JP4044950B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a swivel type gaming machine, an arrangement ball machine, or a sparrow ball gaming machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine having no periodicity in the occurrence timing of a big hit state.

  A ball game machine such as a pachinko machine is provided with a symbol starting means provided on the game board, a symbol display means for stopping a plurality of symbols after being changed for a predetermined time, a big winning means for driving the opening and closing plate, etc. Configured. Then, on condition that the symbol starting means detects the game ball, the symbol display means fluctuates the display symbol for a predetermined time, and then, when the special symbol that becomes the big hit state is aligned and stopped, the big winning means functions. Profits that are advantageous to the player are generated.

  In this type of gaming machine, when the jackpot probability is 1 / N (for example, N = 300), the lottery random numbers from 0 to 299 are updated at a constant cycle by the jackpot counter, and 300 pieces of One of the random numbers for lottery is set as the big hit winning value Hit. Then, on the condition that the symbol starting means detects the game ball, the count value of the big hit counter RND is extracted as a random number for lottery, and when the random number for lottery matches the big hit winning value Hit, It is controlled so that the special symbols are aligned in the stopped state after the change.

  In a normal gaming machine, the processing of the main program is repeated every certain execution cycle T (for example, 2 msec), and the value of the random number counter is normally updated by increment (+1) processing every execution cycle T of the main program. Has been. In such a gaming machine, a big hit timing will be introduced every T × N (= 0.6 seconds), and since this state continues for a certain time T (= 2 msec), the symbol starts at this timing. If the game ball is detected by the means, the big hit state can always be realized.

  Here, since the execution cycle T of the main program can be grasped by obtaining and analyzing the gaming machine, if the jackpot timing of the machine is detected only once during the actual game, then the time of T × N There is a possibility that a jackpot due to a malfunction of the symbol starting means may occur due to a fraudulent action such as radiating a strong electromagnetic wave at intervals, and there is a problem that it is easily targeted by a fraudulent player.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can eliminate unauthorized gaming actions even when the execution cycle of the main program is known.

To solve the above problems, the present invention is therefore to the jackpot determination process function under certain conditions, in the gaming machine to determine whether or not to generate a favorable benefit state to the player, the jackpot determination process, A first counter that cyclically updates a numerical value starting from an appropriate initial value within a certain numerical value range, a second counter that is updated independently of the first counter , and an appropriate value within the certain numerical value range And a third counter that cyclically updates the numerical value starting from the initial value, the first counter makes a round of the fixed numerical value range, and the second counter has a predetermined value. As a result, the initial value of the subsequent cyclic operation is changed based on the value of the third counter at that time, while the third counter performs the subsequent cyclic operation every time it makes a round of the certain numerical range. The initial value of It is adapted to be changed on the basis of the value of the first counter.

Although the application target of the present invention is not particularly limited, it is preferably applied to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine. The first counter can be realized in software and hardware. However, if the first counter is realized in software, there is no difficulty even when the update rule of the first counter is complicated. However, it is not always necessary to complicate the update rule, and it is sufficient that the value of each counter is regularly increased / decreased within a certain numerical range.

The present invention further includes a third counter that sequentially updates the initial value random number, and changes the initial value of the first counter based on the value of the third counter . At this time, the maximum value of the third counter should be equal to or less than the maximum value of the first counter. If the maximum values of the third counter are matched, the initial value can be set at random within the entire numerical range of the first counter. become. The third counter may be provided only for the purpose of sequentially updating the initial value random number, but a counter for other purposes may be used as the third counter.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention includes a main processing unit that is regularly started every predetermined time, and a remaining processing unit that is executed in an infinite loop until the predetermined time is reached after the processing of the main processing unit is completed. In this case, it is effective to update the third counter in the residual processing unit. Further, the third counter may be updated in the main processing unit and the remaining processing unit. In this case, even if the execution time of the remaining processing unit becomes 0 as a result of the prolonged processing in the main processing unit, the third counter is always updated once every predetermined time.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention may include a main processing unit that is repeatedly executed in an infinite loop shape, and an interrupt processing unit that is executed by a periodic interrupt every predetermined time. It is effective to update the third counter in the main processing unit. Further, the third counter may be updated in the main processing unit and the remaining processing unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can eliminate fraudulent gaming acts even when the execution cycle of the main program is known.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on a card-type ball game machine which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine 2 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the pachinko machine 2.

