JP5564720B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  In a pachislot machine, which is a slot machine used in pachinko parlors, when a start lever is pressed after a medal is inserted, one of multiple types of winning combinations or a winning combination lottery determined by a loser is performed and a plurality of reels rotate. To do. Whether or not the winning combination has been won is displayed depending on whether or not the combination of symbols displayed from the display window when the respective reels are stopped by pressing the stop button matches a predetermined combination. Winners can win if they win in the lottery. For example, if a bonus combination such as BB (Big Bonus) or RB (Regular Bonus) wins, a large number of medals can be obtained in a short period of time, so that the player can play a game in the hope of winning the bonus combination. It is common.

  Against this background, recent pachislot machines, for example, display or display effect images on a liquid crystal display or EL (electroluminescence) display, etc., to notify or suggest the results of the winning lottery to the player. Most of them do. This prevents players from getting bored and enhances the player's interest in games.

  By the way, in the pachislot machine, a plurality of different winning probabilities are prepared in performing the above-described lottery, and a value called a set value is assigned to each winning probability. The set value can be changed individually for each pachislot machine. The set value is changed by opening a door provided on the front surface of the casing, and is generally performed by an employee outside the business hours of the pachinko parlor. Thus, by making the set value changeable, it is possible to maintain a balance of profits between the game arcade and each player and to provide a fair game to any player. The player also enjoys guessing a pachislot machine having a high setting value, and the setting value is important in terms of excitement of the game.

JP 2002-248204 A JP 2006-192070 A JP 2006-263239 A JP 2007-307285 A JP 2006-187529 A JP 2007-125077 A JP 2008-005947 A JP 2008-173382 A

  However, since the above-mentioned pachislot machines are selected by lottery, the pachinko store cannot arbitrarily select a suitable performance for attracting customers at the opening of the pachinko store or during events during business hours, which is not convenient. It was. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to provide a switch for switching the mode of production, but it is necessary to modify the conventional pachislot machine, and there is a drawback that the manufacturing cost of the pachislot machine increases. .

  In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine that can arbitrarily change the aspect of production without causing an increase in manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the above object, the slot machine of the present invention includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery, and responds to depression of a start lever, and either one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loser. When the winning combination lottery is determined and the reels rotate and the rotating reels are stopped, the winning combination is displayed according to the combination of symbols displayed from the display window. When the setting value selected from a plurality of setting values having different winning probabilities for the winning combination is confirmed by a predetermined confirming operation, the winning combination lottery is performed according to the selected winning probability. in dividing the slot machine, in response to the confirmation operation is performed, specific symbol sets from the display window by detecting a rotational position of the reel The combined determination means for determining whether being displayed, the effect of the case where the specific symbol combination is determined to be displayed by the determining means, associated with said particular symbol combination aspect An effect control means for switching the effect mode by selecting and executing the selected effect in the subsequent game, and rotating the reel before the confirmation operation without providing a dedicated switch for switching the effect mode. The specific symbol is displayed by performing the function of a switch operation for switching the aspect of the effect .

  The specific symbol combination is preferably a combination different from the combination displayed based on the winning combination lottery result.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a mode of production by manually rotating a conventionally used reel, and a mode of production arbitrarily without causing an increase in manufacturing cost. Can be changed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the specific symbol combination is not displayed during the game, the aspect of the effect is changed unless the specific symbol combination is manually displayed after the game hall such as a pachinko store is closed. I can't. For this reason, the mode of production can be changed only in the slot machine intended on the game hall side. Also, if the slot machine whose setting value has been changed and the slot machine whose setting value has not been changed to have the same appearance, it is impossible for the player to identify the slot machine whose setting has been changed, and which player Can play games fairly.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. It is the perspective view which showed the front surface of the setting change apparatus. It is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a stage selection process when a setting change is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 11 includes a slot machine main body 12 and a front door 13. The slot machine body 12 includes a storage box 12a. The storage box 12a stores various devices such as a reel and a control board for executing a game. The front door 13 is vertically divided into two and includes an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The inside of the slot machine body 12 is opened and closed by an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b.

  A display window 14 is provided on the upper door 13a. A first reel 15a, a second reel 15b, and a third reel 15c are provided in the back of the display window 14. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and when the reels stop, three symbols per reel, a total of nine symbols, are displayed through the display window 14. In the slot machine 11, a total of five winning active lines 16, which are three horizontal and two diagonal, are set for the symbols displayed from the display window 14. Then, it is displayed whether or not the winning combination has won a prize depending on whether or not the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 16 when the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped matches the preset combination. Is done.

