JPH11313942A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine that can realize display modes not restricted by the partitions of individual pattern display areas. SOLUTION: Variation control is made so that the number of prize lines realizing a combination of jackpot patterns may be varied by realizing more than one prize line by scrolling patterns (carrot) B displayed in a small size or realizing a single prize line by scrolling a pattern (doll) (A) displayed in a large size. The pattern (doll) displayed in a large size is not always restrained by the vertical with of individual display lines 24a to 24c, and displayed dynamically entirely on a liquid display device 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a gaming machine, for example, a pachinko gaming machine, when a symbol combination displayed when the symbol display device stops changing becomes a predetermined jackpot symbol combination, a big hit gaming state is set. Many proposals have been made to open the variable winning device for a predetermined period a plurality of times so that a large number of prize balls can be obtained in a short time. In the symbol display device of such a pachinko gaming machine, the number of hit lines in which the big hit symbols in the big hit game state are arranged in advance.

[0003]

However, the symbols constituting the above-mentioned big hit symbols are completed symbols which are completed for each symbol display area. Is determined, so that there is a disadvantage that the change is poor and the player is easily bored. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of realizing a display mode that is not restricted by a break in each symbol display area.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a symbol display device having a plurality of symbol display areas, and displaying symbols in each symbol display area after variably displaying the symbols. In the gaming machine, in the symbols, partial symbols for forming a completed symbol extending over a plurality of symbol display regions are respectively included corresponding to the symbol display regions, and the completed symbol is displayed at the time of the final display. When a symbol is displayed, a game state advantageous to the player is generated. In this case, it is preferable that the completed symbol is a character symbol. Further, in any of the above cases, it is preferable that the respective symbol display areas are vertically arranged side by side.

[0005]

In the present invention, although a plurality of symbol display areas are provided and symbols are displayed in each symbol display area, a large completed symbol can be displayed in a wide portion including each symbol display area. It is possible to dynamically and beautifully display a symbol as compared with a case where a completed symbol is displayed for each symbol display area. Further, it is possible to make the player fully enjoy a new interest such as whether or not the combination of the partial symbols is completed, which is completely different from the combination of the same symbols in the related art. Further, when the completed symbol is constituted by a character symbol, the completed symbol is easy to understand, and the player is not confused as to what is to be the completed symbol. Further, when the respective symbol display areas are vertically arranged side by side, the display area can be effectively used when a vertically long character such as a person or the like is used as a completed symbol.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of a game board 1 of a pachinko machine as an example of a game machine to which the symbol display device 20 according to the embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is a front view of the game board 1. FIG. In the figure, a game area 3 partitioned by a guide rail 2 provided in a substantially circular shape is formed on the front surface of the game board 1. A symbol display device 20 is disposed substantially at the center of the game area 3.

The symbol display device 20 includes a liquid crystal display 23 for changing and displaying symbols, and starting winning ports 4, 6a, which will be described later.
A plurality (four) of start-up storage LEDs 26 for notifying that the number of winning balls which have won the prize 6b have been stored face each other. It should be noted that the start storage LED 26 is stored and held when a hit ball wins the start winning opening 4, 6a, 6b during the fluctuation display of the liquid crystal display 23 or during the big hit game state, and the start storage is performed for the held number. LED26
Is turned on, and is turned off one by one every time the liquid crystal display 23 starts to change. However, the number of storage is up to 4
The start winning prize of more than one is invalidated.
The symbol display device 20 will be described later in detail.

The variable winning device 8 is arranged below the symbol display device 20. The variable winning device 8 has an opening and closing plate 9 (also referred to as an attacker) that opens and closes forward and backward, and the opening and closing plate 9 is driven to be opened and closed by an attacker solenoid 10. In addition, the variable winning device 8 wins a winning ball number detection switch 12 for counting which detects a winning ball received with the opening / closing plate 9 opened and a V winning opening formed in the center of the opening / closing plate 9. A V winning ball detection switch 11 for detecting a winning ball is provided. The variable prize winning device 8 configured as described above receives a predetermined number of (for example, 10) prizes until the opening / closing plate 9 elapses for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) when a jackpot game state described below is entered. The attacker solenoid 10 is driven and opened until a ball is generated, and such an open state (this is referred to as an open cycle) is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times; Is called a continuation number). Thus, the winning ball detection switch 12 is used to count the number of winning balls accepted during one opening of the open / close plate 9, and the V winning ball detection switch 11 is opened when the open / close plate 9 is repeatedly opened. Is used to detect the condition of

