JP6915201B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko gaming machine.

Conventionally, in gaming machines represented by pachinko gaming machines, a hardware switch for adjusting the volume is provided in the gaming machine frame, and the value set by the hardware switch is set as the initial value of the volume. The hardware switch is located on the rear surface of the gaming machine and is operated by the staff of the gaming hall (hall). In addition, the volume of the gaming machine can be adjusted step by step by the operation of the player using buttons or the like arranged on the front of the gaming machine, and if the volume is changed by the operation of the player, the volume is changed. Gives priority to the volume set by the hardware switch.

Further, as a technical document that discloses a technique for automatically changing the volume of a gaming machine, for example, Patent Document 1 is available. In the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the volume is adjusted by the player, the volume is automatically set to the initial value when the game is not started even after the predetermined time or more has elapsed in the standby state. The technique of returning is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-229766

In general, there are few gaming machines in operation for a while after the opening of the hall, and the volume inside the hall is also low, so it is preferable that the volume of the gaming machines is low. Therefore, the value of the hardware switch, which is the initial value of the volume, may be set to a low value. However, when many of the gaming machines in the hall start operating, the volume in the hall gradually increases. In this case, the player tends to be unable to enjoy the game unless the volume of the gaming machine is increased. On the other hand, players who are unfamiliar with the setting operation of the gaming machine often play the game without adjusting the volume of the gaming machine, and it is highly possible that they are not fully enjoying the game. Further, in the configuration in which the volume is automatically adjusted to the initial value as in Patent Document 1, when the volume is set to a low value in the hardware switch, the player needs to adjust the volume again, which is troublesome. Therefore, it is desired to improve the automatic adjustment of the volume of the gaming machine.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques. That is, the problem is to provide a gaming machine in which the volume can be adjusted by the player, and to provide a technique for automatically adjusting the volume to a suitable level.

The gaming machine of the present invention
A storage means for storing volume settings and
An audio output means that outputs audio at a volume corresponding to the set value of the volume stored in the storage means, and an audio output means.
The first reference volume value, which is the volume value set when the power is turned on and is the volume value set by the operating means, and
Control means and
With
The control means
Judgment processing that compares the first reference volume value and the second reference volume value, which is a manufacturer-recommended volume value preset in the gaming machine, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state.
When the determination process determines that the first reference volume value is larger than the second reference volume value, the volume setting value is set to the first reference volume value, while the determination is made. When it is not determined in the process that the first reference volume value is larger than the second reference volume value, the initialization process of setting the volume setting value to the second reference volume value is performed. ，
It is a gaming machine characterized by executing.

According to the present invention, a gaming machine in which the volume can be adjusted by a player, and a technique for automatically adjusting the volume to a suitable level is realized.

It is a perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine which concerns on embodiment. It is a partially enlarged perspective view near the upper center of the ball hitting plate of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1. It is a front view of the game board of the pachinko game machine which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detail of the 2nd prize-winning apparatus of the pachinko gaming machine which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display in the frame A of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical composition of the main control board of a pachinko gaming machine and peripheral equipment. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical composition of the sub-control board of a pachinko gaming machine and peripheral equipment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the volume. It is a figure which shows the judgment table of a jackpot. It is a figure which shows the determination table of a jackpot type. It is a figure which shows the opening mode table of a big winning opening. It is a figure which shows the determination table of reach. It is a figure which shows the fluctuation pattern determination table in the lottery of the 1st special symbol. It is a figure which shows the fluctuation pattern determination table in the lottery of the 2nd special symbol. It is a figure which shows the judgment table of a normal hit. It is a figure which shows the volume setting screen. It is a figure which shows the screen transition in the standby state of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the screen transition of the maximum volume setting screen and the volume setting. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the main side start processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of power-on processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the timer interrupt processing on the main side in the main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the special operation processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the special symbol standby processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the processing during special symbol change in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the special symbol determination processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the jackpot game processing in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the power-off monitoring process in a main control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the sub-side start processing in a sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing in a sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the sub-side 10ms timer interrupt processing in a sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the sub-side reception command analysis processing in a sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the switch data analysis processing in a sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image side start processing in an image control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the timer interrupt process on the image side in an image control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image side reception command analysis processing in an image control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the variation effect processing in an image control board. It is a figure which shows an example of a volume control image including a dialogue image. It is a figure which shows an example of the volume control image including a band image. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the customer waiting start processing in an image control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the customer waiting display processing in an image control board. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the variation effect pattern selection process in the sub-control board in the 1st modification. It is a figure which shows the special selection table of a variation effect pattern. It is a figure which shows the normal selection table of a variation effect pattern. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the customer waiting display processing on the image control board in the 2nd modification.

Hereinafter, the gaming machine according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This embodiment is an application of the present invention to a pachinko gaming machine. In the following description, the left-right direction of each part of the pachinko gaming machine is matched with the left-right direction for the player facing the pachinko gaming machine. Further, the front side of each part of the pachinko gaming machine is the side closer to the player facing the pachinko gaming machine, and the rear side of each part of the pachinko gaming machine is the side farther from the player facing the pachinko gaming machine.

1. 1. Structure of Pachinko Game Machine 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko game machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a game machine frame 50 and a game board 2 mounted in the game machine frame 50. Further, the gaming machine frame 50 is composed of a front frame 51, an inner frame 52, and an outer frame 53 in this order from the front side. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes an upper decorative unit 200, a left decorative unit 210, a right decorative unit 220, and an operation unit 230 in a front frame 51 in front of the gaming machine frame 50.

Further, the operation unit 230 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes an effect button 63, a cross button 68, a handle 60, a hit ball supply plate 61, and a surplus ball tray 62. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-shaped button 68 includes an upward button 68U arranged on the rear side, a downward button 68D arranged on the front side, a left direction button 68L arranged on the left side, and a right direction arranged on the right side. It consists of a button 68R. The cross-shaped button 68 and the effect button 63 are provided on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, specifically, on the upper front side of the hit ball supply plate 61. Therefore, the player can easily operate the cross button 68 and the effect button 63 from the vicinity of the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

The handle 60 is located on the lower center side in the front frame 51, is operated by the player, and inputs the firing intensity of the game ball according to the rotation angle to the pachinko gaming machine 1. The hit ball supply plate 61 is located on the lower center side of the front frame 51 and stores the game balls. The surplus ball receiving plate 62 is located below the hitting ball supply plate 61, and stores game balls that cannot be accommodated in the hitting ball supply plate 61.

Further, the right side decoration unit 220 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a part of the sword and a sword member 222 that imitates the shape of the handle. The sword member 222 can be pushed downward by the player, and the pachinko gaming machine 1 can detect the pushing operation of the sword member 222. That is, the sword member 222 is one of the input devices. The sword member 222 is also provided on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the player can easily operate the sword member 222 from the vicinity of the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a glass plate 55, a decorative frame lamp 66, and a speaker 67 on the front frame 51. Of these, the glass plate 55 is attached to a substantially central portion of the front frame 51 so that the player can visually recognize the game board 2 from the front through the transparent glass plate 55.

The frame lamp 66 is provided in the upper decorative unit 200, and is composed of four light emitting units each imitating the shape of the alphabet of "L", "O", "G", and "O", and is used for various effects. Each light emitting unit lights individually or simultaneously as needed.

Speakers 67 are provided on the left side and the right side of the front frame 51, respectively, and output various sounds such as voice, music, sound effects, and notification sounds as needed. For example, during the game control of the pachinko gaming machine 1, voice, music, sound effects, etc. are output according to the production. Further, when an abnormality occurs in the pachinko gaming machine 1 during the game, for example, a siren sound is output in order to notify the abnormality. The speaker 67 provided on the left side is arranged directly below the upper decorative unit 200 like the speaker 67 provided on the right side, and is not shown in FIG.

Next, the game board 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a rail member 4 and a plurality of gaming nails (reference numerals are omitted) on the gaming board 2. Further, the game board 2 is partially surrounded by a rail member 4 to form a game area 3 in which a game ball can roll. The rail member 4 guides the game ball launched from below the game area 3 toward the upper part of the game area 3.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with an image display device 7 having a liquid crystal display member near the center of the gaming area 3. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a fixed winning device 19 which is located below the image display device 7 in the gaming area 3 and is equipped with a first starting port 20 in which the ease of entering the game ball does not always change. The winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 triggers the lottery of the first special symbol by the pachinko gaming machine 1. The lottery of the first special symbol is one of the lottery of big hits, and the details will be described later.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a center decorative body 10 in front of the image display device 7, and further provided with a stage portion 11 below the center decorative body 10 with the image display device 7 in between. The stage unit 11 guides the game ball to the first starting port 20. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a warp portion 12 at the lower left of the center decorative body 10. The warp unit 12 guides the game ball to the stage unit 11.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a board movable body 15 on the upper part of the center decorative body 10. The board movable body 15 is a movable so-called gimmick. The board movable body 15 is changed from a stored state in which it is compactly folded and stored in the upper part of the image display device 7 to an exposed state in which the folding is released and exposed in the front including the central portion of the image display device 7. It can be displaced. For example, the movable board 15 is displaced according to the effect during the game control of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a normal variable winning device 22 below the first starting port 20 in the gaming area 3. Hereinafter, the ordinary variable winning device 22 will be referred to as an "electric chew 22". The electric chew 22 includes a second starting port 21. The winning of the game ball to the second starting port 21 triggers the lottery of the second special symbol by the pachinko gaming machine 1. The lottery for the second special symbol is also one of the lottery for big hits, and the details will be described later. The electric chew 22 includes a movable member 23, and opens and closes the second starting port 21 by the operation of the movable member 23.

The second starting port 21 is open so that the game ball can enter the second starting port 21 only when the movable member 23 is in the open position. On the other hand, when the movable member 23 is in the closed position, the game ball cannot enter the ball. In this case, the game ball that has reached the upper side of the second starting port 21 is repelled in the left-right direction of the movable member 23. That is, the ease with which the game ball can enter the second starting port 21 differs depending on the position of the movable member 23. In this respect, it is different from the first starting port 20 in which the ease of entering the game ball does not always change. It is sufficient that the game ball is more difficult to enter into the second starting port 21 when the movable member 23 is in the closed state than in the open state, and it is not necessary that the movable member 23 is completely unable to enter the ball in the closed state. good.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a first large winning device 31 having a first large winning opening 30 in the game area 3, that is, diagonally upward to the right of the game board 2, above the fixed winning device 19. Further, the first prize winning device 31 includes an opening / closing member 32, and the opening / closing member 32 opens and closes the first prize opening 30. The first big winning opening 30 can enter a game ball only when the opening / closing member 32 is in the open position, and when the opening / closing member 32 is in the closed state, the game ball can be entered. Becomes unable to enter the ball. The opening / closing member 32 may be in the closed state as long as it is more difficult for the game ball to enter the first large winning opening 30 than in the open state, and the opening / closing member 32 does not have to be in a configuration in which the ball cannot be completely entered. ..

