JP4810709B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine that plays a game by firing a game ball on a game board surface provided with a plurality of entrances.

  Various types of gaming machines are known as bullet ball gaming machines that play a game by firing a gaming ball toward the surface of the gaming board. For example, in a so-called digipachi machine (or first type) of a ball and ball game machine, a winning opening called a start port on a game board surface, and a symbol that displays any symbol after it is displayed in a variable manner. A display device is provided, and when a game ball enters the start opening, the display of the variation of the symbol is started, and when a predetermined winning symbol is stopped and displayed, the big winning opening is opened, Start a special game called. After the big hit game is finished, the short game is started when the game ball easily enters the starting port.

  In addition, in this type of ball game machine, the big hit game is terminated just by opening the big prize opening for a very short time so that the game ball is difficult to enter the big prize opening, There is also a ball game machine having a jackpot game of a mode to start (in the present specification, such a jackpot mode is referred to as “sudden short-time jackpot”). In fact, since a short-time jackpot will end the jackpot in a very short time, it is actually equivalent to losing the jackpot one time for a player, but a normal player will notice that a jackpot game has been played. Absent. As a result, it seems as if the game is being promoted advantageously, as if it is not going through the big hit game, it suddenly becomes short-running, making it easier for the game ball to enter the start opening and generating a big hit game. Can give an impression.

  On the other hand, among the ball game machines, there is also a type of ball game machine called a so-called feather (or second type). In this type of gaming machine, a start opening and a center accessory (sometimes called a central device) are provided on the surface of the game board. When a game ball enters the start opening, it is provided in the center accessory. It becomes a small hit game that the wings open for a short time (for example, not exceeding 3 seconds), and about 1 to 3 game balls can enter the center game (without entering the ball) May be closed). There is a specific area (so-called V area) through which the game ball can pass in the center bonus, and when the game ball that has entered the center bonus passes through the specific area (V zone), the big hit game starts. It has come to be.

  Furthermore, a ball ball game machine having both the game performance of a digital pachislot machine (first type) and the game characteristics of a feather (second type) has been proposed. In this type of ball game machine, when a game ball enters the start opening, the symbol display device starts the variable display of the symbol, and when the predetermined winning symbol is stopped, the big winning opening is opened. A big hit game is played. In addition, when another winning symbol is stopped and displayed, the wing provided on the center role opens and the above-mentioned small hit game is performed, and the game ball that enters the center feature from the opened wing When the game passes through the specific area (V area), the big hit game is started.

  In addition, in the case of a ball game machine that combines the playability of a Digipachi machine (first type) and the playability of a feather (second type) in this way, the game ball enters the start opening. It has also been proposed that when the display device starts displaying the variation of the symbol and the predetermined winning symbol is stopped and displayed, the blade provided in the center accessory is opened to suddenly make a short and large hit (Patent Document) 1). As mentioned earlier, sudden hits and shorts are closed by opening the big prize opening for a short period of time, so that the big hit game is terminated so that the player does not notice it. Because it is held, if the big prize opening is opened for a short time and then closed immediately, it gives the player a strange feeling, and then suddenly the jackpot game is lost by one time due to the short joke There is a risk of being realized by the player. On the other hand, the blade provided in the center accessory is originally opened only for a short time. For this reason, if a sudden hit occurs at a short time, if the blade is opened for a short time to end the big hit, the player will not feel strange, and as a result, it will suddenly appear as though it does not go through the big hit. It is possible to give an impression as if the time is short.

JP 2007-97951 A

  However, in the proposed technology, when a game ball enters from a blade opened suddenly for short and large hits, the progress of the game is different from when a game ball enters from a blade opened by a small hit game. Various problems arise because of the difference. For example, if a game ball hits from a wing if a “notification effect indicating the occurrence of a sudden time lapse” is executed when a sudden hit is suddenly generated (such as when a blade is opened) as in the past, In spite of the fact that the game ball is still rolling in the center role, it may happen that the privilege to be given to the player (occurrence of short-time game) is notified. In other words, since the granted privilege is determined even though the rolling result of the game ball entered from the blade is not obtained, the game mode is completely different from the game mode in the conventional small hit game, and the player is confused. There is a risk of giving a sense of incongruity. Further, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, during a small hit game, a big hit game is generated when a game ball that has entered from an opened blade passes through a specific region (V region). Even if a game ball that has entered from an open blade passes through a specific region (V region), nothing happens because it is a big hit game. Therefore, although the short-time game is started later, when the game ball passes through the specific area (V area), the player is told that “the game ball has passed the specific area (V area) and has no privilege. ”May cause a sense of incongruity to the game, and eventually, it may be realized that a sudden short hit has occurred.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems assumed in the prior art, and has both the playability of a digital pouch (first type) and the playability of a feather (second type). An object of the present invention is to provide a ball and ball game machine that can effectively execute sudden and short hits without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the bullet ball game machine of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
In a ball game machine that plays a game by firing a game ball toward a game board provided with a plurality of entrances into which a game ball can enter,
A starting port that can be switched between a normal state in which a game ball is difficult to enter and an open state in which the game ball is easier to enter than the normal state;
It is configured to be switchable between a closed state in which a game ball cannot enter and an open state in which a game ball can enter, and a specific area and a non-specific area through which the game ball can pass are provided inside. When the specific entrance that is said closed state,
A lottery means for performing a lottery relating to the progress of the game by entering a game ball into the start opening;
A symbol display means for performing a change display of the symbol in response to the game ball entering the start opening, and stopping and displaying the symbol according to the result of the lottery,
When the first winning symbol is stopped and displayed by the symbol display means, a small hit game executing means for executing a small hit game for opening the specific entrance in a predetermined small hit opening manner;
When the second winning symbol is stopped and displayed by the symbol display means, or when the game ball that has entered the specific entrance opened by the small hit game executing means passes through the specific area, A special game execution means for executing a special game for giving a predetermined privilege to a person,
When a predetermined condition is established during the game, start port opening means for opening the start port for a predetermined time; and
Specific game execution means for executing a specific game in which the opening time of the start port is longer than that in a normal game state after the end of the special game;
An informing means for informing that the specific game is executed,
The special game executed when the symbol display means stops displaying the second winning symbol is to open the specific entrance in the same opening mode as the small hitting aperture mode,
The specific game executing means is configured such that all the game balls that enter the specific entrance during the special game are executed when the symbol display means stops and displays the second winning symbol. Alternatively, the specific game is executed after passing through any of the non-specific areas,
The notification means is configured such that a game ball enters the specific entrance during the special game that is executed when the symbol display means stops and displays the second winning symbol, and the game ball that has entered the The notification is executed by passing through the specific area.

  In such a ball game machine of the present invention, when the first winning symbol is stopped and displayed on the symbol display device, as in the so-called feather game machine, the specific entrance is a predetermined small hitting opening mode. The small hit game is executed by opening the specific entrance in an opening manner that opens and closes the specific entrance in a short time. Similarly to the so-called “digipachi” gaming machine, when the second winning symbol is stopped or displayed, or the gaming ball has entered the specific entrance opened by the small hit game and passed through the specific area. In that case, a special game for giving a predetermined privilege to the player is performed. Here, the special game executed by the symbol display means stopping and displaying the second winning symbol is to open the specific entrance in the same opening manner as the small hitting opening manner, and the symbol display means After all the game balls that have entered from the specific entrance during the special game executed by stopping and displaying the second winning symbol have passed either the specific area or the non-specific area, Run a game. Further, during a special game executed by the symbol display means stopping and displaying the second winning symbol, the game ball enters the specific entrance, and the entered game ball passes through the specific area. Thus, notification that the specific game is executed is performed.

  In this way, when the game ball enters the specific entrance during the special game with the second winning symbol, the rolling results (passing through the specific area or non-specific area) of all the game balls entered are obtained. Since the specific game is not started until it is obtained, it is possible to make the special game progress in the same game mode as the small hit game. In other words, the game mode at the time of a small hit such as “all game balls entering from a specific entrance end a series of games by passing through a specific area or a non-specific area” is a special game pattern based on the second hit pattern. Since it is also played in a game, it is not known until the result of rolling of the game ball is obtained whether the small hit game or the special game with the second hit symbol, and the special game with the second hit symbol is executed without giving the player a sense of incongruity can do. Further, when a game ball enters the specific entrance during the special game with the second winning symbol and the entered game ball passes through the specific area, a notification that the specific game is executed is given. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling that “nothing happens even though the game ball has passed the specific area”. From the above, it is possible to effectively realize a so-called “sudden time and big hit” using a special game with the second winning symbol without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

  In the above invention, the non-specific area refers to an area other than the specific area. In addition, a switch for detecting the passage of the game ball may be provided in order to detect that the game ball has passed through the non-specific region, but the switch is not necessarily provided as follows. That is, after the game switch has detected that a game ball has entered the specific entrance, all the detected game balls have not passed through the specific area even if a predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, it may be determined that the game ball has passed through the non-specific area.

  Further, in the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention, the following may be performed. The specific game execution means executes the specific game after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since all the game balls entering the specific entrance have passed through the specific area or the non-specific area. And it is good also as providing the synchronous means which synchronizes the completion | finish of the alerting | reporting by the said alerting | reporting means, and the completion | finish of the said waiting time. The “predetermined waiting time” is a so-called “ending time” for notifying the player of the end of the special game. Equivalent to.

  According to this, since the end timing of notification of the specific game and the end timing of the standby time are synchronized, the specific game can be started immediately after the notification ends. Therefore, the progress of the game after the sudden shortage hit becomes smooth, and the “sudden shortfall hit” can be effectively realized without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

  In addition, when the standby time remains after the notification by the notification unit ends, the synchronization unit shortens the remaining standby time so that the notification ends and the standby time ends. It is good also as synchronizing.

  In the ball game machine of the present invention, the specific game is executed after the special game with the second winning symbol is finished, and the special game with the second winning symbol is made the same game mode as the small hit game. "Sudden time bonus" is realized. Therefore, if there is a waiting time similar to that in the past after the special game with the second winning symbol is completed, the standby time may remain even after the notification ends depending on the timing at which the specific game is notified. In this case, there is a possibility that a useless blank period is generated between the notification of the specific game and the actual start of the specific game, which may give the player a sense of incongruity. In such a case, if the remaining standby time is shortened to the notification end timing, and the notification end timing and the end time of the standby time are synchronized, notification that the specific game is executed is performed. Even if the waiting time remains after a specific time, the specific game can be started immediately without waiting for the waiting time. Therefore, the game progresses smoothly, and the “sudden time and big hit” can be effectively realized without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

  Further, the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention may be as follows. That is, the notification means is executed during the special game that is executed when the game ball passes the specific area during the small hit game and when the symbol display means stops and displays the second hit symbol. When the game ball passes through the specific area, a common effect display is started on the effect display device, and when the game state when the game ball passes through the specific area is the small hit game, After the end of the common effect display, a notification that the special game is to be executed is performed, and if the game state when the game ball passes the specific area is the special game, the common effect display It is good also as notifying that the said specific game is performed after completion | finish.