  The pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 3 that is detachably mounted on the island structure and a hinge H that is fixed to the outer frame 3 before being pivotably mounted. It consists of a frame 4. A plurality of pachinko machines 2 are arranged in the length direction of the island structure of the pachinko hall while being electrically connected to the card-type ball lending machine 1.

  A game board 5 is detachably attached from the back side to the front frame 4 pivotally attached to the outer frame 3 via a hinge H, and a glass door 6 having a window portion and a front side corresponding to the front side of the game board 5. A face plate 7 is pivotally attached to each other so as to be freely opened and closed. The front plate 7 is provided with an upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launching, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing or extracted from the upper plate 8 and launching means 10 at the lower part of the front frame 4. And a firing handle 11 are provided.

  The launching means 10 includes a launching handle 11 that can be rotated, and a launching motor that launches a game ball with a striking rod 12 (FIG. 4) with a striking force corresponding to the pivoting angle of the launching handle 11. . On the right side of the upper plate 8, there is provided an operation panel 13 for a ball lending operation for the card-type ball lending machine 1, and on this operation panel 13, a card remaining amount display portion 13a for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number. And a ball lending switch 13b for instructing lending of game balls for a predetermined amount, and a return switch 13c for instructing to return the card at the end of the game.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 5 is provided with a guide rail 15 made of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in a substantially annular shape, and a color liquid crystal is provided in the game area 5 a inside the guide rail 15. Display 16, symbol starting means (symbol starting and winning means) 17, open / close type winning means (large winning means) 18, a plurality of normal winning means 19 (in addition to the upper normal winning means 19, both the left and right sides of the opening / closing type winning means 18 Six normal winning means 19) and two gates 20 (passage openings) are arranged at predetermined positions.

  The liquid crystal display 16 functions as a first symbol display means 22 that displays a changing symbol and also displays a background image, moving images of various characters, and the like. The first symbol display means 22 displays background images and characters in an animated manner, and has three (left, middle, and right) symbol display portions 22a to 22c arranged in the left-right direction. On the condition that the ball wins, the display symbols of the symbol display units 22a to 22c are variably displayed (scrolled) for a predetermined time, and based on the lottery result corresponding to the winning timing of the game ball to the symbol starting means 17 Stop at the determined stop symbol pattern.

  A normal winning means 19 and a second symbol display means 23 are provided immediately above the liquid crystal display 16. The second symbol display means 23 has a normal symbol display unit for displaying one normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 20 is detected, the display symbol of the normal symbol display unit fluctuates for a predetermined time, A stop symbol determined by a random number for lottery drawn at the time the game ball passes through the gate 20 is displayed and stopped. The symbol starting means 17 is an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 17a that can be opened and closed. When the stop symbol after the change of the second symbol display means 23 hits and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claws 17a It is easy to win a prize by opening for a predetermined time.

  The open / close-type winning means 18 includes an opening / closing plate 18a that can be opened forward, and when the first symbol display means 22 has a winning symbol such as “777” after the change, the special game called “big hit” is started. The opening / closing plate 18a is opened to the front side. There is a specific area 18b inside the openable winning means 18, and when the winning ball passes through the specific area 18b, the special game is continued. Here, the special game state corresponds to a state advantageous to the player.

  After the opening / closing plate 18a of the open / close winning means 18 is opened, when a predetermined time elapses, or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of gaming balls wins and the opening / closing plate 18a is closed, the gaming ball is in the specific area 18b. If the game has not passed, the special game ends. However, if the game passes the specific area 18b, the special game is continued up to a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times), and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player.

  As shown in FIG. 4, on the back side of the front frame 4, a back mechanism plate 30 that presses the game board 5 from the back side is detachably mounted. The back mechanism plate 30 has an opening 30a formed on the top side thereof. A prize ball tank 33 and a tank rail 34 extending from the prize ball tank 33 are provided. Dispensing means 35 connected to the tank rail 34 is provided on the side of the back mechanism plate 30. A passage unit 36 connected to 35 is provided. The game balls paid out from the payout means 35 are paid out to the upper plate 8 from the upper plate discharge port 8a (FIG. 1) via the passage unit 36.

  The opening 30a of the back mechanism plate 30 is fitted with a back cover 37 mounted on the back side of the game board 5 and a winning ball discharge basket (not shown) for discharging the winning game balls to the winning means 17-19. Are combined. A main control board 39 is disposed inside a case 38 attached to the back cover 37, and a symbol control board 40 is disposed on the front side thereof (FIG. 2). Below the main control board 39, a lamp control board 42 is provided in a case 41a attached to the back cover 37, and a sound control board 43 is provided in a case 41b adjacent to the case 41a.