In the game area 3, a symbol display device 20 is provided.
The starting winning opening 4 is provided between the starting winning opening 4 and the variable winning device 8. The start winning opening 4 allows the symbol display device 20 to perform a variable display. For this reason, the starting winning opening 4 has a built-in start winning ball detection switch 5 for detecting a winning of a hit ball. In addition, starting winning ports 6a and 6b having the same function as the starting winning port 4 are provided on the left and right sides of the variable winning device 8. The start winning ports 6a and 6b also have start winning ball detection switches 7a and 7b for detecting winning of a hit ball.

Further, in the game area 3, a symbol display device 20 is provided.
Winning openings 13a to 13d incorporating operation lamps 14a to 14d are arranged on the upper, lower, left and right sides of the game machine. These operation lamps 14a to 14d are turned on or off in accordance with various game states. On both the left and right sides of the game area 3, big hit lamps 15a and 15b, which are a kind of operation lamp and blink when a big hit game state is entered, and notify the player of the blinking are arranged. In addition, the game area 3
At the lowermost part of the game, there is also provided an out opening 16 for collecting hit balls that do not win the above winning opening and the like. Further, the game area 3 is provided with a large number of obstacle nails and a plurality of windmills (both have no sign) for changing the direction and speed of the falling ball.

Next, the configuration of the symbol display device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a front view of the symbol display device 20, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing symbols displayed in a scrolling manner on the liquid crystal display device 23 in the display order. FIG. 4 shows the liquid crystal display device 2 in a case where the big hit symbols may be aligned with different numbers of hit lines.
It is a front view of No. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the symbol display device 2
0 has a mounting board 21 mounted on the surface of the game board 1, and the mounting board 21 has a substantially rectangular display window 22.
Is opened, and a liquid crystal display 23 faces the display window 22. Then, on the liquid crystal display 23, three scroll display columns 24a to 24c that scroll horizontally from left to right are displayed.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the scroll display columns 24a to 24c is apparently divided into 22 sections, and in most parts, one complete pattern (heart mark, carrot, grape, apple, loquat, cherry) is included in one section. ) Is displayed, but one part design (a doll showing a girl, a rabbit) is displayed using three sections. The range displayed from the display window 22 corresponds to three sections of the scroll rows 24a to 24c.

Thus, the scroll change display columns 24a to 24a
When all the symbols displayed on the display window 22 at the time of the stoppage of the change of 24c are complete symbols, as shown in FIG. 4B, three vertical hit lines 1 to 3 and a diagonal line 2
A total of five hit lines of book hit lines 4 and 5 will be generated, and if the same big hit pattern (carrot, grape, apple, loquat, cherry) is arranged on any of the five hit lines, the big hit It becomes a game state. Further, when the symbols displayed on the display window 22 at the time of the stop of the fluctuation are only partial symbols, one symbol is completed as a whole as shown in FIG. Only occurs. When one symbol is completed by the partial symbol, a big hit game state is set. Note that each of the scroll change display columns 24a to 24c
Starts to fluctuate simultaneously based on the start winning signal,
The stop order is as follows. First, the upper scroll display row 24a stops, then the lower scroll display row 24c stops, and finally, the center scroll display row 24b stops.
When the big hit symbols are aligned on any one of the hit lines at the time when the upper and lower scroll display rows 24a and 24c are stopped, a reach state is established, and the fluctuation time of the central scroll display row 24b that stops last is long. And the fluctuation speed is also slowly changed. The symbol display device 2
No. 0 mounting board 21 has a decorative LED above it.
25, and a start storage LED 26 having the above-described function is provided below the reference numeral 25. Start memory LED 26
May be displayed on the liquid crystal display 23. In addition, in the big hit game state, the number of times the opening and closing plate 9 of the variable winning device 8 is opened (also referred to as a continuation number) and the number of winnings during one opening are displayed on the liquid crystal display 23.