  In this way, when the game ball passes through the specific area, the common effect display is started, and the privilege given to the player is notified by the result display of the effect. It is possible to make it seem that there is a "special game occurrence" and a "specific game occurrence", and when the game ball passes a specific area, it is effective to suddenly hit a short time and a big hit without giving the player a sense of incongruity Can be realized.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
A-2. Game board configuration:
A-3. Configuration of control circuit:
B. Overview of the game:
C. Game control overview:
C-1. Special design-related processing:
C-2. Small hit game-related processing:
C-3. Big hit game-related processing:

A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the gaming machine 1 is mainly composed of a front frame 4, an upper plate portion 5, a lower plate portion 6, a game board 10, and the like. In FIG. 1, detailed illustration of the game board 10 is omitted. The front frame 4 is attached to a middle frame 3 (not shown), and the middle frame 3 is attached to a main body frame 2 (not shown). The middle frame 3 is formed of a plastic material and is attached to the inside of the main body frame 2. The main body frame 2 is a substantially rectangular frame formed by assembling wooden plate-like members, and forms an outer frame of the gaming machine 1. One end of the front frame 4 is pivotally supported with respect to the middle frame 3, and one end of the middle frame 3 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body frame 2. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3, and the front side is covered with the front frame 4.

  The front frame 4 is formed of a plastic material, and a circular opening 4a is formed at a substantially central portion. A transparent plate such as a glass plate is fitted in the opening 4a, and the board surface of the game board 10 disposed on the back side can be visually recognized. Further, the front frame 4 is provided with various lamps 4b to 4f for enhancing the game effect.

  An upper dish portion 5 is provided below the front frame 4, and a lower dish portion 6 is provided below the upper dish portion 5. A locking device 9 is provided on the right side of the front frame 4, and a prepaid card type ball lending device 13 (CR unit) is provided on the left side of the front frame 4.

  The upper dish portion 5 is provided with a dish-shaped recess and a dish outer edge portion 5a formed so as to surround the recess. The game ball is thrown into a recess formed in the upper plate part 5 and supplied to the launching device unit 12 (see FIG. 5). The dish outer edge 5a is provided with various buttons such as a game ball lending switch 5b, a return switch 5c, and a discharge button for discharging the inserted game ball. Furthermore, a first speaker 5y having a plurality of long holes and a large number of small holes formed thereon is provided at a substantially central portion of the upper plate part 5.

  The lower plate part 6 is provided with a discharge port 6 a for discharging game balls from the inside of the gaming machine 1, and the discharged game balls are stored in the lower plate part 6. Further, second speakers 6 c are provided on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the lower dish portion 6.

  A firing handle 8 is provided at the right end of the lower plate portion 6. The firing handle 8 is provided with a touch switch 8a for detecting that the player is touching the handle. The rotation axis of the launching handle 8 is connected to a launching device unit 12 (not shown) mounted on the back side of the lower pan 6, and when the player rotates the firing handle 8, the movement of the launching handle 8 is caused to the launching device unit 12. Then, a launch motor (not shown) built in the unit rotates, and a game ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle. On the left side surface of the launch handle 8, a launch stop switch 8b that is operated by the player to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball is disposed.

A-2. Game board configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a board surface configuration of the game board 10. As described above, the game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular game area 11 surrounded by an outer rail 14 and an inner rail 15 is formed at the center of the game board 10, and a central device is located at the center of the game area 11. 100 is installed. As will be described in detail later, the central device 100 of the present embodiment is provided with a pair of blade members, an effect display device, a sorting device, a specific region, a non-specific region, and the like.

  In addition, three start ports 17, 18, and 19 are provided below the central device 100. Inside these start ports, start port switches 17s, 18s, 19s is provided. Among these three starting ports 17, 18, 19, the starting port 17 located in the center is a pair of wing pieces that can be opened and closed to the left and right, and a normal electric accessory (starting port) for operating the wing pieces. This is a so-called tulip-type starter provided with a solenoid 17m (see FIG. 5). When the pair of wing pieces are opened to the left and right, an opening state in which the game ball is likely to enter is in an open state, and the pair of wing pieces are upright, and the game ball is in a normal state in which the possibility of entering is small. Of the three start ports 17, 18, 19, the central start port 17 that can be switched between the open state and the normal state corresponds to the “start port” in the present invention.

  Further, a large winning opening 31d is provided below the tulip-type start opening 17. The special winning opening 31d is driven by the special winning opening solenoid 31m (see FIG. 5) to be in an open state when a predetermined condition described later is satisfied. As a result, the game ball enters the big winning opening 31d with a high probability, and the big hit gaming state, which is a gaming state advantageous to the player, is started. In addition, a big prize opening switch 31s is provided inside the big prize opening 31d, and it is possible to detect a game ball won in the big prize opening 31d.

  A symbol display device 28 is provided at the lower left of the central device 100. Although the detailed configuration will be described later, the symbol display device 28 can display normal symbols, special symbols, and the like in a variable stop manner.

  A left winning opening 16a and a normal symbol operating left gate 36a are provided on the left side of the gaming area 11, and a winning opening switch 16s for detecting the entry of a game ball is provided inside the left winning opening 16a. A gate switch 36s for detecting the passage of the game ball is provided inside the normal symbol operation left gate 36a. Similarly, a right winning opening 16b and a normal symbol operating right gate 36b are provided on the right side of the gaming area 11, and a winning opening switch 16t for detecting the entry of a game ball is provided inside the right winning opening 16b. A gate switch 36t for detecting the passage of a game ball is provided inside the normal symbol operation right gate 36b. Furthermore, a left lamp windmill 24a is provided above the normal symbol operating left gate 36a, and a right lamp windmill 24b is provided above the normal symbol operating right gate 36b, between and around these various devices. Many obstacle nails (not shown) are provided.

  An out port 48 is provided below the game board 10, and a back ball preventing member 58 is provided below the out port 48. The back ball prevention member 58 has a function of preventing a game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the launch position.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the central apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, a pair of blade members 102a and 102b are mounted on both side surfaces of the upper portion of the central device 100 so as to be openable and closable. The blade members 102a and 102b are connected to a blade solenoid 102m (see FIG. 5) via a link mechanism (not shown), and can be opened and closed by driving the blade solenoid 102m. As indicated by the solid line in the figure, the blade members 102a and 102b are almost upright in a normal state and are in a closed state in which a game ball cannot enter, but when the blade solenoid 102m is driven. The pair of blade members 102 a and 102 b are opened, and a game ball flowing down on the game board 10 can be taken into the central device 100. Note that the blade entrance 102 formed by the pair of blade members 102a and 102b corresponds to the “specific entrance” in the present invention.

  A game ball taken into the central device 100 is detected by a blade insertion ball switch 102 s provided immediately below the blade insertion hole 102, and is then used as a sorting device provided almost at the center of the central device 100. Guided to Kruon 136. The croon 136 is formed in a circular dish shape having a concave center, and the game ball guided to the croon 136 swivels on the concave upper surface. In addition, on the concave upper surface of the croon 136, there are provided three crune holes into which game balls can be inserted. Are connected internally. Then, the game ball taken into the central device 100 is swung on the upper surface of the croon 136, is captured in one of the crune holes, and is discharged from the corresponding outlets 137a, 137b, 137c connected inside. The

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, guide passages 111a and 111b are provided below the outlets 137a, 137b, and 137c, and the game balls discharged from the outlet 137a are placed in a specific area (so-called V) by the guide passage 111a. After being guided to (region) 141a, the passage of the game ball is detected by a specific region passing switch 141c provided downstream of the specific region 141a. On the other hand, the game ball discharged from either the outlet 137b or the outlet 137c is guided to the non-specific area 141b by the guide passage 111b, and then provided to the non-specific area passing switch provided downstream of the non-specific area 141b. The passage of the game ball is detected by 141d. In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the blade entry switch 102s for detecting a game ball entered from the blade entry slot 102 corresponds to the “entrance switch” in the present invention, and a specific area. The specific area passing switch 141c for detecting a game ball passing through 141a corresponds to the “passing switch” in the present invention.

  Further, an effect display device 127 configured by a dot matrix screen or a liquid crystal screen is provided above the cron 136. As will be described in detail later, in the effect display device 127, it is possible to produce a game by performing various displays as the game progresses.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the symbol display device 28 mounted on the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the symbol display device 28 of the present embodiment is configured by incorporating twelve small light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a substantially rectangular region. These 12 LEDs are roughly divided into three LEDs constituting the normal symbol display unit 29 and nine LEDs constituting the special symbol display unit 30. Of these, the normal symbol display unit 29 has one LED for displaying a normal symbol (hereinafter referred to as a normal symbol LED 29a) and two LEDs for displaying the number of reserved normal symbols (hereinafter, a normal symbol LED 29a). Figure hold display LED 29b). The special symbol display unit 30 includes seven LEDs for displaying special symbols (hereinafter referred to as special symbol LEDs 30a) and two LEDs for displaying the number of special symbols held (hereinafter referred to as special symbols). Called hold display LED 30b). The manner in which the symbol display device 28 of the present embodiment displays the normal symbol, the special symbol, and further the number of reserved symbols using these 12 LEDs will be described later.

A-3. Control circuit configuration:
Next, the configuration of the control circuit in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control circuit of the gaming machine 1 is composed of a number of control boards, various boards, relay terminal boards, and the like. Controls the main control board 200 that controls whether or not it is involved, the sub-control board 220 that controls the effects of the game using the effect display device 127, lamps, and speakers, and the control of the operation of paying out the rented or winning balls. The payout control board 240 and the launch control board 260 for controlling the launch of the game ball are configured. These control boards include various types of CPUs, such as a CPU that executes various logical operations and calculation operations, a ROM that stores various programs and data executed by the CPU, and a RAM that stores temporary data when the program is executed. Peripheral LSIs are connected to each other via a bus. Further, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6 represents the direction in which data or signals are input / output.

  As shown in the figure, the main control board 200 includes start port switches 17s, 18s and 19s, a big winning port switch 31s, a blade insertion ball switch 102s, winning port switches 16s and 16t, gate switches 36s and 36t, and a specific region passing. After receiving a game ball detection signal from the switch 141c, the non-specific area passing switch 141d, etc., and determining whether or not the basic progress of the game and the winning ball are involved, the sub control board 220, the payout control board 240, the launch Commands for instructing various operations are output toward the control board 260 and the like. Further, the main control board 200 includes a normal electric accessory solenoid 17m for opening and closing a pair of blade pieces provided at the start opening 17, a large winning opening solenoid 31m for opening and closing the large winning opening 31d, A blade solenoid 102m for opening and closing a pair of blade members 102a and 102b provided in the device 100, and a symbol display device 28 for displaying fluctuation stop of normal symbols and special symbols are connected via a relay terminal plate. The operation is also controlled by outputting signals toward these various solenoids 17m, 31m, 102m and the symbol display device 28.

