JP4054283B2

JP4054283B2 - Game machine

Info

Publication number: JP4054283B2
Application number: JP2003141762A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 定男井置; 欽一亀井
Original assignee: 株式会社ソフィア
Priority date: 2003-05-20
Filing date: 2003-05-20
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-20
Also published as: JP2004344227A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な中央表示装置と、該中央表示装置の下方に位置する始動入賞口とを、遊技領域が形成される遊技盤に設け、上記始動入賞口へ遊技球が入賞することに基づき始動条件が成立することで、上記中央表示装置を用いた変動表示ゲームを実行すると共に、該変動表示ゲームの結果態様が予め定めた特別結果態様となった場合に、特別な遊技価値を付与可能な特別遊技状態を発生させるような遊技制御を行う遊技機制御部を備えた遊技機に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来より、弾球式の遊技機として、予め定めた始動入賞口へ遊技球が入賞することを始動条件の成立として、遊技領域の中央部に設けられた比較的大型の中央表示装置により、複数の識別情報を変動表示させる変動表示ゲームを行い、この変動表示ゲームの結果態様が特別結果態様になると、比較的短時間で多くの賞球を獲得可能な特別遊技を行うものが知られている。
【０００３】
この種の遊技機においては、変動表示ゲームの実行中に始動入賞があった場合、これを記憶しておき、後に変動表示ゲームを行うものとなっているが、長時間に亘って遊技を継続していると、始動入賞口へ遊技球が入賞しなくなる状態、所謂スランプ状態に陥ることがあり、このスランプ状態にあっては遊技者の大きな関心事である変動表示ゲームが実行されないため、遊技者に不快感を与えてしまう。このようなスランプ状態の発生による弊害を回避するために、始動入賞口の上方に形成した貯留部の案内解放口へ制止ピンを進退可能に設けた入賞補助手段を備えるものとし、変動表示ゲームが行われないままアウト球が所定個数カウントされると、制止ピンを案内解放口から退避させて貯留部に貯留された遊技球を解放し、案内解放口の直下方にある始動入賞口へ入賞させる可能性を高めた遊技機が提案されている（例えば、特許文献１参照）。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−１０２４３９号公報
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上述した従来の遊技機においては、始動入賞が発生しないスランプ状態となり、変動表示ゲームが行われなくなってから更に所定個数のアウト球がカウントされるまで入賞補助手段を機能させないものであるため、遊技者に不快感を与えない迅速な対応を行えるものではない。すなわち、入賞補助手段が機能する前に、遊技者は既にスランプ状態を体感しており、変動表示ゲームが実行されないことで、遊技者にとっての遊技進行の良好なリズムを損なっている可能性がある。
【０００６】
そこで、本発明は、始動入賞口への入賞球が発生しない所謂スランプ状態となっても、変動表示ゲームが実行されなくなって遊技者に不快感を与える前に対応して、始動入賞条件を達成させることができる可能性の高い遊技機の提供を目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の課題を解決するために、請求項１に係る発明は、複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な中央表示装置と、該中央表示装置の下方に位置する始動入賞口とを、遊技領域が形成される遊技盤に設け、上記始動入賞口へ遊技球が入賞することに基づき始動条件が成立することで、上記中央表示装置を用いた変動表示ゲームを実行すると共に、該変動表示ゲームの結果態様が予め定めた特別結果態様となった場合に、特別な遊技価値を付与可能な特別遊技状態を発生させるような遊技制御を行う遊技機制御部を備えた遊技機において、上記中央表示装置は、複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な表示部を有する表示装置本体と、上記表示装置本体の前面側に配設されると共に、上記表示部を背面に臨ませる表示用開口窓部を有する前面構成部材と、から構成し、上記前面構成部材は、上記遊技領域を流下する遊技球を受け入れ可能な球受入口から、上記始動入賞口に案内可能な球誘導面を有する球受けステージへ、遊技球を流下させる球流路よりなるワープ通路と、上記ワープ通路を流下する遊技球の流下を許容する流下許容状態と、遊技球の流下を阻止する流下阻止状態とに変換可能な流下状態変換手段と、を備え、上記遊技機制御部は、上記中央表示装置を用いた変動表示ゲームを実行する変動表示ゲーム実行手段と、上記変動表示ゲーム実行手段による変動表示ゲームの実行中において上記始動条件が成立した場合に、この始動条件成立を、その後に変動表示ゲームを実行させるための始動記憶として所定上限数まで記憶可能な始動記憶手段と、上記流下状態変換手段の変換動作を制御する流下状態変換制御手段と、当該遊技機の動作に供される電源の異常状態を検出する電源異常検出手段と、上記電源異常検出手段が電源の異常状態を検出することに基づいて、始動記憶数を含む、予め定めたバックアップ対象データが消滅することの無いように保存するデータバックアップ手段と、を備え、上記流下状態変換手段は、流下阻止状態に変換している時に上記電源異常検出手段が電源の異常状態を検出する電源異常が生じても、そのまま流下状阻止状態を保持する流下阻止状態維持機能を有するものとし、上記流下状態変換制御手段には、上記電源異常検出手段の検出結果が異常状態から通常状態に復帰した場合に、上記流下状態変換手段を予め定めた流下許容時間だけ流下許容状態に変換させた後に、再び流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態に変換させる電源復帰時流下制御機能を設け、上記始動記憶手段には、上記電源異常検出手段の検出結果が異常状態から通常状態に復帰した場合に、上記始動記憶の上限数を予め定めた記憶上限解除時間だけ解除して、始動条件の成立を累積記憶可能とする電源復帰時記憶上限解除機能を設け、電源異常により遊技機が動作不能となった後に電源復帰した場合には、ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球を球受けステージへ放出することで、短時間に多くの遊技球が始動入賞口へ入賞する可能性を高めると共に、これら始動入賞口への球入賞による始動条件の成立を無効とすることなく、上記始動記憶の上限数を超えて記憶させるようにしたことを特徴とする。
【０００８】
また、請求項２に係る発明は、上記請求項１記載の遊技機において、上記変動表示ゲーム実行手段は、３以上の変動表示部で各々識別情報を変動表示させる変動表示ゲームの途中態様が予め定めたリーチ態様となった場合に、所定のリーチ変動表示を行うリーチ変動表示制御機能を備え、上記流下状態変換制御手段は、上記変動表示ゲーム実行手段がリーチ変動表示を行っている場合に、上記流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換させるようにしたことを特徴とする。
【０００９】
また、請求項３に係る発明は、上記請求項１又は請求項２記載の遊技機において、上記遊技盤には、上記始動入賞口が設けられ、上記始動入賞口に遊技球が入賞し難い閉状態と、上記始動入賞口に遊技球が入賞し易い開状態とに変換可能な始動変動入賞装置と、複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な普通変動表示ゲームを実行可能な普通変動表示装置と、を設け、上記遊技機制御部には、予め定めた普通始動条件の成立により、上記普通変動表示装置を用いた普通変動表示ゲームを実行する普通変動表示ゲーム実行手段と、上記普通変動表示ゲーム実行手段による普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様が予め定めた特定結果態様となった場合に、所定の態様で上記始動変動入賞装置を開状態に変換させる普通変動遊技を実行する普通変動遊技制御手段と、を設け、上記流下状態変換制御手段は、上記始動記憶手段の始動記憶が上記所定数以上で流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態に変換している場合でも、上記普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様が特定結果態様となって始動変動入賞装置が開状態に変換される所定時間前から該始動変動入賞装置が閉状態に変換されるまで、上記流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させるようにしたことを特徴とする。
【００１０】
また、請求項４に係る発明は、上記請求項１〜請求項３の何れか１項に記載の遊技機において、上記前面構成部材には、上記球受けステージの左側に出口を配置した左ワープ通路と、球受けステージの右側に出口を配置した右ワープ通路を形成すると共に、球受けステージの中央部に球誘導面を設け、上記左右ワープ通路の夫々に対応して左流下状態変換手段と右流下状態変換手段を設け、上記流下状態変換制御手段は、上記始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が上記所定数未満になって、流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態から流下許容状態に変換する場合に、左流下状態変換手段もしくは右流下状態変換手段のどちらか一方を先に流下許容状態に変換させ、その所定時間経過後に、未だ流下阻止状態にある他方の流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態へ変換させる時差変換実行機能を備えるものとしたことを特徴とする。
【００１１】
また、請求項５に係る発明は、上記請求項１〜請求項４の何れか１項に記載の遊技機において、上記前面構成部材には、上記ワープ通路を成す球流路の適所に臨設される演出ユニットを備えるものとし、上記演出ユニットは、電気的駆動源によって動作する一つ以上の可動パーツを遊技機の前面側より視認可能な状態で設けた可動演出手段を備え、上記可動演出手段の可動パーツがワープ通路の球流路内に突出することで流下阻止状態を生ぜしめ、可動パーツがワープ通路の球流路から退くことで流下許容状態を生ぜしめ、これを流下状態変換手段と成し、上記流下状態変換制御手段は、演出ユニットの電気的駆動源を制御することで、流下阻止状態と流下許容状態の変換制御を行うようにしたことを特徴とする。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に、本発明に係る遊技機の実施形態を添付図面に基づき詳細に説明する。
【００１３】
遊技媒体としての遊技球を弾発する弾球遊技を行える遊技機（所謂パチンコ機）は、図１に示す遊技盤１を備える。この遊技盤１は弾球遊技の主体となるもので、ガイドレール２で囲まれた遊技領域３に各種の入賞口や遊技装置を設けると共に、非遊技領域などには各種ランプやＬＥＤ等からなる装飾表示器を設けたものである。
【００１４】
図示を省略したロータリーソレノイド等の電気的駆動源によって弾発された遊技球は上記ガイドレール２に沿って遊技領域３内へ到達すると、遊技釘や風車等に当たりつつ流下して行き、遊技領域３内に設けた入賞領域たる各種入賞口４…の何れかに入賞すると、各入賞口４…（例えば、第１入賞口〜第Ｎ入賞口）毎に設けた入賞口センサ（図示省略）によって当該入賞球が検出され、この検出信号に基づいて賞球が遊技者に与えられ、入賞口４…等の入賞領域に入賞しなかった球は、アウト口５より外れ球として回収される。
【００１５】
なお、入賞口への入賞に対して遊技者に付与するのは賞球に限定されるものではない。例えば、封入球式の遊技機（遊技者が実際の球を取り扱うことなく、機内に封入された球を循環させて弾球遊技を行えるようにした遊技機）においては、仮想的な球数データを追加するような形態で遊技価値を付与するようにしても良い。また、遊技者への付与対象となる遊技価値も、パチンコ球やメダル等の遊技媒体に限らず、種々の景品等を遊技者に与えるようにしても良い。
【００１６】
また、遊技領域３には、入賞口４…の他に始動入賞口６を設けてあり、この始動入賞口６に遊技球が入賞して、これを特図始動センサ（図示省略）が検出すると、遊技盤１の略中央に設けた大型の遊技装置（特別図柄表示装置）である中央表示装置７の表示部７１ａ（複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な液晶表示器等により構成）を用いて、複数の識別情報を変動表示する変動表示ゲームが開始される。なお、変動表示ゲームの開始・終了や後述する特別遊技など、パチンコ遊技を実現するための諸々の制御は、遊技機制御部（後に詳述）が行う。この遊技機制御部は、主制御装置（遊技制御装置）、第１副制御装置（演出制御装置）、第２副制御装置（排出・発射制御装置）、電源供給装置などの各種制御装置から構成される。
【００１７】
上記始動入賞口６は、例えば、ソレノイド等の電気的駆動源とリンク機構を介して接続された左右一対の可動片８ａ，８ａを備え、電気的駆動源の作動・停止に応じて、これら可動片８ａ，８ａが直立して遊技球を受け入れ難い閉状態と、可動片８ａ，８ａの上端を互いに離隔させるように開いて遊技球を受け入れ易い開状態とに変換する普通電動役物たる補助変動入賞装置８と一体に設けてある。なお、本例で示す補助変動入賞装置８は、閉状態においても遊技球を受け入れ可能なものとしたが、閉状態においては遊技球を一切受け入れない構造のものとしても良い。また、始動入賞口６は、補助変動入賞装置８のように遊技球の受け入れ状態が変化する入賞具と一体に設けないで、通常の入賞口として独立させて設けても良い。また、遊技領域３に複数の始動入賞口を設け、遊技球が入賞した始動入賞口の種別に応じて、補助変動入賞装置８の開成時間を異ならしめるようにしても良い。
【００１８】
上記補助変動入賞装置８には、例えば、数字の０〜９を変動表示可能な７セグメント式表示器等からなる小型の普通図柄表示器８ｂを設けておき、遊技領域の適所に設けた通過チャッカ９（通過する遊技球を検出する通過センサたる普図始動センサを備えた通過入賞口）へ遊技球が通過入賞すると、通過チャッカ９からの検出出力に基づいて遊技機制御部が普通図柄表示器８ｂによる変動表示を開始させ、所定時間経過後に停止表示させる普通変動表示ゲームを行う。このときの停止図柄が予め定めた特定図柄（例えば、３もしくは７）であった場合には、補助変動入賞装置８を用いた普通変動遊技開始条件が達成されるものとし、補助変動入賞装置８の可動片８ａ，８ａが比較的短時間だけ開状態に変換し、始動入賞口６への球入賞を容易にする普通変動遊技が行われる。
【００１９】
上記始動入賞口６への球入賞に基づき、遊技機制御部が中央表示装置７の表示部７１ａを用いて行う変動表示ゲームとは、例えば、３桁の数字や各種記号等を高速で変換表示した後に、所定の順序で停止表示させてゆき、３桁の停止表示態様が予め定めた特別結果態様（例えば、「０，０，０」「２，２，２」「３，３，３」「７，７，７」等、３桁の数字や記号が全て一致するぞろ目の停止態様）になると、特別遊技への遊技移行条件が達成され、例えば、横長四角形状の大入賞口（内部にて、更に、一般入賞口か特別入賞口の何れかに分別される入賞口。）を開閉板１０ａにより閉塞した第１状態と大入賞口へ球が入賞し得るように開閉板１０ａを開いた第２状態（開閉板１０ａの下辺部を軸にして前傾させるように開く事で、落下してきた遊技球を開閉板１０ａにより受け止めて大入賞口へ効率良く導く状態）とに変動可能な大入賞口装置たる変動入賞装置１０を用いた特別遊技が開始される。
【００２０】
なお、本実施形態に係る遊技機では、特別遊技への移行条件が達成される特別結果態様の中でも特に定めた特賞結果態様（例えば、奇数のぞろ目である「１，１，１」「３，３，３」「５，５，５」「７，７，７」「９，９，９」）になった場合には、変動表示ゲームで特別結果態様が発生する確率が普通の第１確率から、特別結果態様が発生する確率が第１確率よりも高い第２確率へ変更する（所謂、確変モードに変更する）ことで、次の特別遊技移行条件を達成し易くする特典を与えるものとした。
【００２１】
なお、本実施形態に係る遊技機では、変動表示ゲーム実行中に始動入賞口６への入賞球が検出されると、これを所定数（例えば、５０個）まで遊技機制御部で記憶しておき、変動表示ゲームの終了後に始動記憶に基づいて、次の変動表示ゲームを実行できるものとした。このように、変動表示ゲームの実行中でも始動入賞口６への入賞を記憶し、始動記憶による変動表示ゲームを行うようにすることで、変動表示ゲームの実行中に遊技を継続しても、始動入賞が無効にされるという遊技者の不利益を軽減できる。この始動入賞の記憶は、上限数５０個に限定されるものではなく、無制限（例えば、始動記憶用のメモリ領域を広げて、通常の遊技では上限に達しない数まで記憶可能とすることにより、実用上は無制限）で記憶可能としても良いし、４個程度の少数しか記憶しないものとしても良い。
【００２２】
また、確変モードになると、特定遊技状態の発生条件が満たされ、特定遊技状態となる。この特定遊技状態とは、単位時間当りにおける補助変動入賞装置８の開状態への変換時間を通常よりも長くするもので、例えば、普通変動遊技での補助変動入賞装置８の開放時間を長く（例えば、０．５秒から３秒へ変更）する開放延長遊技状態、普通変動表示ゲームの単位時間あたりの実行回数を増加させる時短遊技状態、普通変動表示ゲームが特定結果態様となる確率が通常より高くなる普通確率変動遊技状態などがある。
【００２３】
このように、単位時間当りにおける補助変動入賞装置８の開放時間を長くする特定遊技状態とすることで、補助変動入賞装置８に設けた始動入賞口９への球入賞を一層容易とし、始動入賞（もしくは始動記憶）による変動表示ゲームが頻繁に実行されるようにして、特別遊技への移行条件が早期に達成されるようにする。
【００２４】
しかも、確変モードで特別遊技移行条件が達成されて開始された特別遊技中も特定遊技状態とすることで、特別遊技中も始動記憶を増やし易いので、特別遊技の終了に伴い確変モードが終了した後にも始動記憶による変動表示ゲームが行われるため、確変モード終了後に遊技者の遊技意欲が減退してしまうことを抑制できる。
【００２５】
また、確変モードでの変動表示ゲームで特別結果態様（特賞結果態様ではない大当り）となり実行された特別遊技が終了して確変モードが終了した後にも、所定期間（例えば、変動表示ゲームを１００回行うまでの期間）は特定遊技状態を保持するものとし、確変モード終了後でも単位時間当りにおける補助変動入賞装置８の開放時間を長くすることにより、始動入賞口９への入賞を容易にして、始動記憶を増加させ易くし、確変モード終了後に遊技者の遊技意欲が減退してしまうことを、より効果的に抑制できるようにした。
【００２６】
特別遊技においては、変動入賞装置１０の第２状態変換時間が所定時間（例えば３０秒）に達するサイクル終了第１条件と、第２状態へ変換してから大入賞口への入賞球数が所定個数（例えば、１０個）に達するサイクル終了第２条件のうち、何れかの条件が達成されると、これを以てサイクル遊技の終了となり、サイクル遊技の実行中、若しくは、サイクル遊技の終了後に設ける所定時間幅の有効タイムが経過するまでに、大入賞口内の特別入賞口へ分別された入賞球を検出する球センサである特別入賞センサ（図示省略）から特別入賞検出信号が出力されると、サイクル遊技の継続条件が達成され、所定時間幅のウェイトタイム経過後に再びサイクル遊技を行い、サイクル遊技の更新条件が達成されなかった場合には、そのサイクル遊技を以て特別遊技が終了する。
【００２７】
このような特別遊技において、サイクル遊技の更新が困難なために１〜２回程度のサイクル遊技で特別遊技が終了してしまうと、短時間で遊技者の獲得利益を高めることができず、遊技者にとって大きな不満となるので、大入賞口内の特別入賞口へは比較的容易に球が入賞し易いようにしておく必要があるものの、サイクル遊技が際限なく更新されて遊技者の獲得利益が著しく増えると、遊技店の損失が大きくなるので、サイクル遊技の継続条件が連続して１５回達成され、サイクル遊技が計１６回実行されると、以後の継続更新は行わず、１６回目のサイクル遊技の終了を以て特別遊技を終了させるものとした。
【００２８】
なお、特別遊技の内容は、上述した例に限定されるものではなく、遊技者の獲得利益を高めるという特別遊技の趣旨に沿うように、適宜設定すれば良い。無論、普通変動表示ゲーム、普通変動遊技、変動表示ゲームなども、上述した例に限定されるものではない。また、普通変動表示ゲームを行うための普通図柄表示器８ｂを別途設けずに、中央表示装置７の表示部７１ａを用いて行うようにしても良い。
【００２９】
次に、変動表示ゲームを行うために用いる中央表示装置７の詳細な構造につき説明する。中央表示装置７は、図２に示すように、複数の識別情報を変動表示可能な表示部７１ａを有する表示装置本体７１と、この表示装置本体７１の前面側に配設されると共に、表示部７１ａを背面に臨ませる表示用開口窓部７２ｂを有する前面構成部材７２とからなる。なお、表示装置本体７１は、液晶パネルと表示制御基板とを一体化したユニット構造で、相当の重量があるため、そのまま前面構成部材７２へ装着せずに、遊技盤１の裏面へ強固に取り付けた表示装置取付補助部材７３へ表示装置本体７１を取り付け、表示装置取付補助部材７３に設けた表示用開口窓部７３ａを介して、表示部７１ａが前面構成部材７２の表示用開口窓部７２ａに臨むものとした。
【００３０】
上記前面構成部材７２は、表示用開口窓部７２ａの左側に位置させた左下演出ユニットとしての第１演出ユニット１１、表示用開口窓部７２ａの上部左側に位置させた左上演出ユニットとしての第２演出ユニット１２、表示用開口窓部７２ａの上部右側に位置させた右上演出ユニットとしての第３演出ユニット１３、表示用開口窓部７２ａの右側に位置させた右下演出ユニットとしての第４演出ユニット１４、表示用開口窓部７２ａの上部中央に位置させた第５演出ユニット１５、これら第１〜第５演出ユニット１１〜１５が取り付けられるベースユニット１６からなる（図３〜図５参照）。
【００３１】
上記ベースユニット１６には、遊技盤１の前面側へビス等により取り付けるための止着孔等を設けた取付部１６ａを形成した。また、ベースユニット１６には、始動入賞口９への入賞による変動表示ゲームの開始が保留されている始動記憶を所定数まで可視表示（例えば、発光表示）するための、第１演出ユニット１１の近傍にアラビア数字の“１”を模した第１始動記憶表示部１６ｂ１を、第２演出ユニット１２の近傍にアラビア数字の“２”を模した第２始動記憶表示部１６ｂ２を、第３演出ユニット１３の近傍にアラビア数字の“３”を模した第３始動記憶表示部１６ｂ３を、第４演出ユニット１４の近傍にアラビア数字の“４”を模した第４始動記憶表示部１６ｂ４を、夫々設けてあり、これら第１〜第４始動記憶表示部１６ｂ１〜１６ｂ４の点灯（或いは点滅）によって、始動記憶数が０〜４であることを遊技者が認識できるようにしてある。なお、上述したように、本実施形態に係る遊技機においては、保留にした始動入賞を５０個まで記憶するものとしたので、第１〜第４始動記憶表示部１６ｂ１〜１６ｂ４では５個以上の始動記憶を表示できないので、正確な始動記憶数を遊技者に表示するための始動記憶表示手段を別途設けても良いし、表示部７１ａの一部を用いて現在の始動記憶数を遊技者に可視表示するようにしても良い。
【００３２】
上記ベースユニット１６は、図６に示すように、取付ベース１６１、左鎧部材１６２、右鎧部材１６３、中央鎧部材１６４、第５演出ユニット取付枠１６５、前側窓枠１６６、後側窓枠１６７等からなる。
【００３３】
上記取付ベース１６１は、遊技盤１の中央表示装置取付開口１ａに嵌装されるもので、第１〜第５演出ユニット１１〜１５と表示用開口窓部７２ａを少なくとも包含し得る開口領域を備えた開口部１６１ａの開口縁部に所要幅の内周壁１６１ｂを形成すると共に、この内周壁１６１ｂの前縁部から外側に張り出した薄板状の前面板部１６１ｃを形成したものである。なお、前面板部１６１ｃの一部に止着孔を設けることで、取付部１６ａとして機能させる。
【００３４】
上記左鎧部材１６２と右鎧部材１６３と中央鎧部材１６４は、それぞれ前面側へ突出する外周壁１６２ａ，１６３ａ，１６４ａを有する凸状体に形成し、取付ベース１６１の前面側にこれらを取り付けると、上部から左右両側にかけて上方から流下する遊技球が外周壁１６２ａ，１６３ａ，１６４ａに当たったときに、これを左右に振り分けて流下させるものとなる。
【００３５】
また、上記左鎧部材１６２と右鎧部材１６３は何れも中空状とし、透光性材料で形成した左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８と右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９を夫々の内部に装着することで、左鎧部材１６２と右鎧部材１６３に適宜開設した光透過用貫通孔１６２ｂ…，光透過用貫通孔１６３ｂ…を、貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６８ａ…，貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６９ａ…で裏面から塞ぎ、裏面側からの光を前面側へ透過させる透光部を構成する。なお、上記左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８には第２演出ユニット用レンズ部１６８ｂを、右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９には第３演出ユニット用レンズ部１６９ｂを夫々形成してあり、これらの後方に配置される第２演出ユニット１２および第３演出ユニット１３の視認性を高めるようにしてある。これら透光部の一つとして、上述した第１〜第４始動記憶表示部１６ｂ１〜１６ｂ４の前面部が形成される。