  A power supply board 45 and a payout control board 46 are provided inside the case 44 mounted on the back mechanism plate 30 below the cases 41a and 41b. A firing control board 48 is provided inside the case 47 attached to the rear side of the launching means 10. These control boards 39 to 40, 42 to 43, 45 to 46, and 48 are independent boards, and the control boards 39, 40, 42, 43, and 46 excluding the power supply board 45 and the launch control board 48 are connected to the CPU. A computer circuit including a ROM, a RAM, and the like is mounted, and the main control board 39 and the other control boards 40, 42, 43, 46 are electrically connected via a connector with a plurality of signal lines. .

  The main control board 39 and the other control boards 40, 42, 43, 46 are electrically connected via a connector with a plurality of signal lines, and each control board 40, 42, 43, 46 is connected from the main control board 39. In addition, various control commands for executing a predetermined game operation can be transmitted by one-way communication. By adopting the one-way communication of the control command, it is possible to reliably prevent fraud related to the symbol stop, remarkably reduce the control load of the main control means 50, and simplify transmission control.

  A Z80 (manufactured by Zylog or equivalent) CPU is mounted on the main control board. The Z80 is a CPU with an 8-bit data bus and a 16-bit address bus, but it is ideal for controlling pachinko machines that do not require a wide memory space and do not require high-speed processing or complicated numerical processing. is there. The Z80 CPU has main registers (A, F, B, C, D, E, H, L) and auxiliary registers (A ′, F ′, B ′, C ′, D ′, E ′, H ′, L ′). And a register classified as a dedicated register (I, R, IX, IY, SP, PC), and can perform a refresh operation of the DRAM address indicated by the R register. This R register is a 7-bit register, and becomes 0 by a reset signal to the CPU, and increases by 1 every fetch cycle. Therefore, in this embodiment, this R register is utilized as the second counter.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the characteristic part of the game control program of this embodiment utilizing the R register. This game control program is executed by timer interrupts at regular intervals (for example, 2 msec), and is roughly divided into a main processing program part and a residual processing program part. In the main processing program part, a big hit counter RND or a hit The counter CT update process and the lottery process for the normal symbols and special symbols are performed.

  On the other hand, the remaining processing program part is a process which is performed in an infinite loop until the next timer interruption after the processing of the main processing program part is completed, and includes an update process of the initial value changing counter CHG. In this embodiment, the big hit counter corresponds to the first counter, and the initial value changing counter CHG corresponds to the second counter.

  A specific description will be given below with reference to FIG. 5. When the power is turned on or a timer is interrupted, the CPU is initially set (ST1), and it is determined whether the start data is a normal value (ST2). Here, the start data is data for recognizing whether the current time is when the power is turned on or when the timer is interrupted, and the specific data True is stored in the memory as start data when the main processing program unit ends. (ST8), the value is determined in the process of step ST2.

  When the power is turned on, since the start data is confirmed as an abnormal value (≠ True), this is confirmed, so that initialization of the work area and initial setting processing are performed as initialization processing of the gaming machine (ST3). , ST4). On the other hand, if the start data is normal value True, the big hit counter RND and the hit counter CT are updated as normal timer interrupt processing (ST5).

  Subsequently, as a normal symbol process, a lottery process for determining whether or not to stop the normal symbol in the hit state is performed (ST6). The lottery process for the normal symbol is performed on the condition that a game ball that has passed through the gate 20 is detected during one round of the main process and the remaining process, and it is determined by the value of the winning counter CT at that time. Is determined. Then, after the display symbol of the normal symbol display unit is changed for a predetermined time, a stop symbol determined by lottery is displayed.

  In addition, as a special symbol process, a lottery process for determining whether or not to align the special symbols is performed (ST7). The lottery process related to the special symbol is performed under the condition that the symbol starting means 17 detects a game ball during execution of the main process and the remaining process, and the value of the big hit counter RND at that time is determined for random lottery. It is extracted as a numerical value, and whether or not it is determined is determined by whether or not it matches a predetermined jackpot winning value Hit. If the lottery is won, the symbols on the symbol display units 22a to 22c are displayed in a variable manner (scrolled) for a predetermined time, and then the special symbols are arranged and a special game called “big hit” is started.

  In addition, before and after these processes of steps ST5 to ST7, normal electric accessory processing, special electric accessory processing, and other switch input processing, error detection processing, and the like are also performed, which are directly related to the spirit of the present invention. The explanation is omitted here.