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a second large winning device 36 having a second large winning opening 35 in the game area 3, that is, diagonally upward to the right of the game board 2, above the first large winning opening 30. There is. Further, the second special winning device 36 includes an opening / closing member 37, and the opening / closing member 37 opens and closes the second special winning opening 35. The second big winning opening 35 allows the game ball to enter only when the opening / closing member 37 is in the open state, and when the opening / closing member 37 is in the closed state, the game ball can be entered. Becomes unable to enter the ball. The opening / closing member 37 may be in the closed state as long as it is more difficult for the game ball to enter the second large winning opening 35 than in the open state, and the opening / closing member 37 does not have to be completely incapable of entering the ball. ..

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a specific area 39 and a non-specific area 70, which are areas through which the game ball passing through the second large winning opening 35 can pass, are inside the second large winning device 36. It is formed. Further, inside the second prize-winning device 36, a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball is output upstream of the specific area 39 and the non-specific area 70 in the rolling direction of the game ball, that is, the game ball. A second large winning opening sensor 35a is provided to output a signal whose output value changes when the ball passes through the second large winning opening 35. Further, in the specific area 39, a specific area sensor 39a is provided which outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, outputs a signal whose output value changes when the game ball passes through the specific area 39. In the non-specific area 70, a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball is output, that is, a non-specific area sensor that outputs a signal whose output value changes when the game ball passes through the non-specific area 70. 70a is provided.

Further, the second prize-winning device 36 has a distribution member 71 that distributes the game ball that has passed through the second prize-winning opening 35 to either the specific area 39 or the non-specific area 70, and the distribution member 71 that drives the distribution member 71. It is provided with a split member solenoid 73. The distribution member 71 is attached to the game board 2 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the left-right direction, and switches between rolling the game ball to the specific area 39 and rolling to the non-specific area 70.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), in a state where the distribution member 71 is retracted to a position where the game ball is allowed to roll to the specific area 39, the game that has won the second major winning opening 35. The ball can pass through the specific area 39 after passing through the second large winning opening 35. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, in a state where the distribution member 71 blocks the entrance of the specific area 39 to restrict the rolling of the game ball to the specific area 39, the second large winning opening 35 wins a prize. After passing through the second large winning opening 35, the game ball is guided by the distribution member 71 and passes through the non-specific region 70.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the passage of the gaming ball into the specific area 39 is an opportunity to change the gaming state. The gaming state and changes in the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described later. On the other hand, the passage of the game ball to the non-specific area 70 does not trigger a change in the game state.

Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a first gate 28 through which the gaming ball can pass in the lower left of the center decorative body 10 in the gaming area 3. Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a second gate 29 through which a game ball can pass, above the first starting opening 20 in the gaming area 3 and above the first winning opening 30. The passage of the game ball through the first gate 28 and the second gate 29 triggers a lottery of ordinary symbols that determine whether or not to open the electric chew 22. The details of the lottery for ordinary symbols will also be described later. In the following description, the first gate 28 and the second gate 29 are collectively referred to as a gate.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 further has one or a plurality of ordinary winning openings 27 and an out opening 16 for discharging a game ball that has not won any of the winning openings to the outside of the gaming area 3 in the gaming area 3. is doing.

The game area 3 in which various winning openings and the like are arranged includes a left game area 3A located on the left side of the center in the left-right direction and a right game area 3B located on the right side. The method of hitting a player who shoots a game ball so that the game ball rolls in the left game area 3A is called "left hit". On the other hand, a method of hitting a player who shoots a game ball so that the game ball rolls in the right game area 3B is called "right hit". The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a configuration in which it is easy to aim for a prize in the first starting port 20 in the case of a left-handed hit. On the other hand, in the case of a right-handed hit, it is easy to aim for a prize in the second starting opening 21, the first big winning opening 30, and the second big winning opening 35.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with indicators 40 on the upper right side of the gaming board 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the indicators 40 include a first special symbol display 41a for variable display of the first special symbol, a second special symbol display 41b for variable display of the second special symbol, and a normal symbol. The ordinary symbol display 42, which displays a variable display of the above, is included. Further, the indicators 40 display the number of stored operations of the first special symbol display 43a and the second special symbol display 41b, which display the number of stored operations of the first special symbol display 41a. A second special figure hold indicator 43b and a normal figure hold indicator 44 that displays the number of stored operation hold of the normal symbol indicator 42 are included. In addition, the indicators 40 may include, for example, an indicator that indicates whether or not the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in a specific gaming state.

The display change of the first special symbol is performed when the game ball is won in the first starting port 20. The display change of the second special symbol is performed when the game ball is won in the second starting port 21. In the following description, the first special symbol and the second special symbol are collectively referred to as a special symbol. Further, when the first special symbol display 41a and the second special symbol display 41b are collectively referred to, they are referred to as a special symbol display 41. Further, when the first special figure hold indicator 43a and the second special figure hold indicator 43b are collectively referred to, they are referred to as a special figure hold indicator 43.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, a big hit lottery is performed when a prize is won in the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21. Therefore, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, the special symbol display 41 is displayed in a variable manner, and then the stop symbol, which is a special symbol corresponding to the lottery result, is stopped and displayed, so that the pachinko gaming machine 1 draws a big hit. Notify the result of. The stop symbol is one special symbol selected from a plurality of types of special symbols according to the result of the lottery. When the jackpot is won, the pachinko gaming machine 1 controls the jackpot game in which the first prize opening 30 and the second prize opening 35 are opened. The jackpot game is also called a special game. The opening patterns of the first big winning opening 30 and the second big winning opening 35 in the jackpot game will be described later.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the special symbol display 41 is composed of eight LEDs, and displays a special symbol according to the result of the jackpot lottery by the pachinko gaming machine 1 depending on the lighting mode thereof. The special symbol display 41 displays the special symbol corresponding to the winning of the jackpot, for example, "○○ ●● ○○ ●●" (○: lit, ● extinguished) according to a predetermined symbol on the left. Turn on the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th LEDs. In addition, the special symbol display 41 lights the 8th LED from the left according to a predetermined symbol, for example, "●●●●●●● ○" as a display of the special symbol in the case of loss. Let me. In addition, before the special symbol is stopped and displayed, the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner over a predetermined fluctuation time. The mode of this variable display may be any mode other than the mode in which each LED is stopped and displayed, for example, each LED is turned on so that the lighting portion flows from left to right.

When the pachinko gaming machine 1 wins a game ball in the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21, it acquires a jackpot random number, which is a random number for a jackpot lottery, for the winning, and obtains the jackpot random number. It is temporarily stored in a specific storage area of its own memory. Specifically, if there is a prize in the first starting port 20, the acquired jackpot random number is stored in the storage area for the first starting port 20 (the first special figure holding storage unit 85a shown in FIG. 6 to be described later). If there is a prize in the second starting port 21, the acquired jackpot random number is stored in the storage area for the second starting port 21 (second special figure holding storage unit 85b shown in FIG. 6 to be described later). There is an upper limit to the number of jackpot random numbers that can be stored in each storage area, and in the pachinko gaming machine 1, the upper limit is set to 4 for both the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a and the second special figure reservation storage unit 85b.

The stored jackpot random number is digested by satisfying the digestion conditions that enable the display of a special symbol based on the value. The digestion of the jackpot random number means that the pachinko gaming machine 1 determines whether or not the value of the jackpot random number corresponds to the jackpot, and executes the display of a special symbol to show the determination result, and is a stop symbol. Is completed by stopping and displaying. Therefore, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, if the special symbol based on the winning of the game ball cannot be displayed on the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21 immediately after the winning, for example, the special symbol based on the previous lottery result is displayed. Even if there is a prize during the variable display or during the execution of the jackpot game, the right of the jackpot lottery for the prize can be reserved up to the maximum number. This hold of the lottery right is called a special figure hold. Further, the special figure hold for winning the prize at the first starting port 20 is set as the first special figure hold, and the special figure hold for winning the prize at the second starting port 21 is set as the second special figure hold.

The digestion conditions for the first special figure reservation stored in the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a include the first special figure stored in the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a prior to the first special figure reservation. This includes the fact that there is no figure reservation, that is, all the previously stored first special figure reservations have been digested. In addition, the digestion conditions for the second special figure hold stored in the second special figure hold storage unit 85b include the second special figure stored in the second special figure hold storage unit 85b prior to the second special figure hold. This includes the fact that there is no figure hold, that is, all of the previously stored second special figure hold has been digested. Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, the digestion of the second special figure hold is prioritized over the digestion of the first special figure hold. Therefore, the digestion conditions for the first special figure reservation include the absence of the second special figure reservation.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 displays the number of special figure reservations as described above on the special figure reservation display 43. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, in the special figure hold indicator 43, the first special figure hold indicator 43a is composed of four LEDs, and the second special figure hold indicator 43b is also four. It is composed of the LED of. The pachinko gaming machine 1 displays the number of special figure hold by lighting the LED on the special figure hold indicator 43 by the number of each special figure hold.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, a normal symbol lottery is performed when the gaming ball passes through the gate. Therefore, the pachinko gaming machine 1 notifies the result of the ordinary symbol lottery by the pachinko gaming machine 1 by displaying the ordinary symbol in a variable manner on the ordinary symbol display 42 and then stopping and displaying the ordinary symbol corresponding to the lottery result. do. The normal symbol that is stopped and displayed is one ordinary symbol selected from a plurality of types of ordinary symbols according to the result of the lottery. The pachinko gaming machine 1 controls the auxiliary game that opens the second starting port 21 according to the lottery result of the ordinary symbol lottery. The opening pattern of the second starting port 21 in the auxiliary game will be described later.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the ordinary symbol display 42 is composed of two LEDs, and displays ordinary symbols according to the result of the ordinary symbol lottery by the pachinko gaming machine 1 depending on the lighting mode thereof. .. The ordinary symbol display 42 displays a predetermined ordinary symbol such as "○○" (○: lit, ● extinguished) as a display of a specific ordinary symbol corresponding to the winning in the ordinary symbol lottery. Therefore, both LEDs are turned on. Further, the normal symbol display 42 lights the left LED according to a predetermined normal symbol, for example, "● ○", as a display of the normal symbol in the case of loss. Before the normal symbol is stopped and displayed, the normal symbol is displayed in a variable manner over a predetermined fluctuation time. The mode of this variable display may be any mode other than the mode in which each LED stops and displays, for example, both LEDs are turned on alternately.

When the pachinko game machine 1 passes the game ball to the gate, it acquires the value of the normal symbol random number, which is a random number for the lottery of the normal symbol, for the passage, and identifies the normal symbol random number in its own memory. Is temporarily stored in the storage area of the above (the general drawing reservation storage unit 86 shown in FIG. 6 to be described later). There is an upper limit to the number of values of ordinary symbol random numbers that can be stored in the storage area, and the upper limit is set to 4 in the pachinko gaming machine 1.