【００３６】
上記中央鎧部材１６４の後に取り付けられる中央鎧部材用レンズ部材１７０は、透光性材料で形成すると共に、中央鎧部材１６４により遮蔽されない発光領域１７０ａが形成されるような形状とし、裏面側からの光を発光領域１７０ａから前面側へ透過させる。この中央レンズ部材１７０の裏面側と、その左右側方に連なる左鎧部材１６２（左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８）の上部右裏面側と右鎧部材１６３（右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９）の上部左裏面側に臨むように電気的発光源（豆球や発光ダイオード等）を配した上部中央発光基板１７１を取付ベース１６１の上部中央裏面側に取り付け、これによって、中央表示装置７の中央上部の発光演出を行うのである。なお、上部中央発光基板１７１の後方より基板カバー１７２を取り付けてある。
【００３７】
上記取付ベース１６１の裏面側に設けられる前側窓枠１６６には、上記表示用開口窓部７２ａの前側の内周壁を形する周壁部１６６ａと共に、左右両側方部には各々遊技球が通過可能な球受入口１６６ｂ，１６６ｂを前面上部に有する背面開口の左縦長凹室１６６ｃおよび右縦長凹室１６６ｄを形成した。これら左縦長凹室１６６ｃおよび右縦長凹室１６６ｄの下方部における周壁部１６６ａに欠截部を設け、夫々左球出口１６６ｅ，右球出口１６６ｆとする。また、左縦長凹室１６６ｃおよび右縦長凹室１６６ｄの外側適所には、球が抜け落ちない程度の開口である左流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｃ′と右流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｄ′を夫々設けてある。なお、本例で示す左縦長凹室１６６ｃおよび右縦長凹室１６６ｄは、側壁部を蛇行させて波形状としたが、これに限らず、例えば、直線状側壁部としても良い。
【００３８】
上記前側窓枠１６６の裏面側に設けられる後側窓枠１６７は、上記表示用開口窓部７２ａの後側の内周壁を形成する周壁部１６７ａと共に、左右両側方部には各々側方に延出して上記前側窓枠１６６の左縦長凹室１６６ｃおよび右縦長凹室１６６ｄの背面開口を各々塞ぐ板状の左延出部１６７ｂおよび右延出部１６７ｃを形成した。すなわち、前側窓枠１６６の裏面側に後側窓枠１６７を取り付けると、表示用開口窓部７２ａの左側には、球受入口１６６ｂから左縦長凹室１６６ｃを経て左球出口１６６ｅより周壁部１６６ａの底面に至る球流路が、表示用開口窓部７２ａの右側には、球受入口１６６ｂから右縦長凹室１６６ｄを経て右球出口１６６ｆより周壁部１６６ａの底面に至る球流路が、夫々形成される。
【００３９】
一方、上記取付ベース１６１には、後方より取り付けられた前側窓枠１６６の左側前面に設けた球受入口１６６ｂに達するように左側部適所より内側へ延出させて第２演出ユニット１２の装着部位と第１演出ユニット１１の装着部位を区画すると共に、球受入口１６６ｂに対応する部位で前後に貫通する貫通孔１６１ｄを設けた左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅと、後方より取り付けられた前側窓枠１６６の右側前面に設けた球受入口１６６ｂに達するように右側部適所より内側へ延出させて第３演出ユニット１３の装着部位と第４演出ユニット１４の装着部位を区画すると共に、球受入口１６６ｂに対応する部位で前後に貫通する貫通孔１６１ｄを設けた右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆと、を各々形成した。
【００４０】
また、左鎧部材１６２には、上記左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの前面側に取り付けられ、外周壁１６２ａの一部を欠截してなる球流入部１６２ｃから下り傾斜を経て左取付ベース区画部の貫通孔に至る背面開口の凹室１６２ｄ′を有する左鎧部材区画部１６２ｄを形成し、右鎧部材１６３には、上記右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの前面側に取り付けられ、外周壁１６３ａの一部を欠截してなる球流入部１６３ｃから下り傾斜を経て右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの貫通孔１６１ｄに至る背面開口の凹室１６３ｄ′を有する右鎧部材区画部１６３ｄを形成する。
【００４１】
斯く構成する事で、上記左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの前面と上記左鎧部材区画部１６２ｄの凹室内部とにより形成された左第１球流路１６ｃＬと、該左第１球流路１６ｃＬに連通する左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの貫通孔１６１ｄと、該貫通孔１６１ｄに連通する球受入口１６６ｂを有する前側窓枠１６６の左縦長凹室１６６ｃの背面開口を後側窓枠１６７の左延出部１６７ｂで塞いだ内側部開口の左第２球流路１６ｄＬとにより、上記遊技領域３を流下する遊技球Ｐを上記表示用開口窓部の内側（前側窓枠１６６の左球出口１６６ｅより周壁部１６６ａの底面左側）に誘導する左ワープ通路を構成する（図８中、ｃ−ｃ断面参照）。
【００４２】
同様に、上記右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの前面と上記右鎧部材区画部１６３ｄの凹室内部とにより形成された右第１球流路１６ｃＲと、該右第１球流路１６ｃＲに連通する右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの貫通孔１６１ｄと、該貫通孔１６１ｄに連通する球受入口１６６ｂを有する前側窓枠１６６の右縦長凹室１６６ｄの背面開口を後側窓枠１６７の右延出部１６７ｃで塞いだ内側部開口の右第２球流路１６ｄＲとにより、上記遊技領域３を流下する遊技球Ｐを上記表示用開口窓部の内側（前側窓枠１６６の右球出口１６６ｆより周壁部１６６ａの底面右側）に誘導する右ワープ通路を構成する（図８中、Ａ−Ａ断面参照）。
【００４３】
上記の様に構成した右ワープ通路および左ワープ通路から流下した遊技球が転動する前側窓枠１６６の内周壁１６６ａ底面には、遊技球を遊技領域の適所に設けた所要の入賞口に案内可能な球誘導面１６６ｇ′を有する球受けステージ１６６ｇを設けた。なお、本実施形態における所要の入賞口は始動入賞口６とし、球誘導面１６６ｇ′は、この始動入賞口６へ案内可能な構造となるように、以下の構成とした。
【００４４】
上記球誘導面１６６ｇ′は、中央部にかけて緩やかに盛り上がる表面形状の球受けステージ１６６の中央部に設けた窪みであり、この窪みに沿って後方へ誘導されると、後側窓枠１６７の周壁部１６７ａの底面に誘導球入口１６７ｄ′から有底凹部１６７ｄへ落下し、その底部で連なる前側窓枠１６６の球流路１６６ｈを経て取付ベース１６１の内周壁底面へ至る。この取付ベース１６１の内周壁１６１の中央下部には、上部に球受け面１７３ａを形成した球通路構成部材１７３を取り付け、該球通路構成部材１７３の中央下部に形成した球通過用凹部１７３ｂと取付ベース１６１の内周壁１６１とで囲まれた誘導球排出口１６ｅとなる。
【００４５】
すなわち、球誘導面１６６ｇ′に至った遊技球は、その凹面形状により奥側の誘導球入口１６７ｄ′から有底凹部１６７ｄ、前側窓枠１６６の球流路１６６ｈ、取付ベース１６１と球通路構成部材１７３からなる誘導球排出口１６ｅへ至る球誘導路が構成される。そして、球誘導路の流下端である誘導球排出口１６ｅは、始動入賞口１６の直上方へ開口するように、中央入賞装置７を遊技盤１へ取り付けてある（図１参照）。
【００４６】
このように、中央表示装置７における右ワープ通路および左ワープ通路から流下した遊技球が転動する球受けステージ１６６ｇの球誘導面１６６ｇ′は、球受けステージ１６６ｇよりも奥側に球入口を開口させた球誘導路へ案内し、該球誘導路の流下端を始動入賞口６の直上方に開口させることで、球誘導路を流下した遊技球が始動入賞口６へ入賞する可能性を高め、延いては、上記変動表示ゲームの始動条件を達成し易くするのである。
【００４７】
なお、球受けステージの形成箇所は、表示用開口窓部７２ａの内側底面部に限らず、表示用開口窓部７２ａよりも左右方向に広がりを持たせて、遊技球が転動する領域を広げるようにしても良い。また、球受けステージと球誘導案内面の構造は、上記のものに限らず、例えば、左右ワープ通路から流下した遊技球を中央表示装置７の前側中央部へ誘導して、始動入賞口９の直上方から落下させることにより、始動入賞口６へ入賞する可能性を高めるような構造としても良い。また、これら左右ワープ通路への入口近傍に配した釘や風車を微調整して、左右ワープ通路へ遊技球が誘導される確率を変えることにより、始動入賞口９への入賞率を調整することができる。
【００４８】
上記取付ベース１６１の開口部１６１ａにおける中央上部には、第５演出ユニット取付枠１６５を取り付けて、略円形の第５演出ユニット挿通壁１６５ａに第５演出ユニット１５を装着できるようにすると共に、第５演出ユニット取付枠１６５における左右両側の下部適所より外側方へ延出する左区画片１６５ｂと右区画片１６５ｃを設け、これら左右区画片１６５ｂ，１６５ｃが、取付ベース１６１の左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの内側端部および右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの内側端部の近傍に位置することにより、第２演出ユニット１２装着用の領域と第３演出ユニット１３装着用の領域とが形成される。
【００４９】
上記のようにして形成された第２演出ユニット１２装着用の領域前面には左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８の第２演出ユニット用レンズ部１６８ｂが、第３演出ユニット１３装着用の領域前面には右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９の第３演出ユニット用レンズ部１６９ｂが、各々位置することとなる。また、上記左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅを挟んで第２演出ユニット１２装着用領域の下方に形成される第１演出ユニット１１装着用の領域前面には、第１演出ユニット用レンズ部材１７４を配設し、上記右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆを挟んで第３演出ユニット１３装着用領域の下方に形成される第４演出ユニット１４装着用の領域前面には、第４演出ユニット用レンズ部材１７５を配設してある。
【００５０】
上記第５演出ユニット取付枠１６５へ内挿されて、適宜な固定手段で固定される第５演出ユニット１５は、透光性素材よりなる保持枠体１５ａの前面側に透光性素材で花の形状を模した装飾体１５ｂを配置し、保持枠体１５ｂの裏面側に発光源基板１５ｃを配置したもので、発光源基板１５ｃの電気的発光源（例えば、表示ＬＥＤ１５ｄ…）からの光が保持枠体１５ａおよび装飾体１５ｂを透過して、中央表示装置７の前面側から第５演出ユニット１５が光って見える（図９参照）。また、第５演出ユニット１５における視覚的な演出効果を高めるように、装飾体１５ｂを化学繊維で作成した造花としても良い。
【００５１】
第１演出ユニット１１は、演出レンズ部材１１１（任意形状のレンズ部面部１１１ａと、該レンズ面部１１１ａの周縁部より後方に延出する所要長さのリブ１１１ｂからなる。）と、この演出レンズ部材１１１の裏面側に配設される発光源基板１１２と、上記レンズ面部１１１ａの前面側に配置される可動演出キャラクタ１１３と、該可動演出キャラクタ１１３を動かすための電気的駆動源１１４と、該電気的駆動源１１４の駆動力を可動演出キャラクタ１１３に伝達するリンク機構（図示省略）とからなる。なお、演出レンズ部材１１１の少なくともレンズ面部１１１ａは透光性として、発光源基板１１２に取り付けられた複数の電気的発光源１１５（ランプや発光ダイオード等）からの光がレンズ面部１１１ａを透過可能なようにした。
【００５２】
上記第１演出ユニット１１の可動演出キャラクタ１１３は、例えば、第１パーツ１１３ａと第２パーツ１１３ｂと第３パーツ１１３ｃとからなり、電磁ソレノイドからなる電気的駆動源１１４の励磁によってプランジャ１１４ａが吸引されると、図１０に示すように、第１パーツ１１３ａは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＡ方向へ、第２パーツ１１３ｂは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＢ方向へ、第３パーツ１１３ｃは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＣ方向へ、夫々動く。
【００５３】
更に、第１演出ユニット１１には、可動演出キャラクタ１１３を駆動させる電気的駆動源１１４と適宜なリンク機構を介して接続される流下阻止部材１１６を設け、電気的駆動源１１４がオフの間は流下阻止部材１１６の端部が左第２球流路１６ｄＬの流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｃ′より流路内へ進入しない（左ワープ通路を流下する遊技球の流下を許容する）流下許容状態で、電気的駆動源１１４がオンになると流下阻止部材１１６の端部が左第２球流路１６ｄＬの流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｃ′より流路内へ進入する（左ワープ通路内における遊技球の流下を阻止する）流下阻止状態となる（図１１参照）。
【００５４】
すなわち、本実施形態の遊技機においては、中央表示装置７の第１演出ユニット１１における電気的駆動源１１４とリンク機構と流下阻止部材１１６とが協働することで、左ワープ通路を流下する遊技球の流下を許容する流下許容状態と、遊技球の流下を阻止する流下阻止状態とに変換可能な左流下状態変換手段として機能するのである。
【００５５】
第２演出ユニット１２は、演出レンズ部材１２１（任意形状のレンズ部面部１２１ａと、該レンズ面部１２１ａの周縁部より後方に延出する所要長さのリブ１２１ｂからなる。）と、この演出レンズ部材１２１の裏面側に配設される発光源基板１２２と、上記レンズ面部１２１ａの前面側に配置される可動演出キャラクタ１２３と、該可動演出キャラクタ１２３を動かすための電気的駆動源１２４と、該電気的駆動源１２４の駆動力を可動演出キャラクタ１２３に伝達するリンク機構（図示省略）とからなる。なお、演出レンズ部材１２１の少なくともレンズ面部１２１ａは透光性として、発光源基板１２２に取り付けられた複数の電気的発光源１２５（ランプや発光ダイオード等）からの光がレンズ面部１２１ａを透過可能なようにした。
【００５６】
上記第２演出ユニット１２の可動演出キャラクタ１２３は、例えば、第１パーツ１２３ａと第２パーツ１２３ｂと第３パーツ１２３ｃとからなり、電磁ソレノイドからなる電気的駆動源１２４の励磁によってプランジャ１２４ａが吸引されると、図１１に示すように、第１パーツ１２３ａは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＡ方向へ、第２パーツ１２３ｂは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＢ方向へ、第３パーツ１２３ｃは回動軸（図示省略）を支点に図中のＣ方向へ、夫々動く。
【００５７】
第３演出ユニット１３は、演出レンズ部材１３１（任意形状のレンズ部面部１３１ａと、該レンズ面部１３１ａの周縁部より後方に延出する所要長さのリブ１３１ｂからなる。）と、この演出レンズ部材１３１の裏面側に配設される発光源基板１３２と、上記レンズ面部１３１ａの前面側に配置される可動演出キャラクタ１３３と、該可動演出キャラクタ１３３を動かすための電気的駆動源１３４と、該電気的駆動源１３４の駆動力を可動演出キャラクタ１３３に伝達するリンク機構（図示省略）とからなる。なお、演出レンズ部材１３１の少なくともレンズ面部１３１ａは透光性として、発光源基板１３２に取り付けられた複数の電気的発光源１３５（ランプや発光ダイオード等）からの光がレンズ面部１３１ａを透過可能なようにした。また、可動演出キャラクタ１３３は、上述した第１演出ユニット１１や第２演出ユニット１２と同様に、複数のパーツが電気的駆動源１３４のＯＮ／ＯＦＦに応じて適宜に動作するもので、詳細な説明は省略する。
【００５８】
第４演出ユニット１４は、演出レンズ部材１４１（任意形状のレンズ部面部１４１ａと、該レンズ面部１４１ａの周縁部より後方に延出する所要長さのリブ１４１ｂからなる。）と、この演出レンズ部材１４１の裏面側に配設される発光源基板１４２と、上記レンズ面部１４１ａの前面側に配置される可動演出キャラクタ１４３と、該可動演出キャラクタ１４３を動かすための電気的駆動源１４４と、該電気的駆動源１４４の駆動力を可動演出キャラクタ１４３に伝達するリンク機構（図示省略）とからなる。なお、演出レンズ部材１４１の少なくともレンズ面部１４１ａは透光性として、発光源基板１４２に取り付けられた複数の電気的発光源１４５（ランプや発光ダイオード等）からの光がレンズ面部１４１ａを透過可能なようにした。また、可動演出キャラクタ１４３は、上述した第１演出ユニット１１や第２演出ユニット１２と同様に、複数のパーツが電気的駆動源１４４のＯＮ／ＯＦＦに応じて適宜に動作するもので、詳細な説明は省略する。
【００５９】
更に、第４演出ユニット１４には、可動演出キャラクタ１４３を駆動させる電気的駆動源１４４と適宜なリンク機構を介して接続される流下阻止部材１４６を設け、電気的駆動源１４４がオフの間は流下阻止部材１４６の端部が右第２球流路１６ｄＲの流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｄ′より流路内へ進入しない（右ワープ通路を流下する遊技球の流下を許容する）流下許容状態で、電気的駆動源１４４がオンになると流下阻止部材１４６の端部が右第２球流路１６ｄＲの流下阻止部材用開口部１６６ｄ′より流路内へ進入する（右ワープ通路内における遊技球の流下を阻止する）流下阻止状態となる。
【００６０】
すなわち、本実施形態の遊技機においては、中央表示装置７の第４演出ユニット１４における電気的駆動源１４４とリンク機構と流下阻止部材１４６とが協働することで、右ワープ通路を流下する遊技球の流下を許容する流下許容状態と、遊技球の流下を阻止する流下阻止状態とに変換可能な右流下状態変換手段として機能するのである。
【００６１】
このように、左右ワープ通路に各々設けた左右流下状態変換手段は、電気的駆動源によって動作する一つ以上の可動パーツを遊技機の前面側より視認可能な状態で設けた可動演出手段たる第１，第４演出ユニット１１，１４の左右流下阻止部材１１６，１４６（可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１４３の動きと連係して動作する可動パーツ）がワープ通路の球流路内に突出することで流下阻止状態を生ぜしめ、左右流下阻止部材１１６，１４６がワープ通路の球流路から退くことで流下許容状態を生ぜしめるものとしたので、流下状態変換手段が流下阻止状態にあるか流下許容状態にあるかを、第１，第４演出ユニット１１，１４の可動パーツ（可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１４３および左右流下阻止部材１１６，１４６）の状態として遊技者に認識させることができ、演出的効果を高めることができる。しかも、第１，第４演出ユニット１１，１４に流下状態変換手段の機能を兼ねさせるので、コストダウンと省スペース化を期せるという利点もある。
【００６２】
なお、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４の電気的駆動源１１４〜１４４にはラッチングソレノイドを用いることで、電源断等により電気的駆動源１１４〜１４４への給電が断たれても、可動演出キャラクタ１１３〜１４３や左右流下阻止部材１１６，１４６は、そのままの状態を保持するものとした。しかしながら、電気的駆動源１１４〜１４４は、これに限らず、通常のソレノイドやモータなどを用いても良い。
【００６３】
上述した第１〜第５演出ユニット１１〜１５は、電気的発光源１１５，１２５，１３５，１４５，１５ｄを点灯・点滅させたり、可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１２３，１３３，１４３を動作させることで、種々の演出に用いる事ができるが、中央表示装置７で行う変動表示ゲームに関する演出に用いると、効果的である。変動表示ゲームにおいて、変動表示される三桁のうち二桁までが同じ図柄に揃ったリーチ状態になった時に第１〜第５演出ユニット１１〜１５を作動させて、遊技者の注意を中央表示装置７へ惹きつけるようにしても良い。
【００６４】
また、変動表示ゲームの開始条件である始動入賞の記憶数に応じて、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４による演出動作を行うようにしても良い。例えば、始動記憶数が“１”のときは第１演出ユニット１１の電気的発光源１１５を点灯させ、始動記憶数が“２”のときは第２演出ユニット１２の電気的発光源１２５を点灯させ、始動記憶数が“３”のときは第３演出ユニット１３の電気的発光源１３５を点灯させ、始動記憶数が“４”のときは第４演出ユニット１４の電気的発光源１４５を点灯させるのである。これと併せて、可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１２３，１３３，１４３を動作させても良い。また、始動記憶の数が５以上の場合には、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４を全て点滅・点灯させたりして、その旨を遊技者に報らせるようにしても良い。
【００６５】
更に、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４を用いて行う演出としては、始動記憶の有無だけではなく、始動記憶の内容に応じた動作を行うものでも良い。変動表示ゲームを行う遊技機においては、始動入賞口６への入賞球が検出された時点で、その始動入賞に基づいて行う変動表示ゲームの結果を乱数により決定するもので、始動入賞記憶と併せて変動表示ゲームの結果が記憶されているので、その始動記憶に対して特別結果態様を発生させるか否かが分かる。そこで、特別結果態様を発生させる始動記憶の他に特別結果態様を発生させない始動記憶を適宜に含ませる等して特別結果態様の発生に対する信頼度が比較的高い確率（遊技者が期待を持てる程度に信頼できるよう、予め定めた確率）となるように信頼度予告の有無を決定し、信頼度予告を行うものと決定した始動記憶に対応する発光表示を行っている第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４に対しては、可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１２３，１３３，１４３を動作させる事により、特別結果態様の発生可能性に対する信頼度予告を行う事ができる。同様の手法により、特賞結果態様に対する信頼度予告を行っても良い。
【００６６】
なお、本実施形態に係る遊技機での始動記憶の上限は５０としたので、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４では全ての始動記憶に対する信頼度予告を行えないので、信頼度予告のための表示手段を別途設けるようにしても良い。しかしながら、始動記憶が消費されて変動表示ゲームが実行されると、後続の始動記憶の順位が上がって行くので、少なくとも４回目までの変動表示ゲームに対する信頼度予告を行うことは可能であるから、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４に対応する始動記憶分の信頼度予告を行うだけでも興趣を高めることができる。
【００６７】
上述した第１演出ユニット１１と第２演出ユニット１２の間に形成される左第１球流路１６ｃＬの後側縦壁となる左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅには左第１球流路１６ｃＬに沿った貫通孔よりなる左後方透光部１６１ｇを形成し、第３演出ユニット１３と第４演出ユニット１４の間に形成される右第１球流路１６ｃＲの後側縦壁となる右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆには右第１球流路１６ｃＲに沿った貫通孔よりなる右後方透光部１６１ｈを形成して、左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅおよび右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの背面側からの光を前方へ透過させる。なお、左後方透光部１６１ｇおよび右後方透光部１６１ｈは貫通孔に限らず、貫通孔にレンズを設けたものでも良いし、透光性素材によって取付ベース１６１を形成し、透光部になる部位を除いて印刷または塗装したり、或いはシールを貼ったりして、右後方透光部および左後方透光部を形成するようにしても良い。
【００６８】
