b
-"-", "Cherry"-"-"-on the winning line 6c
The winning combination of “-” has been obtained, and the number of inserted coins is 5
If the number is one, all of them become effective prizes, and the payout coins of the total number of payout coins for each winning combination are paid out.

Each processing such as the movement and stop display of the reels 3 to 5 of the slot machine, the winning determination, the payout of payout coins and the like is controlled by a microcomputer, and FIG. 2 schematically shows the functional blocks thereof. I have.

In FIG. 2, a microprocessor unit (MPU) 18 executes each of the above-described processes according to a sequence program stored in a program ROM 19. In order to graphically display the first to third reels 3 to 5 on the CRT 2, the first to third reels
Symbol data memories 21 to 23 are provided. The symbol data memories 21 to 23 store outer reel symbol data R for displaying symbols for outer reels, respectively.
OMs 21a to 23a and inner reel symbol data ROMs 21b to 23b for displaying inner reel symbols
In these, graphic data for symbol display are stored in the address order corresponding to the symbol arrangement order of each reel.

Outer reel symbol data ROM 21a-2
3a, the symbol data read from the inner reel symbol data ROMs 21b to 23b are supplied to symbol data synthesizing units 25 to 27 provided for each reel. These symbol data synthesizing units 25 to 27 are stored in the ROM 21a.
23a and the symbol data from the ROMs 21b to 23b are synthesized for each reel, and the synthesized symbol data is
To supply. The video signal processing unit 28 receives the combined symbol data supplied from the MPU 18, and based on the combined symbol data, moves and stops and displays the symbols on the CRT 2 for each reel.

The coin sensor 30 inputs data of the number of coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 7 to the MPU 18,
The MPU 18 determines the number of activated pay lines 6 based on the number data. The winning line 6
Those activated are displayed on CRT2.

The start signal generator 31 inputs a start signal to the MPU 18 when the start button 8 is pressed, whereby the MPU 18 starts moving and displaying the reels 3-5. When the stop buttons 9a to 9c are pressed, an outer reel stop signal is supplied from the stop signal generator 32 to the MPU 18 for each reel, and the outer reels 3a to 3c
The moving display of 5a is stopped. The random timer 33 is
After the outer reel stop signals for all the reels are generated from the stop signal generator 32, three random reel stop signals are sequentially output to the MPU 18 after a lapse of random time.

After the movement display of the reels 3 to 5 is stopped, the winning determination unit 34 determines whether or not the combination of symbols stopped and displayed on the activated pay line corresponds to a winning. Since the type of the symbols stopped on the pay line can be identified by the MPU 18 based on the address data in the symbol data ROM, the combination of the symbols can be specified by the combination of the address data. The coin payout device 35 is activated by a command from the MPU 18 when a winning is determined as a result of the winning determination, and pays out a payout coin in a number corresponding to the winning combination and stops.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the slot machine.
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

For example, when five coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot 7, it is displayed on the CRT 2 that all five pay lines 6 are activated. When the start button 8 is pressed, the MPU 18 stores the outer reel symbol data ROM 21
a to 23a, inner reel symbol data ROMs 21b to 2
An address scan signal for sequentially scanning the start address of each symbol is supplied to 3b. At this time, the address scan for the outer reel symbol data ROMs 21a to 23a and the inner reel symbol data RO
The direction of the address scan of M21b to M21b is reversed. Therefore, on the CRT 2, the outer reels 3a to 3a
The symbol 5a is displayed so that the symbol moves downward from the top, and the inner reels 3b to 5b are displayed such that the symbol moves upward from the bottom. As a result, the player can observe the reels 3 to 5 as dual inner and outer reels and rotate them in the opposite direction, giving a novel game feeling.

If the moving display direction of the inner reels 3b to 5b is the same as the moving display direction of the outer reels 3a to 5a, the moving display speed of the two reels may be different. A similar interest can be obtained.

Stop buttons 9a to 9
9c is pressed, the outer reel symbol data RO is output by the reel stop signal from the stop signal generator 32.
The address scan for M21a to 23a stops,
Only the address data at the time when the outer reel stop signal is input is stored in the outer reel symbol data ROMs 21a-23.
It remains input to a. Therefore, the outer reel 3a
The moving display of the symbols is stopped for .about.5a, and the symbols of the outer reels 3a to 5a are stopped and displayed on the winning line.

In the conventional slot machine, the combination of symbols on the pay line is determined at this point. However, in this slot machine, the inner reel symbol data R
Since the address scan signal is continuously supplied from the MPU 18 to the OMs 21b to 23b, the inner reel 3b
The moving display of 5b is continued.