  After completing such normal processing, the specific data (true) is stored in the memory as start data (ST8), and the main processing program is completed. Although the timing of completing the main processing program is almost constant, the processing time of each processing that constitutes the main processing program varies depending on the result of the lottery operation and other conditions. To be exact, the completion timing is different for each main processing program. On the other hand, since the timer interruption occurs every fixed time, the time given to the remaining processing program executed after the main processing program is slightly different each time.

  In the remaining processing program, the value of the initial value changing counter CHG is updated (ST9), and random number processing for outliers is performed (ST10). The random symbol processing for the off symbol defines a off symbol pattern to be drawn on the liquid crystal display 16 when a special symbol lottery (ST7) is missed in the next main processing program. When the process of step ST10 ends, the process returns to the process of step ST9, and the residual processing program is executed in an infinite loop until the next timer interrupt occurs (ST9, ST10).

  FIG. 6 exemplifies specific contents of the big hit counter RND update process (ST5) shown in FIG. In this example, the jackpot probability is 1/300, and the jackpot counter RND is assumed to be cyclically incremented in the numerical range 300 between 0 and 299. As shown in FIG. 6, first, the value of the jackpot counter RND is incremented (ST20), and it is compared whether or not the numerical range MAX1 (= 300) of the jackpot counter RND is exceeded (ST21). When the value of the jackpot counter RND matches MAX1 = 300, the value of the jackpot counter RND is rewritten to 0 (ST22).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the big hit counter RND matches the initial value Start of the current cyclic operation, that is, whether or not the round trip operation of the big hit counter RND is completed (ST23). Here, if the value of the big hit counter RND coincides with the initial value Start, then the value of the R register is judged (ST24). The determination is made after the value of the R register is transferred to the A register of Z80.

  If the R register is not equal to 0, the processing is finished as it is. If the R register is 0, the value of the initial value changing counter CHG at that time is substituted, and the initial value Start of the subsequent cyclic operation is reset (ST25). . Further, the value of the big hit counter RND is rewritten to a new initial value Start (ST26).

  In this embodiment, since a 7-bit long R register is used, the initial value is rewritten only once for 128 rounds of the big hit counter. In order to increase the rewriting timing of the initial value, an appropriate process may be performed before step ST24. For example, if the determination is made after extracting only the lower 3 bits of the R register as in step ST24 ′ (ST24), the initial value of the big hit counter RND is rewritten stochastically every time the big hit counter RND circulates eight times. It is done.

  In any case, since the rewriting timing of the initial value occurs irregularly, in this embodiment, the numerical sequence generated by the jackpot counter RND has no regularity, and illegal games can be reliably prevented. Specifically, for example, if the initial value Start at power-on is 0, the big hit counter RND is in the numerical range as 0 → 1 → 2... 298 → 299 → 0... 298 → 299. After circulating (MAX1) several times, the initial value Start of the subsequent circulation operation is changed based on the value of the initial value changing counter CHG at that time by the processing of steps ST24 and 25. The value of the initial value changing counter CHG is sequentially updated in the residual processing program unit (ST9). For example, if it is 48, the value of the big hit counter RND is changed to 0 (ST22) and then changed to 48. It is rewritten (ST25). After that, the big hit counter RND is incremented as 48 → 49 → …… → 299 → 0 → 1 →… → 46 → 47, and circulates through the numerical range (MAX1) several times. become.

  FIG. 7 illustrates the specific contents of the update process (ST9) of the initial value changing counter CHG shown in FIG. The processing contents are similar to and substantially the same as those in FIG. 6, but if a timer interrupt occurs arbitrarily during the processing of steps ST30 to ST35 and the processing shifts to the processing of step ST1, the cause of program runaway It also becomes. Therefore, it is desirable to set the CPU to the interrupt disabled state during the processing of steps ST30 to ST35.

  First, the value of the initial value changing counter CHG is incremented (ST30), and it is compared whether or not the numerical value range MAX2 of the initial value changing counter CHG (here, 300 is assumed for convenience) (ST31). When the value of the initial value changing counter CHG matches 300, the value of the initial value changing counter CHG is rewritten to 0 (ST32).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the initial value changing counter CHG matches the initial value Initial of the current circulation operation (ST33). Here, if the value of the initial value changing counter CHG coincides with the initial value Initial of the current cyclic operation, it means that the counter cyclic operation has been completed. Therefore, the value of the big hit counter RND is substituted, the initial value Initial of the subsequent cyclic operation is reset (ST34), and the value of the initial value changing counter CHG is rewritten to a new initial value Initial (ST35).