そして、左第１球流路１６ｃＬの前側縦壁となる左鎧部材区画部１６２ｄには、光透過用貫通孔１６２ｃを左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８の貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６８ａで閉塞してなる左前方透光部１６２ｄ″を配して、上記左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの左後方透光部１６１ｇを透過した光を左鎧部材１６２の前方へ透過させ、右第１球流路１６ｃＲの前側縦壁となる右鎧部材区画部１６３ｄには、光透過用貫通孔１６３ｂを右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９の貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６９ａで閉塞してなる右前方透光部１６３ｄ″を配して、上記右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの右後方透光部１６１ｈを透過した光を右鎧部材１６３の前方へ透過させる。なお、左前方透光部１６２ｄ″および右前方透光部１６３ｄ″は貫通孔をレンズで塞いだものに限らず、貫通孔のままでも良いし、透光性素材によって左鎧部材１６２および右鎧部材１６３を形成し、透光部になる部位を除いて印刷または塗装したり、或いはシールを貼ったりして、右前方透光部および左前方透光部を形成するようにしても良い。
【００６９】
上記のようにして、左第１球流路１６ｃＬにおける後側縦壁の左後方透光部１６１ｇから前側縦壁の左前方透光部１６２ｄ″へ光を透過させるための発光源と、右第１球流路１６ｃＲにおける後側縦壁の右後方透光部１６１ｈから前側縦壁の右前方透光部１６３ｄ″へ光を透過させるための発光源は、取付ベース１６１の背面側所定部位に設ければよいが、本実施形態に係る遊技機の中央表示装置７においては、第２演出ユニット１２に設ける発光源と第３演出ユニット１３に設ける発光源を、これに充てるものとした。
【００７０】
すなわち、上記取付ベース１６１の左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの上方に装着される第２演出ユニット１２の発光源基板１２２に、少なくとも左第１球流路１６ｃＬの背面側に達する所要形状の基板延出部１２２′を形成し、左取付ベース区画部１６１ｅの後方透光部１６１ｇの後方に球流路照射用電気的発光源としての電気的発光源１２５…を位置させ、また、上記取付ベース１６１の右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの上方に装着される第３演出ユニット１３の発光源基板１３２に、少なくとも右第１球流路１６ｃＲの背面側に達する所要形状の基板延出部１３２′を形成し、右取付ベース区画部１６１ｆの後方透光部１６１ｈの後方に球流路照射用電気的発光源としての電気的発光源１３５…を位置させるのである。なお、上記発光源基板１２２には第１始動記憶表示部１６ｂ１および第２始動記憶表示部１６ｂ２の表示用発光源を、上記発光源基板１３２には第３始動記憶表示部１６ｂ３および第４始動記憶表示部１６ｂ４の表示用発光源を設けるものとした。
【００７１】
なお、上記の例では、左右第１球流路１６ｃＬ，１６ｃＲの上方に位置する第２，第３演出ユニット１２，１３に基板延出部を形成して球流路照明用電気的発光源を設けるものとしたが、これに限らず、第１演出ユニット１１および第４演出ユニット１４に基板演出部を形成して、球流路照明用電気的発光源を設けても良い。或いは、第１演出ユニット１１と第２演出ユニットの双方に基板延出部を形成して、左第１球流路１６ｃＬの流下域をカバーするように球流路照明用電気的発光源を設けたり、第３演出ユニット１３と第４演出ユニットの双方に基板延出部を形成して、右第１球流路１６ｃＲの流下域をカバーするように球流路照明用電気的発光源を設けたりしても良い。
【００７２】
上記左鎧部材１６２は、第１演出ユニット１１の外側部を囲うように、左鎧部材区画部１６２ｄよりも下方へ取付ベース１６１の外形に沿って延び出す左下方延出部１６２ｅを備えるものとし、該左下方延出部１６２ｅには、外周壁１６２ａの一部を欠截してなる下部球流入部１６２ｆから下り傾斜を経て下方端部へ至る背面開口の凹室１６２ｅ′を形成することで、左下方延出部１６２ｅの凹室１６２ａ′と取付ベース１６１の前面板部１６１ｃとにより左第３球流路１６ｆＬを構成する。
【００７３】
上記右鎧部材１６３は、第４演出ユニット１４の外側部を囲うように、右鎧部材区画部１６３ｄよりも下方へ取付ベース１６１の外形に沿って延び出す右下方延出部１６３ｅを備えるものとし、該右下方延出部１６３ｅには、外周壁１６３ａの一部を欠截してなる下部球流入部１６３ｆから下り傾斜を経て下方端部へ至る背面開口の凹室１６３ｅ′を形成することで、右下方延出部１６３ｅの凹室１６３ａ′と取付ベース１６１の前面板部１６１ｃとにより右第３球流路１６ｆＲを構成する。
【００７４】
そして、上記左第３球流路１６ｆＬを経て左下方延出部１６２ｅの流下端から遊技領域３へ飛び出した遊技球が始動入賞口９の近傍へ至る確率が高くなるように、左補助誘導手段３ａとして始動入賞口９の上方近傍へ連なる遊技釘列を設けておく。これにより、左第３球流路１６ｆＬが、遊技領域３を流下する遊技球を受け入れて左下演出ユニットたる第１演出ユニット１の外側から始動入賞口９の近傍へ案内する左第１案内通路として機能する。
【００７５】
同様に、上記右第３球流路１６ｆＲを経て右下方延出部１６３ｅの流下端から遊技領域３へ飛び出した遊技球が始動入賞口９の近傍へ至る確率が高くなるように、右補助誘導手段３ｂとして始動入賞口９の上方近傍へ連なる遊技釘列を設けておく。これにより、右第３球流路１６ｆＲが、遊技領域３を流下する遊技球を受け入れて右下演出ユニットたる第１演出ユニット１の外側から始動入賞口９の近傍へ案内する右第１案内通路として機能する。
【００７６】
また、上記左第３球流路１６ｆＬの後側縦壁となる取付ベース１６１前面板部１６１ｃに左第３球流路１６ｆＬに沿った貫通孔よりなる左下部後方透光部１６１ｉを形成して、前面板部１６１ｃの背面側からの光を前方へ透過させるようにし、同様に、右第３球流路１６ｆＲの後側縦壁となる取付ベース１６１前面板部１６１ｃに右第３球流路１６ｆＲに沿った貫通孔よりなる右下部後方透光部１６１ｊを形成して、前面板部１６１ｃの背面側からの光を前方へ透過させるようにした。なお、左下部後方透光部１６１ｉおよび右下部後方透光部１６１ｊは貫通孔に限らず、貫通孔にレンズを設けたものでも良いし、透光性素材によって取付ベース１６１を形成し、透光部になる部位を除いて印刷または塗装したり、或いはシールを貼ったりして、右下部後方透光部および左下部後方透光部を形成するようにしても良い。
【００７７】
そして、左第３球流路１６ｆＬの前側縦壁となる左下方延出部１６２ｅには、光透過用貫通孔１６２ｂを左鎧部材用レンズ部材１６８の貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６８ａで閉塞してなる左下部前方透光部１６２ｅ″を配して、上記左取付ベース１６１ｅの左下部後方透光部１６１ｉを透過した光を左鎧部材１６２の前方へ透過させ、右第３球流路１６ｆＲの前側縦壁となる右下方延出部１６３ｅには、光透過用貫通孔１６３ｂを右鎧部材用レンズ部材１６９の貫通孔閉塞用レンズ部１６９ａで閉塞してなる右下部前方透光部１６３ｅ″を配して、上記右取付ベース１６１の右下部後方透光部１６１ｊを透過した光を右鎧部材１６３の前方へ透過させる。なお、左下部前方透光部１６２ｅ″および右下部前方透光部１６３ｅ″は貫通孔をレンズで塞いだものに限らず、貫通孔のままでも良いし、透光性素材によって左鎧部材１６２および右鎧部材１６３を形成し、透光部になる部位を除いて印刷または塗装したり、或いはシールを貼ったりして、右下部前方透光部および左下部前方透光部を形成するようにしても良い。
【００７８】
上記のようにして、左第３球流路１６ｆＬにおける後側縦壁の左下部後方透光部１６１ｉから前側縦壁の左下部前方透光部１６２ｅ″へ光を透過させるための発光源と、右第３球流路１６ｆＲにおける後側縦壁の右下部後方透光部１６１ｊから前側縦壁の右下部前方透光部１６３ｅ″へ光を透過させるための発光源は、取付ベース１６１の背面側所定部位に設ければよいが、本実施形態に係る遊技機の中央表示装置７においては、左下演出ユニットである第１演出ユニット１１に設ける発光源と右下演出ユニットである第４演出ユニット１４に設ける発光源を、これに充てるものとした。
【００７９】
すなわち、左下方延出部１６２ｅの内側に配される第１演出ユニット１１の発光源基板１１２には、少なくとも左第３球流路１６ｆＬの背面側に達する所要形状の下部基板延出部１１２′を形成し、上記右下方延出部１６３ｅの内側に配される第４演出ユニット１４の発光源基板１４２には、少なくとも右第３球流路１６ｆＲの背面側に達する所要形状の下部基板延出部１４２′を形成し、取付ベース１６１の前面板部１６１ｃの左右下部後方透光部１６１ｉ，１６１ｊの後方に案内通路照射用電気的発光源としての電気的発光源１１５…，１４５…を位置させるのである。
【００８０】
また、取付ベース１６１の前面板部１６１ｃの左右両側下方部は、左右下部後方透光部１６１ｉ，１６１ｊよりも更に下方まで延在させて左案内部材取付部１６１ｃ′Ｌおよび右案内部材取付部１６１ｃ′Ｒを各々形成し、上面に球流下面１７６ａを有する任意形状の左案内部材１７６を左案内部材取付部１６１ｃ′Ｌに取り付けることで、上記左鎧部材１６２の左下方延出部１６２ｅと左案内部材１７６との間に左第４球流路１６ｇＬを形成し、同様に、上面に球流下面１７７ａを有する任意形状の右案内部材１７７を右案内部材取付部１６１ｃ′Ｒに取り付けることで、上記右鎧部材１６３の右下方延出部１６３ｅと右案内部材１７７との間に右第４球流路１６ｇＲを形成する。
【００８１】
そして、左第４球流路１６ｇＬを通って遊技領域３へ飛び出した遊技球および右第４球流路１６ｇＲを通って遊技領域３へ飛び出した遊技球が上記始動入賞口９の近傍へ至る確率が高くなるように、上記した左右補助誘導手段３ａ，３ｂを遊技領域３の適所に設けておくことにより、左第４球流路１６ｇＬが、中央入賞装置７の外側から受け入れた遊技球を始動入賞口９の近傍へ案内する左第２案内通路として機能し、右第４球流路１６ｇＲが、中央入賞装置７の外側から受け入れた遊技球を始動入賞口９の近傍へ案内する右第２案内通路として機能する。
【００８２】
次に、上述した中央表示装置７等の実際の制御を行うことで、パチンコ遊技を実現する遊技機制御部につき詳述する。遊技機制御部は、例えば、主制御装置２０，第１副制御装置２１，第２副制御装置２２，電源供給装置２３からなり、これらの装置群が協働することで、遊技機能を実現する。
【００８３】
主制御装置２０は、ＣＰＵ，ＲＯＭ，ＲＡＭを有する遊技用マイクロコンピュータ２０ａが発振器２０ｂからの基準周波信号を受けて動作し、入出力インターフェース２０ｃを介して、第１〜第Ｎ入賞口に各々設けた入賞口センサ２４…からの入賞球検出信号、通過チャッカ４への通過球を検出する普図始動センサ２５からの通過球検出信号、始動入賞口９への入賞球を検出する特図始動センサ２６からの入賞球検出信号、変動入賞装置１０における大入賞口の一般入賞口へ入賞した入賞球を検出する一般入賞センサ２７からの一般入賞球検出信号、変動入賞装置１０における大入賞口の特別入賞口へ入賞した入賞球を検出する特別入賞センサ２８からの特別入賞球検出信号などが遊技情報として入力され、これらの遊技情報に応じて、種々の制御信号や情報信号などを入出力インターフェース２０ｃを介して出力する。
【００８４】
主制御装置２０から補助変動入賞装置８へは、普通変動遊技の開始条件成立により普電用ソレノイド２９へ駆動信号を送出して、補助変動入賞装置８の可動片８ａ，８ａを開閉させる普通変動遊技を実行し、普通変動表示ゲームの開始条件成立により普通図柄表示器８ｂへ変動表示信号を送出して、普通図柄表示器８ｂによる普通変動表示ゲームを実行する。また、本実施形態に係る遊技機では、普通変動表示ゲームの実行中に通過チャッカ９を通過して普図始動センサ２５から通過球検出信号を受けた時に、これを無効とせずに、主制御装置２０が所定数（例えば、４個）まで記憶保持するものとしたので、この普通変動表示ゲームの開始を保留している普図記憶の記憶数を普図記憶表示器３０にて表示するものとした。
【００８５】
主制御装置２０から変動入賞装置１０へは、特別遊技の開始条件成立（変動表示ゲームの停止結果が特別結果態様）で大入賞口を開かせるためのソレノイド駆動信号を大入賞口用ソレノイド３１へ送出して、個々のサイクル遊技を実行させ、また、サイクル遊技の更新条件である特別入賞センサ２８からの特別入賞球検出信号により、再びソレノイド駆動信号を大入賞口用ソレノイド３１へ送出してサイクル遊技を更新させ、特別遊技の終了条件が達成されるまで特別遊技を実行させるのである。
【００８６】
主制御装置２０から第１副制御装置２１へは、単方向通信で、演出関連のコマンドやデータが送信される。例えば、変動表示ゲーム情報として、変動表示開始信号（変動表示の開始を指示する信号），変動表示パターンコマンド（例えば、リーチ動作の有無や行うリーチ動作の種別など），停止図柄データ（特別結果態様の当り図柄、特賞結果態様の当り図柄、外れ図柄といった停止態様を示すデータ），変動表示停止信号（変動表示の停止を指示する信号）が主制御装置２０から第１副制御装置２１へ送られ、第１副制御装置２１が中央表示装置７を制御して変動表示ゲームが実行される。すなわち、本実施形態に係る遊技機においては、「中央表示装置を用いた変動表示ゲームを実行する変動表示ゲーム実行手段」としての機能を、主制御装置２０と第１副制御装置２１とによって実現した。
【００８７】
また、特図始動記憶数コマンドとして、記憶演出コマンド（始動記憶に対応する演出動作を指示するコマンド）や流下動作コマンド（始動記憶数が４個に達すると流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換させ、始動記憶数が４個未満になると流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態から流下許容状態に変換させる指令信号）が主制御装置２０から第１副制御装置２１へ送られると、第１副制御装置２１は、中央表示装置７における記憶１表示ＬＥＤ３２ａ，記憶２表示ＬＥＤ３２ｂ，記憶３表示ＬＥＤ３２ｃ，記憶３表示ＬＥＤ３２ｄを点灯させたり、第１〜第４演出ユニット１１〜１４の電気的駆動源１１４，１２４，１３４，１４４を駆動制御したりすることで、始動記憶数や信頼度の演出を視覚的に行ったり、第１演出ユニット１１の左流下阻止部材１１６や第４演出ユニット１４の右流下阻止部材１４６によるワープ通路内の球貯留／貯留球放出などの動作制御を行う。なお、第１副制御装置２１は、中央表示装置７の装飾ランプＬＥＤ３３の発光制御を行ったり、スピーカ３４から音声出力させることで、その他の演出制御も行う。
【００８８】
上述したように、本実施形態においては、「変動表示ゲーム実行手段による変動表示ゲームの実行中において始動条件が成立した場合に、この始動条件成立を、その後に変動表示ゲームを実行させるための始動記憶として記憶可能な始動記憶手段」としての機能を主制御装置２０によって実現し、「流下状態変換手段の変換動作を制御する流下状態変換制御手段」としての機能を主制御装置２０と第１副制御装置２１によって実現した。よって、この流下状態変換手段は、始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が予め定めた所定数（例えば４個）に達すると、流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換し、その後の変動表示ゲームの実行により始動記憶が減ぜられて、始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が所定数（例えば４個）未満になると、流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態から流下許容状態に変換する機能を有するのである。
【００８９】
この流下状態変換制御手段が、上述したように、始動記憶数に応じて流下状態変換手段の変換制御を行えば、始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が所定数に達した後は、ワープ通路に遊技球が貯留されてゆき、始動記憶数が所定数未満になると、ワープ通路に貯留された遊技球が解放されて球受けステージ１６６ｇの球誘導面１６６ｇ′から始動入賞口９へ案内され、始動記憶を増やすことができるのである。
【００９０】
すなわち、所謂スランプ状態になって始動入賞口９へ遊技球が入賞しなくなっても、始動記憶に基づく変動表示ゲームが行われている間に、ワープ通路に貯留させた遊技球を始動入賞口９へ入賞させて始動記憶を増やすことができるので、遊技者にスランプ状態を感じさせることなく、スランプ状態中も始動入賞口９への入賞球を発生させることが可能となり、スランプ状態が解消されるまで変動表示ゲームをコンスタントに実行できる可能性が高まるので、スランプ状態になっても遊技者に不快感やストレスを与えることなく遊技を継続させることの可能な遊技機となる。
【００９１】
しかも、ワープ通路における球流路の流路長と流下状態変換手段の配設位置（上記の例では、左右第２球流路１６ｄＬ，１６ｄＲの下部）を適宜に設定することにより、当該遊技機で発生するスランプ状態に適した貯留数を確保できるように、ワープ通路の球流路内に貯留可能な遊技球の上限数を設定できるという利点もある。
【００９２】
なお、上記の例では、流下状態変換手段としての機能を第１演出ユニット１１および第４演出ユニット１４に設けるものとし、可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１４３の動作と連動させて、流下阻止状態と流下許容状態を生ぜしめるものとし、流下状態変換手段の状態を可動演出キャラクタ１１３，１４３の状態によって遊技者が確認できるものとしたが、これに限らず、別途に流下状態変換手段を設けても良い。無論、流下阻止状態と流下許容状態に変換させるための構造も、上記の例に限らず、ワープ通路の適所で遊技球の流下を止めたり開放したりできる構造であれば、如何様に構成しても構わない。
【００９３】
また、流下状態変換手段の制御として、例えば、始動記憶数が所定数未満となって流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換した場合は、始動記憶数が４に達すると直ぐに閉止するものとせず、ワープ通路内に貯留されていた遊技球が全て球受けステージ１６６ｇへ放出されるのに必要十分な時間が経過するまで流下許容状態を維持する制御とし、始動記憶の数を一気に増やす様にしても良い。なお、本実施形態に係る遊技機の中央入賞装置７では、ワープ通路から解放されて球受けステージ１６６ｇに至った遊技球が球誘導面１６６ｇ′から後方の誘導球入口１６７ｄ′に入って誘導球排出口１６ｅから排出されて遊技盤面上を流下し、始動入賞口９に入賞して特図始動センサ２６に検出されるまでに２秒程度の時間を要する構造としたので、左右ワープ通路内の最上流側（左右第１球流路１６ｃＬ，１６ｃＲへの球入口）まで遊技球が貯留されていても、これら全てが一気に開放されるまで流下状態変換手段が流下阻止状態に変換することは無い。
【００９４】
上記のように左右ワープ通路内の遊技球を一気に開放する制御とせずに、遊技球が２〜３個程度排出される比較的短い時間だけ流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させる制御としても良いし、遊技球を１個宛て排出する制御（例えば、遊技球が１個のみ通過するのに必要十分な時間だけ流下許容状態に変換して再び流下阻止状態に戻す制御や、流下阻止部材による球止め位置の直下方に設けた球検出器が開放された遊技球を検出したタイミングで再び流下阻止状態に戻す制御など）としても良い。
【００９５】
また、始動記憶手段の記憶可能な始動記憶の上限数を４個（流下状態変換制御手段が流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換する所定数に等しい数）とした場合、始動記憶が上限数よりも少なくなると、流下状態変換制御手段による流下状態変換手段の状態変換によりワープ通路内に貯留された遊技球が解放されて始動入賞口９へ入賞する可能性が高まるので、速やかに始動記憶を上限値に埋め合わせることができる。これにより、入賞記憶が上限値を保っていると遊技者が認識できるので、スランプ状態を遊技者が意識することなく、安心して遊技を行えるし、止め打ち（始動記憶手段の記憶する始動記憶が上限数に達した場合、それ以上の始動入賞口への球入賞が記憶されることなく無効となることから、それ以上の遊技球の発射を止めて始動記憶が消化されるのを待つ遊技手法）の抑止にも効果がある。
【００９６】
上記のように、流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換する所定数を上限数に設定した場合、始動記憶に基づく変動表示ゲームが終了して後続の始動記憶が消費されると、すぐに流下状態変換手段が流下許容状態に変換されるため、比較的短い周期でワープ通路内の貯留球が開放されることとなり、ワープ通路の解放時に多量の遊技球がワープ通路内に貯留されている可能性は低いので、最先の始動入賞により始動記憶数が上限値になった後に始動入賞口９へ入賞する遊技球（始動記憶の加算対象から除外される球）の数は大して多くないし、始動記憶の対象外となっても、始動入賞口９への入賞に対する賞価値（所定数の賞球）は与えられるので、これによる遊技者の不利益は実質的に大きな問題とはならない。
【００９７】
とはいえ、始動入賞口９へ入賞したにも拘わらず、これらの入賞球が始動記憶の対象除外とされることが、遊技者にとっては大きな不満となる可能性もある。そこで、上述したような、ワープ通路内の遊技球を１個宛て排出する制御（例えば、遊技球が１個のみ通過するのに必要十分な時間だけ流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換して再び流下阻止状態に戻し、この時に開放された遊技球が始動入賞口９へ到達するのに必要十分な時間だけウェイトタイムを設け、その間に特図始動センサ２６の始動入賞球検出による始動記憶の加算が行われなければ、再び流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換して遊技球を１個のみ開放し、以後、始動記憶が上限値に達するまで同様の動作を繰り返す制御）を行えば、始動記憶数が上限値未満になる毎に、再び始動記憶数を上限値に戻すことができるし、始動入賞口９への入賞球が始動記憶の加算対象から除外されることもないので、遊技者の不満解消に効果的である。
【００９８】
また、本実施形態に係る遊技機に設けた中央表示装置７では、球受けステージ１６６ｇの左右両側に左球出口１６６ｅ（左ワープ通路の流下端）と右球出口１６６ｆ（右ワープ通路の流下端）を各々設け、球受けステージ１６６ｇの中央部に球誘導面１６６ｇ′を形成したので、左右両側のワープ通路から同時に遊技球が開放されて、同じタイミングで球受けステージ１６６ｇの中央に達すると、双方の遊技球がぶつかって球誘導面１６６ｇ′へうまく乗らず、始動入賞口９への誘導を効果的に行えない可能性がある。
【００９９】
そこで、流下状態変換制御手段には、「始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が所定数未満になって、流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態から流下許容状態に変換する場合に、左流下状態変換手段もしくは右流下状態変換手段のどちらか一方を先に流下許容状態に変換させ、その所定時間経過後に、未だ流下阻止状態にある他方の流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態へ変換させ、始動記憶手段の始動記憶数が所定数に達するまで、左流下状態変換手段と右流下状態変換手段を交互に状態変換させる時差変換実行機能」を設けた。
【０１００】
すなわち、流下状態変換手段の時差変換実行機能により、左ワープ通路もしくは右ワープ通路の何れか一方のみが先に解放されて、片側のワープ通路内に貯留された遊技球が球受けステージ１６６ｇへ放出されるので、左右両側から同時に球受けステージ１６６ｇ中央の球誘導面１６６ｇ′へ転動して来た遊技球がぶつかり合って、始動入賞口へ入賞する可能性を失うことを効果的に防止できる。しかも、遊技者は、左ワープ通路から開放された遊技球が始動入賞口９へ入賞する過程と、右ワープ通路から解放された遊技球が始動入賞口９へ入賞する過程を目にするので、始動入賞口９への入賞に対する期待感を２度味わうことができ、一層興趣の高いものとなる。なお、他方のワープ通路の遊技球を開放するまでの時差である所定時間としては、先に開放されて球受けステージ１６６に至った全ての遊技球が球誘導面１６６ｇ′（球受けステージ１６６の中央部）近傍にいなくなるのに必要十分な時間が望ましく、例えば、２秒とした。
【０１０１】
また、流下状態変換手段の動作は、上述した始動記憶数の増減のみに限定されるものではなく、必要に応じて、適宜に設定して構わない。例えば、本実施形態に係る遊技機は、「予め定めた普通始動条件の成立である普図始動センサ２５により、普通図柄表示器８を用いた普通変動表示ゲームを実行する普通変動表示ゲーム実行手段」と「普通変動表示ゲーム実行手段による普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様が予め定めた特定結果態様となった場合に、所定の態様で補助変動入賞装置８を開状態に変換させる普通変動遊技を実行する普通変動遊技制御手段」を遊技機制御部の主制御装置２０により実現したので、流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態に変換している時に行われる普通変動表示ゲームで、その結果が特定結果態様となって補助変動入賞装置８が開状態に変換される所定時間前から該補助変動入賞装置８が閉状態に変換されるまで、流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させるようにしても良い。
【０１０２】