After all the movements of the outer reels 3a to 5a have been completed, the random timer 33 operates to sequentially input three inner reel stop signals to the MPU 18. As a result, the address scan of the inner reel symbol data ROMs 21b to 23b is also stopped, and the inner reels 3b to 5b are also
2 is stopped and displayed. As shown in FIG.
When all of the symbols 5 are stopped and displayed, the symbols of the outer reels 3a to 5a and the symbols of the inner reels 3b to 5b are displayed on the CRT 2 in a state of being overlapped. In the state where only the outer reels 3a to 5a are stopped, only the winning of "Cherry"-"-"-"-" is obtained on the winning line 6b, whereas the inner reels 3b to 5b are stopped. In this state, a prize can be obtained on the three pay lines 6a, 6b and 6c. In particular, on the winning line 6a, the combination of symbols using only the outer reels 3a to 5a is "1BA
R "-" 3BAR "-" 1BAR ", while the inner reels 3b-5b stop," 3BAR "-
A big hit prize of "3BAR"-"3BAR" will be obtained.

Although the inner reel stop signal for stopping the moving display of the inner reels 3b to 5b is obtained from the random timer 33, after the outer reels 3a to 5a are stopped, the stop buttons 9a to 9c are further provided. It is also possible to generate an inner reel stop signal when is pressed. Further, the stop buttons 9a to 9c may be omitted, and the moving display of the outer reels 3a to 5a may be of an auto-stop type in which a stop signal from the random timer 33 stops.

Thereafter, based on the symbol data read address data supplied from the MPU 18 to the outer reel symbol data ROMs 21a to 23a and the inner reel symbol data ROMs 21b to 23b, a prize determination is made by the prize determining unit 34. And in this case, the winning line 6
Payout coins corresponding to each of the winnings obtained at a, 6b and 6c are paid out by the coin payout device 35,
One game is over.

As described above, if each of the reels 3 to 5 has a double structure of the outer reels 3a to 5a and the inner reels 3b to 5b, the symbols of the inner reel appear through the "blank" of the outer reel. Further, by superimposing the symbols of the outer reel and the symbols of the inner reel, the types of the symbols are changed, and as a result, the types of the symbols can be increased. And, for example, FIG.
As shown in the upper row of the second reel 4, when the composite symbol of the "star" symbol and the "7" symbol are aligned on the pay line, a jackpot is given to the slot machine so far. There is no new interest that can be introduced.

The symbols are arranged only on one of the outer reels 3a to 5a or the inner reels 3b to 5b, and the other reels are given a background color. A combination of
Furthermore, various winning ranks can be determined by a combination of the background color and the symbol.

FIG. 4 shows an example of symbol display when the present invention is applied to a slot machine for a poker game. That is, the pseudo reel 4 displayed on the CRT 2
0 to 44 as in the above-described embodiment.
a to 44a and inner reels 40b to 44b. On the outer reels 40a to 44a, symbols representing the types of "heart", "diamond", "clover", and "spade" of playing cards are displayed. 40b-44
The symbol "number" is displayed on b.
Then, all the symbols displayed on the reels 40 to 44 are the symbols of the outer reels 40 a to 44 a and the inner reel 4.
It is composed of a combination of symbols 0b to 44b.

In a conventional slot machine for a poker game, the number of cards that can be arranged on one reel is limited in a reel-driven type, and graphic data is prepared in a memory for all types of cards even in a video time type. However, according to the present embodiment, all of the playing cards can be easily displayed on the CRT 2, which makes it more practical. You will be able to play a near poker game.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the moving display of the outer reel may be stopped after the moving display of the inner reel is stopped first. Further, in the case of a video type slot machine, the direction of the moving display of the inner reel can be set to a direction orthogonal to the direction of the moving display of the outer reel. Further, each of the first to third reels may not only have a double configuration of an outer reel and an inner reel but also have a triple configuration. Furthermore, the present invention can also be used for a reel driven type slot machine, in which case the outer reel is made transparent, symbols and blanks are arranged, and the symbols on the inner reel can be observed through the outer reel. It is good.

[0033]

As described above, according to the slot machine of the present invention, the symbol row has a multilayer structure, and the overlapping symbol rows are moved and displayed at different speeds.
The player can be given a new game feeling even before the symbol row is moved. Also, when the moving display of the symbol columns is stopped, the symbols may change in the process of sequentially stopping the multi-layered symbol columns. The interest in the game is maintained, and the monotony of the conventional slot machine can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a symbol sequence of a slot machine using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a configuration of the slot machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the slot machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of a symbol sequence.

FIG. 5 is an external front view of the slot machine using the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is a CRT, 3 to 5 are first to third reels, 3a to 5a are outer reels, 3b to 5b are inner reels, 6 is a winning line, 2
1 to 23 are first to third symbol data memories.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 28, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Title of the Invention] game machine

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine,
A variable display device that can move and display multiple symbol columns
The display result of the variable display device is specified in advance.
Game that is advantageous to the player when the display mode becomes
The present invention relates to a gaming machine which can be controlled in a state .