  When receiving the command from the main control board 200, the sub control board 220 analyzes the contents of the command and determines the contents of the effect. In accordance with the result, a display signal is displayed on the effect display device 127, and a drive signal is sent to the amplifier board 224 that drives the various speakers 5y and 6c, and the decoration drive board 226 that drives the various LEDs and lamps for decoration. The game is produced by outputting.

  The payout control board 240 is responsible for various controls relating to so-called ball rental and prize ball payout. For example, when the player operates the ball lending switch 5b or the return switch 5c provided in the above-described upper plate part 5, this signal is transmitted from the ball lending display board 242 to the ball lending device 13 via the relay terminal board. Is done. The ball lending device 13 pays out a ball while exchanging data with the payout control board 240. When the main control board 200 outputs a prize ball payout command, the payout control board 240 receives this command and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m to pay out the prize ball.

B. Overview of the game:
Next, an outline of the game performed in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be briefly described.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, a game is performed as follows. First, when a player throws a game ball into the recess of the upper plate portion 5 and rotates the launch handle 8, the game balls thrown into the upper plate portion 5 are supplied to the launcher unit 12 one by one, The game area 11 is fired as described above with reference to FIG. The strength at which the game ball is launched can be adjusted by the rotation angle of the launching handle 8, and the player can aim the game ball by changing the rotation angle of the launching handle 8.

  When the launched game ball passes either the normal symbol operation left gate 36a or the normal symbol operation right gate 36b provided on the left and right of the game area 11, the normal display variation display is started on the symbol display device 28. . As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the normal symbol display unit 29 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the normal symbol display unit 29 is mounted with the normal symbol LED 29 a and the universal symbol hold display LED 29 b. Among these, the normal symbol LED 29a is used to display the variation of the normal symbol.

  FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which normal symbols are variably displayed. In the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the normal symbol LED 29a is repeatedly blinked to display the variation of the normal symbol. In the figure, the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a radial solid line, and the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a broken line. When the blinking normal symbol LED 29a stops in the lighting state, it becomes a normal symbol hit, and conversely, when it stops in the unlit state, it becomes out of the normal symbol.

  Further, when the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation left gate 36a or the normal symbol operation right gate 36b during the normal symbol variation display, the passage of this game ball is stored as the number of holdings, and the current normal symbol variation is stored. After the display is completed, the variable display is performed. Up to four normal symbols can be stored, and the number of stored normal symbols is displayed by the general symbol display LED 29b.

  FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the number of ordinary symbols on hold is displayed by the normal figure hold display LED 29b. When there is no normal symbol hold (that is, when the number of hold is zero), both of the two normal figure hold display LEDs 29b are turned off. When there is one hold, the left-hand general map hold display LED 29b remains off and the right-hand general map hold display LED 29b is lit. When there are two holds, the left-hand general hold display LED 29b is turned on and the right-hand general hold display LED 29b is turned off. Next, when there are three holds, both the left and right map hold display LEDs 29b are lit. When the number of hold increases further to the upper limit of four, the left and right map hold display LEDs 29b blink. In this way, the normal symbol display unit 29 can display the number of holds from 0 to 4 by turning on, turning off, or blinking the two common figure hold display LEDs 29b.

  On the other hand, when a game ball enters any one of the three start ports 17, 18, and 19, this time, a special symbol variation display is started. Even if a game ball enters one of the three starting ports 17, 18, 19, the special symbol variation display is started, but the central starting port 17 is displayed with a normal symbol stopped and displayed as a symbol. Then, it is opened for a predetermined time, and it becomes easier for a game ball to enter than the left and right start ports 18 and 19 during the opening. Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the right special symbol display unit 30 is equipped with seven special symbol LEDs 30a and two special symbol hold display LEDs 30b. Use it to display special symbols.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which special symbols are variably displayed using the special symbol LED 30a. In this embodiment, nine states as shown are prepared as lighting states of the seven special symbol LEDs 30a, and each of the lighting states is a special symbol. Then, these nine types of special symbols (that is, nine lighting states) are switched one after another in a short period of time, thereby displaying the special symbols in a variable manner.

  If a game ball enters any of the starting ports 17, 18, and 19 while the special symbol is being displayed, the game ball is stored as the number of reserved special symbols, and the current special symbol is stored. After the change display is completed, the change display is performed. It is possible to store up to four special symbol hold numbers, and the stored special symbol hold number is displayed using the special symbol hold display LED 30b of the special symbol display unit 30. ing. The mode of displaying the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display LED 30b is exactly the same as the case of the general figure hold display LED 29b shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, nine types of special symbols are roughly classified into four symbols. First, three of the special symbols shown in the uppermost row in the drawing is a special symbol called "normal big hit symbol", three of the special symbols shown in the second stage from the top is in symbols called "small hit symbol" , one of the special symbols shown in the third row from the top is referred to as a "sudden time-shortening large per design", two of the special symbols shown at the bottom is a pattern which is referred to as the "off" symbol. Among these, when the special symbol is stopped at the “normal jackpot symbol”, the big hit game in which the special winning opening 31d is opened a predetermined number of times (15 times in this embodiment) is started. When the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, it becomes easy for a game ball to enter, so the big hit game can be said to be a game state that is very advantageous for the player.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol is stopped at the “small hit symbol”, the small hit game is started in which the blade entrance 102 is opened. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, when the blade entrance hole 102 is in an open state, the game ball can be taken into the central device 100. In addition, as described above, the croon 136 is mounted inside the central device 100, and the game ball taken into the central device 100 is either in the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b by the croon 136. It is distributed to. When the game ball passes through the specific area 141a, the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, and a big hit game advantageous to the player is started. On the other hand, when it passes through the non-specific area 141b, the small hit game is ended as it is.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol is stopped at the “sudden short-term big hit symbol”, a special big hit (sudden short-term big hit) in which the blade entrance 102 is opened only in an extremely short time is started. Suddenly, the time and big hit ends in a very short time, and the player ends without noticing that the big hit game has been played. In particular, unlike the prize winning opening 31d, the blade entry opening 102 originally opens only for a short time, so even if a sudden short hit occurs and the blade entry opening 102 opens for only a very short time, the player Does not feel any sense of incongruity, and suddenly does not notice the occurrence of a junior short and big hit.

  Further, when the special symbol is stopped at the “off symbol”, such a hit game (a big hit game, a sudden short-time big hit or a small hit game) is not started.

It should be noted that the “ suddenly short and large winning symbol” in this embodiment corresponds to the “second winning symbol” in the present invention. In addition, when the special symbol is stopped and displayed as “small hit symbol”, the small hit game that opens the blade entrance 102 is started. This corresponds to “one hit symbol”.

  FIG. 8 shows a rough flow of a game performed in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, when a game ball enters the start opening, the special symbol variation display is started, and when the special symbol is normally stopped and displayed with the big hit symbol, the special winning opening 31d is in an open state. A big hit game is started. When the big hit game is finished, the “short time game” is started in which the variation time of the normal symbol is shortened and the opening time of the tulip starter 17 is extended. The flow of such a game is the same as that of a game machine called a “digipachi machine”.

  On the other hand, when the game ball enters the start opening and the special symbol variation display is started and the small hit symbol is stopped and displayed, the blade entrance 102 provided in the central device 100 is opened. . Also, when a game ball enters the central device 100 from the opened blade entrance 102 and the game ball passes through the specific area 141a in the central device 100, the grand prize winning port 31d is also displayed. The jackpot game is started after opening. The flow of such a game is the same as that of a so-called “feather” game machine. As shown in FIG. 8, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, when the game ball passes the specific area 141a, an effect for determining the round is performed prior to the start of the big hit game. The number of round games to be played is determined. When the special symbol is removed and stopped with the symbol, the game is continued as it is without starting the big hit game.

  On the other hand, if the game ball enters the start opening and the special symbol changes, then suddenly stopped and displayed at the short and big hit bonus symbol, a big hit game that opens the blade inlet 102 only for a short time is performed, After the big hit game, the short-time game is started. Note that by setting the same opening time (opening mode) as that at the time of small hitting as the opening time (opening mode) of the blade entrance 102 at the time of sudden hit and short hit, the player can open the blade entrance 102 at the same time. It will not be possible to recognize the hit type only by being done. As a result, when a sudden loss of time is generated, it is possible to give the player the impression that the gaming state has suddenly switched to the shorter state. Of course, it is possible that a game ball may suddenly enter the blade entrance 102 that is opened at a short and large hit. In the case of a sudden hit, the game hits from the blade entrance 102 does not start even if the game ball passes through the specific area 141a. In such a case, the player feels uncomfortable. There is a possibility. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when a game ball enters from the blade entrance hole 102 at the time of sudden short and large hit, such a risk is avoided by performing the control described below. .

C. Overview of game control:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of a game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 to control the progress of the game. As shown in the figure, the game control process includes a prize ball-related process, a process related to a normal symbol, a process related to a normal electric accessory, a process related to a special symbol, a process related to a small hit game, and a big hit. Each process such as a process related to a game is repeatedly executed. The time required for one round of processing is about 4 msec. Therefore, these various types of processing are repeatedly executed about every 4 msec. The game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 will be described below according to the flowchart.

  When starting the game control process, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performs a process (pay ball related process) for paying out a game ball as a prize ball (S50). In this process, among the various switches connected to the main control board 200, switches relating to winning of game balls (start port switches 17s, 18s, 19s, winning port switches 16s, 16t, large winning port switch 31s, blades) It is determined whether or not a game ball has been detected for the incoming switch 102s, the specific area passing switch 141c, the non-specific area passing switch 141d, and the like. When a game ball is detected, the number of prize balls to be paid out is calculated, and then a process for outputting a prize ball number designation command to the payout control board 240 is performed. When the payout control board 240 receives the award ball number designation command output from the main control board 200, the payout control board 240 interprets the content of the command, and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m mounted on the payout device 109 according to the result. Thus, a process of actually paying out the prize ball is performed.

  Following the prize ball related process (S50), the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs a process of determining whether or not to perform the normal symbol game process, that is, whether or not to start the normal symbol variation stop display (S100). ). The normal symbol variation display starts when the following two conditions are satisfied. As the first condition, it is necessary that the game ball has passed either the normal symbol operation left gate 36a or the normal symbol operation right gate 36b, or the number of normal symbols retained remains. Next, as the second condition, it is necessary that the ordinary electric accessory is not in operation. In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the tulip type start port 17 provided at the center of the three start ports 17, 18, and 19 corresponds to the ordinary electric accessory, and the ordinary electric accessory When is activated, the tulip-type starting port 17 is opened. The ordinary electric accessory is an accessory that operates as a result of variably displaying an ordinary symbol in the manner shown in FIG. Therefore, if the normal electric accessory is in operation, there is no need to start the normal symbol variation display again. In other words, in order to display normal symbols in a variable manner, it is also a condition that the normal electric accessory is not in operation. In S100 of FIG. 9, when all of these two conditions are satisfied, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is started to display the normal symbol in a variable manner (S100: yes), and either of the conditions is satisfied. If not, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not started (S100: no).