例えば、変動表示ゲームの停止結果態様が特定結果態様であった場合には、補助変動入賞装置８を開状態に変換する前に流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換し、所定時間（ワープ通路から解放された遊技球が、始動入賞口９を設けた補助変動入賞装置８へ到達するまでに要する所定時間）経過するタイミングで補助変動入賞装置８を開状態に変換すれば、補助変動入賞装置８が開状態に変換される所定時間前から流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換できる。
【０１０３】
或いは、普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様が特定結果態様となる場合（上述したように、普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様も、普図始動センサ２５による通過球検出に伴って抽出した乱数値から既に定まっている。）には、普通図柄表示器８を停止させる所定時間前（特定結果態様となって補助変動入賞装置８が開状態に変換される所定時間前）から流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させるようにする（図１４参照）。
【０１０４】
すなわち、普通変動表示ゲームの結果により補助変動入賞装置８が第２状態に変換される場合には、中央表示装置７の左右ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球を開放する際に、開放された遊技球が始動入賞口９を設けた補助変動入賞装置８へ到達するまでに要する所定時間（例えば、２秒）だけ早く左右流下阻止部材１１６，１４６を左右第２球流路１６ｄＬ，１６ｄＲから退避させて、遊技球を開放するので、普通変動遊技として補助変動入賞装置８が開状態に変換されるタイミングで、左右ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球が補助変動入賞装置８へ流下してくるので、効率よく始動入賞球を発生させることができる。
【０１０５】
なお、上記のように普通変動表示ゲームの結果と連動させて始動変動入賞装置が開状態に変換される所定時間前に流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させる制御は、常時行うものとせず、特定の遊技状態の時に限って行うようにしても良い。例えば、「予め定めた特定条件が成立することにより、単位時間当りの補助変動入賞装置８の開状態変換時間を、通常よりも長くする特定遊技状態を発生させる特定遊技制御手段」を遊技機制御部に設け、特定遊技制御手段の制御による特定遊技状態（上述した、開放延長遊技状態、時短遊技状態、普通確率変動遊技状態など）中、流下状態変換制御手段は、始動記憶手段の始動記憶が所定数以上で流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態に変換している場合でも、補助変動入賞装置８が開状態に変換される所定時間（ワープ通路内に貯留されている遊技球が補助変動入賞装置の近傍に到達するのに要する妥当な時間で、例えば２秒）前から該補助変動入賞装置８が閉状態に変換されるまで、上記流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させるようにする。
【０１０６】
このように、補助変動入賞装置８への球入賞を促進する（始動入賞口９への球入賞を容易にする）ように普通変動遊技における補助変動入賞装置変換時間を通常よりも長くしている特定遊技状態と併せて、ワープ通路に貯留された遊技球の早期開放を行えば、普通変動遊技で開状態となった補助変動入賞装置８の始動入賞口９へ遊技球が入賞する可能性を一層高めることができる。これにより、普通変動遊技の開始に伴って始動記憶が更に加算される可能性が高まると共に、補助変動入賞装置８への入賞に対する賞球を獲得できる可能性も高まるので、遊技者に有利な遊技展開を期せる。
【０１０７】
なお、特定遊技制御手段が特定遊技状態を発生させるための所定条件は特に限定されるものではないが、例えば、普通変動表示ゲームの停止結果が予め定めた特殊結果態様になった場合で、その後、特別遊技移行条件が成立するまで、もしくは中央表示装置７を用いた変動表示ゲームを所定回数（例えば１００回）行うまで特定遊技状態を保持するものでも良いし、普通変動表示ゲームとは関係なく、特別遊技の終了後に無条件で特定遊技状態となるようにしても良いし、確率変動状態で発生した特別遊技の終了後にのみ特定遊技状態となるようにしても良いし、その他、特定遊技状態の成立可否を判定する別の遊技を行うようにしても良い。
【０１０８】
更に、流下状態変換手段を動作させる他の例として、中央表示装置７を用いて行う変動表示ゲーム中がある。例えば、変動表示ゲームを行う変動表示ゲーム実行手段が「３以上の変動表示部で各々識別情報を変動表示させる変動表示ゲームの途中態様が予め定めたリーチ態様となった場合に、所定のリーチ変動表示を行うリーチ変動表示制御機能」を備えるものとし、この変動表示ゲーム実行手段がリーチ変動表示を行っている場合に、流下状態変換制御手段が流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換させる。
【０１０９】
斯くすれば、変動表示ゲーム実行手段のリーチ変動表示制御機能により、所定のリーチ変動表示を行っている場合には、流下状態変換制御手段が流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換させるので、リーチ変動中に遊技を継続して遊技領域３へ弾発された遊技球がワープ通路へ入れば、それらの遊技球はワープ通路内に貯留されて行くこととなり、リーチ変動中における遊技者の止め打ち防止に好適である。
【０１１０】
上記のように、主制御装置２０や第１副制御装置２１の制御により進行する遊技で、各種入賞口へ遊技球が入賞し、これを入賞口センサ２４…等が検出すると、これに対する賞として賞球を排出するために、主制御装置２０から第２副制御装置２２へ賞球排出のための信号が送信され、第２副制御装置２２が排出装置３５を制御して、遊技者に賞球が与えられる。なお、プリペイドカード等を用いた遊技球の貸出を行うために、球貸制御ユニットからの球貸信号に基づいて遊技者に遊技球を貸し出す制御を第２副制御装置が行う場合もある。
【０１１１】
また、第２副制御装置２２は、発射装置３６に対する動作制御を行う機能を有し、例えば、当該遊技機での遊技で打止め制御（特別遊技の実行などで遊技者が十分な賞球を獲得した場合に、その遊技者が同じ遊技機で遊技を継続することを止めさせる制御）を行う場合、例えば、主制御装置２０からの打止め信号に応じて、第２副制御装置２２が発射装置３６の動作を不能とすることにより、当該遊技機での遊技継続を不可能とし、確実な打止めを実現するのである。
【０１１２】
さらに、主制御装置２０は、当該遊技機における種々の遊技情報を外部出力端子３７を介して外部へ出力する。この外部出力端子３７を介して出力される情報は、遊技店の管理装置等で収集・処理され、遊技店運営のための参考的情報として活用される。
【０１１３】
上記の各種制御装置群へ動作用電源を供給する電源供給装置２３には、バックアップ電源２３ａを設け、停電時にも、電源供給が可能な構成としてある。すなわち、電源供給装置２３と主制御装置２０が協働することで、「遊技機の動作に供される電源の異常状態を検出する電源異常検出手段」と「電源異常検出手段が電源の異常状態を検出することに基づいて、始動記憶数を含む、予め定めたバックアップ対象データが消滅することの無いように保存するデータバックアップ手段」としての機能を備えるものとした。
【０１１４】
そして、上述したように、流下状態変換手段として機能する第１，第４演出ユニット１１，１４の電気的駆動源１１４，１４４はラッチソレノイド構成とすることで、流下阻止状態に変換している時に電源異常検出手段が電源の異常状態を検出する電源異常が生じても、そのまま流下状阻止状態を保持する流下阻止状態維持機能を備え、流下状態変換制御手段には「電源異常検出手段の検出結果が異常状態から通常状態に復帰した場合に、流下状態変換手段を予め定めた流下許容時間だけ流下許容状態に変換させた後に、再び流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態に変換させる電源復帰時流下制御機能」を設け、始動記憶手段には「電源異常検出手段の検出結果が異常状態から通常状態に復帰した場合に、始動記憶の上限数を予め定めた記憶上限解除時間だけ解除して、始動条件の成立を累積記憶可能とする電源復帰時記憶上限解除機能」を設け、電源異常により遊技機が動作不能となった後に電源復帰した場合には、流下状態変換手段を所定時間（例えば３秒間）流下許容状態にして、左右ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球を一気に球受けステージ１６６ｇへ放出することで、短時間に多くの遊技球が始動入賞口９へ入賞する可能性を高めると共に、電源復帰から所定時間（例えば、８秒）が経過するまでは、これら始動入賞口９への球入賞による始動条件の成立を無効とすることなく、上記始動記憶の上限数を超えて記憶させるようにした（図１５参照）。
【０１１５】
すなわち、電源異常により遊技機が動作不能となった後に電源復帰した場合には、流下状態変換制御手段の電源復帰時流下制御機能により流下制御手段を流下許容時間だけ流下許容状態に変換させ、左右ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球を一気に球受けステージ１６６ｇへ放出することで、短時間に多くの遊技球が始動入賞口へ入賞する可能性を高め、始動記憶手段の電源復帰時記憶上限解除機能により、電源復帰時から記憶上限解除時間の経過するまで、始動入賞口への球入賞による始動条件の成立を無効とすることなく、始動記憶の上限数を超えて記憶し、これによって変動表示ゲームを行えるので、停電等による遊技機の動作停止により遊技者に不快な思いをさせてしまったおまけとすることができる。
【０１１６】
次に、上述した遊技機制御部の主制御装置２０における始動入賞関連の処理の流れを、図１６および図１７のフローチャートに基づいて詳細に説明する。
【０１１７】
まず、普段処理においては、始動記憶の有無を判定し（ステップＳ１）、始動記憶がなければそのまま処理を終了するが、始動記憶があった場合には、始動記憶から“１”を減じて（ステップＳ２）、減算後の始動記憶が３であるか否かを判定する（ステップＳ３）。
【０１１８】
上記ステップＳ３で始動記憶が３であると判定された場合には流下許容コマンドをセットし（ステップＳ４）、一方、始動記憶が３ではない（４以上）と判定された場合にはそのまま、始動記憶数コマンドをセットし（ステップＳ５）、変動表示処理に変更する（ステップＳ６）。斯くして、始動記憶を“１”消費して変動表示ゲームが実行されるのである。
【０１１９】
続いて、始動入賞処理においては、始動入賞口９への入賞の有無（特図始動センサ２６からの始動入賞検出信号の有無）を判定し（ステップＳ１１）、始動入賞がなければそのまま処理を終了するが、始動入賞があった場合には、始動記憶に“１”を加算して（ステップＳ１２）、その始動記憶が大当りに該当するか（始動入賞検出に伴って抽出した乱数値が特別結果態様を発生させるべく定めてある数値に該当するか）否かを判定する（ステップＳ１３）。この大当りか否かの判定で大当りとなる確率は、例えば、１／３５０である。上記ステップＳ１３において、大当りでなければ、演出予告を抽出するか否かを、演出予告用の乱数から抽出した乱数値に基づいて判定し（ステップＳ１４）、演出予告抽出であれば演出予告コマンドをセットする（ステップＳ１５）。この演出予告抽出で、演出予告を行う確率は、例えば、１／５０である。
【０１２０】
一方、上記ステップＳ１３の判定が大当りであった場合には、大当りの停止図柄を決定して、その図柄の種別が確変大当りに該当するか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１６）、確変大当りの図柄であれば確変大当り確定コマンドをセットし（ステップＳ１７）、確変大当りの図柄でなければ大当り確定コマンドをセットする（ステップＳ１８）。確変大当りの図柄を抽出する確率と、通常の大当りの図柄を抽出する確率は、例えば、１／２である。そして、始動記憶数が３より多い（４以上）であるか否かを判定し（ステップＳ１９）、始動記憶数が３より多かった場合には流下阻止コマンドをセットし（ステップＳ２０）、始動記憶数コマンドをセットして（ステップＳ２１）、この始動入賞処理を終了する。
【０１２１】
すなわち、この始動入賞処理によって始動記憶数コマンドと共に演出予告コマンド，大当り確定コマンド，確変大当りコマンドが第１副制御装置２１へ送出され、これに基づいて、第１副制御装置２４が演出態様を決定し、中央表示装置７等による演出動作を実行するのである。なお、本実施形態に係る遊技機では、上記のように決定したコマンド種別に応じて予め定めた選定確率に基づき、何れかの演出態様を選定する。
【０１２２】
例えば、始動記憶と演出ユニットを各々対応させた場合（始動記憶の上限が４で、第１演出ユニット１１を始動記憶１に対応させ、第２演出ユニット１２を始動記憶２に対応させ、第３演出ユニット１３を始動記憶３に対応させ、演出ユニット１４を始動記憶４に対応させた場合）、演出１の動作としては、始動記憶に対応する演出ユニットの可動演出キャラクタを１回動作させると共に発光源を点滅させるものとし、演出２の動作としては、始動記憶に対応する演出ユニットの可動演出キャラクタを３回動作させると共に発光源を点滅させるものとし、何れも行わない演出無しの態様もある。
【０１２３】
上述した「演出１」「演出２」「演出無し」の態様は、所定の確率で選定されるもので、選定確率の一例を図１８に示す。始動入賞処理で何れの演出コマンドもセットされなかった場合は、演出無しの確率が９９／１００で演出１を行う確率が１／１００である。また、始動入賞処理で演出コマンドがセットされていた場合は、演出無しとする確率も演出１を行う確率も演出２を行う確率も１／３である。また、始動入賞処理で大当り確定コマンドがセットされていた場合は、演出無しとする確率も演出１を行う確率も演出２を行う確率も１／３である。また、始動入賞処理で確変大当り確定コマンドがセットされていた場合は、演出１を行う確率と演出２を行う確率を１／２とする。すなわち、始動記憶に対応する演出ユニットが演出無しか、演出１の動作を行っているか、演出２の動作を行っているかで、変動表示ゲームの結果をある程度の確率で予測できるのである。
【０１２４】
斯くするために、本実施形態に係る遊技機においては、遊技機制御部に、「始動記憶手段が記憶する夫々の始動記憶に対応する変動表示ゲームの結果が特別結果態様になる信頼度の確率が、予め定めた確率となるように信頼度予告の有無を夫々の始動記憶に対して定める信頼度予告決定手段」を設け、信頼度予告決定手段により信頼度予告を行うものと決定された始動記憶に対応する演出ユニットに対し、演出ユニット制御手段が予め定めた予告動作を実行させるものとした。
【０１２５】
このように、記憶の上限数が決められた始動記憶手段における各始動記憶と対応させて複数の演出ユニットを設けておき、信頼度予告決定手段により、始動記憶手段が記憶する記憶数に対応する変動表示ゲームの結果が特別結果態様になる信頼度の確率が、予め定めた確率となるように信頼度予告の有無を夫々の始動記憶に対して設定し、この信頼度予告決定手段により信頼度予告を行うものと決定された始動記憶に対応する演出ユニットに対して、演出ユニット制御手段が予め定めた予告動作を実行させるものとしたので、予告動作を行っている演出ユニットがあれば、その演出ユニットに対応する始動記憶に基づき行われる変動表示ゲームにおいて特定態様が発生する可能性が高いことを遊技者が認識できるので、変動表示ゲームに対する遊技者の期待感を効果的に高めることができる。
【０１２６】
なお、本実施形態の遊技機においては、信頼度予告決定手段が、通常の大当りである特別結果態様のほかに、確変大当りである特賞結果態様も含めて信頼度予告を行うものとしたが、少なくとも大当りについての信頼度予告を行えれば良い。また、本実施形態では、セットコマンドの決定に用いる確率（変動表示ゲームのアタリ・ハズレの抽選に用いる乱数の確率、演出予告の抽出に用いる乱数の確率、特別結果態様に用いるアタリ図柄が“確変大当り用の図柄”か“通常の大当り用の図柄”かの種別による確率）と演出態様決定用の選定確率とによって、予告動作の有無や演出動作種別を決定するものとしたが、これに限らず、一つの確率のみで信頼度予告を決定しても良いし、より多くの確率を用いて信頼度予告を決定しても良く、最終的に決定された演出動作が特別結果態様（特賞結果態様を含む場合もある。）に対する妥当な信頼度を保持できれば、如何様に信頼度予告を決定しても構わない。
【０１２７】
以上本発明を実施形態に基づき具体的に説明したが、本明細書で開示された実施の形態は全て例示であって、開示された技術に限定されるものではないと考えるべきである。すなわち、本発明の技術的な範囲は、上記の実施形態における説明に基づいて制限的に解釈されるものではなく、あくまでも特許請求の範囲の記載に従って解釈すべきであり、特許請求の範囲の記載技術と均等な技術および特許請求の範囲内での全ての変更が含まれる。
【０１２８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、請求項１に係る遊技機によれば、電源異常検出手段が突然の停電などを検出して遊技機が動作停止に至ったような場合に、始動記憶手段の始動記憶はデータバックアップ手段により保存されると共に、流下状態変換手段も流下阻止状態維持機能により、遊技機の動作停止前に流下阻止状態に変換していた時には、そのまま流下状阻止状態を保持しているので、遊技中に起こった電源断などで遊技機が動作停止しても、始動記憶数とワープ通路に貯留された遊技球は保持されるので、変動表示ゲームの実行回数が減ぜられて不利益を被ることを防止できる。
【０１２９】
加えて、電源異常により遊技機が動作不能となった後に電源復帰した場合には、流下状態変換制御手段の電源復帰時流下制御機能により流下制御手段を流下許容時間だけ流下許容状態に変換させ、ワープ通路に貯留されていた遊技球を球受けステージへ放出することで、短時間に多くの遊技球が始動入賞口へ入賞する可能性を高め、始動記憶手段の電源復帰時記憶上限解除機能により、電源復帰時から記憶上限解除時間の経過するまで、始動入賞口への球入賞による始動条件の成立を無効とすることなく、始動記憶の上限数を超えて記憶し、これによって変動表示ゲームを行えるので、停電等による遊技機の動作停止により遊技者に不快な思いをさせてしまったおまけとすることができる。
【０１３０】
また、請求項２に係る遊技機によれば、変動表示ゲーム実行手段のリーチ変動表示制御機能により、所定のリーチ変動表示を行っている場合には、流下状態変換制御手段が流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態から流下阻止状態に変換させるので、リーチ変動中における遊技者の止め打ち防止に好適である。
【０１３１】
また、請求項３に係る遊技機によれば、普通変動表示ゲームで特定結果態様となることで普通変動遊技が実行され、始動変動入賞装置が開状態に変換する際には、普通変動表示ゲームの結果態様が特定結果態様となって始動変動入賞装置が開状態に変換される所定時間前から該始動変動入賞装置が閉状態に変換されるまで、上記流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態に変換させるものとしたので、開状態となった始動変動入賞装置の始動入賞口へ遊技球が入賞する可能性を高めることができる。これにより、普通変動遊技の開始に伴って始動記憶が更に加算される可能性が高まると共に、普通変動入賞装置への入賞に対する賞球を獲得できる可能性も高まる。
【０１３２】
また、請求項４に係る遊技機によれば、球受けステージの左側に左ワープ通路の出口を配置し、球受けステージの右側に右ワープ通路の出口を配置し、球受けステージの中央部に球誘導面を設け、流下状態変換制御手段の時差変換実行機能により、始動記憶手段が記憶する始動記憶数が所定数未満になって、流下状態変換手段を流下阻止状態から流下許容状態に変換する場合に、左流下状態変換手段もしくは右流下状態変換手段のどちらか一方を先に流下許容状態に変換させ、その所定時間経過後に、未だ流下阻止状態にある他方の流下状態変換手段を流下許容状態へ変換させるものとしたので、左ワープ通路もしくは右ワープ通路の何れか一方のみを先に解放して、片側のワープ通路内に貯留された遊技球が球受けステージへ放出させ、それから時間差をつけて他方のワープ通路を開放するので、左右両側から同時に球受けステージ中央の球誘導面へ転動して来た遊技球がぶつかり合って、始動入賞口へ入賞する可能性を失うことを効果的に防止できる。
【０１３３】
また、請求項５に係る遊技機によれば、流下状態変換手段が流下阻止状態にあるか流下許容状態にあるかを、演出ユニットの可動パーツの状態として遊技者に認識させることができるので、演出的効果を高めることができる。しかも、演出ユニットに流下状態変換手段の機能を兼ねさせるので、コストダウンと省スペース化を期せるという利点もある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施形態に係る遊技機が備える遊技盤の正面図である。
【図２】遊技盤の分解斜視図である。
【図３】中央表示装置における前面構成部材の正面図である。
【図４】中央表示装置における前面構成部材の前面側斜視図である。
【図５】前面構成部材の分解斜視図である。
【図６】前面構成部材における取付ベースの分解斜視図である。
【図７】前面構成部材の裏面側分解斜視図である。
【図８】ワープ通路の概略断面を示す前面構成部材の正面図である。
【図９】第５演出ユニット（上中央演出ユニット）の分解斜視図である。
【図１０】第１演出ユニットおよび第４演出ユニット（左下演出ユニットおよび右下演出ユニット）の前面側動作説明図である。
【図１１】第１演出ユニットおよび第４演出ユニット（左下演出ユニットおよび右下演出ユニット）の裏面側動作説明図である。
【図１２】第２演出ユニットおよび第３演出ユニット（左上演出ユニットおよび右上演出ユニット）の動作説明図である。
【図１３】遊技機制御部を構成する各種装置群の機能ブロック図である。
【図１４】特定遊技状態における流下阻止部材の状態変換タイミングを示すタイミングチャートである。
【図１５】停電復帰時における流下状態変換手段の変換タイミングと始動記憶の上限設定の解除タイミングを示すタイミングチャートである。
【図１６】普段処理を示すフローチャートである。
【図１７】始動入賞処理をフローチャートである。
【図１８】セットコマンドに応じた演出動作の選定確率の一例示す説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１遊技盤
３遊技領域
７中央表示装置
７１表示装置本体
７１ａ表示部
７２前面構成部材
７２ａ表示用開口窓部
８補助変動入賞装置
８ｂ普通図柄表示器
９始動入賞口
１１第１演出ユニット
１２第２演出ユニット
１３第３演出ユニット
１４第４演出ユニット
２０主制御装置
２１第１副制御装置
２２第２副制御装置
２３電源供給装置
２３ａバックアップ電源[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention provides a central display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of pieces of identification information, and a start winning opening located below the central display device in a game board in which a game area is formed. When the starting condition is established based on the winning of the ball, the variable display game using the central display device is executed, and when the result mode of the variable display game becomes a predetermined special result mode, The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a gaming machine control unit that performs gaming control so as to generate a special gaming state to which a special gaming value can be given.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Conventionally, as a ball-type game machine, a plurality of relatively large central display devices provided in the central portion of the game area are used as a starting condition that a game ball wins a predetermined start winning opening. It is known that a variation display game is displayed in which the identification information is variably displayed, and when the result mode of the variation display game becomes a special result mode, a special game that can acquire many prize balls in a relatively short time is known. .