The configuration of a game control circuit for controlling the operation of the symbol display device 20 and the opening and closing plate 9 of the variable winning device 8 described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the game control circuit. The game control circuit includes a microcomputer 30
Is used. An external ROM 31 and an external RAM 32 are connected to the microcomputer 30. The symbol data is set in the external ROM 31.

The external RAM 32 has a large hit loss counter 33, a big hit pattern counter 34, a reach pattern counter 35, a loss pattern counter 36, and a fixed memory for storing a value extracted from each of the counters 33 to 36. 37 are formed. Each determination memory 37 corresponding to the big hit loss counter 33 has a memory of the number of reserved balls of the starting winning ports 4, 6a, 6b + 1, and the numerical value for determining the winning of each reserved ball is determined at the time of the starting winning. The determined values are stored in the corresponding determination memory 37. The big hit pattern counter 34 is a counter provided for every big hit pattern indicating which big hit symbol is arranged on which hit line. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
A big hit pattern is set corresponding to the counter values from 0 to 29. Similarly, the reach pattern counter 35 is a counter corresponding to all types of reach patterns (not shown), and the deviation pattern counter 36 is a counter corresponding to all types of deviation patterns (not shown). The values of the pattern counters 34 to 36 are determined at the start of the change corresponding to the winning start.

On the other hand, starting winning ball detection switches 5, 7a, 7 for detecting winning balls in the starting winning ports 4, 6a, 6b.
b, a V winning ball detection switch 11 for detecting a winning ball passing through a V winning opening, and a winning ball number detecting switch 12 for detecting a winning ball on the opening / closing plate 9 are connected to the microcomputer 30 via a waveform shaping circuit 38. Have been. Also,
The clock generation circuit 40 outputs an external interrupt signal to the INT terminal of the microcomputer 30 via the frequency divider 39. Then, the microcomputer 30 executes a main program (not shown) in synchronization with the external interrupt signal. The RST of the microcomputer 30
A timing signal output from the timing signal generation circuit 41 is input to one terminal, and a numerical value generation program (not shown) is started in synchronization with the timing signal.
A reset signal output from the reset signal generation circuit 42 due to the ON operation of the power supply circuit 43 is input to the RST2 terminal of the microcomputer 30, and an initial program (not shown) is started by the reset signal.

An LED drive circuit 44, an LCD drive circuit 45, and a driver 46 are connected to each output port of the microcomputer 30. The LED drive circuit 44 includes:
The start storage LED 26 is connected, and the liquid crystal display 23 (displayed as LCD) is connected to the LCD drive circuit 45. Further, the driver 46 includes the microcomputer 30
The drive control of the attacker solenoid 10 and the operation lamps 14a to 14d, 15a, 15b is performed in accordance with the signal from the controller. Note that a microcomputer dedicated to the LCD may be provided between the microcomputer 30 and the LCD drive circuit 45, and the LCD 23 may be controlled by the microcomputer.

Next, among the operations controlled by the above-mentioned game control circuit, the operation in the start winning prize will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In step 10, a ball is hit at one of the start winning prize ports 4, 6a, 6b. It is determined whether or not the start winning prize ball detection switches 5, 7a and 7b are turned on to derive a starting winning signal. If there is no starting winning signal, the subroutine is terminated. If there is a signal, it is determined in step 20 whether or not the value of the starting winning counter C is smaller than four. Start winning prize counter C
Is greater than 4, the start-up prize is already stored, so the subroutine is terminated without performing the following processing. At step 30, the value of the start winning counter C is updated, and then at step 40 the big hit loss counter 33
Is stored in the corresponding determination memory M (c).
In addition, the big hit deviation counter 33 is, for example, 0 to 234.
Is changed every moment, and when the value extracted at the time of the start winning prize is, for example, “0”, it is determined that a hit has occurred,
When it is "1 to 20", it is determined to be reach (however, finally it is out), and when it is any other value, it is determined to be out. When a predetermined condition in a game (for example, a condition that an odd-numbered big hit game state has ended) is established and the appearance probability of the big hit is set to a high probability, a big hit loss counter is set. 33
May be changed so as to reduce the upper limit value of.