  In the normal symbol game process (S150), the following process is performed. First, by determining whether or not the normal symbol is correct, it is determined whether the normal symbol is to be stopped and displayed as a winning symbol or to be stopped and displayed as a detached symbol. Next, after setting the normal symbol fluctuation display time, the normal symbol fluctuation display is started in the manner described above with reference to FIG. When the variable display time elapses, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed with the determined symbol. At this time, when the hit symbol of the normal symbol is stopped and displayed, the operation of the normal electric accessory is started. When the ordinary electric accessory is operated in this way, the pair of blade pieces 17w provided at the start port 17 rotate outward, and the start port 17 is in an open state. The operation of opening the start port 17 when the normal symbol is stopped and displayed as a symbol is performed while the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 executes the above-described normal symbol game process. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “starting port opening means” in the present invention.

  When the normal symbol game process is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not the normal electric accessory is operating (S190). If it is in operation (S190: yes), a process for stopping the ordinary electric accessory (ordinary electric accessory stopping process) is performed (S200). On the other hand, when the ordinary electric accessory is not operating (S190: no), it is not necessary to perform the ordinary electric accessory stopping process, and the process is skipped.

  In the ordinary electric accessory stop process (S200), when any of the following conditions is satisfied, that is, the operation time of the ordinary electric accessory (opening time of the start port) has elapsed, or the start port 17 When any of the conditions for entering the specified number of game balls is satisfied, a process for stopping the operation of the ordinary electric accessory is performed. Note that the operation time of the ordinary electric accessory is set to about 0.5 seconds in the normal gaming state, but is extended to about 1.5 seconds when the opening time extension function described later is operated. On the other hand, when the operation time of the ordinary electric accessory (opening time of the start opening) has not elapsed and the number of balls entering the start opening 17 has not reached the specified number, the ordinary electric accessory remains operated. The normal electric accessory stopping process (S200) is terminated (ie, with the start port 17 kept open).

  In the game control process, the process related to the special symbol is started following the ordinary electric accessory stop process. In this process, after determining whether or not a predetermined condition for performing a special symbol game process described later is satisfied, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the special symbol game process is started.

C-1. Special design-related processing:
In the game control process, when returning from the ordinary electric accessory stop process, the process related to the special symbol is started. In this process, after determining whether or not a predetermined condition for performing a special symbol game process described later is satisfied, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the special symbol game process is started.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing (special symbol game start determination processing) performed to determine whether or not to start the special symbol game processing. Hereinafter, the special symbol game start determination process will be described according to the flowchart. In determining whether or not to start the special symbol game process, it is first determined whether or not a game ball has entered one of the three start ports 17, 18, and 19 (S302). As described above, the start ports 17, 18 s, and 19 s for detecting the entry of game balls are provided inside the respective start ports 17, 18, and 19 to detect that a game ball has entered. can do.

  If the game ball has passed through any of the start port switches 17s, 18s, 19s (S302: yes), it is determined whether or not the number of reserved special symbols is 4 or more (S304). If the number of reservations has not reached 4 (S304: no), the special symbol determination random number and the special symbol determination random number are stored, and one is added to the number of special symbols held (S306). Here, the special symbol success / failure determination random number is a random number for determining whether or not the special symbol is successful, as will be described later. The special symbol determination random number is a random number for determining a symbol for stopping and displaying the special symbol according to whether the special symbol is right or wrong. On the other hand, when the number of reserved special symbols has reached 4 (S304: no), the special symbol success / failure determination random number and the special symbol determination random number are not acquired.

  When the processing related to the special symbol hold is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not a big hit game is in progress (including a big hit game sudden short and big hit game) or a small hit game (S308). In the following description, the term “big hit game” includes a normal big hit game and a sudden short-time big hit game. In the special game process described later, when the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner and stopped at a predetermined hit symbol (usually big hit symbol, sudden short-term big hit symbol, small hit symbol), the big hit game according to the hit symbol Or it is the process which starts a small hit game. If a big hit game or a small hit game is currently being played, there is no need to repeatedly start a big hit game or a small hit game. Therefore, when the processing related to the special symbol hold is finished, it is determined whether or not the big hit game or the small hit game is being played (S308). If there is no big hit game or small hit game (S308: no), it will be described later. It is determined that the special symbol game process is started (that is, S300: yes). On the other hand, if the game is already in the big hit game or the small hit game (S308: yes), it is determined that the special symbol game process is not started (that is, S300: no).

  11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the flow of the special symbol game process. When the special symbol game process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the special symbol is changing (S322). As described above with reference to FIG. 4, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the special symbol display unit 30 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the special symbols can be displayed in a variable manner.

  If the special symbol on the special symbol display unit 30 is not changing (S322: no), it is determined whether or not it is during the stop display time for displaying the special symbol stop symbol (S324). That is, for a period of time after the change display of the special symbol is finished, there is a time for the player to stop display so that the player can check which symbol the special symbol is stopped. It is judged whether it is in the middle. When it is confirmed that the special symbol is not variably displayed and the stop display time for displaying the special symbol is also elapsed (S324: no), the number of special symbols on hold is “0”. It is determined whether or not (S326). As described above, the special symbol holding number is set when a game ball enters one of the start ports 17, 18, and 19, and can be stored until the upper limit value "4" is reached. If the number of special symbol hold is “0” (S326: yes), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the number of special symbol reservation is not “0”, in other words, if there is a special symbol reservation remaining (S326: no), the special symbol determination is started (S330).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the special symbol success / failure determination process. As shown in the figure, when the special symbol success / failure determination process is started, first, a process of reading a special symbol success / failure determination random number is performed (S3300). The special symbol success / failure determination random number is a special symbol when it is determined in the special symbol game start determination process described above with reference to FIG. 10 that a game ball has entered any of the start ports 17, 18, and 19. This is a random number acquired up to four until the number of holds reaches 4. In the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. 13, first, a process of reading one special symbol success / failure determination random number stored in advance is performed.

  Then, based on the read special symbol success / failure determination random number, it is determined whether or not it is a big hit (S3302). The ROM mounted on the main control board 200 stores a success / failure determination table in which the value of the special symbol success / failure determination random number and the determination result of the success / failure are associated with each other. By referring to it, it is possible to determine whether or not it is a big hit.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a success / failure determination table in which special symbol success / failure determination random numbers are associated with the determination results. In the illustrated example, the special symbol determination random number can take a range from “0” to “1023”, and the read special symbol determination random number “0” to “10” range has a determination result “ “Big hit” is set, “Small hit” is set for the range of special symbol determination random numbers “11” to “1015”, and other random number ranges (ie, “1016” to “1023”) are set. On the other hand, a determination result of “out” is set. In S3302 of the special symbol success / failure determination processing of FIG. 13, it is determined whether or not the read randomness for determination is within the range of “0” to “10”. (S3302: yes), if it is not within this range, it is determined that it is not a “big hit” (S3302: no).

  If it is determined that the determination result is a big hit (S3302: yes), the special symbol determination random number acquired previously is read (S3304) and the special symbol display unit 30 is stopped and displayed. Is determined (S3306). The jackpot symbol can be determined by referring to the jackpot symbol determination table in which the special symbol determination random number and the jackpot symbol are stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the jackpot symbol determination table. As shown in the figure, in the jackpot symbol determination table, various jackpot symbols are set in association with the special symbol random number. In this embodiment, the jackpot symbol determination random number is a 1-byte random number that can take a range of “0” to “255”. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, three types of normal big hit symbols and one type of sudden short-term big hit are set as the big hit symbols. These various jackpot symbols are set in the table in association with special symbol determination random numbers. Therefore, the special symbol may be stopped and displayed at any jackpot symbol by referring to the jackpot symbol determination table of FIG. 15 from the special symbol determination random number read in S3304 of the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. Can be determined. In S3306 of the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. 13, when it is determined that the special symbol's success / failure determination result is a big hit (S3302: yes), by referring to the big hit symbol determination table as described above. Then, the process of determining the jackpot symbol of the special symbol to be stopped and displayed is performed.

  In the above, the process performed when it is determined that the determination result is “big hit” (S3302: yes) has been described. On the other hand, if it is determined that the determination result of the special symbol is not “big hit” (S3302: no), whether or not it is “small hit” based on the determination table shown in FIG. Judgment is made (S3308). If it is determined that the determination result is a small hit (S3308: yes), the special symbol determination random number acquired previously is read (S3310), and then the small hit symbol is determined. (S3312).

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a small hit symbol determination table referred to when determining a small hit symbol. As shown in the drawing, various small hit symbols are set in the small hit symbol determination table in association with the special symbol random number. From the special symbol determination random number read out in S3310 of FIG. By referring to the determination table, it is possible to determine the small hit symbol to be stopped and displayed.

  Next, a small hit mode is acquired (S3314). Here, the small hit mode is the opening time and the number of times of opening of the blade entrance 102 that is opened when the small hit game is started. As shown in FIG. Is set. That is, for the small hit symbols corresponding to the special symbol determination random numbers “0” to “85”, a small hit mode is set in which the blade inlet 102 is opened twice for 0.3 seconds. In addition, for the small winning symbols corresponding to the special symbol determining random numbers “86” to “170”, a small hitting mode in which the blade entrance 102 is opened only once for 0.4 seconds is set. For the small hit symbols for the random numbers “171” to “255”, a small hit mode is set in which the blade entrance 102 is opened twice for 0.2 seconds.

  When the small hit mode is acquired, the number of round games to be performed when a big hit game is generated from the small hit game is also acquired (S3316). As shown in FIG. 16, the number of round games in the case of developing to a big hit game is also set in advance in association with the small hit symbol. That is, the number of round games played in the big hit game is set to 2 (2 rounds) for the small hit symbols for the special symbol determination random numbers “0” to “85”. In addition, for the small winning symbols corresponding to the special symbol determination random numbers “86” to “170”, the number of round games is set to 7 (7 rounds), and for the special symbol determination random numbers “171” to “255”. For the small hit symbol, the number of rounds is set to 15 (15 rounds).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S3308 in FIG. 13 that the determination result is not a small hit (S3308: no), the special symbol determination random number acquired previously is read out (S3318), and the display is stopped. A process of determining a symbol is performed (S3320).

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an out symbol determination table that is referred to when determining an out symbol. As shown in the drawing, the out symbol determination table is also associated with the special symbol random number, and the symbol out symbol is set, and the out symbol can be determined from the read out special symbol determining random number.