  The lower door 13b has a medal slot 17 for inserting medals prior to the start of the game, a start lever 18 for rotating the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and stop buttons 19a to 19c for stopping the rotating reels. Is provided. When three medals are inserted, the operation of the start lever 18 is validated. When the start lever 18 is pressed after the medal is inserted, a winning combination lottery for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing is performed, and the first to third reels 15a to 15c rotate.

  The winning combination determined by the winning combination lottery includes BB (Big Bonus), multiple types of small roles (Bell, Watermelon, Cherry), and replay. When Replay wins, the next game can be played without inserting medals. When the small role is won, a prescribed number of medals corresponding to the type are paid out from the payout opening 20 to the tray 21. Once BB wins, the winning right is carried over until winning. The BB is awarded when three BB symbols corresponding to the BB are arranged on the winning effective line 16. When BB wins, it shifts to BB mode. In the BB mode, the probability of winning a small role is higher than in the normal mode. As a result, the BB mode is more advantageous to the player than the normal mode. The BB mode ends when the number of medals paid out reaches a predetermined upper limit number. Hereinafter, a state from winning BB until winning BB (including both a game won in BB and a game carrying over BB) will be referred to as “internal winning”.

  A liquid crystal display 22 is provided on the side of the display window 14. An effect image is displayed from the liquid crystal display 22 in the game in the normal mode. The effect image includes a background image and a character image displayed in front of the background image. It is displayed under stage A or stage B that are conceptually different from each other. When the stage is switched, the displayed background image and character image change. For this reason, in the slot machine 11, the display mode of the effect image is changed by changing the stage. If a stage transition lottery performed every game under stage A is won, the stage B is entered. When 32 games are played under stage B, the stage A is entered. Stage B has a higher expectation that BB is winning internally than when staying at Stage A.

  The slot machine 11 stores six stages of setting values 1 to 6 having different BB winning probabilities. The set value can be changed arbitrarily. Then, the winning probability of BB increases in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6. The set value can be displayed from the 7-segment display 23.

  A cylinder 24 is provided on the front side of the lower door 13b. When a dedicated door key is inserted into the cylinder 24 and rotated, the locking of the lower door 13b is released. Thereby, the inside of the slot machine body 12 can be opened by rotating the lower door 13b. Further, when the engagement between the slot machine main body 12 and the upper door 13a is released while the lower door 13b is rotated, the upper door 13a can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the slot machine main body 12 is partitioned into upper and lower parts, and a power supply box 30 is provided at the lower part thereof. The power supply box 30 is used not only for powering on the slot machine 11 but also for changing the set value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply box 30 is formed in a box shape. On the front surface of the power supply box 30, there are provided a setting key switch 30a for switching whether or not to change the setting value, a power switch 30b for switching on / off the power supply, and a setting change button 30c for arbitrarily selecting the setting value. It has been.

  To change the setting value, the lower door 13b is opened and the setting change key 31 is inserted into the setting key switch 30a. Then, the setting change key 31 is rotated to turn on the setting key switch 30a. In this state, the power switch 30b is turned on. As a result, the mode shifts to the setting change mode, and medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 17 are not accepted, making it impossible to play a game.

  When the setting change button 30c is pressed during the setting change mode, the setting values in six stages are set in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6 → setting 1. It is selected sequentially while making a round. When the start lever 18 is pressed after selecting a setting value with the setting change button 30c, the selected setting value is confirmed. When the setting change key 31 is turned to the off position after the setting value is confirmed, the setting change mode is changed to the game mode, and the setting value change is completed. When the game mode is entered, medals inserted from the medal slot 17 are accepted and a game can be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the basic operation of the slot machine 11 is controlled by the main board 60. The main board 60 includes a main CPU (determination means) 61 and a main memory 62. The ROM area of the main memory 62 stores a game execution program, a setting change program for executing a process associated with the change of the setting value, and the like. The main CPU 61 performs a game execution process and a setting change execution process by reading a game execution program and a setting change program from the main memory 62. The RAM area of the main memory 62 temporarily stores a winning flag (a flag indicating the type of the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery) and data used for each game, and a setting value used in the game. Used for and rewriting.

  The medal sensor 63 detects an appropriate medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 17 and inputs a medal detection signal to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 counts the number of inserted medals based on the detection signal from the medal sensor 63, and activates the five winning valid lines 16 when three medals are inserted.

  The start signal sensor 64 detects that the start lever 18 has been pressed. When pressing of the start lever 18 is detected, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 64 to the main CPU 61. When three medals are inserted, the main CPU 61 receives a game start signal and rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c.