The stored ordinary symbol random numbers are digested on condition that the ordinary symbols can be displayed based on the value. Digestion of the value of the ordinary symbol random number means that the pachinko gaming machine 1 determines whether or not the value of the ordinary symbol random number corresponds to the ordinary hit, and executes the display of the ordinary symbol to show the determination result. It is completed by stopping and displaying the normal symbol corresponding to the lottery result. Therefore, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, when the normal symbol based on the passage of the game ball to the gate cannot be displayed immediately after the passage, for example, during the variable display of the normal symbol based on the previous lottery result or during the execution of the auxiliary game. Even if the gate of the game ball is passed, the right to draw a normal symbol for the passage can be reserved up to a maximum of four. The holding of the right of the lottery is called the holding of the general drawing.

It should be noted that, in the digestion condition for the Fuzu hold stored in the Fuzu hold storage unit 86, there is no Fuzu hold stored in the Fuzu hold storage unit 86 before the Fuzu hold, that is, the Fuzu hold is stored first. It is included that all the normal figure reservations stored in the figure reservation storage unit 86 have been digested.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 displays the number of the normal figure hold as described above on the normal figure hold indicator 44. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the normal figure hold indicator 44 is composed of four LEDs, and displays the number of normal figure hold by turning on the LEDs as many as the number of the normal figure hold. ..

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with an image display device 7 near the center of the game area 3, and the display devices 40 display on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. The effect symbol display area for displaying the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R synchronized with the variable display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol is included. It should be noted that the effect of displaying while changing the display contents of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R is called an effect symbol variation effect.

The effect symbol display area is composed of, for example, three symbol display areas of "left", "middle", and "right". The left effect symbol 8L is displayed in the left symbol display area, the middle effect symbol 8C is displayed in the middle symbol display area, and the right effect symbol 8R is displayed in the right symbol display area. NS. Each of the effect symbols consists of, for example, a plurality of symbols representing numbers from "1" to "9". The image display device 7 displays the content of the variable display of the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display 41 by the combination of the left, middle, and right effect symbols, that is, the result of the jackpot lottery by the pachinko gaming machine 1. Display in an easy-to-understand manner.

For example, when the image display device 7 wins the "big hit" in the big hit lottery, the image display device 7 displays the effect symbol with doublet, which is a combination of the same numbers such as "777". In addition, in the case of "missing", the effect pattern is displayed in a loose pattern in which at least one number is a combination different from the other numbers. This makes it easier for the player to grasp the progress of the game. That is, the player can grasp the result of the big hit lottery by the pachinko gaming machine 1 by the special symbol displayed on the display device 40, and also by the combination of the effect symbols displayed on the image display device 7. can. The position of the symbol display area may be fixed or variable. Further, the image display device 7 may scroll the effect symbol in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction when displaying the effect symbol in a variable manner.

In addition to the effect symbol variation effect using the effect symbol as described above, the image display device 7 is, for example, an image used for a notice effect for notifying the lottery result of a jackpot, an image used for executing a jackpot game or an auxiliary game. , A demonstration image for waiting for customers, and an image used for displaying various setting contents are displayed on the display screen 7a. In the effect symbol variation effect, in addition to the effect symbols such as numbers, images other than the effect symbols such as the background image and the character image may be displayed.

Further, on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7, the first effect hold display area 9A for displaying the effect hold image and the second special figure hold storage number are displayed according to the number of storages of the first special figure hold. The second effect hold display area 9B for displaying the effect hold image is included. The image display device 7 displays the number of stored images of the first special figure hold and the number of stored numbers of the second special figure hold displayed on the display devices 40 in an easy-to-understand manner by displaying the effect holding image. That is, the player can grasp the number of special figure hold by the special figure hold display 43 of the display devices 40, and also the first effect hold display area 9A and the second effect hold display area 9B of the image display device 7. It can also be grasped by the number of production pending images displayed in.

2. Electrical Configuration of Pachinko Gaming Machine 1 Subsequently, the electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a main control board 80, a sub control board 90, an image control board 100, and a payout control board 110. The main control board 80 is attached to the game board 2 and mainly controls game profits such as lottery of special symbols and ordinary symbols, transition of game states, and the like. The sub-control board 90 is attached to the game board 2 and controls the display of the image display device 7, the lighting of various lamps, the sound output, and the like, which are mainly performed as the game progresses. The image control board 100 controls the image displayed on the image display device 7 and the sound output from the speaker 67. The payout control board 110 controls the payout of the game ball.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a power supply board 150. The power supply board 150 controls the supply of electric power to the main control board 80, the sub control board 90, the image control board 100, and the payout control board 110, and supplies necessary power to other devices via these boards. do.

The power supply board 150 is provided with a backup power supply circuit 151. The backup power supply circuit 151 is provided for the RAM 84 of the main control board 80, which will be described later, when power is not supplied to the pachinko gaming machine 1 from the outside, that is, when the main power supply is off or a power failure occurs. Provides the power needed to hold information. Therefore, the information stored in the RAM 84 or the like of the main control board 80 is temporarily held while the power can be supplied from the backup power supply circuit 151 even when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is not supplied with electric power from the outside. .. A power switch 155 is connected to the power supply board 150. By operating the power switch 155, the main power supply can be switched on and off. A dedicated backup power supply circuit may be provided for each control board.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 80 is mounted with a game control one-chip microcomputer 81 that controls the progress of the game of the pachinko game machine 1 according to a program. Hereinafter, the game control one-chip microcomputer 81 will be referred to as a game control microcomputer 81. The game control microcomputer 81 includes a ROM 83 that stores a program for controlling the progress of the game, a RAM 84 that is used as a work memory, and a CPU 82 that executes a program stored in the ROM 83. The game control microcomputer 81 transmits or receives data from another board or the like via an input / output circuit 87 composed of an I / O port. The input / output circuit 87 may be built in the game control microcomputer 81. Further, the ROM 83 may be externally attached.

The RAM 84 is provided with a special figure holding storage unit 85 for storing random numbers related to the lottery of big hits, and a general drawing holding storage unit 86 for storing random numbers related to the lottery of ordinary symbols. Further, in the special figure holding storage unit 85, the first special figure holding storage unit 85a for storing the random numbers acquired due to the passage of the game ball through the first starting port 20 and the second starting port 21 are used for the game. A second special figure holding storage unit 85b for storing a random number acquired due to the passage of the sphere is provided.

Specifically, the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a and the second special figure reservation storage unit 85b are each provided with storage areas corresponding to the upper limit number of reservations. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, since the upper limit of the number of holds is 4, each of the first special figure hold storage unit 85a and the second special figure hold storage unit 85b is provided with four storage areas. Further, each storage area is provided with a small area for storing the acquired random numbers. Specifically, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, four random numbers, a jackpot random number, a jackpot type random number, a reach random number, and a fluctuation pattern random number, are acquired due to the game ball winning a prize at the starting port. Therefore, these four random numbers are stored in each small area. Details of each random number will be described later.

Further, the general drawing reservation storage unit 86 is also provided with a storage area corresponding to the upper limit number of reservations. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, since the upper limit of the number of holds is 4, the normal figure hold storage unit 86 is provided with four storage areas. Further, each area is provided with a storage area for storing the acquired random numbers. Specifically, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, a random number for normal hit is acquired because the gaming ball passes through the gate. Therefore, a random number per normal is stored in the above-mentioned storage area. The details of the random numbers per ordinary will be described later.

Various sensors and solenoids are electrically connected to the main control board 80 via the relay board 88. Therefore, signals from each sensor are input to the main control board 80, and signals are output from the main control board 80 to each solenoid. Specifically, as the sensors, the first starting port sensor 20a, the second starting port sensor 21a, the first gate sensor 28a, the second gate sensor 29a, the first large winning opening sensor 30a, the second large winning opening sensor 35a, There are a specific area sensor 39a, a non-specific area sensor 70a, and a normal winning opening sensor 27a.

The first starting port sensor 20a is provided directly below the first starting port 20, and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, when the game ball passes through the first starting port 20, the output value is increased. Output a changing signal. The second start port sensor 21a is provided directly below the second start port 21, and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, when the game ball passes through the second start port 21, the output value is output. Output a changing signal. The first gate sensor 28a is provided in the passing region directly below the first gate 28, and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball. The second gate sensor 29a is provided in the passing region directly below the second gate 29, and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball.

The first large winning opening sensor 30a is provided directly below the first large winning opening 30, and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, when the game ball passes through the first large winning opening 30. Outputs a signal whose output value changes. The second large winning opening sensor 35a is provided directly below the second large winning opening 35 and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, when the game ball passes through the second large winning opening 35. Outputs a signal whose output value changes.

The specific area sensor 39a is located in the specific area 39 and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, outputs a signal whose output value changes when the game ball passes through the specific area 39. The non-specific area sensor 70a is located in the non-specific area 70 and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, a signal whose output value changes when the game ball passes through the non-specific area 70. Output.

The ordinary winning opening sensor 27a is provided directly below each ordinary winning opening 27 and outputs a signal for detecting the passage of the game ball, that is, the output value changes when the game ball passes through each ordinary winning opening 27. Output the signal to

Further, as the solenoids, there are an electric chew solenoid 24, a first large winning opening solenoid 33, a second large winning opening solenoid 38, and a distribution member solenoid 73. The electric chew solenoid 24 drives the movable member 23 of the electric chew 22. The first prize-winning port solenoid 33 drives the opening / closing member 32 of the first prize-winning device 31. The second prize-winning port solenoid 38 drives the opening / closing member 37 of the second prize-winning device 36. The distribution member solenoid 73 drives the distribution member 71 of the second special winning device 36.

Further, the main control board 80 includes a first special symbol display 41a, a second special symbol display 41b, a normal symbol display 42, a first special symbol hold indicator 43a, a second special symbol hold indicator 43b, and the like. The normal figure hold indicator 44, is electrically connected. That is, the display control of these indicators 40 is performed by the game control microcomputer 81.

Further, the main control board 80 transmits various commands to the payout control board 110 and receives various signals from the payout control board 110 for payout monitoring. Specifically, the prize ball payout device 120, the ball rental payout device 130, and the card unit 135 are electrically connected to the payout control board 110. The card unit 135 is a device that is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 and enables ball lending based on information such as an inserted prepaid card. Further, the launching device 112 is electrically connected to the payout control board 110 via the launch control board 111.

The payout control board 110 drives the prize ball motor 121 of the prize ball payout device 120 based on the signal from the game control microcomputer 81 and the signal from the card unit 135 electrically connected to the pachinko game machine 1. The prize ball payout device 120 is made to pay out the prize ball, or the ball rental motor 131 of the ball rental device 130 is driven to cause the ball rental device 130 to pay out the ball rental. The prize ball to be paid out is controlled by a signal from the prize ball sensor 122 for counting. The ball lending to be paid out is controlled by a signal from the ball lending sensor 132 for counting.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the number of prize balls paid out by winning the first starting port 20 is three, and the number of prize balls paid out by winning the second starting port 21 is two. In addition, the number of prize balls paid out by winning the first prize opening 30 or the second prize opening 35 is 13, and the number of prize balls paid out by winning the ordinary prize opening 27 is three. The number of these prize balls is an example and may be appropriately selected.

