WO2019064389A1

WO2019064389A1 - Game device and game method

Info

Publication number: WO2019064389A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/035037
Authority: WO
Inventors: 鈴木　博和; 加藤　誠司
Original assignee: セガサミークリエイション株式会社
Priority date: 2017-09-27
Filing date: 2017-09-27
Publication date: 2019-04-04

Abstract

This game device is provided with a control unit and a storage unit. The control unit executes a software program stored in the storage unit to function as: a first random selection unit which randomly selects symbols to be stopped and displayed in a plurality of display areas; a changing unit which changes the symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas; a stopping unit which stops and displays the symbols being changed by the changing unit; and a division unit which divides some of the plurality of stopped and displayed symbols, under prescribed conditions, if the stopping unit stops and displays a prescribed symbol.

Description

Game apparatus and game method

The present invention relates to a game device and a game method.

In recent years, many game devices capable of playing slot games using a computer have been developed. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a display block is added to the symbol display area to form a matrix of M columns and N + α rows, and the number of added lines α is multiplied by a predetermined number to symbolize effective lines. A slot machine is disclosed which additionally sets a display area and gives a line payout when there is a predetermined number or more of symbols of the same type in all the valid lines including the added valid line.

JP, 2017-063881, A

However, this slot machine gives the player unexpectedness because it is possible for the player to predict that the α line is added to the symbol display area and the valid line is additionally set when the predetermined condition is satisfied. In some cases, it can not attract many players, and can not generate much revenue.

Therefore, the present invention is to provide a technology relating to a game that can give a player unexpectedness, attract a large number of players, and generate a large amount of revenue.

A game apparatus according to the present invention is a game apparatus including a control unit and a storage unit, and the control unit causes a plurality of display areas to be stopped and displayed by executing a software program stored in the storage unit. A first lottery section for drawing symbols, a varying section for variably displaying the symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas, a stopping section for halting and displaying the symbols variably displayed by the varying section, and the predetermined stopping section When the symbols are stopped and displayed, they function as a division unit that divides and displays some symbols of the plurality of symbols stopped and displayed under a predetermined condition.

The game method according to the present invention comprises a first drawing step of drawing symbols to be stopped and displayed in a plurality of display areas, a fluctuation step in which the symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas are fluctuated, and fluctuation display in the fluctuation step. When a predetermined symbol is stopped and displayed by the lottery in the first lottery step and the stopping step in which the symbol being displayed is stopped and displayed, a part of the symbols among the plurality of symbols stopped and displayed is divided under the predetermined condition And b.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a game-related technology that can give players unexpectedness, attract many players, and generate a large amount of revenue.

It is an outline view of a game device concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the main hardware constitutions of the game device concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the main functional composition of the game device concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the symbol displayed on the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and those arrangement | sequences. It is a figure which shows the example of the symbol displayed on the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and those arrangement | sequences. It is a figure which shows the example of the symbol displayed on the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and those arrangement | sequences. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process by the game device which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the symbol displayed on the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and those arrangement | sequences.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and there is no intention to exclude the application of various modifications and techniques not explicitly stated below. Further, in the description of each drawing, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily match the actual dimensions, ratios, etc. There may be parts where the dimensional relationships and proportions differ among the drawings.

A game device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an external view of a game device according to the embodiment.

The game device 100 is a slot machine installed in a game arcade, for example, a casino or an amusement facility.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the game device 100 includes a speaker 101, a display device 102, an operation input device 103, a card reader 104, a bill insertion device 105, and a ticket payout device 106.

The speaker 101 outputs sounds related to the game, for example, voice guidance of a slot game and sound effects. The display device 102 is means for visually presenting the image related to the game to the player, and, for example, as shown in FIG. The display device 102 displays an image for expressing or presenting a slot game, for example, a still image or a moving image. The operation input device 103 is hardware for inputting an instruction from a player to the game apparatus 100, and is configured of, for example, a plurality of buttons.