Next, the variable display operation of the liquid crystal display 23 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a liquid crystal display 23.
It is a flowchart which shows the fluctuation | variation display operation | movement. First, in the big hit gaming state, the liquid crystal display 23 displays a symbol that has become a normal big hit, the number of continuations, and the number of winnings. If it is determined in step 100 that the big hit flag is set, the following will be performed. Is not executed.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the big hit flag is not set, the state of the liquid crystal display 23 is determined in steps 110 to 140. More specifically, in step 110, all the scroll display columns 24a to 24c of the liquid crystal display 23 are in a state of change (state flag F
= 1), and in step 120, it is determined whether or not only the upper scroll display row 24a is in a state where the change is stopped (state flag F = 2).
At 0, it is determined whether or not the lower scroll display column 24c is in a state where the change is stopped (state flag F = 3). At step 140, the combination of symbols displayed on any one of the hit lines is set to the reach state (state flag). It is determined whether or not F = 4).

When none of the above-mentioned states is present (when the state is not fluctuating), the state flag F is 0. At this time, the winning of the hit ball to the starting winning opening 4, 6a, 6b is stored in step 150. It is determined whether or not the value of the start winning counter C is 1 or more. If the starting winning counter C has no stored value, the process ends without executing the following processing of the variable display subroutine.

When the value of the start winning counter C is 1 or more, the timers t1, t2, and t3 are set in step 160, and in step 170, all the scroll display columns 24 are set.
The fluctuation of a to 24c is started, the value of the state flag F is set to "1", and the value of the start winning counter C is set to 1
It is subtracted one by one. Next, at step 180, the value of the big hit loss determination memory M (c) is updated to a lower memory, and it is determined at step 190 whether the value of M (0) in the updated fixed memory is a big hit. You. If the value of M (0) is determined to be a big hit, step 20
If the value is 0, one value is extracted from the jackpot pattern counter 34 at that time and stored in the corresponding decision memory.
At 0, it is determined whether or not the value of M (0) is reach. If it is reach, at step 220, one value is extracted from the reach pattern counter 35 and stored in the corresponding fixed memory. , Step 23
When the value is 0, one value is extracted from the departure pattern counter 36 and stored in the corresponding determination memory.

Incidentally, the timers t1, t2, t
Numeral 3 regulates the fluctuation time of the upper scroll display row 24a, the lower scroll display row 24c, and the middle scroll display row 24b, and has a relationship of t1 <t2 <t3; t2-t1 ≒ t3-t2. Then, it is determined in step 240 that the timer t1 has expired. If the timer has not expired, step 240 → variation display subroutine end → variation display subroutine start-step 110 → step 240 →... repeat.

When it is determined that the timer t1 has timed out, the variable display of the upper scroll display row 24a is stopped in step 250 along the selected pattern and the value of the status flag F is set to "2". Is set. Similarly, in step 260, it is determined whether or not the time of the timer t2 has expired. If it is determined that the time has expired, the variable display of the lower scroll display column 24c is stopped in step 270 along the selected pattern. And the value of the status flag F is set to "3". When the variable display of the scroll display columns 24a and 24c except for the center is stopped, at step 280, M
It is determined whether the value of (0) is a big hit or a reach, that is, whether or not a reach display is made.

If it is not the reach display, step 29
It is determined whether or not the timer t3 has timed out at 0,
Until the timer t3 times out, step 290 → end of the variable display subroutine → start of the variable display subroutine
Step 130 → Step 280 → Step 290 →
.. are repeated, and when the time is up, go to step 330.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the display is reach display, it is determined in step 300 whether or not the value of the status flag F is "4".
To set a new timer t4 and set the value of the status flag F to "4". Here, the timer t4 is used to extend the fluctuation time of the middle scroll display row 24b that stops changing at the end in the reach state, and that t4> (t
3-t2). Thus, it is determined in step 320 whether or not the timer t4 has timed out.
20 → end of the fluctuation display subroutine → start of the fluctuation display subroutine-step 140 → step 320 → ..., and when the time is up, proceed to step 330.