The launch device 112 includes a launch motor 113, a touch switch 114, a launch volume 115, and a launch stop switch 116. When the player operates the handle 60, a signal indicating that the touch switch 114 has touched the handle 60 is output to the firing control board 111, and a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the handle 60 from the firing volume 115 is output. Is output to the launch control board 111. The launch control board 111 drives the launch motor 113 and controls the launch device 112 so that the game ball is launched with an appropriate strength based on various signals input from the launch device 112.

Further, a RAM clear switch 161 is connected to the main control board 80. The RAM clear switch 161 is attached to the main control board 80 and is arranged on the rear surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1. That is, the RAM clear switch 161 is usually in a position where it cannot be visually recognized by the player on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and cannot be operated by the player. Therefore, the RAM clear switch 161 is usually operated by the hall staff. When the pachinko gaming machine 1 is started with the RAM clear switch 161 pressed, the RAM 84 is initialized. As a result, the information stored in the RAM 84 is lost.

Further, the main control board 80 transmits various commands to the sub control board 90. The communication between the main control board 80 and the sub control board 90 is unidirectional communication in which only commands can be transmitted from the main control board 80 to the sub control board 90. That is, a unidirectional control circuit using, for example, a diode is interposed between the main control board 80 and the sub control board 90 as a communication direction regulating means.

An external terminal board 190 is connected to the main control board 80. The external terminal board 190 outputs various signals based on the signals received from the game control microcomputer 81 to an external device arranged outside the pachinko game machine 1 such as a data display 910 and a hall computer 900. Specifically, the external terminal plate 190 is provided with a plurality of channels (CN) for external output. Then, the connector corresponding to each channel (CN) and the connector on the data display 910 side are connected by a cable. One signal is output from each connector to the outside. In the external terminal board 190, for example, a jackpot count signal indicating that a jackpot has been won, a signal indicating the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1, a frame opening signal indicating that the gaming machine frame 50 is open, a predetermined number (for example,). A signal indicating that a prize ball (10 balls) has been made and a security signal indicating that an unexpected prize has been won are output from different channels.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sub-control board 90 is mounted with a one-chip microcomputer 91 for effect control that controls the effect of the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to a program. Hereinafter, the effect control one-chip microcomputer 91 will be referred to as an effect control microcomputer 91. The effect control microcomputer 91 includes a ROM 93 that stores a program for controlling the effect as the game progresses, a RAM 94 that is used as a work memory, and a CPU 92 that executes a program stored in the ROM 93. The effect control microcomputer 91 transmits or receives data from another board or the like via an input / output circuit 97 composed of an I / O port. The input / output circuit 97 may be built in the effect control microcomputer 91. Further, the ROM 93 may be externally attached.

The sub-control board 90 is electrically composed of an image control board 100, a panel movable body relay board 108, a lamp relay board 107, a cross button detection switch 68x, an effect button detection switch 63x, a sword member detection switch 222x, and a vibration motor 223. It is connected. Therefore, a signal based on each switch is input to the sub control board 90, and a signal is output from the sub control board 90 to each board and the vibration motor 223.

An image control one-chip microcomputer 101 that controls the output of the image display device 7 and the speaker 67 according to a program is mounted on the image control board 100. Hereinafter, the image control one-chip microcomputer 101 will be referred to as an image control microcomputer 101. The image control microcomputer 101 includes a program for controlling a display image as the production progresses, a still image or a moving image displayed on the image display device 7, more specifically, a character, an item, a figure, a character, and the like. Image data such as numbers, symbols, background images, and audio data such as audio, music, and sound effects output via the speaker 67 are stored in ROM 103, RAM 104 used as work memory, and ROM 103. A CPU 102, which executes a program, is included. The image control microcomputer 101 transmits or receives data from another board or the like via an input / output circuit 105 composed of an I / O port. The input / output circuit 105 may be built in the image control microcomputer 101. Further, the ROM 103 may be externally attached.

An image display device 7, a speaker 67, and a DIP switch 106 are electrically connected to the image control board 100. Therefore, a signal based on the DIP switch 106 is input to the image control board 100, and a signal is output from the image control board 100 to the image display device 7 and the speaker 67.

Further, the RAM 104 is provided with a volume storage unit 109 for storing a set value of the volume. As shown in FIG. 8, the volume that can be set in the pachinko gaming machine 1 has 10 levels from 0 to 9, with "0" being silence, "1" being the minimum volume, and "9" being the maximum volume. .. In this embodiment, the larger the set value, the louder the volume, but the smaller the set value, the louder the volume. The pachinko gaming machine 1 determines the volume output from the speaker 67 based on the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109.

The DIP switch 106 is a switch for setting an initial value of the volume, and can be adjusted in 10 steps from 0 to 9 like the volume. The DIP switch 106 is attached to the image control board 100 and is arranged on the rear surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1. That is, the DIP switch 106 is usually in a position where it cannot be visually recognized by the player on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and cannot be operated by the player.

The effect control microcomputer 91 of the sub control board 90 causes the image control microcomputer 101 of the image control board 100 to perform display control of the image display device 7 based on a command received from the main control board 80. The CPU 102 of the image control microcomputer 101 reads out image data and audio data from the ROM 103 based on a command from the effect control microcomputer 91. Then, the read image data is displayed on the image display device 7, and the voice is output from the speaker 67 based on the read voice data.

As a configuration for outputting sound, a sub control board 90 and a sound control board electrically connected to the speaker 67 are provided, and the sound effect control microcomputer 91 is based on a command received from the main control board 80. The speaker 67 may be configured to output voice, music, sound effects, etc. via the control board. In this case, the audio data may be stored in the ROM 93 of the sub control board 90.

Further, the board movable body 15 is electrically connected to the sub control board 90 via the board movable body relay board 108 attached to the game board 2. The effect control microcomputer 91 controls the operation of the board movable body 15 electrically connected via the board movable body relay board 108 based on the command received from the main control board 80. Specifically, the effect control microcomputer 91 reads the operation pattern data that determines the operation mode of the board movable body 15 from the ROM 93, and based on the operation pattern data, the board movable body 15 of the board movable body 15 via the board movable body relay board 108. Control the operation.

Further, the frame lamp 66 and the frame movable body 600 are electrically connected to the sub-control board 90 via the lamp relay board 107 attached to the gaming machine frame 50. Based on the command received from the main control board 80, the effect control microcomputer 91 controls the lighting of the frame lamp 66 or the operation of the frame movable body 600 via the lamp relay board 107. Specifically, the effect control microcomputer 91 reads out the light emission pattern data that determines the light emission mode of each lamp from the ROM 93, and controls the light emission of each lamp via the lamp relay board 107 based on the light emission pattern data. Further, the effect control microcomputer 91 reads the operation pattern data that determines the operation mode of the frame movable body 600 from the ROM 93, and controls the operation of the frame movable body 600 via the lamp relay board 107 based on the operation pattern data.

The cross-shaped button detection switch 68x is a detection switch corresponding to the cross-shaped button 68. Therefore, when the cross-shaped button 68 is pressed, a signal regarding the direction in which the cross-shaped button 68 is pressed is output from the cross-shaped button detection switch 68x to the sub-control board 90. Based on the signal output from the cross-shaped button detection switch 68x, the sub-control board 90 can determine whether or not any of the direction buttons 68U, 68D, 68R, 68L of the cross-shaped button 68 is pressed. The effect button detection switch 63x is a detection switch corresponding to the effect button 63. Therefore, when the effect button 63 is pressed, the effect button detection switch 63x outputs a signal related to the effect button 63 to the sub control board 90. Based on the signal output from the effect button detection switch 63x, the sub-control board 90 can determine whether or not the effect button 63 has been pressed. The sword member detection switch 222x is a detection switch corresponding to the sword member 222. Therefore, when the sword member 222 is pushed in, a signal regarding the sword member 222 is output from the sword member detection switch 222x to the sub control board 90. Based on the signal output from the sword member detection switch 222x, the sub-control board 90 can determine whether or not the sword member 222 has been pushed.

The vibration motor 223 is a member housed in the effect button 63 and vibrates the exterior body of the effect button 63. The vibration motor 223 may not vibrate the exterior body of the effect button 63, but may vibrate only the structure housed in the effect button 63. The effect control microcomputer 91 creates operation pattern data that determines the operation mode of the vibration motor 223 using the data stored in the ROM 93, and controls the operation of the vibration motor 223 based on the operation pattern data.

3. 3. The jackpot of the pachinko gaming machine 1 Next, the jackpot of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, as described above, a big hit lottery is performed when a game ball is won in the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21. In the jackpot lottery that is performed when the game ball is won in the first starting port 20, the lottery result is displayed on the first special symbol display 41a, which is also called a lottery for the first special symbol (special diagram 1). Further, in the big hit lottery performed when the game ball is won in the second starting port 21, the lottery result is displayed on the second special symbol display 41b, and the lottery is also the second special symbol (special figure 2). say.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 acquires various random numbers such as a jackpot random number, a jackpot type random number, a reach random number, and a special figure variation pattern random number according to the winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21. .. The jackpot lottery is performed based on the acquired jackpot random numbers.

The results of the jackpot lottery performed by the pachinko gaming machine 1 include "big hit" and "loss". The jackpot random number is a value in the range of 0 to 65535. Then, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 9, in the normal probability state, for example, if the jackpot random number is in the range of 0 to 164, it is determined that the jackpot has been won, and other numerical values are used. If there is, it is judged as a loss. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, there are two gaming states in which the winning probability of the jackpot is different, that is, a normal probability state and a high probability state. In the high probability state, for example, the jackpot random number is in the range of 0 to 649. If there is, it is judged that the jackpot was won. The details of the gaming state will be described later.

In the case of a "big hit", the pachinko gaming machine 1 causes the special symbol display 41 to stop and display the "big hit symbol" which is a special symbol corresponding to the jackpot. There are several types of jackpots, and the "big hit symbol" according to the type is stopped and displayed. In the case of "loss", the pachinko gaming machine 1 causes the special symbol display 41 to stop and display the "loss symbol" which is a special symbol corresponding to the loss.

Further, when the pachinko game machine 1 wins a big hit, it executes a "big hit game" which is a control for opening the first big winning opening 30 and the second big winning opening 35 in an opening pattern according to the type of big hit. .. In the following description, when the first large winning opening 30 and the second large winning opening 35 are collectively referred to, they are referred to as a large winning opening.

The jackpot game includes one or more round games, an opening before the first round game is started, and an ending after the final round game is finished. Each round game begins with the end of the opening or the end of the previous round game and ends with the start of the next round game or the start of the ending. The interval time, which is the closing time of the big winning opening between round games, is included in the open round game before the closing.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, there are "V long jackpot" and "V short jackpot" as the types of jackpots. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, if a jackpot is won, a lottery for the jackpot type is also performed. The jackpot type lottery is based on the jackpot type random numbers. The jackpot type random number is a value in the range of 0 to 9. Then, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 10, in the lottery of the first special symbol (lottery of the special figure 1), for example, if the jackpot type random number is in the range of 0 to 4, the V long It is judged that the jackpot has been won, and if it is any other value, it is judged to be a V short jackpot. On the other hand, in the lottery of the second special symbol (lottery of special figure 2), for example, it is determined that the V-long jackpot is won by the value in the range of 0 to 9 for the jackpot type random number, that is, all the values.