The card reader 104 reads information from a card owned by the player. This card is a medium in which game information of the player is stored, and can store, for example, points acquired as a result of the slot games thus far. The player can receive various services according to the game information stored in the card. However, the contents stored in the card do not affect the result of the slot game. The bill insertion device 105 is a device that reads an inserted bill or ticket. The ticket dispensing device 106 dispenses the ticket to the player.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the game device according to the embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the game device 100 includes a computing device 200 in addition to the speaker 101, the display device 102, the operation input device 103, the card reader 104, the bill insertion device 105, and the ticket dispenser 106.

The computing device 200 centrally controls the game device 100. The computing device 200 includes various processors and memories, and includes, for example, computer circuitry provided with a chipset. The computing device 200 includes, for example, a main memory 201, a control unit 202, a basic input / output system (BIOS) -read only memory (ROM) 203, a storage unit 204, an audio processing unit 205, and an image processing unit. 206, a communication interface 207, a peripheral interface 208, and a system bus 209.

The main memory 201 is a storage area in which a software program for executing a slot game is developed. The control unit 202 executes this software program to cause the computing device 200 to realize various functions. In other words, the computing device 200 implements the slot game in cooperation with other hardware by the control unit 202 executing the software program expanded in the main memory 201. The control unit 202 is realized by, for example, a central processing unit (CPU).

The BIOS-ROM 203 is a ROM storing a BIOS, which is lower layer software for directly operating hardware. The BIOS can initialize the game device 100 and the computing device 200 and call a boot loader. In addition, the BIOS is an upper layer application, and a software program for executing the slot game provides an intermediary layer necessary for causing the game apparatus 100 or the computing apparatus 200 to function as a hardware resource.

The storage unit 204 stores software programs and various data required to execute the slot game. The audio processing unit 205 performs various sound processing under the control of the control unit 202. The image processing unit 206 performs various graphics processing under the control of the control unit 202. The communication interface 207 is an interface that enables communication with a server or another game device. The peripheral interface 208 is an interface that enables communication between the operation input device 103, the card reader 104, the bill insertion device 105 or the ticket dispensing device 106, and the computing device 200.

The system bus 209 is connected to the main memory 201, the control unit 202, the BIOS-ROM 203, the storage unit 204, the audio processing unit 205, the image processing unit 206, the communication interface 207, and the peripheral interface 208 as shown in FIG. . The system bus 209 transmits, for example, signals for controlling these addresses, data exchanged between them, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the game device according to the embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the game apparatus 100 includes a first lottery unit 301, a changing unit 302, a stopping unit 303, a second lottery unit 304, a changing unit 305, and a third lottery unit 306. A division unit 307 and a payout unit 308 are provided. These are functionally realized by the control unit 202 executing the software program developed in the main memory 201. The details of these will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

An example of the contents of a slot game that can be provided to the user by the game device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of symbols displayed on the display device according to the embodiment and their arrangement. The slot game is realized by the control unit 202 executing a software program developed in the main memory 201 and controlling the computing device 200.

When a bill or a ticket is inserted into the bill insertion device 105, the game device 100 sets a credit according to the inserted bill or ticket. Then, the game device 100 causes the display device 102 to display a bet screen for the player to bet on the slot game, and starts the slot game in response to the bet and start instructions from the player. A slot game started by inserting a bill or ticket in this manner is called a normal game.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the normal game, the game apparatus 100 causes symbols to be variably displayed on the five

virtual reels

31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 in the normal game, and then reels 31, reels. The symbols are stopped and displayed in the order of 32, reel 33, reel 34 and reel 35. As shown in FIG. 4, these reels can stop and display symbols one by one in each of the upper, middle and lower display areas. Here, the variable display refers to scroll display of symbols for each reel. The stop display means that symbols are fixed and displayed on each level of the reel.