  The first to third reels 15a to 15c rotate by driving a stepping motor 65 connected thereto. An encoder plate 66 is integrally attached to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 65. The encoder plate 66 is formed in a disc shape. The outer circumferences of the first to third reels 15a to 15c are divided into 21 frames, and one symbol is arranged for each frame. The encoder plate 66 is formed with 21 slits 66a penetrating both sides. The slits 66a are arranged along the circumferential direction of the encoder plate 66, and correspond to the frames of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The passage of the slit 66a is detected by a known photosensor 67 including a light projecting element and a light receiving element. A pulse signal when the slit 66a is detected is input to the main CPU 61.

  The main CPU 61 includes three pulse counters 68a to 68c corresponding to the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and increases each count value each time a pulse signal is input. The pulse counter 68a corresponds to the first reel 15a, the pulse counter 68b corresponds to the second reel 15b, and the pulse counter 68c corresponds to the third reel 15c. Reflected signal pieces 69 are formed at the reference positions of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The reflected signal piece 69 is detected by the photosensor 70. When the photo sensor 70 detects the reflection signal piece 69, the detection signal is input to the main CPU 61 as a reset signal. The main CPU 61 resets the count value of the pulse counter corresponding to the reel in which the reflection signal piece 69 is detected in response to the reset signal. In the ROM area of the main memory 62, a symbol table in which the number of pulses of the pulse counters 68a to 68c is associated with the symbol on the winning effective line 16 is stored. The main CPU 61 can identify the type of symbol of each reel positioned on the winning winning line 16 by comparing the count values of the pulse counters 68a to 68c with the symbol table.

  The main CPU 61 validates the operation of the stop buttons 19a to 19c when the reel rotation speed reaches a steady speed. The stop signal sensor 71 detects that the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. When the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, stop signals on the first to third reels 15a to 15c are individually input to the main CPU 61. When the stop signal is input, the main CPU 61 performs stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c corresponding to the pressed stop buttons 19a to 19c. As the stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, known pull-in control is performed. In the pull-in control, the number of pull-in frames required until the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped by pressing the stop buttons 19a to 19c is 0 to 4 frames corresponding to 5 symbols including the symbols on the winning winning line 16. That is, a range of 5 frames (hereinafter referred to as “retraction range”) is set as an upper limit. The number of drawn-in frames is set according to the type of symbols on the winning winning line 16 when the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. If the winning symbol (the symbol corresponding to the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery) is included in the drawing range of 5 frames when the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, the winning symbol pull-in control is performed. The winning symbol is stopped on the winning winning line 16. The type of symbol that stops on the winning line 16 is written in the RAM area of the memory 61 when each of the stop buttons 19a to 19c is pressed. When all of the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed, it is determined whether or not the combination of the stopped symbols on the winning effective line 16 matches the winning symbol combination, and whether or not the winning combination has won a prize. Is determined (hereinafter, “winning determination”).

  Further, the main CPU 61 operates the winning combination determining unit 72 in response to the game start signal. In the winning combination determination unit 72, a winning combination lottery using random numbers is performed, and any of BB, small combination, replay, or loss is determined. When any winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, a winning flag indicating the type is written in the RAM area of the main memory 62. The BB flag is cleared when the BB wins, and the other flags are cleared when the winning game ends. Thereby, when BB is won, the detection of the winning is carried over until BB wins.

  The winning combination determining unit 72 includes first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f. In the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f, BB, small role, replay, or lose is assigned to all random numbers generated in the winning combination lottery. Then, the winning combination determining unit 72 identifies from the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f whether BB, a small combination, a replay, or a loss is assigned to the random value extracted at the time of the winning combination lottery. , BB, small role, replay, or lose. In addition, small roles are divided and assigned to each type.

  The first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f are associated with the set values described above. In the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f, the first setting table 73a has the lowest BB winning probability (low payout rate), and the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth setting tables are arranged in this order. The number of random values to which BB is assigned is set so that the winning probability of BB is high (the payout rate is high). The first setting table 73a is selected when setting 1 is selected, the second setting table 73b is selected when setting 2 is selected, the third setting table 73c is selected when setting 3 is selected, and the fourth setting table 73c is selected when setting 4 is selected. The fifth setting table 73e is used when the setting table 73d and setting 5 are selected, and the sixth setting table 73f is used when setting 6 is selected. Note that the number of random values assigned BB is adjusted by increasing / decreasing the lost random number.

  The main CPU 61 receives operation signals from the setting key switch 30a, the power switch 30b, and the setting change button 30c. The main CPU 61 shifts to the setting change mode when both the ON signal output when the power switch 30b is turned ON and the ON signal output when the setting key switch 30a is turned ON are input. When the ON signal is not input to the setting key switch 30a, the setting change mode is terminated and the game mode is entered.