  In the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. 13, as described above, based on the special symbol success / failure random number and the special symbol determination random number, the special symbol success / failure determination result and the special symbol stoppage according to the success / failure determination result After determining the symbol, the process returns to the special symbol game process of FIG. The process of determining whether or not to win a special symbol and determining whether or not a big hit symbol or a small bonus symbol based on a special symbol success / failure random number and a special symbol determination random number acquired when a game ball enters the starting port is a main control. This is executed while the CPU 201 of the board 200 performs the special symbol determination processing described above. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “lottery means” in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the special symbol game process, when returning from the special symbol success / failure determination process (S330), the special symbol variation pattern setting process is started (S340). The special symbol variation pattern is a pattern regarding how the special symbol is varied. In this embodiment, the special symbol variation pattern has a special symbol variation display time (special symbol variation display time). Is set.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of the special symbol variation pattern setting process performed in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. In the special symbol variation pattern setting process, first, it is determined whether or not the determination result of the special symbol is a normal big hit (S3400). As shown in FIG. 11, during the special symbol game process, the special symbol success / failure determination process is performed prior to the special symbol variation pattern setting process. It is determined as one of “time and big hit”, “small hit”, and “off”. In S3400 of the special symbol variation pattern setting process, based on this result, it is determined whether or not the result of determining whether or not the special symbol is normal is a big hit.

  And when it is judged that it is usually big hit (S3400: yes), after judging whether the present game state is a time-short state (S3402), when it is a time-short state (S3402: yes). Then, the fluctuation pattern for the normal big hit during the short time is determined (S3404). On the other hand, if it is not the time saving state (S3402: no), the fluctuation pattern for normal big hit during non-time saving is determined (S3406). The contents of the fluctuation pattern for normal big hit during the short time and the fluctuation pattern for normal big hit during the non-time saving will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S3400 that the special symbol winning / failing determination result is not normally a big hit (S3400: no), it is determined whether or not the winning determination result is not satisfied (S3408). If it is determined that the current game state is a time-short state (S3410), and if it is a time-short state (S3410: yes), the change for short-time out is determined. A pattern is determined (S3412). On the other hand, if it is not the time-short state (S3410: no), the fluctuation pattern for detachment during the non-time-shortening is determined (S3414). The contents of the fluctuation pattern for losing during time reduction and the fluctuation pattern for losing during non-time reduction will be described later.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the result of determining whether or not the special symbol is correct (S3408: no), it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is a short-time state (S3416), and if it is a short-time state (S3416). : Yes), the fluctuation pattern for small hits in the short time is determined (S3418). On the other hand, if it is not the time saving state (S3416: no), the variation pattern for small hits during non-time saving is determined (S3420). That is, when it is determined that the special symbol's success / failure determination result is not off (S3408: no), since it is already determined that it is not normally a big hit (S3400: no), the success / failure determination result is small hit or suddenly Although it should be either a short or big hit, the fluctuation pattern for the small hit is determined in spite of that.

  FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating a variation pattern for normal big hit, small hit, and out. These variation patterns show the display mode performed according to the result of the determination of success / failure on the effect display device 127 provided in the central device 100. The effect display device 127 of the present embodiment can display three types of symbols “heart”, “◯”, and “×”, and while the special symbols are variably displayed, the effect display is performed. In the device 127, three types of symbols “heart”, “o”, and “x” are displayed in order. In the normal big hit variation pattern, a variation pattern is set in which these three types of symbols are displayed in a variable manner in order, and then stopped in a “heart” design. In addition, the variation pattern for small hits is a variation pattern in which three types of symbols are variably displayed in order and then stopped and displayed with a symbol of “O”. After the three types of symbols are variably displayed in order, a variation pattern is set that is stopped and displayed with the symbol “x”. Also, in the fluctuation pattern for time reduction and the fluctuation pattern for non-time reduction, the time for the three types of symbols “Heart”, “O” and “×” to be displayed in a variable manner is set to a shorter time for the time reduction. ing. Note that, as described above, even when the result of determining whether or not the special symbol is abrupt is a short time big hit, the fluctuation pattern for the small hit is used. That is, a variation pattern that is finally stopped and displayed with the symbol “◯” is set. By doing so, the player cannot identify whether it is sudden or short hit or short hit only by the display result of “◯” on the effect display device 127. Therefore, it is possible to give an impression as if the small hit game has suddenly switched to the short time state when a sudden short and big hit has occurred. Can be done. This point will be described in detail later.

  As described above, when the variation pattern of the special symbol is set according to the determination result of the special symbol, the special symbol variation pattern setting process shown in FIG. 18 is terminated and the process returns to the special symbol game process of FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the special symbol game process, when returning from the special symbol variation pattern setting process (S340), a command (in the display pattern of the effect display device 127 set during the variation pattern setting process) Display mode designation command) is transmitted toward the sub-control board 220 (S342). Then, the special symbol variation display is started (S344), and after subtracting 1 from the special symbol holding number (S346), the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  The detailed processing performed in the special symbol game process when the special symbol is not variably displayed (that is, in the case of S322: no in FIG. 11) has been described above. On the other hand, when the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is started while the special symbol is changing, it is determined that the special symbol is changing in the determination of S322 first performed (S322: yes). ). This case corresponds to the case where the special symbol determination is already made (S330), the special symbol variation pattern is set (S340), and the special symbol variation is started. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the special symbol variation time has elapsed (S348). If the special symbol variation time has not yet elapsed (S348: no), the special symbol game processing shown in FIGS. Is finished, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the special symbol variation time has elapsed (S348: yes), the special symbol that is variably displayed on the special symbol display unit 30 of the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed (S350). The special symbol stopped and displayed at this time is a special symbol determined using the special symbol determination random number during the special symbol success / failure determination process described above with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Next, a time for stopping and displaying the special symbol (stop display time) is set (S352), and it is determined whether or not the set stop display time has passed (S354). If the stop display time has not elapsed (S354: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S354: yes), it is determined whether or not the special symbol that is stopped and displayed is a normal jackpot symbol (S356 in FIG. 12). When it is determined that the symbol is a normal jackpot symbol (S356: yes), after selecting the jackpot 31d as the jackpot winning jack (S358), the opening time of the jackpot winning mouth in one round game Is set (S360), and the jackpot winning opening (here, the large winning opening 31d) is opened (S362). With the jackpot winning opening thus opened, a jackpot game process (S500) described later is performed to start a jackpot game. When the big winning opening 31d is selected as the big winning prize opening, the opening time is set to about 25 seconds.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the special symbol stopped and displayed in S356 is not a normal big hit symbol (S356: no), it is determined whether or not it is a sudden short hit big symbol (S364). And if it is a short-and-a-time jackpot symbol (S364: yes), after selecting the wing entrance 102 as a jackpot winning slot (S366), the opening time of the jackpot winning slot in one round game is determined. After setting (S360), the jackpot winning opening (here, the blade inlet 102) is opened (S362). In addition, when the blade entrance 102 is selected as the winning jackpot, about 0.3 seconds is set as the opening time.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the time-shortening function and the opening time extending function of the ordinary electric accessory do not work during the big hit game. Here, the time saving function is a function for shortening the time for which the normal symbol display unit 29 of the symbol display device 28 displays the normal symbol in a variable manner. The opening time extension function is a function of extending the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory (starting port 17). When the time reduction function is activated, the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is also activated. Yes. Accordingly, when the jackpot winning opening is opened in S362 of FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is in a short time (S368). If the time is short (S368: yes), after the operation of the time shortening function and the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is stopped (S370, S372), the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is performed. End and return to the game control process of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the current gaming state is not in the short time (S368: no), it can be determined that neither the short time function nor the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is in operation, so the process of stopping the operation of these functions Without performing the process, the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is exited, and the game control process shown in FIG.

  The processing in the case where the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is a normal jackpot symbol (S356: yes) or a sudden short and big bonus symbol (S364: yes) has been described. If the received special symbol is neither a normal big hit symbol nor a sudden short-term big hit symbol (S356: no, S364: no), it is determined whether or not it is a small hit symbol (S374). If it is a small hit symbol (S374: yes), the opening time of the blade entrance 102, which is a small winning prize opening, is set (S376), and the blade entrance 102 is opened (S378). ). In addition, the opening time (refer FIG. 16) previously set according to the small hit symbol is set as the opening time when opening the blade entrance hole 102 to perform the small hit game. On the other hand, when the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is not a small hit symbol (S374: no), in order to play a small hit game, the opening time of the feather entrance 102 is set, The process (S376, S378) for opening the entrance 102 is skipped.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is in a short time (S380). If it is determined that the current gaming state is not in a short time (S380: no), the special symbol game processing shown in FIGS. Exit and return to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the time is short (S380: yes), after counting the number of fluctuations of the special symbol during the time reduction (S382), it is determined whether or not the number of fluctuations has reached a predetermined number (S382). S384). If the number of fluctuations reaches a predetermined number (for example, 100) (S384: yes), the operation of the time reduction function is stopped (S370), and the operation of the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is also stopped. After (S372), the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is exited, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, if the number of fluctuations of the special symbol has not yet reached the predetermined short time game number (S384: no), the special symbol game process is exited while maintaining the short time state, and the game control process of FIG. 9 is resumed. .

C-2. Small hit game-related processing:
As shown in FIG. 9, in the game control process, when returning from the special symbol game process, the process related to the small hit game is started. That is, it is determined whether or not the small hit game has been started in the special symbol game process performed previously (S390). If it is determined that the small hit game is currently being played (S390: yes) Then, the small hit game process described below is started (S400). On the other hand, when it is determined that the small hit game is not started in the special symbol game process (S390: no), the small hit game process is unnecessary and is skipped.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of a small hit game process executed in order for the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment to perform a small hit game. Such a process is a process executed by the main control board 200 in the game control process shown in FIG.