In the game apparatus 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the game apparatus 100, a predetermined number of the same symbols are stopped and displayed on the reel 31, the reel 32, the reel 33, the reel 34, and the reel 35 from the left reel. Assign dividends to

The first lottery unit 301 causes the symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas to fluctuate, and draws a symbol for stopping the fluctuation of the symbols at a predetermined timing. For example, the first lottery unit 301 performs a first lottery, and determines a symbol to be stopped and displayed. The changing unit 302 changes and displays symbols displayed in a plurality of display areas. For example, the changing unit 302 changes and displays symbols on the upper stage, the middle stage, and the lower stage of the reel 31, the reel 32, the reel 33, the reel 34, and the reel 35 illustrated in FIG. 4. The stop unit 303 causes the symbol displayed in a fluctuating manner by the varying unit 302 to be stopped and displayed.

The first lottery section 301 may determine whether or not the first symbol has been stopped and displayed when a win is made as a result of the first lottery. Here, the first symbol is, for example, a wild symbol that can substitute for a normal symbol. For example, when the first lottery section 301 becomes a target to be displayed when the reel 33 is stopped as a result of the first lottery, as shown in FIG. 4, the wild symbol “WILD” is displayed in the middle of the reel 33. Stop display.

The normal symbol "M1" shown in FIG. 4 is called a major symbol, and the normal symbols "9", "10", "J", "Q", "K", " It is a symbol to which a larger payout than "A" is assigned. The symbol "BONUS" shown in FIG. 4 is a special symbol called a bonus symbol, and can advance to a special game such as a free game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is that a predetermined number of stops are displayed in a plurality of display areas, and, for example, three or more bonus symbols are displayed in a stopped state. In addition, the free game is a slot game that can be played free for a designated number of times. A normal symbol is assigned a payout when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the same symbol is stopped and displayed on all the reels, and that a payout is generated due to the stop symbol.

The payout unit 308 assigns a payout based on the symbols displayed in a stopped state. For example, the payout unit 308 determines whether or not the player has won according to the types and arrangements of the symbols stopped and displayed on each of the reel 31, the reel 32, the reel 33, the reel 34, and the reel 35. Assign a good payout. The payout is, for example, a credit, a free game, and various values are set from high value to low value depending on the type and arrangement of symbols being stopped and displayed.

In the following description, it is assumed that a payout is assigned when a predetermined number of symbols are stopped and displayed on the reel from the left reel.

In the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 4, the payout is determined by the number of symbols that are the same as the types of symbols stopped from the left reel. One normal symbol “M1” is displayed on one stop on each of the reel 31, the reel 32, the reel 34 and the reel 35, and the wild symbol “WILD” is stopped on the reel 33. At this time, in the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 4, a payout of five sets of “M1” is allocated for one (1 × 1 × 1 × 1 × 1 = 1).

When the predetermined symbol is stopped and displayed, the second lottery section 304 performs a lottery as to whether or not to change the other symbols stopped and displayed to the predetermined symbol. Specifically, the second lottery section 304 performs the second lottery when there is a payout when, for example, the wild symbol "WILD" appears after the first lottery section 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed. The changing unit 305 changes the other symbols to the first symbol when the second lottery results in winning. Here, the other symbols are, for example, normal symbols to which a payout is assigned when a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the changing unit 305 changes the normal symbol stopped and displayed on the upper and lower portions of the reel 33 in FIG. 4 to the wild symbol “WILD”.

In the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 5, one normal symbol "M1" is displayed on the reel 31, reel 32, reel 34 and reel 35, and three wild symbols "WILD" are displayed on the reel 33. ing. Therefore, in the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 5, for example, a payout of five sets of “M1” is allocated for three (1 × 1 × 3 × 1 × 1 = 3).

When the predetermined symbol is stopped and displayed, the third lottery unit 306 performs a lottery whether or not to divide the symbol that is stopped and displayed. For example, the third lottery unit 306 performs the third lottery after the first lottery unit 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed. The dividing unit 307 divides and displays the second symbol stopped and displayed, when the winning is made in the third lottery. Here, the second symbol is, for example, at least one of a bonus symbol and a normal symbol. The third lottery section 306 may increase the probability of winning in the third lottery, for example, when the allocated payout is low as a result of the slot games so far.