  When the setting change button 30c is pressed during the setting change mode and the operation signal is input, the main CPU 61 indicates that the character “-1−” is selected when the setting 1 is selected and the setting 2 is selected. Is the character “−2”, when the setting 3 is selected, the character “−3−3”, when the setting 4 is selected, the character “−4−” and the setting 5 are selected. The character “−5” is displayed on the display 23 when the setting 6 is selected. As a result, the set value is displayed from the display unit 23 in the form of “-(set value being selected)-”. Each time the setting change button 30c is pressed, the main CPU 61 displays these displays as “-1-” → “-2-” → “-3-” → “-4-” → “−5-” → “ Switch in the order of “−6” → “−1−” →. When the set value selected by pressing the start lever 18 is confirmed, the main CPU 61 causes the display 23 to display the confirmed set value in the form of “(set value)” (− is not displayed).

  On the other hand, the main CPU 61 identifies the first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f corresponding to the selected setting values in response to the operation signal of the setting change button 30c. When the start lever 18 is pressed, the types of the selected first to sixth lottery tables 73a to 73f are written in the RAM area of the main memory 62, and the set value is confirmed. Thereby, the change of the set value is completed. During the game, the winning combination lottery is performed using the determined setting table.

  A sub board 80 is electrically connected to the main board 60. The sub board 80 includes a sub CPU (production control means) 81 and a sub memory 82. The sub CPU 81 operates in response to a command from the main CPU 61. The sub CPU 81 controls the operation of the liquid crystal display 22 and displays an effect image from the liquid crystal display 22. The sub memory 82 stores image data for displaying effect images from the liquid crystal display 22.

  The image data for presentation includes stage A data 82a and stage B data 82b. The stage A data 82a is composed of image data groups of effect images displayed on the stage A, and the stage B data 82b is composed of image data groups of effect images displayed on the stage B. Each image data group is assigned a head address, and which stage of image data is identified based on the head address. Each image data group includes image data of a plurality of types of character images and image data of a background image, and these image data are also identified by the head address. Then, the sub CPU 81 reads the stage A data 82a or the stage B data 82b and displays the effect image at the stage A or the stage B.

  The stage transition lottery unit 83 operates upon receiving a command indicating the winning combination lottery result from the main CPU 61. The stage transition lottery unit 83 performs stage transition lottery using an electronic random number and determines whether or not to shift from stage A to stage B for each game at stage A. The stage shift lottery unit 83 includes a BB winning table 83a and a normal table 83b. Then, a stage shift lottery is performed using any table according to the winning combination lottery result identified from the command from the main CPU 61. In a game in which the BB in the normal mode is won internally, the BB winning table 83a is used, and in a game in which the BB in the normal mode is not internally won, the normal table 83b is used. In the BB winning table 83a, the number of winning random numbers is determined so that the selection probability of the stage B is higher than that in the normal table 83b. As a result, the BB often stays at the stage B in the state where the internal winning is made, so that the level of expectation for the BB winning can be expressed depending on whether the stage is the A or B. The result of the stage shift lottery is written in the RAM area of the sub memory 82 as a stage flag.

  The effect selection lottery unit 84 is activated for each game of each stage. The effect selection lottery unit 84 performs an effect selection lottery using an electronic random number, and determines the type of character image to be displayed as the effect image. The stage selection lottery is performed using the stage A table 84a in the stage A and the stage B table 84b in the stage B. In the stage A table 84a and the stage B table 84b, one of the head addresses corresponding to the character images displayed in each stage is assigned to all random values extracted in the effect selection lottery. Thereby, the character image displayed on each stage changes.

  Next, the stage selection process when the setting is changed will be described.