  In the description of this embodiment, the numerical range of the big hit counter RND and the initial value changing counter CHG is MAX1 = MAX2, but is not particularly limited, and MAX2 ≦ MAX1 is sufficient. In the case of MAX2 <MAX1, the numerical value that can be taken as the initial value Start of the jackpot counter RND is limited to a part of 0 to 299, but no particular problem occurs. On the other hand, in the case of MAX2 = MAX1, the numerical value that can be taken as the initial value Start of the big hit counter RND reaches the whole range of 0 to 299, and the irregularity further increases.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the jackpot counter RND is incremented every interrupt time (2 msec), and the jackpot probability is 1/300. Therefore, 2 msec for 2 m × 300 = 0.6 sec. There is a period in which the value of the jackpot counter RND matches the jackpot winning value Hit. However, in this embodiment, every time the jackpot counter RND circulates through the numerical range several times, the initial value Start of the subsequent circulation operation is changed, so the jackpot timing is changed every 0.6 seconds. There is no invitation. In addition, since the initial value Initial is changed every time it goes through the counter CHG for changing the initial value, there is no regularity at the jackpot timing, and the illegal game can be surely eliminated.

  As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was described, the content demonstrated concretely does not specifically limit this invention. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the big hit counter and the initial value changing counter are used as the first counter and the third counter. However, the present invention is not particularly limited. The symbol determination counter used in (ST10) may be used. Further, a register other than the R register or another counter may be used as the second counter. In the embodiment, it is determined whether or not the R register is 0 (ST24). Of course, other numerical values may be used. For example, it is only necessary to determine a match with 127.

  In the case of the embodiment, a main processing unit that is regularly started every predetermined time, and a residual processing unit that is executed in an infinite loop until the predetermined time is reached after the processing of the main processing unit is completed. Although the gaming machine having the above is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to such a gaming machine. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a main processing unit (FIG. 8) that is repeatedly executed in an infinite loop, and an interrupt processing unit that is executed by a periodic interrupt every predetermined time during the execution of the main processing The present invention may be applied to a gaming machine having (FIG. 9). In this case, the initial value changing counter CHG is updated in the main process shown in FIG. 8 (S6), the big hit counter RND is updated in the interrupt processing unit (S20 to S23), and if the R register is a predetermined value, the big hit counter The initial value of RND is changed (S24 to S26).

It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine which is one Example of this invention. It is a side view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the game board of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement content of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of FIG. 5 in detail. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of FIG. 5 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the main process of another Example. It is a flowchart which shows the interruption process of another Example.

Explanation of symbols

2 Pachislot machines (pachinko machines)
RND main counter (counter for big hits)
CHG sub-counter (initial value change counter)

Claims (5)

The big hit determination process function under certain conditions Accordingly, the gaming machine determines whether or not to generate a favorable benefit state to the player,
The big hit determination process includes a first counter that cyclically updates a numerical value starting from an appropriate initial value within a certain numerical value range, a second counter that is updated independently of the first counter, and the constant And a third counter that cyclically updates the numerical value starting from an appropriate initial value within the numerical value range of
On the condition that the first counter makes a round of the certain numerical range and the second counter is a predetermined value, the initial value of the subsequent circulation operation is based on the value of the third counter at that time. While being changed
Each time the third counter makes a round of the certain numerical range, the initial value of the subsequent circulation operation is changed based on the value of the first counter at that time. Gaming machine. A main processing unit that is regularly started every predetermined time and executes processing including the determination processing, and a residual processing unit that is executed in an infinite loop until the predetermined time is reached after the processing of the main processing unit is completed The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the third counter is updated in the residual processing unit. A main processing unit that is regularly started every predetermined time and executes processing including the determination processing, and a residual processing unit that is executed in an infinite loop until the predetermined time is reached after the processing of the main processing unit is completed The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the third counter is updated in the main processing unit and the remaining processing unit. A main processing unit that is repeatedly executed in an infinite loop, and executes processing including the determination processing; and an interrupt processing unit that is executed by periodic interruption every predetermined time, and the main processing unit includes the first processing unit The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein three counters are updated. A main processing unit that is repeatedly executed in an infinite loop , and executes a process including the determination process; and an interrupt processing unit that is executed by a periodic interrupt every predetermined time, the main processing unit and the interrupt The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit updates the third counter.

Images