  When the small hit game process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the blade entrance 102 is open (S402). Immediately after the small hit game is started by the special symbol game process described above, the blade entrance 102 is opened in S378 of the special symbol game process described above with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. Then, “yes” is determined, and then it is determined whether or not the opening time of the blade entrance 102 has passed (S404). Here, the opening time of the blade entrance 102 is that of the blade entrance 102 acquired in advance when the small hit symbol is determined in the special symbol success / failure determination process described above with reference to FIG. It is opening time (refer FIG. 16). Immediately after the small hit game in FIG. 20 is started, naturally, the opening time of the wing entrance 102 has not elapsed, so it is determined as “no” in S404, and the small hit game process is left as it is. Return to the game control process. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, a series of processes such as a prize ball-related process (S50), a normal symbol game process (S150), a normal electric accessory stop process (S200), and a special symbol game process (S320) were performed. Thereafter, the small hit game process of FIG. 20 is started again, and it is determined whether or not the opening time of the blade entrance 102 has passed (S404). If it is determined that the opening time of the blade entrance 102 has passed after repeating these processes (S404: yes), the blade entrance 102 is closed (S406).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the condition for ending the small hit game is satisfied (S408). Here, as a condition for ending the small hit game, it is determined whether or not the blade entrance 102 is opened a predetermined number of times determined in the small hit mode shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, in the case of the small hit mode corresponding to the small hit symbols of the special symbol determination random numbers “86” to “170”, the number of times of opening of the blade entrance 102 is set to one. . Therefore, after the small hit game in FIG. 20 is started, it is determined that the small hit game end condition is satisfied when the feather entrance 102 is first closed (S408: yes). On the other hand, in the other small hit modes, it is not determined that the small hit game ending condition is satisfied only by opening the blade entrance 102 once (S408: no). It is determined whether or not the closing time of the winning entrance (here, the blade entrance 102) has elapsed (S410). If it is determined that the closing time has not elapsed (S410: no), the small hit game process shown in FIG. 20 is terminated and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, when it is determined that the closing time of the blade entrance 102 has elapsed (S410: yes), after opening the blade entrance 102 (S412), the small hit game processing shown in FIG. Then, the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  While such processing is repeated, it is determined that the condition for ending the small hit game is satisfied over time (S408: yes), the small hit game is ended (S414), and then the small hit game is being played. It is then determined whether or not the game ball has passed the specific area (S416). That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, when the blade entrance 102 is in an open state, a game ball can enter the central device 100 from here, and a game ball enters the central device 100. Then, the game ball is guided to the croon 136, and is distributed to either the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b by turning on the croon 136. Therefore, when the small hit game ends (S414), it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the specific area 141a provided in the central device 100 during the small hit game (S416). As described above, the specific area passing switch 141c is provided on the downstream side of the specific area 141a. If the game ball passes through the specific area 141a, the specific area passing switch 141c can be used for detection. If it is determined that the game ball has passed through the specific area 141a during the small hit game after the end of the small hit game (S416: yes), an effect of notifying the number of round games of the big hit game is performed (S418). . As a specific process of S418, the main control board 200 transmits a “specific area passing signal” to the sub-control board 220. Then, the sub-control board 220 that has received the specific area passing signal actually performs an effect of informing the number of round games of the big hit game. As described above with reference to FIG. 16, the number of round games for the big hit game started after the small hit game is referred to the table in which the number of rounds is set for the stop symbol of the small hit game. Is done by. In the table in which the number of rounds is set, the number of round games is set for each type of small hit game (special type of small hit symbol).

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, there is a certain relationship between the mode of the small hit game and the number of round games performed when the small hit game is developed into the big hit game. This point will be described with some supplementary explanation. As shown in FIG. 16, when the small hit symbol is determined by the special symbol determination random number, according to the small hit symbol, the mode of the small hit game (the opening time and the number of openings of the blade entrance 102 and the number of openings) ) And the number of round games at the time of jackpot game development are determined. Therefore, there is a correspondence relationship between the mode of the small hit game and the number of round games at the time of the big hit game. Actually, for the small hit game mode (small hit game A) representing the combination of the opening time of 0.3 seconds and the opening frequency of 2 times, the round game frequency corresponds to “2 rounds (2 times)”. Yes. In addition, the number of round games of “7 rounds (7 times)” corresponds to the small hit game mode (small hit game B) with an opening time of 0.4 seconds and an opening count of one. Furthermore, the number of round games of “15 rounds (15 times)” corresponds to the small hit game mode (small hit game C) in which the opening time is 0.2 seconds and the number of times of opening is two. In this way, in this embodiment, each small hit game is associated with the number of round games at the time of the big hit game, so the player can determine from the opening mode of the blade entrance 102 at the small hit game, It is possible to predict a big hit mode when the big hit game is developed. Note that since the small hit game A has the lowest profit of the big hit game started thereafter, the small hit game A may be started, so that the interest of the player may be reduced. However, in this embodiment, the opening mode of the blade entrance hole 102 in the small hit game A is the same as the opening mode of the blade entrance port 102 at the time of sudden short and large hit. Therefore, even if the opening mode of the blade entrance 102 is started in the small hit game A, there is still a possibility of sudden hits and short hits, so it can be avoided that the player's interest is significantly reduced. .

  FIG. 21 shows a state of a round notification effect (the effect of performing notification as if the number of round games has been determined by lottery) performed on the effect display device 127 of the central device 100 after the game ball has passed the specific area. It is explanatory drawing which showed this conceptually. In addition, this effect is an effect for clearly informing the player of the privilege content for the passage of the specific area, “when the game ball passes the specific area during the small hit game” or “ The sub-control board 220 that has received the specific area passage signal transmitted from the main control board 200 is mainly executed when the game ball passes through the specific area during the game. First, the sub-control board 220 displays an effect display in which the display of “15”, “7”, “2”, and “short time” is repeatedly displayed on the effect display device 127 when the game ball passes through the specific area. Start. When the number of round games corresponding to the small hit game mode is 15 rounds, the display is stopped with “15”, and when the number of round games corresponding to the small hit game mode is 7 rounds, “7” is displayed. If the number of round games corresponding to the small hit game mode is two rounds, “2” is displayed, and if the game state when the specific area passing signal is received is suddenly short and big hit game mode, “ The display is stopped with "Time reduction". As described above, the sub-control board 220 performs the round lottery effect, and performs the effect of notifying the player of the privilege for passing the specific area on the screen of the effect display device 127.

  When the effect of notifying the number of round games is performed as described above, after the big hit game is started based on the notified number of round games (S420), the small hit game of FIG. 20 is ended, and the game control of FIG. Return to processing. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 that performs the above-described small hit game processing is the “small hit game execution means” in the present invention. In addition, as described above, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the main control board 200 that performs the effect of informing the number of round games by transmitting a specific area passing signal, and the sub control base that actually executes the effect 220 corresponds to “notification means” in the present invention.

C-3. Big hit game-related processing:
As shown in FIG. 9, in the game control process, when returning from the small hit game process, a process related to the big hit game is started. That is, there are cases where the big hit game is started in the special symbol game process described above and the case where the big hit game is started in the above-described small hit game process. Therefore, after the special symbol game process (S320) and the small hit game process (S400) are finished, it is determined whether or not the big hit game is started (S450). When it is determined that the big hit game is started in either the special symbol game process or the small hit game process (S450: yes), the big hit game process described below is started (S500). On the other hand, if it is determined that the big hit game is not started in either the special symbol game process or the small hit game process (S450: no), the big hit game process is unnecessary and is skipped.

  FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 are flowcharts showing the flow of the jackpot game process executed in order for the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment to play the jackpot game. Such a process is a process executed by the main control board 200 in the game control process shown in FIG.

  When the big hit game process (S500) is started, it is first determined whether or not the big hit game winning prize opening is open (S502). In the small hit game processing described above, the winning hole for the small hit game is only the wing inlet 102. However, in the big hit game processing, when the big hit mode is a normal big hit, it is a large winning jack. The winning opening 31d is selected (see S358 in FIG. 12). However, if the big hit mode is a sudden short and big hit, the blade inlet 102 is selected (S366 in FIG. 12). Accordingly, in S502, it is determined whether or not the jackpot winning opening is open. When the big hit game is started in the special symbol game, in S360 of FIG. 12, and when the big hit game is developed from the small hit game, in S426 of FIG. Therefore, immediately after starting the jackpot game of FIG. 22, it is determined in S502 that the jackpot winning opening is opened (that is, “yes”). Whether or not is established is determined (S504).

  The opening end condition for the big win winning opening is set as a condition that a predetermined opening time has elapsed or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls have entered the winning opening in the opening. Naturally, the opening end condition is not satisfied immediately after the jackpot winning opening is opened (S504: no), so the jackpot game process shown in FIG. 22 is terminated and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. Then, when the big hit game process is started again, it is determined whether or not the jackpot winning opening is opened (S502), and whether or not the opening end condition of the opened big hit winning prize is satisfied (S504). If the opening end condition is not satisfied (S504: no), the big hit game process of FIG. 22 is again terminated and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  It should be noted that, in the sudden short and large hit game of this embodiment, when a game ball enters the blade entrance 102 in the first round game, the next time even before the rolling result of the entered game ball is obtained. The round game is started. In other words, when the opening of the wing entrance 102 in the first round game (first round game) is performed with the sudden start of the junior college, the opening end condition is satisfied after the opening time of 0.3 seconds. Then, the blade entrance 102 is closed. Here, during the first round game, the game ball enters the blade entrance 102 and is still rolling (even before being discharged from the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b). The opening of the blade entrance 102 in the second round game is started. Then, after the opening time of 0.3 seconds, the blade entrance 102 in the second round game was closed and entered the blade entrance 102 during the first round game and during the second round game. When all the game balls are discharged from the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b, a time-short game (specific game) described later is started. In this way, even if the rolling result of the game ball entered from the blade entrance 102 is obtained during the first round game, the rolling result of the game ball is obtained by starting the next round game. Until it is obtained, the game mode of sudden short and big hit games and the game mode of small hit games (the above-mentioned “small hit game A”) can be made to be visually the same, so a player suddenly generates short and big hit games It can be difficult to realize what you have done.

  If it is determined that the conditions for opening the jackpot winning opening have been satisfied over time (S504: yes), the jackpot winning slot is closed (S506) and then the jackpot game ends. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied (S508). The condition for ending the big hit game is set as a condition to end a predetermined number of round games. Here, the predetermined number of round games is determined according to the cause of the big hit game. For example, the number of round games is set to 15 in a jackpot game that is generated when a regular jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed during a special symbol game. Further, in the big hit game due to the sudden and short jackpot symbol being stopped and displayed, the number of rounds is set to 2 (0.3 seconds is 2 times). Furthermore, in the case of a big hit game that has been developed from a small hit game, the round notification effect performed during the small hit game is informed of 15 times, 7 times, or 2 times. In the jackpot game process of FIG. 22, after closing the jackpot winning opening (S506), it is determined whether or not the condition for ending the jackpot game is satisfied, that is, whether a predetermined number of round games has been finished (S508). ).

  If the jackpot game end condition is not satisfied (S508: no), it is determined whether or not the closing time of the winning jackpot for winning the jackpot has passed (S510), and if the closing time has not passed (S510). S510: no), the big hit game process of FIG. 22 is finished as it is, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that the closing time of the jackpot winning opening has elapsed (S510: yes), the jackpot winning opening is opened again (S512), and then the jackpot gaming process shown in FIG. Return to the game control process.

  As described above, while repeating the closing of the jackpot winning opening (S506) and opening (S512), the end condition of the jackpot game is satisfied by digesting the predetermined number of round games. Since it is determined (S508: yes), the big hit game is ended (S514). Note that the above-described normal big hit game or sudden short-time big hit game is performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment executing the above-described big hit game process. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to “special game execution means” in the present invention.