When the dividing unit 307 causes the predetermined symbol to be stopped and displayed by the lottery of the first lottery unit 301, a part of the symbols that are stopped and displayed is divided and displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the dividing unit 307 wins in the third lottery, in FIG. 5, the normal symbols stopped and displayed in the middle of each of the reel 31, the reel 32, the reel 34 and the reel 35 in FIG. Divide the display into two parts, upper and lower. Note that the dividing unit 307 may divide and display the second symbol into three or more, and may divide and display the second symbol not horizontally but vertically.

In the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 6, two normal symbols “M1” divided and displayed in the upper and lower portions are stopped and displayed in the middle of reel 31, reel 32, reel 34 and reel 35 respectively. "WILD" is displayed three stops. For this reason, in the arrangement of symbols shown in FIG. 5, for example, a payout of 5 combinations of “M1” is allocated for 48 times (2 × 2 × 3 × 2 × 2 = 48), and the symbols shown in FIG. A payout of 48 times the array and 16 times the array of symbols shown in FIG. 5 is allocated.

A process by the game device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing by the game device according to the embodiment. This process is executed, for example, by the control unit 202 developing a software program stored in the storage unit 204 in the main memory 201 and executing it, and is applicable to both normal games and free games.

Each step included in the process described below can be arbitrarily changed in order or executed in parallel, as long as no contradiction occurs in the contents of the process, and another step is performed between each step. You may add it. In addition, while the steps described as one step can be divided into a plurality of steps and executed for convenience, those described separately as a plurality of steps can be grasped as one step. . In addition, since the details of the process of each step have already been described, they are omitted here.

The first lottery unit 301 performs a first lottery (step S1).

The stopping unit 303 causes the symbol displayed in a fluctuating manner by the changing unit 302 to be stopped and displayed (step S2).

As a result of the first lottery, the first lottery unit 301 determines whether or not a win has been made (step S3). If the first lottery section 301 determines that the winning has not occurred as a result of the first lottery (step S3: No), the process proceeds to step S11, and it is determined that the winning has occurred as a result of the first lottery If it is (step S3: Yes), the process proceeds to step S4.

Then, the first lottery section 301 determines whether or not the wild symbol is stopped and displayed as a result of the first lottery (step S4). If the first lottery section 301 determines that the wild symbol is not stopped and displayed as a result of the first lottery (step S4: No), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, when the first lottery section 301 determines that the wild symbol is stopped and displayed as a result of the first lottery (step S4: Yes), the process proceeds to step S5.

The second lottery section 304 performs a second lottery (step S5).

The second lottery section 304 determines whether or not it is decided to increase the wild symbol as a result of the second lottery (step S6). If the second lottery section 304 determines that it is not determined to increase the wild symbol as a result of the second lottery (step S6: No), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if the second lottery unit 304 determines that it is determined to increase the wild symbol (step S6: Yes), the process proceeds to step S7.

The changing unit 305 changes all the symbols of the reel on which the wild symbol is stopped and displayed to the wild symbol (step S7).

The third lottery section 306 performs a third lottery (step S8).

The third lottery section 306 determines whether or not the division of the symbol stopped and displayed is determined as a result of the third lottery (step S9). If the third lottery section 306 determines that the division of the symbols stopped and displayed is not determined as a result of the third lottery (step S9: No), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, when the third lottery section 306 determines that the division of the symbol being stopped and displayed is determined as a result of the third lottery (step S9: Yes), the process proceeds to step S10.

The dividing unit 307 divides and displays the symbols that are displayed in a stopped state (step S10).

The payout unit 308 assigns a payout based on the symbols displayed in a stopped state (step S11).

The embodiment which is an example of the present invention has been described above. The game apparatus 100 according to the embodiment performs the first lottery, and the first lottery unit 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed according to the result of the first lottery, and the first lottery unit 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed. And a division unit 307 configured to divide and display the second symbol stopped and displayed. Thereby, when the second symbol is a normal symbol, the game device 100 dramatically increases the symbol to which a payout is to be assigned, thereby providing a free game when the second symbol is a bonus. By increasing the probability, the player can be given unexpectedness. Therefore, the game apparatus 100 can attract more players strongly and generate more profit by the divided display of the second symbol.