When the timer t3 in the non-reach display is timed out, the timer t4 in the reach display is displayed.
When the time is up, the variable display of the middle scroll display row 24b is stopped along the selected pattern in step 330, and thereafter, in step 340, it is determined whether or not the combination of the big hit symbols, and it is determined that the combination is not a big hit. If so, the status flag is reset in step 350, while if it is determined that a big hit has occurred, the status flag is reset and the big hit flag is set in step 360, and then the variable display subroutine ends. . When the big hit flag is set in step 360, the opening mode of the opening / closing plate 9 of the variable winning device 8 is executed a predetermined number of times until a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined number of winning balls are generated. When the opening mode of the opening / closing plate 9 is completed a predetermined number of times, the big hit flag is reset.

The configuration and operation of the pachinko machine equipped with the symbol display device 20 according to the embodiment have been described above. According to this embodiment, a plurality of hit lines are established by scrolling a small displayed symbol. Or a scroll pattern of a large displayed symbol is scrolled to form a single winning line, and the variation control is performed so that the number of winning lines for which the combination of the big hit symbols is established is changed. The player's attention can be directed to the display of the symbol in, and the interest of the player can be enhanced.

In the above-described embodiment, the electric symbol display device constituted by the liquid crystal display 23 has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the liquid crystal display 23. It may be an electric symbol display device including a matrix LED or the like. The scroll format in the display area may be not only the horizontal direction but also the vertical direction or the like. Also, the display columns of the symbols to be displayed are not limited to three columns and three columns, and may be more than three columns. Furthermore, the hit lines formed by those symbols are not necessarily limited to linear ones, and may be polygonal hit lines or diagonal hit lines. A parallel hit line may be used. The game content of the pachinko machine is not limited to a so-called digital game, but may be a hikoki game or a right generation game. Further, the gaming machine may be applied to slot machines, TV games, and the like, in addition to the pachinko machines, including the above-described modifications.

[0029]

As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, each symbol display area is provided even though a plurality of symbol display areas are provided and symbols are displayed in each symbol display area. A large completed symbol can be displayed in a wide portion including the area, and the symbol can be displayed more dynamically and more beautifully than when displaying the completed symbol for each symbol display area. Further, it is possible to make the player fully enjoy a new interest such as whether or not the combination of the partial symbols is completed, which is completely different from the combination of the same symbols in the related art. Further, when the completed symbol is constituted by a character symbol, the completed symbol is easy to understand, and the player is not confused as to what is to be the completed symbol. Further, when the respective symbol display areas are vertically arranged side by side, the display area can be effectively used when a vertically long character such as a person or the like is used as a completed symbol.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine to which a symbol display device according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the symbol display device.

FIG. 3 is a view showing symbols scroll-displayed on a liquid crystal display of the symbol display device in the order in which the symbols are displayed.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the liquid crystal display in a case where large hit symbols may be aligned with different numbers of hit lines.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a game control circuit for controlling a game operation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of starting winning.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a variable display operation.

FIG. 8 is a table showing a relationship between a value of a big hit pattern counter and a state of a big hit design.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gaming board 4 Starting winning opening 6a, 6b Starting winning opening 8 Variable winning device 9 Opening / closing plate 20 Symbol display device 22 Display window 23 Liquid crystal display 24a Upper scroll display row 24b Middle scroll display row 24c Lower scroll display row 30 Microcomputer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine having a symbol display device comprising a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein symbols are variably displayed in each symbol display area, and then the symbols are displayed in a fixed manner. Partial symbols for forming a completed symbol that spans are included in correspondence with the respective symbol display areas, and when the completed symbol is displayed during the final display,
A gaming machine characterized by generating a gaming state advantageous to a player. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the completed symbol is a character symbol. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the symbol display areas are arranged vertically.