The "V long jackpot" is a V long opening pattern that allows the game ball to pass through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game, and is an opening / closing member 32 of the first winning device 31 and an opening / closing member of the second winning device 36. It is a big hit that operates 37. The "V short jackpot" is a V short opening pattern in which it is practically impossible for the game ball to pass through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game, and the opening / closing member 32 of the first prize winning device 31 and the second winning device It is a big hit that operates the opening / closing member 37 of 36.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the total number of rounds of the "V long jackpot" is 16 rounds (R). In each round from the 1st round to the 13th round and the 15th round, the pachinko gaming machine 1 opens the first large winning opening 30 for a maximum of 25.0 seconds per 1R. Further, in each of the 14th and 16th rounds, the pachinko gaming machine 1 opens the second large winning opening 35 for a maximum of 25.0 seconds per 1R. The distribution member 71 fluctuates at a constant cycle from the start of the jackpot game or the start of the round game to the first state shown in FIG. 4 (A) or the second state shown in FIG. 4 (B). ing. Therefore, in each of the 14th and 16th rounds, the game ball that has passed through the second large winning opening 35 can be passed into the specific area 39 through the second large winning opening 35.

On the other hand, in the "V short jackpot", the total number of rounds is 16R, but the actual total number of rounds is 13R. That is, in each round from the 1st round to the 13th round, the first big winning opening 30 is opened for a maximum of 25.0 seconds per 1R, but in the 15th round, the first big winning opening 30 is opened only for 0.08 seconds. .. Also, in each round of the 14th and 16th rounds, the second big winning opening 35 is opened only for 0.08 seconds. Therefore, in the V short jackpot, each round from the 14th round to the 16th round has an extremely short opening time of the big winning opening, and the prize ball cannot be expected. That is, the V short jackpot is actually a jackpot of 13R.

Further, in each round of the 14th R and the 16th R in the V short jackpot, the pachinko gaming machine 1 cannot pass the game ball through the specific area 39 even if the game ball passes through the second big winning opening 35. At the timing, that is, when the distribution member 71 is in the second state (see FIG. 4), the opening / closing member 37 of the second special winning device 36 is opened. Therefore, in each round of the 14th R and the 16th R in the V short jackpot, it is almost impossible for the game ball to pass through the specific area 39.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, based on the passage of the game ball to the specific area 39 during the jackpot game, the gaming state after the end of the jackpot game is shifted to the high probability state. That is, when the above-mentioned V-long jackpot is won, the gaming state after the jackpot game can be shifted to the high probability state by passing the game ball through the specific area 39 during the execution of the jackpot game. On the other hand, when the V-short jackpot is won, the gaming ball can hardly pass through the specific area 39 during the execution of the jackpot game, so that the gaming state after the jackpot game is a normal probability state.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 10, the jackpot distribution rate in the lottery of the first special symbol (lottery of special figure 1) is 50% for the V long jackpot and 50% for the V short jackpot. ing. On the other hand, the jackpot distribution rate in the lottery for the second special symbol (lottery for special figure 2) is 100% for the V long jackpot. That is, when a big hit is won by a big hit lottery based on a prize in the second starting port 21 which can be entered by executing the electric support control described later, the V long big hit is always obtained. As described above, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, the lottery of the second special symbol is set to be more advantageous to the player than the lottery of the first special symbol.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, as described above, as the random numbers acquired based on the winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 or the second starting port 21, in addition to the jackpot random number and the jackpot type random number, the reach There are random numbers and fluctuation pattern random numbers.

The reach random number is a random number used to determine whether or not to generate reach in the effect symbol variation effect indicating the result when the result of the jackpot determination is a loss. Reach is a state in which there is only one effect symbol that is variablely displayed out of a plurality of effect symbols, and a jackpot is won depending on which symbol the variable display effect symbol is stopped and displayed. It is a state in which a combination of effect symbols indicating the above, for example, "7 ↓ 7" ("↓" means changing). The effect symbol that is stopped and displayed in the reach state may be displayed as if it is slightly shaken in the display screen 7a. That is, the effect symbol does not have to be completely stopped. The reach random number is a value in the range of 0 to 127.

Then, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 12, in the non-time saving state, if the reach random number is a value within the range of 0 to 13, it is determined that there is reach, and if it is any other value, there is no reach. Judge. Further, in the time saving state, if the reach random number is a value within the range of 0 to 5, it is determined that there is reach, and if it is any other value, it is determined that there is no reach. Details of the time-saving state and the non-time-saving state will be described later.

The fluctuation pattern random number is a random number used to determine the fluctuation pattern including the fluctuation time of the special symbol. The fluctuation pattern random number also has a value in the range of 0 to 127. 13 and 14 are tables showing the relationship between the fluctuation pattern random number and the fluctuation pattern. In this embodiment, whether or not the reach effect can be executed and the mode in which the reach effect is performed are determined by the fluctuation pattern. As the mode of the reach effect included in the fluctuation pattern, there are a normal reach and a super reach (SP reach) in which the fluctuation time is longer than the normal reach. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, in addition to the fluctuation pattern random number, the fluctuation pattern is determined based on the type of special symbol, whether it is in a time-saving state or a non-time-saving state, and the lottery result of a jackpot or reach.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, there is a normal hit random number as a random number acquired based on the passage of the game ball to the gate. The normal hit random number is a random number used in a lottery for whether or not to perform an auxiliary game for opening the electric chew 22. The normal hit random number is a value in the range of 0 to 255.

Then, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 15, in the non-time saving state, if the normal hit random number is a value within the range of 0 to 2, it is determined that the normal hit is won, and other numerical values are used. If there is, it is judged as a loss. Further, in the time saving state, if the normal hit random number is a value in the range of 0 to 254, it is judged that the normal hit is won, and if it is any other value, it is judged as a loss. That is, the lottery for normal hits is almost lost in the non-time saving state, and almost normal winning in the time saving state. Details of the time-saving state and the non-time-saving state will be described later.

4. The gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 Next, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a "probability fluctuation function" and a "variation time shortening function" for a jackpot lottery (special symbol display 41) and a normal hit lottery (ordinary symbol display 42), respectively.

The state in which the probability fluctuation function is operating in the jackpot lottery is called the "high probability state", and the state in which the probability fluctuation function is not operating is called the "normal probability state". In the high probability state, as shown in FIG. 9, the probability of winning the jackpot is higher than in the normal probability state. That is, when the probability fluctuation function is activated, the probability that the result will be a jackpot in the jackpot lottery is higher than when it is not activated.

In addition, the state in which the fluctuation time shortening function in the jackpot lottery is operating is called the "time saving state", and the state in which it is not operating is called the "non-time saving state". In the time saving state, the fluctuation time of the special symbol on the special symbol display 41, that is, the time from the start of the fluctuation display to the stop display of the display result tends to be shorter than in the non-time saving state. Specifically, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, when a lottery for a big hit is lost, as shown in FIG. 12, the value of the reach random number determined to have reach is smaller in the time-saving state than in the non-time-saving state. The reach is judged using the judgment table. In other words, in the short-time state, if a big hit lottery is lost, the probability that the special symbol will be stopped and displayed for a long time will be low. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the case of loss without reach, a fluctuation pattern having a shorter fluctuation time is more likely to be selected in the time-shortening state than in the non-time-saving state. In other words, when the fluctuation time shortening function is activated, the fluctuation time tends to be shorter than when it is not activated. As a result, in the time-saving state, the pace of digestion of the special figure hold becomes faster, and effective winning of the starting port that can be stored as the special figure hold is likely to occur. Therefore, the player can aim for a big hit under the smooth progress of the game.

The probability fluctuation function and the fluctuation time shortening function in the jackpot lottery may be operated at the same time, or only one of them may be operated. The probability fluctuation function and the fluctuation time shortening function in the ordinary winning lottery operate in synchronization with the fluctuation time shortening function in the jackpot lottery. That is, the probability fluctuation function and the fluctuation time shortening function in the normal lottery operate in the time saving state and do not operate in the non-time saving state. Therefore, in the time-saving state, the winning probability in the normal winning lottery is higher than in the non-time-saving state. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the pachinko gaming machine 1 uses a judgment table in which the value of the normal hit random number determined to be a normal hit is larger in the time-saving state than in the non-time-saving state. A lottery will be held. In other words, when the probability fluctuation function is activated in the ordinary winning lottery, the probability that the result will be the ordinary winning in the ordinary winning lottery is higher than when it is not operating.

Also, in the time-saving state, the fluctuation time of the normal symbol is shorter than in the non-time-saving state. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, for example, the fluctuation time in the non-time saving state is 30 seconds, and the fluctuation time in the time saving state is 1 second. Further, in the time saving state, the opening time of the electric chew 22 in the auxiliary game is longer than in the non-time saving state. That is, the opening time extension function of the electric chew 22 is operating. On the other hand, the number of times the electric chew 22 is opened in the auxiliary game is the same regardless of whether the time is shortened or not. That is, in the time saving state, the function of increasing the number of times the electric chew 22 is opened is not operating. In the time saving state, the function of increasing the number of times the electric chew 22 is opened may be activated.

Thus, in the situation where the probability fluctuation function and the fluctuation time shortening function in the normal lottery and the opening time extension function of the electric chew 22 are operating, the electric chew is compared with the case where these functions are not operating. 22 is frequently opened, and the game ball frequently wins a prize at the second starting port 21. As a result, the base, which is the ratio of the number of prize balls to the number of launched balls of the game ball, becomes high. Therefore, the state in which these functions are operating is called the "high base state", and the state in which these functions are not operating is called the "low base state". In the high base state, the player can aim for a big hit without significantly reducing the number of game balls he has. It can be said that the high base state is a state in which the electric chew 22 executes the control for supporting the winning of the second starting port 21, the so-called electric support control.

In the high base state, it is not necessary that all of the above-mentioned plurality of functions operate. That is, by operating one or more of the probability fluctuation function in the ordinary lottery, the fluctuation time shortening function in the ordinary lottery, the opening time extension function of the electric chew 22, and the opening number increasing function of the electric chew 22. , It suffices if the electric chew 22 is easier to open than when the function is not operating. Further, the high base state may be controlled independently without being accompanied by the time saving state.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, if the gaming state after the jackpot game by winning the V-long jackpot is a high probability state, a short time state, and a high base if the game ball is passed to the specific area 39 during the jackpot game. It becomes a state. This gaming state is particularly called a "high accuracy and high base state". The high-accuracy high-base state ends when a predetermined number of jackpot lottery (160 times in this embodiment) is executed without winning the jackpot, or when the jackpot is won again and the jackpot game is executed.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, the gaming state of the jackpot game by winning the V-short jackpot is in a normal probability state and a time-saving state because the game ball hardly passes through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game. It is in a high base state. This gaming state is particularly called a "low accuracy and high base state". The low-accuracy high-base state ends when a predetermined number of jackpot lottery (100 times in this embodiment) is executed without winning the jackpot, or when the jackpot is won again and the jackpot game is executed.

The gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 after the power is turned on is a normal probability state, a non-time saving state, and a low base state. This gaming state is particularly called a "low probability low base state". In addition, the state in which the jackpot game is being executed is referred to as the "big hit game state". The jackpot game state is also referred to as a "special game state".

In a high base state such as a high accuracy high base state or a low accuracy high base state, it is more advantageous for the player to advance the game by letting the game ball enter the right game area 3B by hitting right. Since the electric support control is executed, the electric chew 22 is easier to open than in the low base state, and it is easier to win the second starting port 21 than to win the first starting port 20. Because it has become. Therefore, the player strikes right to win a prize at the second starting port 21 while passing the game ball through the second gate 29, which triggers a normal winning lottery. As a result, it can be expected that more prizes will be given to the starting opening than left-handed.

On the other hand, in the low base state, it is more advantageous for the player to advance the game by letting the game ball enter the left game area 3A by hitting the left side. Since the electric support control is not executed, it is difficult to open the electric chew 22 as compared with the high base state, and it is easier to win the first starting port 20 than to win the second starting port 21. Because it has become. Therefore, the player strikes left to win a prize in the first starting port 20. As a result, it can be expected that more prizes will be given to the starting opening than right-handed hits.

5. Volume control of the pachinko gaming machine 1 Next, volume control of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. The volume of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is determined by the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 of the image control microcomputer 101 as described above. To change the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109, that is, to adjust the volume of the pachinko gaming machine 1, manual adjustment for changing the set value by the operation of the player and the pachinko gaming machine 1 satisfying a predetermined condition. There is an automatic adjustment that automatically changes the set value with.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1, one of the manual adjustments of the volume is the pressing of the cross button 68 by the player, more specifically, the pressing of the left direction button 68L or the right direction button 68R. The pachinko gaming machine 1 accepts the pressing of the left direction button 68L and the right direction button 68R in a standby state in which it can be considered that the game is not performed by the player. Specifically, the standby state is from the time when the main power is turned on until the first special symbol variation display is started, or after the special symbol is stopped and displayed and the number of special symbol pending becomes 0. Until the start of the variable display of the next special symbol.

When the left direction button 68L is pressed during the standby state, the pachinko gaming machine 1 makes a change to lower the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 by one step. For example, when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is "3", "2" is stored as a new set value. On the other hand, when the right direction button 68R is pressed during the standby state, the pachinko gaming machine 1 makes a change to raise the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 by one step. For example, when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is "3", "4" is stored as a new set value. As a result, the player can set the desired volume.

Further, the pachinko gaming machine 1 displays a volume setting that displays the current volume setting value as shown in FIG. 16 when the volume setting value is changed, that is, when a new setting value is stored in the volume storage unit 109. The screen 706 is displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. The volume setting screen 706 includes a numerical image 706A showing the current volume setting value and a musical note image 706B indicating the magnitude of the volume setting value. The musical note image 706B is displayed larger as the volume setting value is larger. Further, the volume setting screen 706 is displayed in front of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R that are stopped and displayed, and the standby screen 701 that is displayed in the customer waiting effect in the standby state. That is, the volume setting screen 706 is displayed in the foreground with priority over other images. The volume setting screen 706 may be displayed on the entire display screen 7a, and other images may be hidden. The volume setting screen 706 is displayed for a predetermined time (3 seconds in this embodiment) after the volume is changed, and is hidden after the predetermined time has elapsed.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, as an automatic adjustment of the volume setting, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state, the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is set to a value equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value. To. As the reference value, even if the volume in the hall is high, it may be a value corresponding to the volume at which there is a high possibility of enjoying the game, and for example, the value of the volume recommended by the manufacturer is applicable. In this embodiment, the reference value is set to "7". The pachinko gaming machine 1 compares the hardware value, which is the value set by the dip switch 106, with the reference value, and when the hardware value is large, stores the hardware value in the volume storage unit 109, and stores the hardware value. When the reference value is equal to or larger than the reference value, the reference value is stored in the volume storage unit 109. For example, when the hardware value is "3", the reference value "7" is stored as a new setting value. On the other hand, when the hardware value is "8", the hardware value "8" is stored as a new setting value.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 applies that a specific standby screen is displayed a predetermined number of times as a predetermined condition for performing automatic adjustment. Specifically, the pachinko gaming machine 1 starts executing the customer waiting effect during the standby state, and switches and displays a plurality of standby screens 701 to 704 as shown in FIG. The pachinko gaming machine 1 is put into a standby state when the effect symbol is stopped and displayed and the number of special symbol pending becomes 0. In the customer waiting effect, the pachinko gaming machine 1 first maintains the stop display of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R for a predetermined time (30 seconds in this embodiment) as shown in FIG. 17 (A). Since the pachinko machine 1 is in the standby state even during this period, the volume of the pachinko gaming machine 1 can be adjusted manually.

When the predetermined time elapses, the pachinko gaming machine 1 displays the standby screen 701 in front of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, and 8R, as shown in FIG. 17 (B). On the standby screen 701, for example, operation guidance for adjusting the volume and adjusting the amount of light is displayed. After displaying the standby screen 701 for a predetermined time (60 seconds in this embodiment), the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the standby screen 701 and displays the standby screens 702 as the effect symbols 8L and 8C as shown in FIG. 17 (C). , Displayed in front of 8R. For example, hall information and advertisements are displayed on the standby screen 702. After displaying the standby screen 702 for a predetermined time (30 seconds in this embodiment), the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the standby screen 702 and displays the standby screens 703 as the effect symbols 8L and 8C as shown in FIG. 17 (D). , Displayed in front of 8R. For example, information and advertisements for the pachinko gaming machine 1 are displayed on the standby screen 703. After displaying the standby screen 703 for a predetermined time (30 seconds in this embodiment), the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the standby screen 703 and displays the standby screen 704 as the effect symbols 8L and 8C as shown in FIG. 17 (E). , Displayed in front of 8R. For example, notes are displayed on the standby screen 704. After displaying the standby screen 704 for a predetermined time (48 seconds in this embodiment), the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the standby screen 704 and displays the standby screen 701 again. After that, in the customer waiting effect, the pachinko gaming machine 1 repeats switching of the standby screens 701 to 704 until the standby state is released. The display contents of the standby screens 701 to 704 are examples, and are not limited to the above-mentioned contents. In addition, the predetermined time for switching each standby screen is also an example, and is not limited to the above-mentioned time.

Each standby screen 701, 702, 703, 704 has the same size and is displayed at the same position in the display screen 7a. Therefore, the pachinko gaming machine 1 displays the standby screens 701, 702, 703, and 704 in an overlapping manner during the standby state, and displays the standby screens in the display order in the foreground. In this case, the image display device 7 also displays a standby screen other than the standby screen displayed in the foreground, but since it cannot be seen by the player, it is described as non-display in this specification. It should be noted that the display or non-display of each standby screen may be controlled without overlapping and displaying a plurality of standby screens as in the present embodiment.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 automatically adjusts the volume setting when the standby screen 704 is displayed for the third time during the standby state or after the standby state is entered. That is, among the predetermined conditions for performing the automatic adjustment described above, the specific standby screen is set to the standby screen 704, and the predetermined number of times is set to three times.

At the time of shipment of the pachinko gaming machine 1, a value of 85db or less (set value "3" in this embodiment) is set so that the output sound from the pachinko gaming machine 1 does not feel noisy even in a quiet environment. Often set to switch 106. Therefore, if the staff of the hall or the like does not change the value of the DIP switch 106, the pachinko gaming machine 1 will start operating in a state where the volume is low. In addition, the volume setting value may have been changed to a smaller value by the manual adjustment of the previous player. Therefore, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 satisfies a predetermined condition during the standby state, the volume setting value is set to the larger of the hardware value and the reference value, so that at least the volume level of the reference value, that is, the game is played. Ensure a volume level that you can enjoy. As a result, it is expected that the time and effort required for the player to adjust the volume can be reduced, and that even a player who is unfamiliar with the operation of adjusting the volume can enjoy the game at a suitable volume level.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, in addition to pressing the cross button 68 described above, as a manual adjustment of the volume, there is pressing the effect button 63 of the player in the standby state. The pachinko gaming machine 1 accepts the pressing of the effect button 63 even in the standby state. Then, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 receives the pressing of the effect button 63 during the standby state, the pachinko gaming machine 1 sets the set value of the volume to the maximum value. That is, for a player who wants to play at the maximum volume from the beginning or a player who is unfamiliar with the setting operation, it is troublesome to operate the cross button 68 many times. Therefore, the pachinko gaming machine 1 stores "9", which is the maximum value of the set value of the volume, in the volume storage unit 109 by one operation of the effect button 63.

In order to notify the volume adjustment by the effect button 63, the pachinko gaming machine 1 has a set value (also referred to as “current volume set value”) stored in the volume storage unit 109 other than the maximum value during the standby state. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18A, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. The maximum volume setting screen 705 includes a button image 705A suggesting that the effect button 63 is pressed, and a message image 705B displaying a comment notifying the press of the effect button 63. Further, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed in front of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R and the standby screen 701. That is, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed in the foreground with priority over other images. The maximum volume setting screen 705 may be displayed on the entire display screen 7a, and other images may be hidden.

The message image 705B displays an operation guidance for maximizing the volume setting value by pressing the effect button 63, that is, maximizing the volume setting value. Furthermore, the advantage of maximizing the volume setting value is displayed. Specifically, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, there is a premier effect that is executed only when the set value of the volume is the maximum value. Therefore, a caution is displayed that the premier effect cannot be seen unless the volume setting value is set to the maximum value. The premier production is a production with an extremely low probability of being executed. For example, a reach production in which the same production symbol is rotated at the same time, or a notice by cutting in a special character, a special title, or a special message. This corresponds to an effect, a hold effect for displaying a special effect hold image, and a movable body effect for causing the board movable body 15 and the frame movable body 600 to perform a special operation. In addition, the pachinko gaming machine 1 may display cautions for other effects that are restricted unless the volume setting value is set to the maximum value, such as the background image not being switched unless the volume setting value is set to the maximum value. ..

The maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed on the display screen 7a during a period in which the volume setting value is not the maximum value in the standby state. As a result, the player can recognize that the current volume is not the maximum value, and can grasp the operation for setting the maximum volume. Then, when the volume setting value reaches the maximum value such as when the effect button 63 is pressed, the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the maximum volume setting screen 705 as shown in FIG. 18 (B) and hides the current volume. The volume setting screen 706 indicating that the set value of is the maximum is displayed.

On the other hand, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is not displayed on the display screen 7a during the period in which the volume setting value is the maximum value in the standby state. In this case, since it is not necessary to set the volume to the maximum value, the pachinko gaming machine 1 hides the maximum volume setting screen 705 and secures a display space for other images such as the standby screen 701.