  When the big hit game is thus completed, it is subsequently determined whether or not a game ball has entered the feather entrance 102 during the big hit game (S516 in FIG. 23). Since the blade entry hole 102 is selected as the big hit prize winning opening only in the case of a sudden time junior big hit, the game ball has actually entered from the blade entry hole 102 during the sudden time junior big hit. It will be judged whether or not. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the central device 100 is provided with the wing entry ball switch 102s immediately after the wing entry hole 102, and the game ball of the wing entry hole 102 has entered. It can be judged immediately.

  In many cases, the big hit game is performed by opening the grand prize winning opening 31d, so that there is no game ball entering the blade entrance 102, so it is determined as “no” in S516 and the time is shortened. After starting the notification (S530), it is determined whether or not the ending time of the big hit game has elapsed (S526).

  On the other hand, when a game ball has entered the wing entrance 102 opened during the big hit game (that is, suddenly during the junior short-range hit game) (S516: yes), the game ball entered from the wing entrance 102 It is determined whether or not has passed the specific area 141a in the central device 100 (S518). Whether or not the game ball has passed through the specific area 141a can be easily determined by the detection result of the specific area passing switch 141c and the non-specific area passing switch 141d provided below the specific area 141a. When the game ball has not passed through the specific area 141a (that is, when the game ball has passed through the non-specific area 141b), all the game balls that have entered from the blade entrance 102 are discharged from the central device 100. It is determined whether it has been done (S528). In the present embodiment, the game balls that have entered from the blade entrance 102 are distributed to either the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b. Here, since the game balls do not pass through the specific area 141a, it is determined that all the game balls are discharged when all the game balls detected by the bladed ball switch 102s pass through the non-specific area 141b. (S528: yes). If it is not possible to determine that all the game balls have been discharged (S528: no), the game balls still remain in the central device 100. Then, the process of S518 is performed again.

  Note that game balls passing through the non-specific area 141b can be detected by the non-specific area passing switch 141d. Alternatively, it is possible to detect that all the game balls are discharged without using the non-specific area passing switch 141d as follows. That is, the timing at which the game ball enters the blade entrance 102 can be detected by using the blade entrance switch 102s. The time required for the allocation to the specific area 141a or the non-specific area 141b is naturally limited. Accordingly, the longest time required for the game ball to enter from the blade entrance 102 to be finally distributed is obtained in advance, and the game ball is finally detected by the blade entrance switch 102s. When the longest time has elapsed, it may be determined that all the game balls have been discharged.

  In any case, when it is confirmed that all the game balls entered from the blade entrance 102 have been discharged by the method as described above, after notifying that the short-time game is to be started (S530), the big hit It is determined whether or not the game ending time has elapsed (S526).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the game ball has entered from the blade entrance 102 opened suddenly during the game, and the game ball has passed the specific area 141a (S518), the sub-control base 220 The specific region passage signal is transmitted to the effect display device 127 to start the above-described round lottery effect (S520). That is, the original round lottery effect is an effect performed when determining the number of round games to be performed in the subsequent big hit game when the game ball passes the specific area 141a in the small hit game (see FIG. 21). In the present embodiment, the same round lottery effect is performed even when a game ball that has entered from the blade entrance 102 that has suddenly opened in time and shortage passes through the specific area 141a. Of course, in the case of a sudden junior college hit, even if the game ball entered from the blade entrance 102 passes through the specific area 141a, the big hit game does not start. The mode displayed at the bottom of the screen, that is, the mode in which the display is stopped and displayed in “short time” is performed.

  Next, the ending time of the big hit game is shortened (S524). The reason why the ending time is shortened only when the game ball suddenly passes through the specific area 141a due to the shortage of time is described later. Then, it is determined whether or not the ending time has elapsed (S526).

  As described above, whether or not a game ball enters from the blade entrance 102 during the big hit game, and whether or not a game ball entered from the blade entrance 102 enters the specific area 141a. Accordingly, after performing each processing, if it is confirmed that the ending time of the jackpot game has passed (S526: yes), the time reduction function is activated (S528), and the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory is activated. After that (S530), the big hit game process shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is terminated. It should be noted that the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment performs the operation of operating the time reduction function and the opening time extension function of the ordinary electric accessory in S528 and S530 of the big hit game processing described above. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “specific game execution means” in the present invention.

  As described in detail above, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment has three types of hit games, that is, a small hit game and a sudden short and big hit game in addition to the normal big hit game. By opening the blade entrance hole 102 only for a short time in the same opening manner as the winning game, the player is prevented from noticing that a sudden short hit has occurred. However, as a result of suddenly opening the blade entrance hole 102 at the time of a short-term hit, a game ball may enter from the opened blade entrance opening 102. And since the sudden junior college hit game is different from the small hit game, the progress state of the game after the game ball enters from the blade entrance 102 (for example, when the game ball passes a specific area) is also small. Since it is different from the hit game, it is expected that the player will feel uncomfortable. However, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, since the small hit game processing and the big hit game processing described above are performed, even if a game ball has entered from the blade entrance 102 that is suddenly opened during the short-term hit big hit. Even in this case, it is possible to advance the game without giving the player a sense of incongruity.

  Next, a process for shortening the ending time after the big hit game, which is performed in order to suddenly execute the short hit big hit without any sense of incongruity will be described. "Ending time" is the waiting time from the end of the jackpot game until the first special symbol change is started (until the change start process is performed for the special symbol that is put on hold). A fixed time (for example, 3 seconds) is set regardless of the type. The gaming machine according to the present embodiment includes a process for shortening the ending time only in the case of a sudden hit. FIG. 24 conceptually shows how a game progresses when a normal jackpot game is generated. FIG. 25 conceptually shows how a game progresses when a small hit game occurs. As shown in FIG. 24, when a big hit game is normally generated, the big prize winning opening 31d is opened many times over a relatively long time, and then the big hit game is ended through the ending time of the big hit game. . On the other hand, in the small hit game, the blade entrance 102 is opened for a relatively short time. Then, the progress of the subsequent game differs depending on whether or not the game ball enters the opened blade entrance 102.

  FIG. 25A shows a case where a game ball does not enter the opened blade entrance 102. As described above with reference to FIG. 16, the blade entrance 102 during the small hit game has a plurality of opening modes having different opening times and the number of times of opening. In FIG. Without distinguishing the difference, a single rectangle is used to represent the state where the blade entrance 102 is open. As shown in FIG. 25 (a), if the game ball does not enter the opened blade entrance 102, the blade entrance 102 closes and the small hit game ends immediately. .

  On the other hand, when a game ball enters from the blade entrance 102 opened during the small hit game, the game balls are distributed inside the central device 100. At this time, if the game ball is distributed to the specific area 141a, the small hit game is developed into a big hit game, but if the game ball is not distributed to the specific area 141a, all the games entered from the blade entrance 102 When the ball is discharged, the small hit game ends. In FIG. 25 (b), although a game ball has entered from the blade entrance 102 during the small hit game, all the game balls are discharged without passing through the specific area 141a, and the small hit game ends. The situation is shown.

  On the other hand, when the game ball entered from the blade entrance 102 passes through the specific area 141a, the game proceeds as follows. First, when it is detected that the vehicle has passed the specific area 141a, a round notification effect is immediately performed (see S418 in FIG. 20), and after the result is notified (see FIG. 21), the special winning opening 31d is opened. The big hit game is started (S420 in FIG. 20). FIG. 25 (c) conceptually shows how a big hit game is started when a game ball passes through the specific area 141a during the small hit game.

  Next, a case where the game for sudden hit and shortage is suddenly started will be described. FIG. 26 conceptually shows a state in which a game progresses when a game is suddenly generated. Of these, FIG. 26 (a) shows a case in which a game ball has not entered from the blade entrance 102 opened suddenly during a short-term hit. Note that, as described above, the blade entrance hole 102 is opened twice only for about 0.2 seconds in the case of a sudden shortage, but in FIG. 26, the movement of the opening of the blade entrance 102 is simply a single rectangle. It expresses. As shown in FIG. 26 (a), when the game ball does not enter the opened blade entrance 102, the time-short game is suddenly terminated and the time-short game is started. The operation of opening the blade entrance 102 for a short time is the same as the operation of opening the entrance 102 in the small hit game. In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. Even in 127, the player is considered to have generated a small hit game because the same variation mode is displayed when a sudden short / big hit and a small hit game are generated.

  However, since a sudden hit / short jackpot game is a kind of big hit game, an ending time for a big hit game is provided after the end of the sudden hit / short jackpot, which is different from the small hit game. However, as shown in FIG. 26 (a), during the ending time, the short time game to be subsequently performed is notified (see S530 in FIG. 23), so the player sets the ending time. I do not notice that it is. Rather, despite the fact that the game ball could not enter the blade entrance 102 during the small hit game, the time-short notification was suddenly given and the impression that the time-short game was started was given. It becomes possible to give.

  On the other hand, when a game ball enters from the blade entrance 102 during a sudden hit, the game progresses as follows. First, with reference to FIG. 26B, a case where the game ball has not passed through the specific area 141a will be described. When a game ball enters from the blade entrance 102, the game balls are distributed inside the central device 100. Then, when all the game balls that have entered are discharged, the game is suddenly terminated. The progress of the game so far is exactly the same as the case where the specific area 141a is not passed though the game ball has entered the blade entrance 102 in the small hit game shown in FIG. 25 (b). Of course, after the end of the game, the ending time that does not exist in the small hit game is provided, but during the ending time, the time is notified (see S530 in FIG. 23). Will not notice that there is an ending time. As a result, even though the game ball that entered from the blade entrance 102 during the small hit game was not distributed to the specific area 141a, it seems that the time was suddenly notified and the time-short game was started. It is possible to give an impression.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 26 (c), a case will be described in which a game ball is suddenly entered from the blade entrance 102 during a time-short hit and the game ball is distributed to the specific area 141a. The game balls that have entered from the blade entrance 102 are distributed inside the central device 100. Then, after passing the specific area 141a, the effect of the round lottery is immediately started (S520 in FIG. 23). As described above, this round lottery effect always ends in a manner of notifying the time reduction. On the other hand, if a game ball has entered other than being assigned to the specific area 141a, the distribution of the game ball is continued even during the production of the round lottery. The game of hitting the junior college ends. In addition, an ending time is provided after the end of the sudden junior college, but when a game ball is distributed to the specific area 141a by the sudden junior college, this ending time is shortened (S524 in FIG. 23). ). This is because the following points are taken into consideration.