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine such as a slot machine is provided with a game machine.
In addition, a variable display device capable of moving and displaying a plurality of symbol arrays includes a reel drive type that actually rotates a plurality of reels in which various symbols are arranged on an outer periphery, and a variable drive device based on graphic data stored in a ROM. There is a video type that displays the rotation of a reel on a CRT in a simulated manner and displays the movement of a symbol. In any type, when the moving display of the symbols is stopped, the presence or absence of the winning is displayed by a combination of the symbols stopped on the winning line.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In a gaming machine including a variable display device as described above, a stop signal generated when a player operates a stop button or a random timer built in the gaming machine automatically generates a stop signal. The rotation of the actual reel is stopped or the rotation of the pseudo reel is stopped in response to the stop signal, and the symbols are stopped and displayed on the pay line. When a prize is obtained, a payout coin is paid out, and a bonus in a game such as a bonus game is given.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, the conventional
Generally, in the gaming machine , when the rotation display of the reels is stopped by the stop signal, the symbols are specified on the pay line at that time, and the game tends to be monotonous. In the variable display device of the reel drive type, the types and the number of symbols assigned to one reel cannot be increased so much, and it is very difficult to give a variety of tastes to a game in a gaming machine. It was difficult.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is unique to the rotation display of a reel itself or a pseudo reel displayed on a CRT or the symbol display at the time of reel stop. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine incorporating a new interest in a game by changing the taste.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

The present invention according to claim 1 is provided.
In order to achieve the above objective ,
Including a variable display device capable of moving display, the variable display device
When the display result is a predetermined specific display mode
Game that can be controlled to a game state that is advantageous to the player
Wherein the moving display of the symbol columns overlaps each other.
Moving multiple symbol sequences at different speeds
It is characterized by being displayed.
The present invention described in claim 2 achieves the above object.
Variable display device that can move and display multiple symbol arrays.
The display result of the variable display device is specified in advance.
Game that is advantageous to the player when the display mode becomes
A gaming machine that can be controlled in a state,
In the moving display, a plurality of symbol rows that overlap each other are displayed.
By moving and displaying in different directions
It is characterized by being performed.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0007]

SUMMARY OF] According to the present invention described in claim 1, moving display of the symbol sequence, since the motion display at different speeds plurality of symbol columns overlap each other, it player that overlapping symbol sequence Can be distinguished, and a game in a gaming machine , which has conventionally been disadvantageous in monotony, can be given a new interest. Further, the display result of the moving display of the symbol row is determined by a predetermined specific display mode.
Move at different speeds when determining if
Since the symbols are changed by the superimposition of the displayed symbol rows, it is possible to keep the player entertained until the moving and displayed symbol rows stop. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a symbol sequence
In the moving display of, multiple symbol rows overlapping each other are displayed.
The player moves to a different direction, so the player
Columns can be identified as overlapping, and
In the past, new games have been introduced for gaming machines, where monotony was a drawback
We can give interesting interest. In addition, the symbol column
The display result of the moving display is a predetermined specific display mode.
Move in different directions when it is determined
The displayed symbol row is superimposed on the
Because the symbol changes, each symbol that is moved and displayed
Keeping the player entertained until the bol row stops
it can.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0033]

As described above, according to claim 1 of the present invention.
According to the mounting of the invention, since symbol sequence each other an overlapping is moved and displayed at each different speeds, the player can give a new game feeling not ever even during the movement of the symbol columns. Also, when the moving display of the symbol columns is stopped, the symbols may change in the process of sequentially stopping the overlapping symbol columns, so that the game may be stopped until all the symbol columns are stopped. The amusement is maintained, and the monotony of the conventional gaming machine can be greatly improved. Further, claim 2 of the present invention
According to the invention described in (1), each of the overlapping symbol strings is
The player is moved to a different direction
A new game feeling that has never existed while moving
Can be given. Also, the moving display of the symbol column is stopped.
When stopped, overlapping symbol strings are
Symbols may change in the process of stopping
From the start of the game until all symbol columns stop
Attraction has been maintained, and the monotony of conventional gaming machines
Can be greatly improved.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Figure 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a slot machine using the present invention.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the slot machine using the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine for sequentially moving and displaying a plurality of symbol columns in a symbol display window and displaying the presence or absence of a prize by a combination of symbols stopped on a prize line when the moving display of the symbol columns is stopped. The symbol row is composed of a plurality of symbol rows overlapping each other, and the plurality of symbol rows are moved and displayed at different speeds, and when the moving display is stopped, the overlapping symbol rows are formed on a winning line by mutual overlapping. A slot machine characterized by the following symbols.