  First, the clerk of the pachinko parlor opens the front door 13 and manually rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c before changing the setting (including the case of re-setting to the same set value). The specific combinations of symbols (hereinafter referred to as “specific combinations”) are aligned on the winning winning line 16, and the specific combinations are displayed from the display window 14. At this time, the clerk of the pachinko parlor arranges the specific combination A when starting the game from the stage A, and arranges the specific combination B when starting the game from the stage B. The specific combination is stored in the ROM area of the main memory 61 in advance. The specific combination A is “bell design”-“BB design”-“replay design”, and the specific combination B is “bell design”-“BB design”-“watermelon design”. It is a combination that does not match during a game, not only when winning a role but also when losing. That is, during the game, the drawing pull-in control is performed so that the specific combinations A and B are not aligned. When the first to third reels 15a to 15c are rotated, the count values of the pulse counters 68a to 68c are updated. Therefore, the main CPU 61 can identify the combination of symbols on the winning winning line 16 even when the first to third reels 15 a to 15 c are not rotated by driving the stepping motor 65.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the slot machine 11, when the set value is confirmed by pressing the start lever 18 in the setting change mode, the main CPU 61 refers to the count values of the pulse counters 68a to 68c and moves on the winning payline 16 Identify the symbol combinations. Then, it is determined whether or not the combination of symbols on the winning winning line 16 is a specific combination. If the specific combination is aligned on the winning winning line 16, it is determined whether the specific combination A or the specific combination B is aligned. When the determination is completed, a command indicating the result is transmitted to the sub CPU 81. In response to this, the sub CPU 81 writes the stage flag A in the RAM area of the sub memory 82 when the specific combination A is displayed and the stage flag A when the specific combination B is displayed. In the subsequent games, the sub CPU 81 performs an effect selection lottery using the stage A table 84a or the stage B table 84b according to the stage flag. Thereby, a stage changes according to a specific combination, ie, the aspect of an effect image changes. Under the stage B, the sub CPU 81 counts the number of games based on the command from the main CPU 61, and shifts to the stage A when the number of games reaches 32 times. As described above, stage B has a higher degree of expectation that BB has won internally than stage A, so the player can play a game with expectation. For this reason, for example, if the start lever 18 is pressed by shifting to the setting change mode at the time of opening a store or an event during business, the pachinko parlor can intentionally attract the player's interest and the operation rate of the slot machine 11 Can be raised. Thereby, the operating profit of a pachinko parlor can be raised. In addition, when a specific winning combination is won, a slot machine in which a specific winning combination wins when the stop button pressing mode (pressing timing, pressing order, or a combination thereof) matches the mode determined by the lottery. In the slot machine where the game is played in the AT (assist time) mode in which the mode is notified as an effect, if a specific combination is prepared, the player can obtain the medal number by shifting to the AT mode. It is more effective in attracting the player's interest. Furthermore, if a specific combination is displayed when a specific combination is displayed, it is possible to suggest that the setting value has been changed by the specific aspect, and a game is played with a higher setting value. Can attract the interest of players who want to.

  If the specific combination is not aligned on the winning winning line 16 when the start lever 18 is pressed, the main CPU 61 shifts to the game mode as it is and ends the process. In this case, the stage before the setting change continues.

  In the above embodiment, the aspect of the effect image is changed by changing the table used in the effect selection lottery according to the specific combination. However, when the effect selection lottery is not performed, the image data corresponding to the specific combination is read out. The aspect of the effect image may be changed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the start lever 18 is pressed as an example of the setting value confirmation operation. However, the stop button is pressed, the bet button is pressed to insert a credited medal, and the operation of a switch dedicated to the confirmation operation is performed. For example, an appropriate operation may be set as the confirmation operation.

  In the above embodiment, the aspect of the effect image is changed by changing the stage. However, for example, a method of changing the aspect of the effect image, such as changing only the character image under the same background image. May be an appropriate method, and the number of effect images may be an appropriate number.

  In the above embodiment, the display of the effect image is given as an example of the effect. However, the lamp and reel back lamps provided in the slot machine main body 12 emit light, output sound, the start lever 18 and the stop buttons 19a to 19c. A mode of effect such as vibration to be applied may be an appropriate method. Depending on whether or not the specific combination is displayed, for example, the display of the effect image or the light emission of the lamp may be selected.

  In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a slot machine that uses medals, but the present invention may be applied to other slot machines such as a slot machine that uses a game ball as a game medium.

11 slot machine 18 start lever 22 liquid crystal display 61 main CPU (determination means)
81 Sub CPU (Production control means)

Claims (1)

A plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery are provided, and in response to pressing of the start lever, a winning combination lottery for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing is performed and the reel rotates The winning combination is displayed based on the combination of symbols displayed from the display window when the spinning reel is stopped, an effect corresponding to the result of the winning combination lottery is executed, and the winning probability of the winning combination is In the slot machine in which the winning combination lottery is performed according to the selected winning probability, when the setting value selected from different types of setting values is confirmed by a predetermined confirming operation,
Determining means for determining whether a specific symbol combination is displayed from the display window by detecting a rotational position of the reel in response to the confirmation operation;
If the specific symbol combination is determined to be displayed by the determination means, selects the effect aspects associated with the particular symbol combination, be executed in the game since the effect that is selected Production control means for switching the production mode by ,
Without providing a dedicated switch for changing the aspect of the effect, rotating the reel before the confirmation operation and displaying the specific symbol fulfills the function of the switch operation for changing the aspect of the effect. A featured slot machine.

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