6. Operation of the Game Control Microcomputer 81 Next, the operation of the game control microcomputer 81 on the main control board 80 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. As a specific process executed by the game control microcomputer 81, there is a main side start process. The counter, timer, flag, status, buffer, etc. that appear in the operation description of the game control microcomputer 81 are provided in the RAM 84.

[Main side startup process]
The main-side activation process executed by the game control microcomputer 81 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the game control microcomputer 81, when the main power supply of the pachinko gaming machine 1 was turned on from off, that is, the power switch 155 was turned on, and power supply from the outside was started via the power supply board 150. Taking this as an opportunity, the program for the main startup process is read from the ROM 83 and executed.

In the main-side startup process, the game control microcomputer 81 first executes a power-on process for initializing the CPU 82 and initializing the RAM 84 (S001). Details of S001 will be described later.

After S001, the game control microcomputer 81 disables interrupts (S002). Next, the game control microcomputer 81 updates the values of various random numbers (S003). Specifically, in S003, the game control microcomputer 81 updates the values of various random numbers such as a jackpot random number, a jackpot type random number, a reach random number, a fluctuation pattern random number, and a normal hit random number. As a method of updating the random number, for example, a predetermined number of values are added at the time of one update. The predetermined number may be common to all random numbers or may be different for each random number. The value of the random number returns to 0 when the upper limit is reached. Further, the initial value of the random number may be 0 or a value other than 0, and the initial value of the random number may be common to all random numbers or may be different for each random number. .. Further, each random number may be generated by using a known random number generation circuit including a counter IC or the like.

After S003, the game control microcomputer 81 enables interrupts (S004). After that, S002 to S004 are repeated. While the interrupt is enabled, the main timer interrupt process (S005) can be executed. The main timer interrupt process is executed based on, for example, an interrupt pulse repeatedly input to the CPU 82 at a cycle of 4 ms. When the main timer interrupt process is executed, the processes S002 to S004 are repeated between the end of the main timer interrupt process and the start of the next main timer interrupt process. .. If an interrupt pulse is input to the CPU 82 in the interrupt disabled state, the execution of the main timer interrupt process is not started immediately, but is started after waiting for the interrupt enabled state.

[Power-on process]
Next, the power-on process of S001 in FIG. 19 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the power-on process, the game control microcomputer 81 first sets the permission for access to the RAM 84 (S011). This makes it possible to write and read information to the RAM 84.

After S011, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the power off flag is on (S012). The power off flag is a flag for determining whether or not the main power has been turned off in a normal procedure, and is turned on when the main power is turned off in a normal procedure through the power off monitoring process of S181 described later, resulting in a power failure. If the main power is not turned off in a normal procedure due to unauthorized access, etc., it will remain off. If the power off flag is on (S012: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 161 is pressed (S013).

If the RAM clear switch 161 is not pressed (S013: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 diagnoses whether or not there is an abnormality at the time of starting the CPU 82 or the RAM 84 (S014). In S014, for example, the consistency of the information in the RAM 84 by the checksum is diagnosed. After that, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not there is an abnormality by the diagnosis by S014 (S015).

When the power off flag is off (S012: NO), when the RAM clear switch 161 is pressed (S013: YES), or when there is an abnormality (S015: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 The RAM 84 is initialized (S021). As a result, various information stored in the RAM 84 is lost. For example, the game state information is reset to the normal probability state information, which is the initial value.

After S021, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the RAM initialization command instructing the initialization of the RAM in the output buffer of the RAM 84 (S022). The RAM initialization command set in the output buffer is output to the sub-control board 90, and the sub-control board 90 executes processing according to the command.

After S022 or when there is no abnormality (S015: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 turns off the power off flag (S016). Further, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the initialization of the CPU 82 and the like (S017). Specifically, in S017, the game control microcomputer 81 sets, for example, stack setting, constant setting, interrupt time setting, CPU setting, SIO, PIO, CTC (circuit for interrupt time management) and the like. conduct. After S017, the power-on process is terminated.

[Main timer interrupt processing]
Next, the timer interrupt processing on the main side of S005 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The main timer interrupt process is executed by the game control microcomputer 81 every time an interrupt pulse having a cycle of 4 ms is input.

In the main side timer interrupt processing, the game control microcomputer 81 first sends the command set in the output buffer of the RAM 84 to a device other than the main control board 80 in the pachinko game machine 1, such as the sub control board 90 and the payout control board 110. Is output to (S101). Commands are appropriately set in the output buffer of the RAM 84 by various processes described later.

After S101, the game control microcomputer 81 updates the information regarding the payout (S102). Specifically, in S102, the game control microcomputer 81 includes a first start port sensor 20a, a second start port sensor 21a, a first large winning opening sensor 30a, a second large winning opening sensor 35a, a normal winning opening sensor 27a, and the like. , The presence or absence of a prize is determined based on the signals output from various sensors, and a payout command for instructing the payout of the prize ball according to the type of the winning opening is set in the output buffer of the RAM 84.

After S102, the game control microcomputer 81 updates the values of various random numbers (S103). The processing of S103 is the same as that of S003. That is, the game control microcomputer 81 updates the values of various random numbers both during the execution period of the main timer interrupt process and during other periods. Note that the random number value may be updated only in one of the periods.

After S103, the game control microcomputer 81 executes a sensor detection process for detecting the entry of a ball into the starting port or the like based on the signals output from various sensors (S111). Specifically, in S111, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the game ball has passed through the gate based on the signals output from the first gate sensor 28a and the second gate sensor 29a, and the game ball moves. If it has passed through the gate, on the condition that the number of regular map reservations is less than 4, the number of regular map reservations is added by 1, and the value of the random number per normal is acquired and the normal map hold memory is acquired. Store in part 86.

Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the game ball has passed through the first start port 20 based on the signal output from the first start port sensor 20a, and the game ball moves to the first start port 20. If the number of 1st special figure hold is less than 4, 1 is added to the 1st special figure hold number, and the jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, reach random number, The value of each random number related to the jackpot of the fluctuation pattern random number is acquired and stored in the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a. Further, a first start winning command for notifying the winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 is set in the output buffer of the RAM 84. Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the game ball has passed through the second start port 21 based on the signal output from the second start port sensor 21a, and the game ball passes through the second start port 21. If the number of 2nd special figure hold is less than 4, 1 is added to the 2nd special figure hold number, and the value of each random number related to the jackpot is acquired. It is stored in the second special figure reservation storage unit 85b. Further, a second start winning command for notifying the winning of the game ball to the second starting port 21 is set in the output buffer of the RAM 84.

Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the game ball has passed the specific area 39 based on the signal output from the specific area sensor 39a, and the game ball has passed the specific area 39. Is set in the output buffer of the RAM 84 with a V-pass command for notifying the passage of the game ball to the specific area 39.

The command set in the output buffer is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 in S101 of the main timer interrupt process (see FIG. 21). The effect control microcomputer 91 of the sub-control board 90 executes the process corresponding to the command in response to the input of the command.

After S111, the game control microcomputer 81 executes a normal operation process, which is an operation related to a normal symbol (S121). Specifically, in S121, when the game control microcomputer 81 satisfies the lottery conditions for normal hits, the normal hit random numbers stored in the normal figure reservation storage unit 86 and the normal hit determination table shown in FIG. 15 are displayed. It is used to determine whether or not a player has won a normal hit. Then, the normal symbol stop symbol data according to the determination result and the fluctuation pattern according to the game state are determined, and the normal symbol display 42 is made to display the normal symbol. Further, when a normal hit is won, the opening pattern of the electric chew 22 is determined according to the gaming state, and the electric chew 22 is operated.

After the normal operation processing of S121, the game control microcomputer 81 executes the special operation processing which is the operation related to the special symbol (S131). The order of S121 and S131 may be reversed. Details of S131 will be described later.

After S131, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the special figure hold indicator 43 and the normal figure hold indicator based on each of the number of hold of the normal figure, the number of the first special figure hold, and the number of the second special figure hold. The display of 44 is updated (S161).

After S161, the game control microcomputer 81 outputs various signals via the external terminal plate 190 based on the command set in the external output buffer of the RAM 84 (S171). For example, when a jackpot is won in a jackpot lottery, the game control microcomputer 81 outputs a jackpot signal to the hall computer 900.

After S171, the game control microcomputer 81 executes a power failure monitoring process for normally turning off the main power (S181). Details of S181 will be described later. After S181, the main timer interrupt processing is terminated.

After that, the game control microcomputer 81 repeats the main side start processing S002 to S004 until the next interrupt pulse is input to the CPU 82, and when the interrupt pulse is input, the main side timer interrupt processing is performed again. Execute. In S101 of the main side timer interrupt process executed again, the command set in the output buffer of the RAM 84 in the previous main side timer interrupt process is output.

[Special operation processing]
Next, the special operation process of S131 of FIG. 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 22.

In the special operation processing, the processing related to the special symbol display 41, the first prize-winning device 31, and the second prize-winning device 36 is divided into four stages, and "special operation status 1, 2, 3, 4" is divided into each stage. Is assigned. Then, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the special operation status is 1 (S901), 2 or not (S911), and 3 or not (S921), and which status corresponds to at the present time. To judge. The initial value of the special operation status is 1.

Then, if the special operation status is 1 (S901: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 executes the special symbol standby process (S902). If the special operation status is 2 (S911: YES), the special symbol changing process is executed (S912). If the special operation status is 3 (S921: YES), the special symbol determination process is executed (S922). On the other hand, if the special operation status is 4 (S921: NO), the jackpot game process is executed (S932). Each process executed in the special operation process will be described below.

[Special symbol standby processing]
FIG. 23 shows the procedure of the special symbol standby process of S902 of FIG. 21. In the special symbol standby process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the number of the second special symbol hold is 0 (S1001). If the number of the second special figure hold is 0 (S1001: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the number of the first special figure hold is 0 (S1020). That is, the game control microcomputer 81 gives priority to the process related to the second special figure hold over the process related to the first special figure hold.

If the number of the first special figure reservations is also 0 (S1020: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the customer waiting effect has been started (S1031). The customer waiting effect is an effect of displaying a plurality of standby screens 701 to 704 in order during the waiting state (see FIG. 17). If the customer waiting effect has been started (S1031: YES), the special symbol waiting process ends.

If the customer waiting effect has not been started (S1031: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 sets the customer waiting waiting command for starting the customer waiting effect in the output buffer of the RAM 84 (S1032). The customer waiting / waiting command set in the output buffer is output to the sub-control board 90, and the sub-control board 90 executes processing according to the command. After S1032, the special symbol standby process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the number of the second special figure hold is not 0 (S1001: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the jackpot has been won (S1011). Specifically, in S1011, the game control microcomputer 81 reads out the value of each random number related to the jackpot stored at the head of the second special figure reservation storage unit 85b, and reads out using the jackpot determination table shown in FIG. Based on the big hit random number, the big hit and the loss are judged. Further, when the jackpot is won, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the jackpot type based on the read jackpot type random number using the jackpot type table shown in FIG.