In addition, after the first lottery unit 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed, the game apparatus 100 causes the second lottery unit 304 to perform the second lottery, and, when the second lottery is won, the other symbol is selected. It may further include a changing unit 305 for changing to one symbol. Thereby, the game device 100 can give the player unexpectedness by increasing the symbols to which the payout is to be assigned by changing the other symbols to the first symbol.

Furthermore, the game apparatus 100 further includes a third lottery unit 306 that performs a third lottery after the first lottery unit 301 causes the first symbol to be stopped and displayed, and the dividing unit 307 has won the third lottery. In the case, the second symbol may be divided and displayed. Thus, the game apparatus 100 can determine whether or not to divide the second symbol by the third lottery, so that the player can have a sense of expectation that the symbol to which a payout is assigned is increased for a long time. .

In addition, after the game apparatus 100 causes the first lottery unit 301 to display the first symbol in a stopped state, the second lottery unit 304 may not change another symbol to the first symbol. That is, the game device 100 may not execute steps S3 and S4 shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the game apparatus 100 causes the first lottery unit 301 to stop displaying the wild symbol “WILD” on the upper stage of the reel 35, and thereafter, symbols other than the upper stage of the reel 35 are wild symbols “WILD” You do not have to change to

The position and the number of second symbols to be divided and displayed by the dividing unit 307 are not particularly limited. Also, a payout may be determined by setting a line in the display area of the reel. Here, the line is a line to which a payout is assigned when the same symbol is displayed in a stopped state.

As described above, the game device and the game method according to the above-described embodiment attract more players more strongly by giving the player a stronger surprise than the conventional game device and game method, and more It can generate revenue. Therefore, the game device and the game method according to the embodiment can be widely and effectively applied to all software and hardware related techniques related to provision, implementation and the like of the game, and further to activities such as design, manufacture and sales thereof. It can be used.

100: game device, 101: speaker, 102: display device, 103: operation input device, 104: card reading device, 105: bill insertion device, 106: ticket dispensing device, 200: computing device, 201: main memory, 202 ... control unit, 203 ... BIOS-ROM, 204 ... storage unit, 205 ... audio processing unit, 206 ... image processing unit, 207 ... communication interface, 208 ... peripheral interface, 301 ... first lottery unit, 302 ... fluctuation unit, 303 ... stop part, 304 ... second lottery part, 305 ... change part, 306 ... third lottery part, 307 ... division part, 308 ... payout part

Claims

A game apparatus comprising a control unit and a storage unit, the game apparatus comprising:
The control unit executes the software program stored in the storage unit.
A first lottery section for lottery symbols to be stopped and displayed in a plurality of display areas;
A variation unit for variably displaying symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas;
A stop unit for stopping and displaying a symbol that is variably displayed by the changing unit, and a part of a plurality of symbols displayed to be stopped under a predetermined condition when the stop unit is stopped and displayed a predetermined symbol The division unit to divide the display,
A gaming device that functions as
The second lottery unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a second lottery unit for performing lottery of whether or not to change the other symbols stopped and displayed to the predetermined symbol when the stop unit causes the predetermined symbol to be stopped and displayed. Game device.
The system further comprises a third lottery section for performing lottery of whether or not to divide the symbol that has been stopped and displayed when the stopping unit has stopped and displayed the predetermined symbol,
The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes that a result of the lottery of the third lottery portion is a winning.
The display device further comprises a special symbol causing a transition to a special game by displaying a predetermined number of stops in the plurality of display areas, and the dividing unit divides the special symbol to increase the number of special symbols. The game apparatus according to any one of 3).
A first lottery step for lottery symbols to be stopped and displayed in a plurality of display areas;
A variation step of variably displaying symbols displayed in the plurality of display areas;
A stop step for stopping and displaying a symbol that is fluctuating in the fluctuating step;
When a predetermined symbol is stopped and displayed by lottery in the first lottery step, a division step of dividingly displaying a part of the symbols among the plurality of symbols stopped and displayed under a predetermined condition;
How to play the game.