[0003]
  In this type of gaming machine, if there is a start prize during the execution of the variable display game, this is memorized and the variable display game is performed later, but the game continues for a long time If this is the case, the game ball may not enter the starting prize opening, so that it may fall into a so-called slump state. In this slump state, the variable display game, which is a major concern of the player, is not executed. The person who feels uncomfortable In order to avoid such an adverse effect due to the occurrence of the slump state, it is assumed that there is provided a winning support means provided with a stop pin that can be advanced and retracted to the guide release port of the storage portion formed above the starting winning port. If a predetermined number of out balls are counted without being performed, the stop pin is withdrawn from the guide release port to release the game balls stored in the storage section, and a prize is given to the start winning port directly below the guide release port. A gaming machine with an increased possibility has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
          JP 2002-102439 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, in the conventional gaming machine described above, the winning assist means is not functioned until a predetermined number of out balls are counted after the variation display game is not performed since the start winning prize is not generated. It is not possible to respond quickly without causing discomfort to the player. That is, before the winning assist function functions, the player has already experienced the slump state, and the fluctuation display game is not executed, which may impair the good rhythm of game progress for the player. .
[0006]
  Therefore, the present invention achieves the start winning conditions in response to the so-called slump state in which no starting ball is generated at the starting winning opening before the change display game is not executed and the player is discomforted. It is an object to provide a gaming machine with a high possibility of being allowed to be played.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a game area forms a central display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information and a start winning opening located below the central display device. The game display board is provided, and the start condition is established based on the winning of the game ball to the start winning opening, whereby the variable display game using the central display device is executed and the result mode of the variable display game In the gaming machine including a gaming machine control unit that performs gaming control so as to generate a special gaming state that can give a special gaming value when is a predetermined special result mode, the central display device, A display device main body having a display unit capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information, and a front structural member which is disposed on the front side of the display device main body and has a display opening window portion facing the back surface And from The front constituent member is a ball that causes a game ball to flow down from a ball receiving port that can receive a game ball flowing down the game area to a ball receiving stage having a ball guiding surface that can be guided to the start winning opening. A warp passage comprising a flow path, a flow allowance state allowing flow of the game ball flowing down the warp passage, and a flow state conversion means capable of converting into a flow stop state blocking the flow of the game ball, When the start condition is satisfied during execution of the variable display game executing means for executing the variable display game using the central display device and the variable display game executing means by the variable display game executing means, Satisfying the start condition as a start memory for subsequently executing the variable display gameUp to a predetermined upper limitStorable start-up storage means, flow state conversion control means for controlling the conversion operation of the flow state conversion means,Power supply abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal state of a power supply provided for the operation of the gaming machine, and a predetermined backup including the number of start memories based on the fact that the power supply abnormality detection means detects an abnormal state of the power supply Data backup means to save the target data so that it will not disappear,WithThe downflow state conversion means has a downflow prevention state maintaining function for maintaining the downflow prevention state as it is even if a power supply abnormality occurs when the power supply abnormality detection means detects an abnormal state of the power supply during conversion into the downflow prevention state. The flow-down state conversion control means has the flow-down state conversion means in a flow-down allowed state for a predetermined flow-down allowable time when the detection result of the power supply abnormality detection means returns from the abnormal state to the normal state. After the conversion, a power supply return flow control function is provided to convert the flow state conversion means to the flow prevention state again, and the start memory means has returned the detection result of the power supply abnormality detection means from the abnormal state to the normal state. In this case, the upper limit number of the start memory is canceled only for a predetermined memory upper limit release time, and a power upper limit storage upper limit release function that enables cumulative storage of establishment of the start condition is provided, When the power supply is restored after the gaming machine becomes inoperable due to a source abnormality, the gaming balls stored in the warp passage are released to the ball receiving stage, so that a large number of gaming balls can enter the starting prize opening in a short time. Increase the possibility of winning and memorize more than the upper limit of the start memory without invalidating the establishment of the start condition by the ball winning to the start winning openingIt is characterized by that.
[0008]
  The invention according to claim 2 is the gaming machine according to claim 1,The variation display game executing means performs a reach variation display that performs a predetermined reach variation display when a midway mode of the variation display game in which the identification information is variably displayed by three or more variation display units is a predetermined reach mode. Provided with a control function, and the flow-down state conversion control unit is configured to convert the flow-down state conversion unit from a flow-down allowed state to a flow-down prevention state when the fluctuation display game execution unit performs reach fluctuation display.It is characterized by that.
[0009]
  The invention according to claim 3 provides the aboveClaim 1 orThe gaming machine according to claim 2,The game board is provided with the start prize opening, and a start variation prize that can be converted into a closed state in which a game ball is difficult to win in the start prize opening and an open state in which a game ball can easily win a prize in the start prize opening. And a normal variation display device capable of executing a normal variation display game capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information, and the gaming machine control unit includes the normal variation when a predetermined normal start condition is established. A normal variation display game executing means for executing a normal variation display game using a display device, and a result mode of the normal variation display game by the normal variation display game execution means is a predetermined specific result mode; Normal variation game control means for executing a normal variation game for converting the start variation winning device to an open state in a mode, and the flow state conversion control means is configured such that the start memory of the start storage means is the predetermined memory Even if the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow-prevented state as described above, the start state is started from a predetermined time before the start variation winning device is converted to the open state when the result mode of the normal variation display game becomes the specific result mode. Until the variable winning device is converted to the closed state, the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow allowable state.It is characterized by that.
[0010]
  The invention according to claim 4 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,The front component includes a left warp passage having an outlet disposed on the left side of the ball receiving stage and a right warp passage having an outlet disposed on the right side of the ball receiving stage, and a ball guide at the center of the ball receiving stage. A left flow state conversion means and a right flow state conversion means corresponding to each of the left and right warp passages, and the flow state conversion control means includes a predetermined number of start memory numbers stored in the start storage means. When the flow state conversion means is converted from the flow prevention state to the flow allowable state, either the left flow state conversion means or the right flow state conversion means is first converted to the flow allowable state and the predetermined Others that are still in the flow-prevented state after the passage of time With a time difference conversion execution function for converting one of the flow state conversion means to a flow allowable stateIt is characterized by that.
[0011]
  The invention according to claim 5 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,The front structural member is provided with an effect unit erected at an appropriate position of the ball flow path that forms the warp passage, and the effect unit includes one or more movable parts operated by an electric drive source of the gaming machine. A movable effect means provided in a state visible from the front side is provided, and a movable part of the movable effect means protrudes into a spherical flow path of the warp passage, thereby causing a flow-down prevention state. Retreating from the flow path creates a flow-down allowable state, and this forms flow-down state conversion means. The flow-down state conversion control means controls the electric drive source of the effect unit, thereby preventing flow-down prevention and flow down. Perform state conversion controlIt is characterized by doing so.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Next, an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
  A gaming machine (a so-called pachinko machine) capable of performing a ball game in which a game ball as a game medium is ejected includes a game board 1 shown in FIG. This game board 1 is the main body of the ball game, and various prize holes and game devices are provided in the game area 3 surrounded by the guide rail 2, and the non-game area is made up of various lamps and LEDs. A decorative display is provided.
[0014]
  When a game ball that is bulleted by an electric drive source such as a rotary solenoid (not shown) reaches the game area 3 along the guide rail 2, it flows down while hitting a game nail, a windmill, etc. When winning a prize in any one of the various winning openings 4..., Which are the winning areas provided inside, the winning opening sensor (not shown) provided for each winning opening 4... (For example, the first winning opening to the Nth winning opening) A winning ball is detected, a winning ball is given to the player based on the detection signal, and a ball that has not won a winning area such as the winning port 4... Is collected from the out port 5 as a missed ball.
[0015]
  In addition, what is given to a player with respect to winning in a winning opening is not limited to a prize ball. For example, in an enclosed ball type game machine (a game machine in which a player can circulate a ball enclosed in the machine and can play a ball game without handling an actual ball), virtual ball number data You may make it provide game value with the form which adds. The game value to be given to the player is not limited to game media such as pachinko balls and medals, and various prizes may be given to the player.
[0016]
  The game area 3 is provided with a start winning opening 6 in addition to the winning opening 4... When a game ball wins the start winning opening 6 and this is detected by a special start sensor (not shown). Using a display unit 71a (configured by a liquid crystal display or the like capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information), which is a large game device (special symbol display device) provided in the approximate center of the game board 1. A variation display game for variably displaying a plurality of identification information is started. Note that various controls for realizing a pachinko game, such as the start / end of a variable display game and a special game described later, are performed by a gaming machine control unit (detailed later). This gaming machine control unit includes various control devices such as a main control device (game control device), a first sub control device (production control device), a second sub control device (discharge / launch control device), and a power supply device. Is done.
[0017]
  The start winning opening 6 includes, for example, a pair of left and right movable pieces 8a and 8a connected to an electric drive source such as a solenoid via a link mechanism, and these movable pieces can be moved according to the operation / stop of the electric drive source. Auxiliary variation as a normal electric accessory that converts the closed state in which the pieces 8a and 8a are upright and difficult to receive the game ball and the open state in which the upper ends of the movable pieces 8a and 8a are spaced apart from each other and open to easily receive the game ball It is provided integrally with the winning device 8. Although the auxiliary variation winning apparatus 8 shown in this example can accept a game ball even in the closed state, it may have a structure that does not accept any game ball in the closed state. Further, the start winning opening 6 may be provided independently as a normal winning opening instead of being provided integrally with a winning tool whose game ball receiving state changes like the auxiliary variable winning apparatus 8. In addition, a plurality of start winning holes may be provided in the game area 3, and the opening time of the auxiliary variable winning device 8 may be made different according to the type of the starting winning hole where the game ball has won.
[0018]
  The auxiliary variable winning device 8 is provided with a small normal symbol display 8b composed of, for example, a seven-segment display capable of displaying numbers 0 to 9 in a variable manner, and a passage checker provided at an appropriate position in the game area. When the game ball passes through 9 (passing prize opening provided with a general start sensor as a passing sensor for detecting a passing game ball), the game machine control unit displays the normal symbol display based on the detection output from the passing chucker 9 An ordinary variation display game is started in which the variation display by 8b is started and stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed. When the stop symbol at this time is a predetermined specific symbol (for example, 3 or 7), it is assumed that the normal variable game start condition using the auxiliary variable winning device 8 is achieved, and the auxiliary variable winning device 8 The movable pieces 8a, 8a are converted into the open state for a relatively short time, and a normal variation game is performed to facilitate the winning of the ball to the start winning opening 6.
[0019]
  The variable display game that the gaming machine control unit uses the display unit 71a of the central display device 7 based on the ball winning at the start winning port 6 is, for example, a high-speed conversion display of 3-digit numbers, various symbols, and the like. After that, the stop display is performed in a predetermined order, and a special result mode (for example, “0, 0, 0”, “2, 2, 2”, “3, 3, 3”) is set in advance. When the three-digit numbers and symbols all match, such as “7, 7, 7”, and so on, the game transition conditions for special games are achieved. In the inside, the opening / closing plate 10a is further arranged so that the ball can win the first state and the big winning opening with the opening / closing plate 10a closed by a general winning opening or a special winning opening). Opened second state (opened by tilting forward with the lower side of the opening / closing plate 10a as an axis, Special game with winning opening device in the form of fluctuations winning device 10 that can vary the game balls are received by the opening and closing plate 10a to the winning opening efficiently guiding state) that is started.
[0020]
  In the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the special prize result mode (for example, “1,1,1” “ 3, 3, 3 ”,“ 5, 5, 5 ”,“ 7, 7, 7 ”,“ 9, 9, 9 ”), the probability of occurrence of a special result mode in the variable display game is normal. By changing from 1 probability to a 2nd probability that the probability of occurrence of a special result mode is higher than the 1st probability (change to so-called probability variation mode), a privilege that makes it easy to achieve the next special game transition condition is given It was supposed to be.
[0021]
  In the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, when a winning ball to the start winning opening 6 is detected during execution of the variable display game, a predetermined number (for example, 50) is stored in the gaming machine control unit. In addition, it is assumed that the next variable display game can be executed based on the start-up memory after the end of the variable display game. As described above, even when the variable display game is being executed, the winning prize at the start winning opening 6 is stored, and the variable display game by the start memory is performed, so that even if the game is continued during the execution of the variable display game, the start is started. It is possible to reduce the disadvantage of the player that the winning is invalidated. The memory of the start winning is not limited to the upper limit number of 50, but is unlimited (for example, by expanding the memory area for start memory and making it possible to store up to a number that does not reach the upper limit in normal games, It can be stored in a practically unlimited manner) or can store only a small number of about four.
[0022]
  Further, when the probability changing mode is entered, the condition for generating the specific game state is satisfied, and the specific game state is set. The specific gaming state is a time for converting the auxiliary variable winning device 8 to the open state per unit time longer than usual. For example, the opening time of the auxiliary variable winning device 8 in the normal variable game is increased ( (For example, changing from 0.5 seconds to 3 seconds) Open extended game state, normal variation display game, the number of execution times per unit time to increase the number of execution times per unit time, normal variation display game is more likely to be a specific result mode There is a normal probability variation gaming state that becomes higher.
[0023]
  In this way, by making the specific gaming state in which the opening time of the auxiliary variable winning device 8 per unit time is extended, the ball winning to the start winning port 9 provided in the auxiliary variable winning device 8 is further facilitated, and the start winning is achieved. The variable display game by (or start memory) is frequently executed so that the transition condition to the special game is achieved at an early stage.
[0024]
  Moreover, since the special memory state can be easily increased during the special game by setting the special game state when the special game transition condition is achieved in the probability variation mode, the probability variation mode is terminated when the special game is finished. Since the change display game by the start memory is performed later, it is possible to suppress the player's willingness to play after the probability change mode is finished.
[0025]
  In addition, even after the special game executed in the variable display game in the probability variation mode with a special result mode (a big hit that is not a special prize result mode) ends and the probability variation mode ends, for example, the variable display game is played 100 times. The period until the game is held) holds the specific gaming state, and even after the probability variation mode ends, the opening time of the auxiliary variable prize winning device 8 per unit time is lengthened, thereby making it easy to win the start winning opening 9 The start memory can be easily increased, and the player's willingness to play after the probability change mode has ended can be more effectively suppressed.
[0026]
  In the special game, the first condition at the end of the cycle in which the second state conversion time of the variable winning device 10 reaches a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), and the number of winning balls to the big winning opening after the conversion to the second state is predetermined. When any one of the second conditions at the end of the cycle that reaches the number (for example, 10) is achieved, the cycle game is ended by this, and the cycle game is executed or a predetermined value provided during the end of the cycle game. If a special winning detection signal is output from a special winning sensor (not shown), which is a ball sensor that detects the winning balls sorted into the special winning opening in the big winning opening before the effective time of the time span elapses, the cycle If the game continuation condition is achieved, the cycle game is played again after the predetermined time width has elapsed, and the cycle game update condition is not achieved, the cycle game A special game to end Te or more.
[0027]
  In such a special game, it is difficult to renew the cycle game, so if the special game is completed in about one or two cycle games, the player's gain cannot be increased in a short time. It will be a great dissatisfaction for the player, but it is necessary to make it easier for the ball to enter the special prize opening in the big prize opening. If it increases, the loss of the game shop becomes large, so that the continuation condition of the cycle game is continuously achieved 15 times, and when the cycle game is executed 16 times in total, the subsequent continuation update is not performed and the 16th cycle game The special game ends with the end of.
[0028]
  Note that the content of the special game is not limited to the above-described example, and may be set as appropriate in accordance with the purpose of the special game to increase the player's gain. Of course, the normal variation display game, the normal variation game, the variation display game, and the like are not limited to the above-described examples. Moreover, you may make it perform using the display part 71a of the center display apparatus 7, without providing the normal symbol display 8b for performing a normal fluctuation display game separately.
[0029]
  Next, the detailed structure of the central display device 7 used for playing the variable display game will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the central display device 7 is disposed on the front side of the display device main body 71 having a display portion 71a capable of variably displaying a plurality of pieces of identification information, and the display portion. It comprises a front structural member 72 having a display opening window 72b that faces the rear surface 71a. The display device main body 71 is a unit structure in which a liquid crystal panel and a display control board are integrated, and has a considerable weight. The display device main body 71 is attached to the display device attachment auxiliary member 73, and the display portion 71a is connected to the display opening window portion 72a of the front structural member 72 through the display opening window portion 73a provided on the display device attachment auxiliary member 73. It was supposed to come.
[0030]
  The front structural member 72 is a first effect unit 11 as a lower left effect unit located on the left side of the display opening window 72a, and a second as an upper left effect unit located on the upper left side of the display opening window 72a. Production unit 12, third production unit 13 as an upper right production unit located on the upper right side of display opening window 72a, and fourth production unit as a lower right production unit located on the right side of display opening window 72a 14, a fifth effect unit 15 located in the upper center of the display opening window 72a, and a base unit 16 to which these first to fifth effect units 11 to 15 are attached (see FIGS. 3 to 5).
[0031]
  The base unit 16 is provided with an attachment portion 16a provided with a fastening hole for attaching to the front side of the game board 1 with a screw or the like. In addition, the base unit 16 has a variable display game started by winning the start winning opening 9.on holdThe first start memory display unit 16b1 that imitates the Arabic numeral “1” in the vicinity of the first effect unit 11 for visually displaying (for example, luminescent display) a predetermined number of start memories that have been used, A second start memory display unit 16b2 imitating the Arabic numeral “2” in the vicinity of the unit 12 and a third start memory display unit 16b3 imitating the Arabic numeral “3” in the vicinity of the third effect unit 13 A fourth start memory display unit 16b4 that imitates the Arabic numeral “4” is provided in the vicinity of the four effect units 14, and the first to fourth start memory display units 16b1 to 16b4 are turned on (or blinked). The player can recognize that the starting memory number is 0-4. In addition, as described above, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, since up to 50 start winning prizes that are put on hold are stored, the first to fourth start storage display sections 16b1 to 16b4 have five or more. Since the start memory cannot be displayed, a start memory display means for displaying an accurate start memory number to the player may be provided separately, or the current start memory number may be provided to the player using a part of the display unit 71a. You may make it display visually.
[0032]
  As shown in FIG. 6, the base unit 16 includes a mounting base 161, a left armor member 162, a right armor member 163, a central armor member 164, a fifth effect unit mounting frame 165, a front window frame 166, and a rear window frame 167. Etc.
[0033]
  The mounting base 161 is fitted into the central display device mounting opening 1a of the game board 1 and includes an opening region that can include at least the first to fifth effect units 11 to 15 and the display opening window 72a. In addition, an inner peripheral wall 161b having a required width is formed at the opening edge of the opening 161a, and a thin plate-like front plate 161c projecting outward from the front edge of the inner peripheral wall 161b is formed. In addition, it functions as the attachment part 16a by providing a fastening hole in a part of the front plate part 161c.
[0034]
  The left armor member 162, the right armor member 163, and the central armor member 164 are formed in a convex body having outer peripheral walls 162a, 163a, 164a projecting to the front surface side, and are attached to the front surface side of the mounting base 161. When a game ball flowing down from above from the upper side to the left and right sides hits the outer peripheral wall 162a, 163a, 164a, it is distributed to the left and right to flow down.
[0035]
  The left armor member 162 and the right armor member 163 are both hollow, and the left armor member lens member 168 and the right armor member lens member 169 formed of a light-transmitting material are mounted inside each. The light transmission through-hole 162b..., The light transmission through-hole 163b... Appropriately opened in the left armor member 162 and the right armor member 163 are back-surfaced by the through-hole blocking lens portion 168a. The light-transmitting part is configured to block light from the back and transmit light from the back side to the front side. The left armor member lens member 168 is formed with a second effect unit lens portion 168b, and the right armor member lens member 169 is formed with a third effect unit lens portion 169b. The visibility of the 2nd production unit 12 and the 3rd production unit 13 which are arranged is improved. As one of these translucent parts, the front part of the first to fourth start memory display parts 16b1 to 16b4 described above is formed.