  First of all, when a game ball enters from the blade entrance 102 suddenly during a time-short hit and is distributed to the specific area 141a, the effect of the round lottery is immediately started, and the time-shortage notification is performed after this effect. After the short time notification, if the short time game is not started immediately, the player will feel uncomfortable.However, in order to shift to the short time game, the ending time has passed since the short time bonus game ended. Need to be. However, although a plurality of game balls entered from the blade entrance 102 that suddenly opened during the junior college, one game ball was assigned to the specific area 141a, but the remaining game balls were still confirmed to be assigned. If not, it can happen. And, as described above, if all the game balls entered are not drained, the short-time hit will not end suddenly, so waiting for the start of the short-time game until the regular ending time (for example, 3 seconds) has passed, There is a risk that an unnatural waiting time may occur between the time short notice and the time game start. Therefore, when a game ball is suddenly allocated to the specific area 141a at a short time, the ending time is shortened (for example, 3 seconds is shortened to 0.5 seconds), so that the short time game is promptly performed after the time is notified. It is possible to start. As a result, it is possible to synchronize the end of the time-stamped notification effect and the start of the time-saving game, so that the above-mentioned unnatural waiting time does not occur, and it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable. .

  As described in detail above, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when a short and big hit game is suddenly generated, as in the small hit game, by opening the blade entrance 102 and performing the big hit game. The player can switch the gaming state to the time-saving state without realizing that the time-hitting jackpot has suddenly occurred. Of course, it is possible that a game ball may suddenly enter from the blade entrance 102 opened at the short and large hits, but even in this case, the player proceeds in the same manner as the game mode of the small hit game, Even if a sudden short and big hit occurs, the game can be continued without causing the player to feel uncomfortable.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, there are several types of small hit games (that is, the opening time and the number of times of opening of the blade entrance 102), and FIG. 21 is used. As described above, the number of subsequent round-hit round games differs depending on which mode is used for opening. Thereby, the progress of the subsequent game can be estimated to some extent by the mode in which the blade entrance hole 102 is opened during the small hit game.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the small hit mode in which the blade entrance hole 102 is opened twice for about 0.3 seconds coincides with the mode in which the blade entrance port 102 is opened at the time of sudden short and large hit. Yes. For this reason, even if a sudden short and big hit occurs and the game state suddenly switches to a short time state, the player feels as if a small hit game has occurred, and the sudden short and big hit has occurred. It is possible to continue the game without being noticed at all.

  While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is not limited to the wording of each claim unless it departs from the scope described in each claim. Improvements based on the knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can also be added as appropriate to the extent that those skilled in the art can easily replace them.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the number of round games of the round game performed in the big hit game via the small hit game is determined based on the small hit game mode (small hit symbol). When determined, the number of round games may be determined by a random lottery. A reference form in such a case will be described below.

  The round lottery is performed by acquiring a random number called a round lottery random number and referring to a table in which the number of rounds is set for the random number in the same manner as the lottery for determining whether a special symbol is successful or determining a stop symbol. Is called. In the table in which the number of rounds is set, the number of round games is set for each mode of the small hit game (special type of the small hit symbol). FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a round lottery table in which the number of round games is set with respect to the round lottery random number for each mode of the small hit game. The small hit game mode represents a combination of the opening time and the number of times of opening of the blade entrance 102, and for a small hit game mode that represents a combination of the open time of 0.3 seconds and the open number of times of two. When the round lottery random number is “0” to “170”, the round game number is 15 rounds, and when the round lottery random number is “171” to “255”, the round game number is 7 rounds. It is set to be. In addition, for the small hit game mode in which the opening time is 0.4 seconds and the number of times of opening is 1, a round game number of 7 rounds is set for a random number range from “0” to “127”. For the random number range of “128” to “255”, the number of round games of two rounds is set. In addition, for a small hit game mode with an opening time of 0.2 seconds and an opening count of 2 times, a round game count of 2 rounds is set for a random number range of “0” to “85”. For the random number range of “86” to “255”, the number of round games of 15 rounds is set.

  In this round lottery table, since the number of round games is set in this way, the player can determine whether the small hit is based on the mode of the small hit game (that is, the opening time and the numerical aperture of the blade entrance 102). It is possible to predict to some extent the number of round games that will be played when the jackpot is developed. For example, if the wing entrance 102 is opened twice for 0.3 seconds in a small hit game, there is a high possibility that a round game of 15 rounds will be performed when it develops into a big hit game. On the other hand, if the wing entrance 102 is opened twice for 0.2 seconds, even if it is a big hit game, there is a possibility that it will become a short-time game immediately without actually playing a round game once. Is expensive. However, two round games may be played. In the case of determining the number of round games by lottery in this way, as in the above-described embodiment, it is to be estimated to a certain extent what kind of big hit game will be performed when it is developed into big hit games at the stage of small hit games. Is possible.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the opening mode of the blade entrance hole 102 in the sudden shortage hit is set to be the same as the opening mode in the specific small hit game, but the special mode that generates the sudden shortage hit is special. A plurality of symbol stop symbols may be set, and the opening mode of the blade entrance hole 102 at each sudden shortage hit may be the same as each of the plurality of small hits. In this case, the player can not recognize whether it is a small hit or a sudden short and big hit only by the opening mode of the blade entrance 102, so it is possible to make a stronger impression that the short game is suddenly started.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the end of the time-stamped notification effect is synchronized with the start of the short-time game by shortening the ending time after the big hit game, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the end of the time-stamped notification effect and the start of the time-saving game may be synchronized by other means. For example, it is conceivable that the ending time after the big hit game is not shortened and is constant, and the end of the notification effect and the start of the short-time game are synchronized by extending the time of the notification effect when the time is short. Specific examples are described below.

  First, the sub-control board 220 that has received the specific area passage signal transmitted from the main control board 200 when the game ball passes through the specific area 141a starts a round lottery effect. This round lottery effect includes “lottery display (repeated display of“ 15 ”,“ 7 ”,“ 2 ”,“ short time ”)” displayed from the start of the effect and “result display“ 15 ”displayed at the final stop. ”,“ 7 ”,“ 2 ”, and“ display of any time ””. Also, in the case of a sudden hit, the lottery display time for performing the lottery display is not set, and the result display is displayed in a timely manner according to the progress of the game. In other words, if the game state at the start of the round lottery effect is the small hit game state, the lottery display for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) is performed, and then the result is displayed to notify the number of round games for the big hit. I do. On the other hand, when the game state at the time of starting the round lottery effect is suddenly a short and big hit game state, the lottery display is continued until the ending time after the big hit game has elapsed. Then, a signal (ending time lapse signal) indicating that the ending time has elapsed is transmitted from the main control board 200, and the sub-control board 220 indicates the occurrence of the short-time game by receiving the signal by the sub-control board 220. Perform the result presentation. By doing in this way, the end of the time-stamped notification effect and the start of the time-saving game can be synchronized without performing the process of shortening the ending time by the main control board 200. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable without increasing the processing load on the main control board 200.

It is a front view of the gaming machine of the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the board surface structure of a game board. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the structure of the central apparatus of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the symbol display apparatus mounted in the gaming machine of a present Example. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control circuit in the game machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the display mode of the normal symbol display part. It is explanatory drawing which showed notably the mode that the special symbol was variably displayed. It is the block diagram which showed the rough flow of the game performed with the game machine of a present Example. It is the flowchart which showed the rough flow of game control processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a special symbol game start judgment process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the first half part of a special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the second half part of the special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the special symbol success / failure determination processing. It is explanatory drawing which showed notion determination table conceptually. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the big hit symbol determination table. It is explanatory drawing which showed notion symbol determination table notionally. It is explanatory drawing which showed notion symbol determination table notionally. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a special symbol fluctuation pattern setting process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated various variation patterns notionally. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a small hit game process. It is explanatory drawing which showed notably the mode of the effect performed with an effect display apparatus during a round lottery. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the second half part of jackpot game processing. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the second half part of jackpot game processing. A state in which a game progresses when a big hit game is normally generated is conceptually shown. This shows conceptually how a game progresses when a small hit game occurs. This shows conceptually how a game progresses when a game is suddenly generated. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the round lottery table referred in the modification which performs round lottery.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Pachinko machine, 17, 18, 19 ... Start port,
28 ... symbol display device (symbol display means), 31d ... grand prize award,
100 ... Central device, 102 ... Feather entrance (specific entrance),
102 s ... blade entry switch (entrance switch),
141a ... specific area, 141c ... specific area passing switch (passing switch),
200 ... main control board (lottery means, small hit game execution means, special game execution means, start port opening means, specific game execution means),
220 .. Sub-control board (notification means)

Claims (4)

In a ball game machine that plays a game by firing a game ball toward a game board provided with a plurality of entrances into which a game ball can enter,
A starting port that can be switched between a normal state in which a game ball is difficult to enter and an open state in which the game ball is easier to enter than the normal state;
It is configured to be switchable between a closed state in which a game ball cannot enter and an open state in which a game ball can enter, and a specific area and a non-specific area through which the game ball can pass are provided inside. When the specific entrance that is said closed state,
A lottery means for performing a lottery relating to the progress of the game by entering a game ball into the start opening;
A symbol display means for performing a change display of the symbol in response to the game ball entering the start opening, and stopping and displaying the symbol according to the result of the lottery,
When the first winning symbol is stopped and displayed by the symbol display means, a small hit game executing means for executing a small hit game for opening the specific entrance in a predetermined small hit opening manner;
When the second winning symbol is stopped and displayed by the symbol display means, or when the game ball that has entered the specific entrance opened by the small hit game executing means passes through the specific area, A special game execution means for executing a special game for giving a predetermined privilege to a person,
When a predetermined condition is established during the game, start port opening means for opening the start port for a predetermined time; and
Specific game execution means for executing a specific game in which the opening time of the start port is longer than that in a normal game state after the end of the special game;
An informing means for informing that the specific game is executed,
The special game executed when the symbol display means stops displaying the second winning symbol is to open the specific entrance in the same opening mode as the small hitting aperture mode,
The specific game executing means is configured such that all the game balls that enter the specific entrance during the special game are executed when the symbol display means stops and displays the second winning symbol. Alternatively, the specific game is executed after passing through any of the non-specific areas,
The notification means is configured such that a game ball enters the specific entrance during the special game that is executed when the symbol display means stops and displays the second winning symbol, and the game ball that has entered the The bullet ball game machine, wherein the notification is executed by passing through the specific area. In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
The specific game execution means executes the specific game after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since all the game balls entering the specific entrance have passed through the specific area or the non-specific area. There,
A bullet ball game machine comprising synchronization means for synchronizing the end of notification by the notification means and the end of the standby time. In the ball game machine according to claim 2,
The synchronization means synchronizes the end of the notification and the end of the standby time by shortening the remaining standby time when the standby time remains after the notification by the notification means ends. A ball game machine characterized by that. In the bullet ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The notification means includes
When the game ball passes through the specific area during the small hit game, and during the special game executed by the symbol display means stopping and displaying the second hit symbol, the game ball is in the specific area When it passes through, the common effect display starts with the effect display device,
If the game state when the game ball passes through the specific area is the small hit game, after the end of the common effect display, a notification that the special game is executed,
When the game state when the game ball passes through the specific area is the special game, a bullet ball that notifies that the specific game is executed after the end of the common effect display Gaming machine.

Images