[0036]
  The central armor member lens member 170 attached after the central armor member 164 is formed of a translucent material and has a shape such that a light emitting region 170a that is not shielded by the central armor member 164 is formed. Light is transmitted from the light emitting region 170a to the front side. The back side of the central lens member 170, the upper right back side of the left armor member 162 (the lens member 168 for the left armor member) and the upper part of the right armor member 163 (the lens member 169 for the right armor member) connected to the left and right sides thereof. An upper central light emitting substrate 171 having an electrical light source (bean sphere, light emitting diode, etc.) arranged so as to face the left rear surface is attached to the upper central rear surface of the mounting base 161, thereby A light emission effect is performed. A substrate cover 172 is attached from behind the upper central light emitting substrate 171.
[0037]
  The front window frame 166 provided on the back side of the mounting base 161 has a peripheral wall portion 166a that forms an inner peripheral wall on the front side of the display opening window portion 72a, and game balls can pass through the left and right sides. A left vertically elongated concave chamber 166c and a right vertically elongated concave chamber 166d having a rear opening having ball receiving ports 166b and 166b at the upper part of the front surface were formed. The left wall outlet 166e and the right ball outlet 166f are respectively provided with a notch in the peripheral wall 166a in the lower part of the left vertically long recessed chamber 166c and the right vertically long recessed chamber 166d. In addition, a left-flow-preventing member opening 166c ′ and a right-flow-preventing member opening 166d ′ are provided at appropriate positions outside the left vertically-long concave chamber 166c and the right vertically-long concave chamber 166d. It is. In addition, although the left vertically long concave chamber 166c and the right vertical long concave chamber 166d shown in the present example are wavy by meandering the side wall portions, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, straight side wall portions.
[0038]
  The rear window frame 167 provided on the rear surface side of the front window frame 166 extends sideways on both the left and right side portions together with the peripheral wall portion 167a that forms the inner peripheral wall on the rear side of the display opening window portion 72a. A plate-like left extending portion 167b and a right extending portion 167c were formed so as to close the rear openings of the left vertically elongated recessed chamber 166c and the right vertically elongated recessed chamber 166d of the front window frame 166, respectively. That is, when the rear window frame 167 is attached to the rear surface side of the front window frame 166, the peripheral wall portion 166a is formed on the left side of the display opening window portion 72a from the ball receiving port 166b through the left vertical concave chamber 166c through the left spherical outlet 166e. On the right side of the opening window 72a for display, a spherical flow path extending from the spherical receiving port 166b to the bottom surface of the peripheral wall 166a from the right spherical outlet 166f to the bottom surface of the peripheral wall 166a is provided on the right side of the display opening window 72a. It is formed.
[0039]
  On the other hand, the mounting base 161 is extended inward from the appropriate position on the left side so as to reach the ball receiving port 166b provided on the left front surface of the front window frame 166 attached from the rear, and the mounting portion of the second effect unit 12 is attached. And a left mounting base partitioning part 161e provided with a through-hole 161d penetrating forward and backward at a part corresponding to the ball receiving port 166b, and a front window frame 166 attached from the rear. The right portion of the right side is extended inward from an appropriate position so as to reach the ball receiving port 166b provided on the right front surface of the right side to partition the mounting portion of the third effect unit 13 and the mounting portion of the fourth effect unit 14, and the ball receiving port 166b. And a right mounting base section 161f provided with through-holes 161d penetrating in the front-rear direction at portions corresponding to the above.
[0040]
  In addition, the left armor member 162 is attached to the front surface side of the left mounting base partitioning portion 161e, and the left mounting base partitioning portion of the left mounting base partitioning portion passes through a downward slope from a spherical inflow portion 162c formed by lacking a part of the outer peripheral wall 162a. A left armor member partitioning part 162d having a recessed chamber 162d ′ having a rear opening reaching the through hole is formed. The right armoring member 163 is attached to the front surface side of the right mounting base partitioning part 161f, and a part of the outer peripheral wall 163a. A right armor member partitioning portion 163d having a recessed chamber 163d ′ having a rear opening that extends from the ball inflowing portion 163c formed by lacking the bottom to the through hole 161d of the right mounting base partitioning portion 161f through a downward slope is formed.
[0041]
  By configuring in this way, the left first sphere channel 16cL formed by the front surface of the left mounting base partition part 161e and the concave chamber part of the left armor member partition part 162d, and the left first sphere channel 16cL The rear opening of the rear window frame 167 extends to the left of the rear opening of the left vertically elongated recess 166c of the front window frame 166 having a through hole 161d of the left mounting base partitioning portion 161e that communicates with a ball receiving port 166b that communicates with the through hole 161d. The game ball P flowing down the game area 3 is moved to the inner side of the display opening window portion (a peripheral wall from the left sphere outlet 166e of the front window frame 166) by the left second ball flow path 16dL of the inner side opening closed by the portion 167b. A left warp passage that leads to the left side of the bottom surface of the portion 166a is formed (see the section cc in FIG. 8).
[0042]
  Similarly, a right first sphere channel 16cR formed by the front surface of the right mounting base partitioning part 161f and a concave chamber inside the right armor member partitioning part 163d, and a right communicating with the right first sphere channel 16cR. A rear opening of the right vertically elongated recess 166d of the front window frame 166 having a through hole 161d of the mounting base partitioning part 161f and a ball receiving port 166b communicating with the through hole 161d is formed by a right extension part 167c of the rear window frame 167. The game ball P flowing down the game area 3 is moved to the inside of the display opening window portion (from the right ball outlet 166f of the front window frame 166 to the peripheral wall portion 166a by the right second ball flow path 16dR of the closed inner portion opening. A right warp passage that leads to the right side of the bottom is formed (see the AA cross section in FIG. 8).
[0043]
  On the bottom surface of the inner peripheral wall 166a of the front window frame 166 on which the game ball flowing down from the right warp passage and the left warp passage configured as described above rolls, the game ball is guided to a required winning opening provided at an appropriate position in the game area. A ball receiving stage 166g having a possible ball guiding surface 166g 'was provided. The required winning opening in the present embodiment is the starting winning opening 6 and the ball guiding surface 166g ′ is configured as follows so that it can be guided to the starting winning opening 6.
[0044]
  The sphere guide surface 166g ′ is a recess provided in the center of the surface-shaped sphere receiving stage 166 that gently rises toward the center, and when guided rearward along this recess, the peripheral wall of the rear window frame 167 The bottom of the portion 167a falls from the guide sphere inlet 167d 'to the bottomed recess 167d, and reaches the bottom surface of the inner peripheral wall of the mounting base 161 via the spherical flow path 166h of the front window frame 166 continuous at the bottom. A ball passage constituting member 173 having a ball receiving surface 173a formed at the upper portion is attached to the lower center portion of the inner peripheral wall 161 of the attachment base 161, and a ball passage recess 173b formed at the lower center portion of the ball passage constituting member 173 is attached. The guide ball discharge port 16e is surrounded by the inner peripheral wall 161 of the base 161.
[0045]
  That is, the game ball reaching the ball guiding surface 166g ′ has a concave shape from the inner guiding ball inlet 167d ′ to the bottomed recessed portion 167d, the ball flow path 166h of the front window frame 166, the mounting base 161, and the ball passage component. A ball guide path to the guide ball discharge port 16e formed of 173 is configured. The central winning device 7 is attached to the game board 1 so that the guiding ball discharge port 16e, which is the lower end of the ball guiding path, opens directly above the start winning port 16 (see FIG. 1).
[0046]
  As described above, the ball guide surface 166g ′ of the ball receiving stage 166g on which the game ball flowing down from the right warp passage and the left warp passage in the central display device 7 rolls opens the ball entrance on the back side of the ball receiving stage 166g. By guiding to the ball guide path and opening the lower end of the ball guide path directly above the start winning opening 6, the possibility that a game ball flowing down the ball guide path will win the start winning opening 6 is increased. As a result, it is easy to achieve the starting condition of the above-mentioned variable display game.
[0047]
  In addition, the formation location of the ball receiving stage is not limited to the inner bottom surface portion of the display opening window portion 72a, but extends in the left-right direction more than the display opening window portion 72a, thereby widening the region where the game ball rolls. You may do it. The structure of the ball receiving stage and the ball guiding guide surface is not limited to that described above. For example, the game ball flowing down from the left and right warp passages is guided to the front central portion of the central display device 7 to It is good also as a structure which raises the possibility of winning to the start winning opening 6 by dropping from right above. Also, fine adjustment of nails and windmills arranged in the vicinity of the entrance to these left and right warp passages to adjust the winning rate to the start winning opening 9 by changing the probability that the game ball is guided to the left and right warp passages Can do.
[0048]
  A fifth effect unit attachment frame 165 is attached to the upper center of the opening 161a of the attachment base 161 so that the fifth effect unit 15 can be attached to the substantially circular fifth effect unit insertion wall 165a. A left partition piece 165b and a right partition piece 165c are provided to extend outward from appropriate positions on the left and right sides of the five effect unit mounting frame 165. An area for mounting the second effect unit 12 and an area for mounting the third effect unit 13 are formed by being positioned in the vicinity of the inner end of the first effect unit and the inner end of the right mounting base section 161f.
[0049]
  The second effect unit lens portion 168b of the left armor member lens member 168 is formed on the front surface of the region for mounting the second effect unit 12 formed as described above. The third effect unit lens portions 169b of the right armor member lens member 169 are respectively positioned. In addition, a first effect unit lens member 174 is disposed in front of the first effect unit 11 mounting region formed below the second effect unit 12 mounting region with the left mounting base section 161e interposed therebetween. The fourth effect unit lens member 175 is disposed in front of the region for mounting the fourth effect unit 14 formed below the region for mounting the third effect unit 13 with the right mounting base section 161f interposed therebetween. It is.
[0050]
  The fifth effect unit 15 that is inserted into the fifth effect unit mounting frame 165 and fixed by appropriate fixing means is made of a transparent material on the front side of the holding frame 15a made of a light-transmitting material. A decorative body 15b simulating the shape is disposed, and a light source substrate 15c is disposed on the back side of the holding frame 15b, and light from an electrical light source (for example, display LED 15d...) Of the light source substrate 15c is retained. The fifth effect unit 15 appears to shine from the front side of the central display device 7 through the frame body 15a and the decorative body 15b (see FIG. 9). Moreover, it is good also as the artificial flower which created the decoration body 15b with the chemical fiber so that the visual production effect in the 5th production unit 15 may be improved.
[0051]
  The first effect unit 11 includes an effect lens member 111 (comprising a lens portion surface portion 111a having an arbitrary shape and a rib 111b having a required length extending rearward from the peripheral portion of the lens surface portion 111a), and the effect lens member. 111 is a light source substrate 112 disposed on the back surface side of 111, and a movable effect character disposed on the front surface side of the lens surface portion 111a.113, an electric drive source 114 for moving the movable effect character 113, and a link mechanism (not shown) that transmits the driving force of the electric drive source 114 to the movable effect character 113. It should be noted that at least the lens surface portion 111a of the effect lens member 111 is translucent so that light from a plurality of electrical light emission sources 115 (lamps, light emitting diodes, etc.) attached to the light source substrate 112 can pass through the lens surface portion 111a. I did it.
[0052]
  The movable effect character 113 of the first effect unit 11 is composed of, for example, a first part 113a, a second part 113b, and a third part 113c. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the first part 113a has a pivot axis (not shown) as a fulcrum in the direction A, and the second part 113b has a pivot axis (not shown) as a fulcrum. In the direction B, the third part 113c moves in the direction C in the drawing, with a rotation shaft (not shown) as a fulcrum.
[0053]
  Further, the first effect unit 11 is provided with a flow prevention member 116 connected via an appropriate link mechanism to an electric drive source 114 for driving the movable effect character 113, and while the electric drive source 114 is off. The end of the flow preventing member 116 does not enter the flow path from the flow preventing member opening 166c ′ of the left second spherical flow path 16dL (allows the game ball flowing down the left warp passage to flow down). When the electric drive source 114 is turned on, the end portion of the flow-inhibiting member 116 enters the flow path from the flow-inhibiting member opening 166c ′ of the left second spherical flow path 16dL (the game ball in the left warp passage) The flow is prevented from flowing down (see FIG. 11).
[0054]
  That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, a game that flows down the left warp passage by the cooperation of the electrical drive source 114, the link mechanism, and the flow-down prevention member 116 in the first presentation unit 11 of the central display device 7. It functions as a left flow state conversion means that can be converted into a flow allowance state that allows the flow of the ball and a flow stop state that prevents the flow of the game ball.
[0055]
  The second effect unit 12 includes an effect lens member 121 (comprising a lens portion surface portion 121a having an arbitrary shape and a rib 121b having a required length extending rearward from the peripheral portion of the lens surface portion 121a), and the effect lens member. A light source substrate 122 disposed on the back side of 121 and a movable effect character disposed on the front side of the lens surface portion 121a.123, an electric drive source 124 for moving the movable effect character 123, and a link mechanism (not shown) for transmitting the driving force of the electric drive source 124 to the movable effect character 123. It should be noted that at least the lens surface 121a of the effect lens member 121 is translucent so that light from a plurality of electrical light sources 125 (lamps, light emitting diodes, etc.) attached to the light source substrate 122 can pass through the lens surface 121a. I did it.
[0056]
  The movable effect character 123 of the second effect unit 12 includes, for example, a first part 123a, a second part 123b, and a third part 123c. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the first part 123a has a pivot axis (not shown) as a fulcrum in the direction A, and the second part 123b has a pivot axis (not shown) as a fulcrum. In the direction B, the third part 123c moves in the direction C in the drawing, with a rotation shaft (not shown) as a fulcrum.
[0057]
  The third effect unit 13 includes an effect lens member 131 (comprising a lens portion surface portion 131a having an arbitrary shape and a rib 131b having a required length extending rearward from the peripheral portion of the lens surface portion 131a), and the effect lens member. A light emitting source substrate 132 disposed on the back surface side of 131 and a movable effect character disposed on the front surface side of the lens surface portion 131a.133, an electric drive source 134 for moving the movable effect character 133, and a link mechanism (not shown) for transmitting the drive force of the electric drive source 134 to the movable effect character 133. Note that at least the lens surface portion 131a of the effect lens member 131 is translucent so that light from a plurality of electric light source 135 (lamp, light emitting diode, etc.) attached to the light source substrate 132 can pass through the lens surface portion 131a. I did it. In addition, the movable effect character 133 is such that a plurality of parts appropriately operate according to ON / OFF of the electric drive source 134, as in the first effect unit 11 and the second effect unit 12 described above. Description is omitted.
[0058]
  The fourth effect unit 14 includes an effect lens member 141 (comprising a lens portion surface portion 141a having an arbitrary shape and a rib 141b having a required length extending rearward from the peripheral portion of the lens surface portion 141a), and the effect lens member. 141 is a light source substrate 142 disposed on the back side of 141, and a movable effect character disposed on the front side of the lens surface portion 141a.143, an electric drive source 144 for moving the movable effect character 143, and a link mechanism (not shown) for transmitting the drive force of the electric drive source 144 to the movable effect character 143. It should be noted that at least the lens surface portion 141a of the effect lens member 141 is translucent, and light from a plurality of electric light source 145 (lamp, light emitting diode, etc.) attached to the light source substrate 142 can pass through the lens surface portion 141a. I did it. In addition, the movable effect character 143, as in the first effect unit 11 and the second effect unit 12 described above, has a plurality of parts that appropriately operate in accordance with ON / OFF of the electrical drive source 144. Description is omitted.
[0059]
  Furthermore, the fourth effect unit 14 is provided with a flow prevention member 146 that is connected to the electric drive source 144 that drives the movable effect character 143 via an appropriate link mechanism, and while the electric drive source 144 is off. The end of the flow-inhibiting member 146 does not enter the flow path from the flow-inhibiting member opening 166d ′ of the right second ball flow path 16dR (allowing the game ball flowing down in the right warp passage is allowed to flow). When the electric drive source 144 is turned on, the end portion of the flow prevention member 146 enters the flow passage from the flow prevention member opening 166d ′ of the right second spherical flow passage 16dR (the game ball in the right warp passage). The flow is blocked.
[0060]
  That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, a game that flows down the right warp passage by the cooperation of the electric drive source 144, the link mechanism, and the flow-down prevention member 146 in the fourth effect unit 14 of the central display device 7. It functions as a right flow state conversion means that can be converted into a flow allowance state that allows the flow of the ball and a flow stop state that prevents the flow of the game ball.
[0061]
  As described above, the left and right flow state conversion means provided in the left and right warp passages are movable effect means provided as one or more movable parts that are operated by an electric drive source in a state that is visible from the front side of the gaming machine. 1, the left and right flow prevention members 116 and 146 (movable parts that operate in conjunction with the movement of the movable production characters 113 and 143) of the fourth production units 11 and 14 protrude into the spherical flow path of the warp passage, thereby preventing the flow down. Since the flow is allowed to flow and the right and left flow blocking members 116 and 146 are retracted from the spherical flow path of the warp passage, the flow flow allowable state is generated. To the player as the state of the movable parts of the first and fourth effect units 11 and 14 (movable effect characters 113 and 143 and right and left flow prevention members 116 and 146). Can be identified, it is possible to enhance the effect effect. In addition, since the first and fourth effect units 11 and 14 also function as the flow-down state conversion means, there is an advantage that cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.
[0062]
  It should be noted that a latching solenoid is used for the electric drive sources 114 to 144 of the first to fourth effect units 11 to 14 so that the electric drive sources 114 to 144 can be moved even if the power supply to the electric drive sources 114 to 144 is cut off due to power interruption or the like. The production characters 113 to 143 and the right and left flow prevention members 116 and 146 are kept as they are. However, the electric drive sources 114 to 144 are not limited to this, and a normal solenoid or motor may be used.
[0063]
  The above-described first to fifth effect units 11 to 15 turn on and blink the electric light emission sources 115, 125, 135, 145, and 15d, and operate the movable effect characters 113, 123, 133, and 143, Although it can be used for various effects, it is effective when used for effects related to the variable display game performed by the central display device 7. In a variable display game, the first to fifth effect units 11 to 15 are activated when a reach state is reached in which up to two of the three digits displayed in a variable manner are aligned in the same pattern, and the player's attention is displayed in the center. You may make it attract to the apparatus 7. FIG.
[0064]
  In addition, depending on the number of start winnings that is the start condition of the variable display game, the rendering operations by the first to fourth rendering units 11 to 14 may be performed. For example, when the starting memory number is “1”, the electric light source 115 of the first effect unit 11 is turned on, and when the starting memory number is “2”, the electric light source 125 of the second effect unit 12 is turned on. When the start memory number is “3”, the electric light source 135 of the third effect unit 13 is turned on, and when the start memory number is “4”, the electric light source 145 of the fourth effect unit 14 is turned on. To make it happen. In conjunction with this, the movable effect characters 113, 123, 133, and 143 may be operated. Further, when the number of start memories is 5 or more, all of the first to fourth effect units 11 to 14 may be blinked / lighted to inform the player to that effect.
[0065]
  Furthermore, as an effect performed using the first to fourth effect units 11 to 14, not only the presence / absence of the start memory but also an operation corresponding to the contents of the start memory may be performed. In a gaming machine that performs a variable display game, when a winning ball is detected at the start winning opening 6, the result of the variable display game to be performed based on the start winning is determined by a random number. Since the result of the variable display game is stored, it can be determined whether or not a special result mode is generated for the start memory. Therefore, there is a relatively high probability that the reliability for the occurrence of the special result mode is included by appropriately including the start memory that does not generate the special result mode in addition to the start memory that generates the special result mode (the degree that the player can expect) 1st to 4th effect unit which performs the light emission display corresponding to the start memory determined to determine whether or not the reliability notification is made and to determine whether the reliability notification is made or not, so as to be reliable. For 11 to 14, by operating the movable performance characters 113, 123, 133, and 143, it is possible to make a reliability notice regarding the possibility of occurrence of the special result mode. The reliability notice for the special prize result mode may be performed by the same method.
[0066]
  In addition, since the upper limit of the start memory in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment is set to 50, since the first to fourth rendering units 11 to 14 cannot perform the reliability notification for all the start memories, for the reliability notification. The display means may be provided separately. However, when the start memory is consumed and the variable display game is executed, the order of the subsequent start memory goes up, so it is possible to make a reliability notice for the variable display game up to at least the fourth time. The interest can be enhanced only by performing the reliability notice for the start memory corresponding to the first to fourth effect units 11 to 14.
[0067]
  The left mounting base partitioning portion 161e that forms the rear vertical wall of the left first sphere channel 16cL formed between the first effect unit 11 and the second effect unit 12 described above is along the left first sphere channel 16cL. A right-attached base section that forms a left rear translucent portion 161g made of a through hole and serves as a rear vertical wall of the right first spherical channel 16cR formed between the third effect unit 13 and the fourth effect unit 14 The portion 161f is formed with a right rear translucent portion 161h composed of a through hole along the right first spherical flow passage 16cR, and light from the back side of the left mounting base partitioning portion 161e and the right mounting base partitioning portion 161f is forwarded. To penetrate. The left rear translucent part 161g and the right rear translucent part 161h are not limited to through holes, but may be lenses provided with lenses in the through holes, or the mounting base 161 is formed of a translucent material, and the translucent part is formed. The right rear translucent portion and the left rear translucent portion may be formed by printing or painting except for the portion to be formed, or by sticking a seal.
[0068]
  Then, in the left armor member partitioning part 162d which is the front vertical wall of the left first spherical channel 16cL, the light transmitting through hole 162c is closed by the through hole closing lens part 168a of the left armor member lens member 168. The left front translucent part 162d ″ is arranged so that the light transmitted through the left rear translucent part 161g of the left mounting base partitioning part 161e is transmitted to the front of the left armor member 162, and the right first spherical flow path 16cR A right front translucent portion 163d ″ formed by closing the light transmitting through hole 163b with the through hole closing lens portion 169a of the right armor member lens member 169 is disposed in the right armor member partitioning portion 163d serving as the front vertical wall. Then, the light transmitted through the right rear light transmitting part 161h of the right mounting base partition part 161f is transmitted to the front of the right armor member 163. Note that the left front translucent portion 162d ″ and the right front translucent portion 163d ″ are not limited to those in which the through hole is closed with a lens, but may be a through hole, or the left armor member 162 and the right armor may be made of a translucent material. The member 163 may be formed and may be printed or painted except for a portion that becomes a light transmitting portion, or a seal may be attached to form the right front light transmitting portion and the left front light transmitting portion.
[0069]
  As described above, the light source for transmitting light from the left rear translucent part 161g of the rear vertical wall to the left front translucent part 162d ″ of the front vertical wall in the left first spherical channel 16cL, A light emission source for transmitting light from the right rear translucent part 161h of the rear vertical wall to the right front translucent part 163d ″ of the front vertical wall in the one-sphere channel 16cR is provided at a predetermined part on the back side of the mounting base 161. However, in the central display device 7 of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the light source provided in the second effect unit 12 and the light source provided in the third effect unit 13 are allocated to this.
[0070]
  That is, the substrate extending in a required shape that reaches at least the back side of the left first spherical channel 16cL is formed on the light source substrate 122 of the second rendering unit 12 mounted above the left mounting base section 161e of the mounting base 161. Part 122 'is formed, and the electrical light emission sources 125 as the light emission sources for spherical channel irradiation are positioned behind the rear translucent part 161g of the left mounting base partitioning part 161e. A substrate extending portion 132 ′ having a required shape reaching at least the back side of the right first spherical flow path 16cR is formed on the light source substrate 132 of the third effect unit 13 mounted above the right mounting base section 161f. The electroluminescent sources 135... As the spherical channel irradiation electroluminescent sources are positioned behind the rear translucent portion 161 h of the right mounting base section 161 f. The light emission source substrate 122 includes display light sources for the first start memory display unit 16b1 and the second start memory display unit 16b2, and the light source substrate 132 includes a third start memory display unit 16b3 and a fourth start memory. A display light source for the display unit 16b4 is provided.
[0071]
  In the above example, the second and third rendering units 12 and 13 positioned above the left and right first spherical flow paths 16cL and 16cR are formed with substrate extension portions to provide the electric light emission source for the spherical flow path illumination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a board effect section may be formed in the first effect unit 11 and the fourth effect unit 14 to provide an electric light emission source for lighting the spherical channel. Alternatively, a board extending portion is formed in both the first effect unit 11 and the second effect unit, and an electric light source for lighting the sphere channel is provided so as to cover the flow area of the left first sphere channel 16cL. In addition, a board extending portion is formed in both the third effect unit 13 and the fourth effect unit, and an electric light emission source for illuminating the spherical flow path is provided so as to cover the flow area of the right first spherical flow path 16cR. You may do it.
[0072]
  The left armor member 162 extends downward along the outer shape of the mounting base 161 downward from the left armor member partition 162d so as to surround the outer portion of the first effect unit 11.eIn the left lower extension 162e, a concave chamber 162e ′ having a rear opening is formed from the lower sphere inflow portion 162f formed by lacking a part of the outer peripheral wall 162a to the lower end through a downward slope. As a result, the left third spherical flow path 16fL is configured by the concave chamber 162a ′ of the left lower extension 162e and the front plate 161c of the mounting base 161.
[0073]
  The right armor member 163 extends downward along the outer shape of the mounting base 161 below the right armor member partitioning part 163d so as to surround the outer portion of the fourth effect unit 14.eThe lower right extending portion 163e is formed with a concave chamber 163e ′ having a back opening extending from the lower sphere inflow portion 163f formed by missing a part of the outer peripheral wall 163a to the lower end through a downward slope. Thus, the right third spherical flow path 16fR is configured by the concave chamber 163a ′ of the lower right extending portion 163e and the front plate portion 161c of the mounting base 161.
[0074]
  And the left thirdballIn order to increase the probability that a game ball that has jumped out from the lower end of the left lower extension 162e to the game area 3 through the flow path 16fL will reach the vicinity of the start winning opening 9, the left auxiliary guiding means 3a A game nail row is provided in the vicinity of the upper part. As a result, the left third ball channel 16fL serves as a left first guide passage that receives the game ball flowing down the game area 3 and guides it from the outside of the first effect unit 1 that is the lower left effect unit to the vicinity of the start winning opening 9. Function.
[0075]
  Similarly, the thirdballThe right auxiliary guiding means 3 so that the probability that a game ball that has jumped out from the lower end of the lower right extending portion 163e to the game area 3 through the flow path 16fR will reach the vicinity of the start winning opening 9 increases.bAs shown in FIG. 4, a game nail row is provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the start winning opening 9. As a result, the right third ball passage 16fR receives the game ball flowing down the game area 3 and guides it from the outside of the first effect unit 1 which is the lower right effect unit to the vicinity of the start winning opening 9. Function as.
[0076]
  In addition, a lower left rear translucent portion 161i made of a through hole along the left third spherical flow passage 16fL is formed in the front surface plate portion 161c of the mounting base 161 serving as the rear vertical wall of the left third spherical flow passage 16fL. Similarly, the light from the back side of the front plate part 161c is transmitted forward, and similarly, the right third sphere flow path is connected to the mounting base 161 front plate part 161c which is the rear vertical wall of the right third sphere flow path 16fR. A lower right rear translucent part 161j composed of a through hole along 16fR is formed so that light from the back side of the front plate part 161c is transmitted forward. The left lower rear translucent part 161i and the right lower rear translucent part 161j are not limited to the through holes, but may be lenses provided with lenses in the through holes, or the mounting base 161 is formed of a translucent material. The lower right rear translucent part and the lower left rear translucent part may be formed by printing or painting except for the part to be a part, or applying a seal.
[0077]
  The light transmission through hole 162b is blocked by the through hole closing lens portion 168a of the left armor member lens member 168 in the left lower extension portion 162e, which is the front vertical wall of the left third spherical channel 16fL. The left lower front translucent part 162e "is arranged so that the light transmitted through the left lower rear translucent part 161i of the left mounting base 161e is transmitted to the front of the left armor member 162, and the right third spherical flow path 16fR The lower right front light transmitting portion 163e ″ formed by closing the light transmitting through hole 163b with the through hole closing lens portion 169a of the right armor member lens member 169 is formed in the lower right extending portion 163e serving as the front vertical wall. The light transmitted through the lower right rear translucent part 161j of the right mounting base 161 is transmitted to the front of the right armor member 163. The left lower front translucent part 162e ″ and the right lower front translucent part 163e ″ are not limited to those having a through hole closed with a lens, but may be a through hole, or may be a left armor member 162 and a translucent material. The right armor member 163 is formed and printed or painted except for a portion to be a light-transmitting portion, or a seal is pasted to form a right lower front light transmitting portion and a left lower front light transmitting portion. Also good.
[0078]
  As described above, a light source for transmitting light from the lower left rear light transmitting portion 161i of the rear vertical wall in the left third spherical flow path 16fL to the left lower front light transmitting portion 162e ″ of the front vertical wall; The light source for transmitting light from the lower right rear light transmitting portion 161j of the rear vertical wall to the right lower front light transmitting portion 163e ″ of the front vertical wall in the right third spherical flow path 16fR is the back side of the mounting base 161. In the central display device 7 of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the light source provided in the first effect unit 11 that is the lower left effect unit and the fourth effect unit 14 that is the lower right effect unit may be provided. The light-emitting source provided in is used for this.
[0079]
  That is, the light emitting source substrate 112 of the first effect unit 11 arranged inside the left lower extension 162e has a lower substrate extension 112 ′ having a required shape reaching at least the back side of the left third spherical channel 16fL. And the lower substrate extension of a required shape reaching at least the back side of the right third spherical flow path 16fR is formed on the light source substrate 142 of the fourth effect unit 14 disposed inside the right lower extension 163e. The portion 142 'is formed, and the electroluminescent sources 115 ... 145 as the guide path irradiating electroluminescent sources are positioned behind the right and left lower rear translucent portions 161i, 161j of the front plate 161c of the mounting base 161. It is.
[0080]
  In addition, the left and right lower portions of the front plate portion 161c of the mounting base 161 extend further below the left and right lower rear translucent portions 161i and 161j so as to extend to the left guide member mounting portion 161c'L and the right guide member mounting portion 161c. 'R is formed, and a left guide member 176 having an arbitrary shape having a spherical flow lower surface 176a on the upper surface is attached to the left guide member attachment portion 161c'L, so that the left lower extension portion 162e of the left armor member 162 and the left The left fourth spherical flow path 16 between the guide member 176 and the left fourth spherical flow path 16gL is formed, and similarly, a right guide member 177 having an arbitrary shape having a spherical flow lower surface 177a on the upper surface is attached to the right guide member attachment portion 161c′R, so that the right lower extension portion 163e of the right armor member 163 and Right fourth spherical flow path 16 between the right guide member 177 and the right guide member 177gR is formed.
[0081]
  And the left fourth spherical channel 16gA game ball and a right fourth ball flow path 16 that have jumped out to the game area 3 through LgBy providing the left and right auxiliary guiding means 3a and 3b at appropriate positions in the game area 3 so that the probability that the game ball that has jumped out to the game area 3 through R will reach the vicinity of the start winning opening 9 increases. , Left fourth spherical flow path 16gL functions as a left second guide passage for guiding a game ball received from the outside of the central winning device 7 to the vicinity of the start winning opening 9, and the right fourth ball flow path 16gR is insideCentralIt functions as a right second guide passage for guiding the game ball received from the outside of the winning device 7 to the vicinity of the start winning port 9.
[0082]
  Next, a gaming machine control unit that realizes a pachinko game by performing actual control of the above-described central display device 7 and the like will be described in detail. The gaming machine control unit includes, for example, a main control device 20, a first sub control device 21, a second sub control device 22, and a power supply device 23, and these device groups cooperate to realize a game function. .
[0083]
  In the main control device 20, a gaming microcomputer 20a having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM operates by receiving a reference frequency signal from the oscillator 20b, and is provided at each of the first to Nth prize winning ports via the input / output interface 20c. The winning ball detection signal from the winning opening sensor 24, the passing ball detection signal from the normal start sensor 25 for detecting the passing ball to the passing chucker 4, and the special start sensor for detecting the winning ball to the starting winning port 9 26, the winning ball detection signal from the general winning sensor 27 for detecting the winning ball that has won the general winning port of the big winning port in the variable winning device 10, the special winning port special in the variable winning device 10 A special winning ball detection signal or the like from the special winning sensor 28 that detects a winning ball that has won a winning opening is input as game information, and various types of game information can be used depending on the game information. And control signals and information signals through the input-output interface 20c and output.
[0084]
  From the main control device 20 to the auxiliary variable winning device 8, a normal signal for sending and driving the movable pieces 8 a and 8 a of the auxiliary variable winning device 8 by sending a drive signal to the ordinary power solenoid 29 when the start condition of the normal variable game is established. A game is executed, a variation display signal is sent to the normal symbol display 8b when the start condition of the normal variation display game is established, and a normal variation display game by the normal symbol display 8b is executed. Further, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, when the normal fluctuation display game is executed, when the passing checker 9 is passed and the passing ball detection signal is received from the normal start sensor 25, the main control is not performed. Since the device 20 stores and holds up to a predetermined number (for example, four), the memory number of the general memory storing the start of the normal variation display game is displayed on the general memory display 30 It was.
[0085]
  From the main control device 20 to the variable winning device 10, a solenoid driving signal for opening the special winning opening is established to the special winning opening solenoid 31 when a special game start condition is satisfied (the stop result of the variable display game is a special result mode). Each cycle game is executed to be executed, and a solenoid driving signal is sent again to the special winning opening solenoid 31 by a special winning ball detection signal from the special winning sensor 28 which is a renewal condition of the cycle game. The game is updated, and the special game is executed until the special game end condition is achieved.
[0086]
  Production-related commands and data are transmitted from the main control device 20 to the first sub-control device 21 by unidirectional communication. For example, as variable display game information, a variable display start signal (signal for instructing start of variable display), a variable display pattern command (for example, presence / absence of reach operation, type of reach operation to be performed, etc.), stop symbol data (special result mode) Data indicating a stop mode such as a win symbol, a special symbol result pattern hit symbol, and a missing symbol), and a variable display stop signal (a signal for instructing stop of the variable display) are sent from the main controller 20 to the first sub controller 21. The first sub-control device 21 controls the central display device 7 to execute the variable display game. That is, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the function as the “variable display game execution means for executing the variable display game using the central display device” is realized by the main control device 20 and the first sub control device 21. did.
[0087]
  In addition, as a special figure start memory number command, a storage effect command (command for instructing an effect operation corresponding to the start memory) and a flow operation command (when the start memory number reaches four, the flow state conversion means is allowed to flow from the flow allowable state. When the control signal is converted from the flow-prevented state to the flow-allowed state when the start memory number is less than four, the main control device 20 sends a command signal) to the first sub-control device 21. The first sub-control device 21 turns on the memory 1 display LED 32a, the memory 2 display LED 32b, the memory 3 display LED 32c, and the memory 3 display LED 32d in the central display device 7, or the electrical of the first to fourth effect units 11-14. By controlling the driving sources 114, 124, 134, and 144, it is possible to visually produce the start memory count and reliability, or to perform the first production unit. It controls the operation of such a sphere storage / retention ball release in warp path by left falling preventing member 116 and the right falling preventing member 146 of the fourth direction unit 14 bets 11. The first sub-control device 21 performs light emission control of the decoration lamp LED 33 of the central display device 7 and performs other effect control by outputting sound from the speaker 34.
[0088]
  As described above, in the present embodiment, “when the start condition is satisfied during execution of the variable display game by the variable display game execution means, the start condition is satisfied, and then the start for executing the variable display game is executed. The main control device 20 realizes the function as “starting storage means that can be stored as memory”, and the function as “downflow state conversion control means for controlling the conversion operation of the downflow state conversion means” functions as the main controller 20 and the first sub-controller. This was realized by the control device 21. Therefore, when the number of start memories stored in the start storage means reaches a predetermined number (for example, 4), the flow state conversion means converts the flow state conversion means from the flow allowable state to the flow stop state, and then When the start memory is reduced by the execution of the variable display game, and the start memory number stored in the start memory means becomes less than a predetermined number (for example, 4), the flow state conversion means is converted from the flow prevention state to the flow allowable state. It has the function to do.
[0089]
  If the flow state conversion control means performs conversion control of the flow state conversion means according to the start memory number as described above, after the start memory number stored in the start memory means reaches a predetermined number, the warp path When the game balls are stored and the starting memory number becomes less than the predetermined number, the game balls stored in the warp passage are released and guided from the ball guide surface 166g ′ of the ball receiving stage 166g to the start winning port 9, The starting memory can be increased.
[0090]
  That is, even if the game ball no longer wins the start winning slot 9 in a so-called slump state, the game ball stored in the warp passage is played while the variable display game based on the start memory is being played. Since it is possible to increase the starting memory by making a prize, it is possible to generate a winning ball to the start winning opening 9 even during the slump state without causing the player to feel the slump state, and the slump state is eliminated. Since the possibility that the variable display game can be executed constantly increases, it becomes a gaming machine capable of continuing the game without causing discomfort or stress to the player even in a slump state.
[0091]
  In addition, by appropriately setting the channel length of the sphere channel in the warp passage and the position where the flow-down state conversion means is disposed (in the above example, the lower part of the left and right second sphere channels 16dL, 16dR), the gaming machine There is also an advantage that the upper limit number of game balls that can be stored in the ball flow path of the warp passage can be set so that the number of storage suitable for the slump state generated in the above can be secured.
[0092]
  In the above example, the function as the flow-down state conversion means is provided in the first effect unit 11 and the fourth effect unit 14, and the flow-inhibited state and the flow-in allowance are linked with the movement of the movable effect characters 113 and 143. It is assumed that the state is generated and the player can check the state of the flow state conversion means by the state of the movable effect characters 113 and 143. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a flow state conversion means may be provided separately. Of course, the structure for converting to the flow-prevented state and the flow-allowed state is not limited to the above example, and any structure can be used as long as it can stop or release the flow of the game ball at an appropriate position in the warp passage. It doesn't matter.
[0093]
  Further, as the control of the flow state conversion means, for example, when the start memory number becomes less than a predetermined number and the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow allowable state, the start memory number does not close immediately when the start memory number reaches 4. The control is made to maintain the flow allowable state until a sufficient time necessary for all the game balls stored in the warp passage to be released to the ball receiving stage 166g has elapsed, and the number of starting memories is increased at once. Also good. In the central winning device 7 of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the game ball released from the warp passage and reaching the ball receiving stage 166g enters the rear guide ball entrance 167d 'from the ball guide surface 166g' and is a guide ball. Since it takes about 2 seconds to be discharged from the discharge port 16e, flow down on the game board surface, win the start winning port 9 and be detected by the special figure start sensor 26, Even if the game balls are stored up to the most upstream side (the ball entrances to the left and right first ball flow paths 16cL and 16cR), the flow-down state conversion means will not convert into the flow-down prevention state until all of them are released at once. .
[0094]
  As described above, instead of controlling to release the game balls in the left and right warp passages at once, it is also possible to control the flow state converting means to convert to the flow allowable state for a relatively short time when about 2 to 3 game balls are discharged. Good, control that discharges one game ball to one (for example, control by converting to a flow-allowed state for a sufficient time necessary for only one game ball to pass, and returning to a flow-blocking state again, or by a flow-blocking member For example, the control may be made such that the ball detector provided immediately below the ball stop position returns to the flow-off prevention state at the timing when the released game ball is detected.
[0095]
  Further, when the upper limit number of start memories that can be stored in the start storage means is four (a number equal to a predetermined number by which the flow state conversion control means converts the flow state conversion means from the flow allowable state to the flow stop state), the start is started. If the memory becomes smaller than the upper limit number, the possibility that the game ball stored in the warp passage is released by the state conversion of the flow state conversion means by the flow state conversion control means and the winning prize opening 9 is increased, so that The start-up memory can be made up to the upper limit. Thus, the player can recognize that the winning memory is maintaining the upper limit value, so that the player can play the game without worrying about the slump state, and can stop the game (the start memory stored in the start memory means). When the maximum number is reached, the ball winnings to the starting winning opening will be invalidated without being memorized, so the gaming technique will stop waiting for the starting memory to be digested by stopping further gaming balls firing ) Is also effective.
[0096]
  As described above, when the predetermined number for converting the flow state conversion means from the flow allowable state to the flow stop state is set to the upper limit number, when the variation display game based on the start memory is finished and the subsequent start memory is consumed. Since the flow state converting means is immediately converted to the flow allowable state, the stored balls in the warp passage are released in a relatively short cycle, and a large amount of game balls are stored in the warp passage when the warp passage is released. Therefore, the number of game balls (balls excluded from the addition target of the starting memory) that wins the starting winning port 9 after the starting memory number reaches the upper limit by the first starting winning prize is large. Even if the start memory is not included, the prize value (predetermined number of prize balls) for the winning at the start winning opening 9 is given, so that the player's disadvantage is a substantial problem. Don't be.
[0097]
  Nonetheless, despite the fact that the winning prize opening 9 has been won, it may be very dissatisfied for the player that these winning balls are excluded from the starting memory. Therefore, as described above, the control for discharging one game ball in the warp passage (for example, converting the flow state conversion means to the flow allowable state for a sufficient time necessary for only one game ball to pass. The flow is again prevented from flowing, and a wait time is provided for a sufficient time necessary for the game ball released at this time to reach the start winning opening 9, and the start memory of the special start sensor 26 is detected by detecting the start winning ball. If the addition is not performed, the flow state conversion means is again converted into the flow allowable state, and only one game ball is released, and thereafter, the same operation is repeated until the start memory reaches the upper limit value). Each time the starting memory number becomes less than the upper limit value, the starting memory number can be returned to the upper limit value again, and the winning ball to the starting winning opening 9 is not excluded from the addition object of the starting memory. Effective in resolving dissatisfaction Is a basis.
[0098]
  Further, in the central display device 7 provided in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the left sphere outlet 166e (the lower end of the left warp passage) and the right sphere outlet 166f (the lower end of the right warp passage) are provided on the left and right sides of the ball receiving stage 166g. ), And the ball guide surface 166g 'is formed at the center of the ball receiving stage 166g. When the game balls are simultaneously released from the left and right warp passages and reach the center of the ball receiving stage 166g at the same timing, There is a possibility that both game balls collide with each other and do not ride on the ball guiding surface 166g 'well, and the guidance to the start winning opening 9 cannot be performed effectively.
[0099]
  Therefore, the flow state conversion control means indicates that “the left flow state conversion is performed when the start memory number stored in the start memory means is less than the predetermined number and the flow state conversion means is converted from the flow prevention state to the flow allowable state. Or the right flow state converting means is first converted to the flow allowable state, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the other flow state converting means that is still in the flow blocked state is converted to the flow allowable state, and the start memory means The time difference conversion execution function for alternately converting the state of the left flow state conversion means and the right flow state conversion means until the start memory number reaches a predetermined number is provided.
[0100]
  That is, only one of the left warp passage and the right warp passage is released first by the time difference conversion execution function of the flow state conversion means, and the game ball stored in the one side warp passage is released to the ball receiving stage 166g. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the game balls that have been rolling from the left and right sides simultaneously to the ball guide surface 166g 'in the center of the ball receiving stage 166g from colliding and losing the possibility of winning the starting winning opening. . Moreover, the player sees the process in which the game ball released from the left warp passage wins the start winning opening 9, and the process in which the game ball released from the right warp passage wins the start winning opening 9, The feeling of expectation for winning the winning prize opening 9 can be tasted twice, which is more interesting. Note that the predetermined time, which is the time difference until the game ball in the other warp passage is opened, is that all the game balls released to the ball receiving stage 166 first have a ball guide surface 166g ′ (of the ball receiving stage 166). Necessary and sufficient time to disappear in the vicinity of the central portion) is desirable, for example, 2 seconds.
[0101]
  Further, the operation of the flow state converting means is not limited to the above-described increase / decrease in the starting memory number, and may be appropriately set as necessary. For example, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, “a normal variation display game executing means for executing a normal variation display game using the normal symbol display 8 by the general diagram start sensor 25 that satisfies a predetermined normal start condition”. "When the result mode of the normal variation display game by the normal variation display game execution means becomes a predetermined specific result mode, the normal variation game for converting the auxiliary variation prize-winning device 8 to the open state in a predetermined mode is executed. Since the main control device 20 of the gaming machine control unit realizes the “normally variable game control means”, the result is a specific result mode in the normal variable display game that is performed when the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow stop state. From the predetermined time before the auxiliary fluctuation winning device 8 is converted to the open state, the flow state converting means is converted to the flow allowable state until the auxiliary fluctuation winning device 8 is converted to the closed state. It may be caused.
[0102]
  For example, when the stop result mode of the variation display game is the specific result mode, the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow allowable state before the auxiliary variable winning device 8 is converted to the open state, and the predetermined time (warp path) If the auxiliary variable winning device 8 is converted to the open state at a timing when the game ball released from the game ball reaches the auxiliary variable winning device 8 provided with the start winning opening 9), the auxiliary variable winning device is obtained. The flow state conversion means can be converted to the flow allowable state from a predetermined time before 8 is converted to the open state.
[0103]
  Alternatively, when the result mode of the normal variation display game is the specific result mode (as described above, the result mode of the normal variation display game is also already determined from the random number value extracted along with the passing ball detection by the general-purpose start sensor 25. Is a predetermined time before the normal symbol display 8 is stopped (the specific result mode is set).SupplementThe flow-down state conversion means is converted into a flow-down allowable state from a predetermined time before the auxiliary fluctuation winning device 8 is converted into the open state (see FIG. 14).
[0104]
  That is, when the auxiliary variation winning device 8 is converted to the second state according to the result of the normal variation display game, it is released when the game balls stored in the left and right warp passages of the central display device 7 are released. The left and right flow blocking members 116 and 146 are retracted from the left and right second ball flow paths 16dL and 16dR as soon as a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) required for the game ball to reach the auxiliary variable winning device 8 provided with the start winning opening 9. Since the game ball is released, the game ball stored in the left and right warp passages flows down to the auxiliary variable winning device 8 at the timing when the auxiliary variable winning device 8 is converted to the open state as a normal variable game. Therefore, the start winning ball can be generated efficiently.
[0105]
  Note that the control for converting the flow state conversion means to the flow-down allowable state before the predetermined time before the start-change variable prize device is converted to the open state in conjunction with the result of the normal fluctuation display game as described above is not always performed. Alternatively, it may be performed only in a specific gaming state. For example, “special game control means for generating a specific game state in which the open state conversion time of the auxiliary variable prize-winning device 8 per unit time is made longer than usual when a predetermined specific condition is satisfied” is controlled by the gaming machine. In the specific game state (open extended game state, short time game state, normal probability variation game state, etc. described above) controlled by the specific game control means, the flow state conversion control means Even when the flow state converting means is converted to the flow stop state with a predetermined number or more, a predetermined time during which the auxiliary fluctuation winning device 8 is converted to the open state (the game ball stored in the warp passage is the auxiliary fluctuation winning device) Until the auxiliary fluctuation winning device 8 is converted to the closed state from a reasonable time required to reach the vicinity of the vehicle, for example, 2 seconds). To.
[0106]
  In this way, the auxiliary variable winning device conversion time in the normal variation game is made longer than usual so as to promote the ball winning to the auxiliary variable winning device 8 (to facilitate the ball winning to the start winning port 9). If the game balls stored in the warp passage are opened early together with the specific game state, the possibility that the game balls may win the start winning opening 9 of the auxiliary variable winning device 8 that has been opened in the normal variable game. It can be further enhanced. As a result, the possibility that the start memory is further added along with the start of the normal variation game is increased, and the possibility that a prize ball for winning in the auxiliary variation prize-winning device 8 can be obtained is also increased. Expect development.
[0107]
  The predetermined condition for the specific game control means to generate the specific game state is not particularly limited. For example, when the stop result of the normal variation display game is in a predetermined special result mode, The specific game state may be held until the special game transition condition is satisfied or until the variable display game using the central display device 7 is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times). The special game state may be unconditionally entered after the end of the special game, or the special game state may be entered only after the special game that has occurred in the probability variation state. Another game for determining whether or not can be established may be performed.
[0108]
  Further, as another example of operating the flow state conversion means, there is a variable display game that is performed using the central display device 7. For example, when the variation display game execution means for performing the variation display game “a variation display game in which the identification information is variably displayed on three or more variation display units each has a predetermined reach configuration, a predetermined reach variation `` Reach fluctuation display control function to display '' and when this fluctuation display game execution means is performing reach fluctuation display, the flow state conversion control means changes the flow state conversion means from the flow allowable state to the flow stop state. Convert it.
[0109]
  In this case, when the predetermined reach variation display is performed by the reach variation display control function of the variation display game execution unit, the flow state conversion control unit converts the flow state conversion unit from the flow allowable state to the flow stop state. Therefore, if the game balls that are continuously played during the reach change and are released into the game area 3 enter the warp passage, the game balls are stored in the warp passage. It is suitable for preventing a person from stopping.
[0110]
  As described above, when a game progresses under the control of the main control device 20 or the first sub-control device 21 and a game ball wins various winning holes, and this is detected by the winning hole sensor 24. In order to discharge the winning ball, a signal for discharging the winning ball is transmitted from the main control device 20 to the second sub-control device 22, and the second sub-control device 22 controls the discharging device 35 to give a prize to the player. A sphere is given. In addition, in order to lend a game ball using a prepaid card or the like, the second sub-control device may perform control for lending a game ball to a player based on a ball lending signal from a ball lending control unit.
[0111]
  The second sub-control device 22 has a function of controlling the operation of the launching device 36. For example, the second sub-control device 22 has a stop control in the game with the gaming machine (the player can obtain a sufficient prize ball by executing a special game or the like). In the case where the player performs the control to stop the player from continuing the game with the same gaming machine), for example, in response to a stop signal from the main controller 20, the second sub controller 22 launches By disabling the operation of the device 36, it is impossible to continue the game in the gaming machine, and a reliable stop is realized.
[0112]
  Further, main controller 20 outputs various game information in the gaming machine to the outside via external output terminal 37. Information output via the external output terminal 37 is collected and processed by a management device or the like of a game store and used as reference information for game store management.
[0113]
  The power supply device 23 that supplies operation power to the various control device groups described above is provided with a backup power source 23a so that power can be supplied even during a power failure. That is, the power supply device 23 and the main control device 20 cooperate with each other so that “a power supply abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormal state of a power supply used for the operation of the gaming machine” and “a power supply abnormality detection unit detects a power supply abnormality state”. And a function as data backup means for storing predetermined backup target data so as not to disappear, including the starting memory number.
[0114]
  As described above, the electrical drive sources 114 and 144 of the first and fourth effect units 11 and 14 that function as the flow state converting means are latch solenoids.StructureBy making it, even if a power supply abnormality occurs when the power supply abnormality detection means detects the abnormal state of the power supply when converting to the flow prevention state, it has a flow prevention state maintaining function that maintains the flow prevention state as it is, The flow-down state conversion control means “When the detection result of the power failure detection means returns from the abnormal state to the normal state, the flow-down state conversion means is converted into the flow-down allowed state for a predetermined flow-down allowable time, and then the flow-down state conversion control means again. A power supply recovery flow control function that converts the state conversion means to a flow prevention state is provided, and the start storage means is `` Upper limit number of start memories when the detection result of the power supply abnormality detection means returns from the abnormal state to the normal state '' Is released for a predetermined memory upper limit release time, and a power return memory upper limit release function that enables cumulative storage of the establishment of the start condition is provided, and after the gaming machine becomes inoperable due to power failure When the power source is restored, the flow state conversion means is allowed to flow for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), and the game balls stored in the left and right warp passages are discharged to the ball receiving stage 166g at a time, so that the time is shortened. While increasing the possibility that many game balls will win the winning prize opening 9, the starting condition is established by winning the balls to the starting winning opening 9 until a predetermined time (for example, 8 seconds) elapses after the power is restored. Without being invalidated, the number of start-up memories was exceeded and stored (see FIG. 15).
[0115]
  That is, when power is restored after the gaming machine becomes inoperable due to power failure, the flow control function of the flow state conversion control means converts the flow control means to the flow allowed state for the flow allowed time, By releasing the game balls stored in the warp passage to the ball receiving stage 166g at once, the possibility of many game balls winning in the start winning opening is increased in a short time, and the memory upper limit is released when the start storage means returns to power. By the function, until the memory upper limit release time elapses from the time of power recovery, the start condition is not satisfied by the ball winning at the start winning opening, and the exceeding number of start memories is memorized. Since the game can be performed, the player can feel uncomfortable by stopping the operation of the gaming machine due to a power failure or the like.
[0116]
  Next, the flow of processing related to start winning in the main controller 20 of the gaming machine control unit described above will be described in detail based on the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0117]
  First, in normal processing, it is determined whether or not there is a start memory (step S1), and if there is no start memory, the process is terminated as it is. Step S2), it is determined whether or not the starting memory after subtraction is 3 (step S3).
[0118]
  If it is determined in step S3 that the start memory is 3, a flow allowable command is set (step S4). On the other hand, if it is determined that the start memory is not 3 (4 or more), the start is continued. A memory number command is set (step S5), and the display is changed to a variable display process (step S6). Thus, the variable display game is executed by consuming "1" of the start-up memory.
[0119]
  Subsequently, in the start winning process, it is determined whether or not there is a winning at the starting winning port 9 (the presence or absence of a start winning detection signal from the special chart start sensor 26) (step S11). However, if there is a start prize, "1" is added to the start memory (step S12), and the start memory corresponds to a big hit (the random value extracted with the detection of the start prize is a special result) It is determined whether it corresponds to a numerical value determined to generate a mode) (step S13). The probability of being a big hit in the determination of whether or not the big hit is, for example, 1/350. In step S13, if it is not a big hit, it is determined based on the random number value extracted from the random number for the production notice (step S14). Set (step S15). For example, the probability of performing an advance notice by extracting the advance notice is 1/50.
[0120]
  On the other hand, if the determination in step S13 is a big hit, a big hit stop symbol is determined, and it is determined whether or not the type of the symbol corresponds to a probable variation big hit (step S16). If so, a probability variation big hit confirmation command is set (step S17), and if it is not a probability variation big hit symbol, a big hit confirmation command is set (step S18). The probability of extracting a probable jackpot symbol and the probability of extracting a normal jackpot symbol are, for example, 1/2. Then, it is determined whether or not the start memory number is greater than 3 (4 or more) (step S19). If the start memory number is greater than 3, a flow prevention command is set (step S20). A number command is set (step S21), and the start winning process is terminated.
[0121]
  That is, in this start winning process, a start notice command, a jackpot confirmation command, and a probability change jackpot command are sent to the first sub-control device 21 together with the start memory number command, and based on this, the first sub-control device 24 determines the effect mode. Then, an effect operation by the central display device 7 or the like is executed. Note that, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, any production mode is selected based on a selection probability predetermined according to the command type determined as described above.
[0122]
  For example, when the start memory is associated with the effect unit (the upper limit of the start memory is 4, the first effect unit 11 is associated with the start memory 1, the second effect unit 12 is associated with the start memory 2, and the third When the effect unit 13 is associated with the start memory 3 and the effect unit 14 is associated with the start memory 4), as the operation of the effect 1, the movable effect character of the effect unit corresponding to the start memory is operated once and light is emitted. The source is blinked, and the operation of the production 2 is that the movable production character of the production unit corresponding to the start-up memory is actuated three times and the light emission source is blinked.
[0123]
  The above-described aspects of “production 1”, “production 2”, and “no production” are selected with a predetermined probability, and an example of the selection probability is shown in FIG. If no effect command is set in the start winning process, the probability of no effect is 99/100 and the probability of effect 1 is 1/100. When the production command is set in the start winning process, the probability that there is no production, the probability that production 1 is performed, and the probability that production 2 is performed are 1/3. Further, when the jackpot confirmation command is set in the start winning process, the probability of no effect, the probability of effect 1 and the probability of effect 2 are 1/3. In addition, when the probability variation jackpot confirmation command is set in the start winning process, the probability of performing the production 1 and the probability of performing the production 2 are halved. That is, the result of the variable display game can be predicted with a certain probability depending on whether the production unit corresponding to the start-up memory has no production, the production of the production 1 or the production of the production 2.
[0124]
  For this reason, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the gaming machine control unit, “the probability of reliability that the result of the variable display game corresponding to each start memory stored in the start memory means becomes a special result mode” Is provided with a reliability notice determining means for determining whether or not there is a reliability notice for each start memory so as to have a predetermined probability, and the start determined to perform the reliability notice by the reliability notice determining means. It is assumed that the effect unit control means executes a predetermined notice operation for the effect unit corresponding to the memory.
[0125]
  In this way, a plurality of effect units are provided corresponding to each start memory in the start memory means in which the upper limit number of memories is determined, and the reliability notice determining means corresponds to the number of memories stored in the start memory means. Presence / absence of reliability notice is set for each start memory so that the probability of reliability that the result of the variable display game becomes a special result mode becomes a predetermined probability, and the reliability is determined by this reliability notice determination means. The production unit control means is to execute a predetermined notice operation for the production unit corresponding to the start memory that is determined to perform the advance notice. Since the player can recognize that there is a high possibility that a specific mode will occur in the variable display game performed based on the start-up memory corresponding to the presentation unit, It is possible to effectively increase the player's expectation.
[0126]
  In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the reliability notice determining means performs the reliability notice including the special result form that is a promising big hit in addition to the special result form that is a normal big hit, It is enough to make at least a reliability notice about the jackpot. Further, in this embodiment, the probability used for determining the set command (the random probability used for the random display lottery of the variable display game, the random number used for the production notice extraction, and the Atari design used for the special result mode are “probable change”. The presence / absence of the advance notice action and the action type are determined based on the selection probability for determining the appearance mode) and the probability of determining the effect mode). Alternatively, the reliability notice may be determined using only one probability, or the reliability notice may be determined using a larger number of probabilities, and the final determined action is a special result mode (special award result) As long as a reasonable degree of reliability can be maintained, the reliability notice may be determined in any way.
[0127]
  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, it should be considered that all of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification are examples and are not limited to the disclosed technology. That is, the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed restrictively based on the description in the above-described embodiment, but should be construed in accordance with the description of the scope of claims, and the description of the scope of claims. All modifications within the scope of the claims and the equivalent technology are included.
[0128]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the gaming machine according to claim 1,When the power failure detection means detects a sudden power failure or the like and the gaming machine has stopped operating, the start memory of the start storage means is saved by the data backup means, and the flow state conversion means is also in the flow prevention state When the game machine has been converted to a flow-prevented state before the operation of the gaming machine is stopped, the flow-prevented state is maintained as it is, so even if the game machine stops operating due to a power failure etc. Since the game balls stored in the starting memory number and the warp passage are held, it is possible to prevent the number of executions of the variable display game from being reduced and incurring a disadvantage.
[0129]
  In addition, if the power supply is restored after the gaming machine becomes inoperable due to a power failure, the flow control function of the flow state conversion control means converts the flow control means to the flow allowable state for the flow allowable time by the power supply return flow control function, By releasing the game balls stored in the warp passage to the ball receiving stage, it is possible to increase the possibility that many game balls will win the start winning opening in a short time, and the memory upper limit release function at the time of power recovery of the start memory means Until the memory upper limit release time elapses from the time of power recovery, the start condition is not satisfied by the ball winning at the start winning opening, and the upper limit number of the start memory is stored, thereby changing the display game. Since it is possible to do so, it can be a bonus that made the player feel uncomfortable due to the operation stop of the gaming machine due to a power failure or the like.
[0130]
  Claims2When the predetermined reach fluctuation display is performed by the reach fluctuation display control function of the fluctuation display game executing means, the flow state conversion control means causes the flow state conversion means to flow down from the flow allowable state. Since it is converted to the blocking state, it is suitable for preventing the player from stopping during the reach change.
[0131]
  Claims3According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, the normal variation game is executed by becoming the specific result mode in the normal variation display game, and the result mode of the normal variation display game is specified when the start variation winning device is converted to the open state. The flow state conversion means is converted to the flow allowable state from the predetermined time before the start variation winning device is converted to the open state until the start variation winning device is converted to the closed state. Thus, the possibility that the game ball wins the start winning opening of the start variation winning device that is in the open state can be increased. As a result, the possibility that the start memory is further added along with the start of the normal variation game is increased, and the possibility that a prize ball for winning in the normal variation winning device can be obtained is also increased.
[0132]
  Claims4According to this gaming machine, the exit of the left warp passage is arranged on the left side of the ball receiving stage, the exit of the right warp passage is arranged on the right side of the ball receiving stage, and a ball guiding surface is provided at the center of the ball receiving stage. If the start memory number stored in the start memory means becomes less than a predetermined number due to the time difference conversion execution function of the flow state conversion control means, and the flow state conversion means is converted from the flow prevention state to the flow allowable state, Either one of the state conversion means or the right flow state conversion means is converted to the flow allowable state first, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the other flow state conversion means that is still in the flow stop state is converted to the flow allowable state. Therefore, only one of the left warp passage and the right warp passage is released first, and the game balls stored in the warp passage on one side are released to the ball receiving stage, and then the time difference is Since the other warp passage is opened, the effect of losing the possibility of a game ball rolling from the right and left sides simultaneously to the ball guide surface in the center of the ball receiving stage colliding and winning the starting prize opening is lost. Can be prevented.
[0133]
  Claims5According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to allow the player to recognize whether the flow state conversion means is in the flow prevention state or the flow allowable state as the state of the movable part of the production unit, thereby enhancing the production effect. be able to. In addition, since the production unit also functions as a flow down state conversion means, there is also an advantage of cost reduction and space saving..
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board provided in a gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the game board.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a front structural member in the central display device.
FIG. 4 is a front side perspective view of a front structural member in the central display device.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a front structural member.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting base in the front structural member.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the rear surface side of the front structural member.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a front structural member showing a schematic cross section of a warp passage.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth effect unit (upper center effect unit).
FIG. 10 is a front side operation explanatory view of a first effect unit and a fourth effect unit (lower left effect unit and lower right effect unit).
FIG. 11 is a back side operation explanatory diagram of the first effect unit and the fourth effect unit (lower left effect unit and lower right effect unit).
FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second effect unit and the third effect unit (upper left effect unit and upper right effect unit).
FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of various device groups constituting the gaming machine control unit.
FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing the state conversion timing of the flow prevention member in the specific gaming state.
FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the conversion timing of the flow-down state converting means and the release timing of the upper limit setting of the start memory when the power failure is restored.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing normal processing.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a start winning process.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the selection probability of the rendering operation according to the set command.
[Explanation of symbols]
    1 Game board
    3 game areas
    7 Central display device
    71 Display body
    71a Display section
    72 Front component
    72a Open window for display
    8 Auxiliary variable prize winning device
    8b Normal symbol display
    9 Start prize opening
  11 First production unit
  12 Second production unit
  13 Third production unit
  14 Fourth production unit
  20 Main controller
  21 First sub-control device
  22 Second sub-control device
  23 Power supply device
  23a Backup power supply

Claims

A central display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information and a start winning opening located below the central display device are provided in a game board in which a game area is formed, and a game ball wins the start winning opening. In particular, when the start condition is satisfied, the variable display game using the central display device is executed, and when the result mode of the variable display game becomes a predetermined special result mode, a special game value In a gaming machine equipped with a gaming machine control unit that performs gaming control to generate a special gaming state that can be given,
The central display device
A display device body having a display unit capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information;
A front structural member that is disposed on the front surface side of the display device body and has a display opening window portion that faces the display portion on the back surface;
Consisting of
The front structural member is
A warp passage comprising a ball passage for allowing a game ball to flow down from a ball receiving port capable of receiving a game ball flowing down the game area to a ball receiving stage having a ball guide surface capable of being guided to the start winning opening;
A flow state converting means capable of converting into a flow allowable state allowing flow of the game ball flowing down the warp passage and a flow blocking state blocking the flow of the game ball;
With
The gaming machine control unit
A variable display game executing means for executing a variable display game using the central display device;
When the start condition is satisfied during execution of the change display game by the change display game execution means, the start condition can be stored up to a predetermined upper limit number as a start memory for subsequently executing the change display game. Storage means;
A flow state conversion control means for controlling the conversion operation of the flow state conversion means;
Power supply abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal state of the power supply provided for the operation of the gaming machine;
Based on the fact that the power supply abnormality detecting means detects an abnormal state of the power supply, the data backup means for storing the backup target data including the start memory number so as not to disappear,
With
The downflow state conversion means has a downflow prevention state maintaining function for maintaining the downflow prevention state as it is even if a power supply abnormality occurs when the power supply abnormality detection means detects an abnormal state of the power supply during conversion into the downflow prevention state. Shall have
When the detection result of the power supply abnormality detection unit returns from the abnormal state to the normal state, the flow state conversion control unit converts the flow state conversion unit to a flow allowable state for a predetermined allowable flow time. In addition, a flow-down control function at the time of power recovery that converts the flow-down state conversion means back into the flow-off prevention state is provided,
In the start memory means, when the detection result of the power supply abnormality detecting means returns from the abnormal state to the normal state, the upper limit number of the start memory is canceled for a predetermined storage upper limit release time, and the start condition is satisfied. A memory upper limit release function at power recovery that enables cumulative storage
When the power supply is restored after the gaming machine becomes inoperable due to a power failure, the gaming balls stored in the warp passage are released to the ball receiving stage, so that a large number of gaming balls can be returned to the starting prize opening in a short time. to increase the likelihood of winning, without invalidating the establishment of starting conditions with spherical prize to these starting winning opening, a game machine, characterized in that the so that is stored exceeds the maximum number of the start memory .

The variation display game executing means performs a reach variation display that performs a predetermined reach variation display when a midway mode of the variation display game in which the identification information is variably displayed by three or more variation display units is a predetermined reach mode. With control function,
The flow state conversion control means converts the flow state conversion means from a flow allowed state to a flow blocked state when the change display game executing means is performing reach fluctuation display. Item 1. The gaming machine according to Item 1.

In the above game board,
A start variation winning device that is provided with the start winning opening, and that can be converted into a closed state in which a game ball is difficult to win in the start winning opening, and an open state in which a game ball can easily win in the start winning opening;
A normal variation display device capable of executing a normal variation display game capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information;
Provided,
In the above gaming machine control unit,
A normal variation display game executing means for executing a normal variation display game using the normal variation display device by establishing a predetermined normal start condition;
Ordinarily executing a normal variation game in which the start variation winning device is converted to an open state in a predetermined manner when the result mode of the normal variation display game by the normal variation display game execution means is a predetermined specific result mode. Variable game control means;
Provided,
The flow state conversion control means is configured such that even if the start memory of the start memory means is equal to or greater than the predetermined number and the flow state conversion means is converted to the flow prevention state, the result mode of the normal variation display game is the specific result mode. consist predetermined time before the starting variation winning device is converted into an open state until the above start dynamic variation winning device is converted to a closed state, characterized in that the so that by converting the falling state conversion means into a stream of allowable state the gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,.

The front component includes a left warp passage having an outlet disposed on the left side of the ball receiving stage and a right warp passage having an outlet disposed on the right side of the ball receiving stage, and a ball guide at the center of the ball receiving stage. Provide a surface,
Corresponding to each of the left and right warp passages, left flow state conversion means and right flow state conversion means are provided,
The flow state conversion control means is
When the start memory number stored in the start memory means becomes less than the predetermined number and the flow state conversion means is converted from the flow prevention state to the flow allowable state, either the left flow state conversion means or the right flow state conversion means One of them is first converted into a flow-down allowable state, and after the lapse of a predetermined time, it is provided with a time difference conversion execution function that converts the other flow-state conversion means that is still in the flow-down prevention state to a flow-down allowable state. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

The front structural member is provided with an effect unit erected at an appropriate position of the spherical flow path forming the warp passage,
The production unit includes movable production means provided with one or more movable parts that are operated by an electric drive source in a state that is visible from the front side of the gaming machine,
The movable part of the above-mentioned movable production means protrudes into the sphere flow path of the warp passage, causing a flow-down prevention state, and the movable part retreats from the sphere flow path of the warp passage, causing a flow-down allowable state, which flows down. A state conversion means,
The flow-down state conversion control means controls the electric drive source of the effect unit, thereby performing conversion control between the flow-prevented state and the flow-allowed state. The gaming machine according to claim 1 .