After S1011, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the fluctuation pattern based on the read fluctuation pattern random number and reach random number (S1012). Specifically, in S1012, when the game control microcomputer 81 wins a big hit in the lottery of the second special symbol (lottery of special figure 2), the type of big hit, the variation pattern random number, and FIG. Using the variation pattern determination table shown, the variation pattern according to the gaming state is determined. Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the stop symbol according to the jackpot determination result (S1013).

The game control microcomputer 81 subtracts one from the number of the second special figure hold after determining the jackpot. Then, the data reserved for each special figure in the second special figure reserved storage unit 85b is shifted by one from the current storage area to the storage area on the side having the higher priority for reading, and the storage area of the shift source that was last shifted. To initialize. As a result, the second special figure hold is digested in the order in which it was held.

After S1013, the game control microcomputer 81 causes the second special symbol display 41b to start the variation display of the special symbol according to the variation pattern determined in S1012 (S1014). At this time, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the fluctuation start command in the output buffer of the RAM 84. The fluctuation start command includes stop symbol data information and fluctuation pattern information. The fluctuation start command is output to the sub-control board 90, and the sub-control board 90 executes an effect according to the fluctuation start command. After S1014, the game control microcomputer 81 changes the special operation status to 2 (S1017), and ends the special symbol standby process.

On the other hand, if the number of the second special figure hold is 0 (S1001: YES) and the number of the first special figure hold is not 0 (S1020: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 is the second special figure hold. As in the case, it is determined whether or not the jackpot is won (S1021). S1021 is the same process as S1011. However, each random number as a determination value is read from the first special figure reservation storage unit 85a.

After S1021, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the fluctuation pattern based on various random numbers such as the fluctuation pattern random number and the fluctuation pattern determination table shown in FIG. 13 (S1022). Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the stop symbol according to the jackpot determination result (S1023). S1022 and S1023 are the same processes as S1012 and S1013.

After S1023, the game control microcomputer 81 causes the first special symbol display 41a to start the variation display of the special symbol according to the variation pattern determined in S1022 (S1024). At this time, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the fluctuation start command in the output buffer of the RAM 84, as in S1014. After S1024, the game control microcomputer 81 changes the special operation status to 2 (S1017), and ends the special symbol standby process.

[Processing during special symbol change]
FIG. 24 shows the procedure of the processing during the special symbol change of S912 of FIG. 22. In the special symbol change processing, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the change time of the special symbol has elapsed (S1501). The fluctuation time is determined by the fluctuation pattern determined by S1012 or S1022 of the special symbol standby process described above. If the change time of the special symbol has not elapsed (S1501: NO), the processing during the change of the special symbol is terminated. That is, the variable display of the special symbol is continued.

On the other hand, when the fluctuation time of the special symbol has elapsed (S1501: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 sets the fluctuation stop command in the output buffer of the RAM 84 (S1502). The fluctuation stop command is output to the sub control board 90, and the sub control board 90 executes an effect according to the fluctuation stop command. After S1502, the game control microcomputer 81 changes the special operation status to 3 (S1503).

After S1503, the game control microcomputer 81 stops the special symbol display 41 from displaying the fluctuation of the special symbol (S1504). Then, the game control microcomputer 81 sets a stop time for displaying the special symbol as a stop for a certain period of time (S1505), and ends the processing during the special symbol change.

[Special symbol confirmation process]
FIG. 25 shows the procedure of the special symbol determination process of S922 of FIG. 22. In the special symbol determination process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the stop time set in S1505 of the above-mentioned special symbol changing process has elapsed (S1601). If the stop time has not elapsed (S1601: NO), the special symbol determination process is terminated. If the stop time has elapsed (S1601: YES), the game state is managed (S1602).

Specifically, in S1602, the game control microcomputer 81 subtracts one probability variation counter if it is in a high probability state. The probability change counter indicates the remaining number of times that the jackpot lottery can be executed during the high probability state. Then, each time a big hit lottery is performed, the probability variation counter is subtracted by 1. Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the value of the probability variation counter has become 0, and if the value of the probability variation counter is 0, the gaming state shifts to the normal probability state.

Further, the game control microcomputer 81 subtracts one time reduction counter if it is in the time reduction state. The time saving counter indicates the remaining number of times that the jackpot lottery can be executed during the time saving state. Then, each time a big hit lottery is performed, the time reduction counter is decremented by 1. Further, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the value of the time reduction counter has become 0, and if the value of the time reduction counter is 0, the state shifts to the non-time reduction state.

After S1602, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the jackpot has been won (S1611). If the jackpot is won (S1611: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 changes the special operation status to 4 (S1612). Then, the game control microcomputer 81 starts the jackpot game (S1613). During the execution of the jackpot game, it is controlled as a normal probability state and a non-time saving state. That is, during the execution of the jackpot game, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is in a low base state. Further, in S1613, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the jackpot opening command in the output buffer of the RAM 84 in order to start the jackpot game. The opening command set in the output buffer is output to the sub-control board 90, and the sub-control board 90 executes processing according to the command. As a result, the jackpot game will be started.

On the other hand, if the jackpot is not won (S1611: NO), the jackpot lottery result is lost and the jackpot game is not executed. Therefore, the game control microcomputer 81 changes the special operation status to 1 (S1631). .. After S1631 or S1613, the special symbol determination process is terminated.

[Big hit game processing]
FIG. 26 shows the procedure of the jackpot game processing of S932 of FIG. 22. In the jackpot game process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the jackpot game has ended (S2001). If the jackpot game is not completed (S2001: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 continues the jackpot game, and thus ends the jackpot game process.

On the other hand, if the jackpot game is completed (S2001: YES), the special operation status is changed to 1 (S2011). After S2011, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the game state (S2012).

Specifically, in S2012, the game control microcomputer 81 shifts to the high probability state on condition that the game ball passes through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game. Further, 160 is set in the probability variation counter. As a result, a maximum of 160 jackpot lottery can be continuously drawn in a high probability state. Further, the game control microcomputer 81 shifts to the time saving state. Furthermore, 160 is set in the time reduction counter. As a result, a maximum of 160 jackpot lottery can be continuously drawn in a short time. That is, when the game ball has passed through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game, the game state becomes a high probability state and a time saving state.

On the other hand, if the game ball does not pass through the specific area 39, the game control microcomputer 81 shifts to the time saving state. Further, 100 is set in the time reduction counter. As a result, a maximum of 100 jackpot lottery can be continuously drawn in a short time. On the other hand, the game control microcomputer 81 does not change the game state to a high probability state. That is, when the game ball does not pass through the specific area 39 during the jackpot game, the game state becomes the normal probability state and the time saving state. Further, the maximum number of times that the big hit lottery can be continuously performed in the short time state is smaller than that in the case where the specific area 39 is passed. After S2012, the jackpot game process ends.

[Power failure monitoring process]
Next, the power failure monitoring process of S181 of FIG. 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 27. In the power-off monitoring process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not a power-off signal has been input (S3001). The power off signal is input from the power supply board 150 to the game control microcomputer 81 when the power supply switch 155 is turned off.

When there is an input of a power cutoff signal (S3001: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 sets the termination of the CPU 82, the RAM 84, and the like (S3002). Specifically, in S3002, the game control microcomputer 81 calculates, for example, a checksum and stores the calculation result in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 84.

After S3002, the game control microcomputer 81 turns on the power off flag (S3003). Then, the access prohibition setting to the RAM 84 is set (S3004). This makes it impossible to write or read information to the RAM 84. That is, access to the RAM 84 is restricted while the main power supply is off. After S3004, or when there is no power failure signal input (S3001: NO), power failure monitoring processing is performed.

7. Operation of the effect control microcomputer 91 Next, the operation of the effect control microcomputer 91 on the sub-control board 90 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. As a specific process executed by the effect control microcomputer 91, there is a sub-side start process. The counter, timer, flag, status, buffer, etc. that appear in the operation description of the effect control microcomputer 91 are provided in the RAM 94.

[Sub-side startup processing]
The sub-side activation process executed by the effect control microcomputer 91 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 28. The sub-side activation process is executed by the effect control microcomputer 91 when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on.

In the sub-side startup process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first initializes the CPU 92 (S4001). Specifically, in S4001, the effect control microcomputer 91 sets, for example, stack setting, constant setting, CPU setting, SIO, PIO, CTC (circuit for managing interrupt time) and the like. Note that S4001 is executed only once after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter.

After S4001, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the RAM initialization command is received from the game control microcomputer 81 (S4002). When the RAM initialization command has been received (S4002: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 initializes the RAM 94 (S4011). As a result, various information stored in the RAM 94 is lost. After S4011, the effect control microcomputer 91 sets the RAM initialization command instructing the initialization of the RAM in the output buffer of the RAM 94 (S4012). The RAM initialization command set in the output buffer is output to the image control board 100, and the image control board 100 executes processing according to the command. The RAM initialization command to the image control board 100 may be output from the game control microcomputer 81. In this case, S4012 is unnecessary.

After S4012, or when the RAM initialization command has not been received (S4002: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 disables interrupts (S4004). Next, the effect control microcomputer 91 updates the values of various random numbers (S4005). Specifically, in S4005, the effect control microcomputer 91 updates the values of various random numbers such as the effect symbol random number, the variable effect pattern random number, the advance notice effect random number, and the advance notice effect type random number. These random numbers are different from the random numbers used in the game control microcomputer 81 described above, and are used only in the effect control microcomputer 91. The random number update method may be the same as or different from that of the game control microcomputer 81.

After S4005, the effect control microcomputer 91 transmits various commands set in the output buffer of the RAM 94 to the image control board 100 or the like (S4006). For example, the image control board 100 that has received the command causes the image display device 7 to display various still images or moving images according to the command, and causes the speaker 67 to output various sounds. That is, the effect symbol variation effect, the game effect associated with the jackpot game, the customer waiting effect, and the like are executed.

As the image control board 100 executes various effects, the effect control microcomputer 91 lights the frame lamp 66 or drives the frame movable body 600 via the lamp relay board 107. Since the main control board 80 does not accept the input from the sub control board 90 as described above, the command transmitted from S4006 is not input to the game control microcomputer 81.

After S4006, the effect control microcomputer 91 enables interrupts (S4007). After that, S4004 to S4007 are repeated. While the interrupt is permitted, various processes such as the sub-side 2 ms timer interrupt process (S4009) and the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process (S4010) can be executed.

The effect control microcomputer 91 also executes interrupt processing other than S4009 and S4010. For example, when a command sent from the main control board 80 is input to the input / output circuit 97 of the effect control microcomputer 91, the effect control microcomputer 91 executes a main control command interrupt process for storing the command in the RAM 94. do. The main control command interrupt processing is executed in preference to other interrupt processing (S4009, S4010).

[Sub side 2ms timer interrupt processing]
Next, the sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing is executed by the effect control microcomputer 91 every time an interrupt pulse having a 2ms cycle is input.

In the sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing, the effect control microcomputer 91 first, based on the output signals from the effect button detection switch 63x, the cross button detection switch 68x, and the sword member detection switch 222x, the effect button 63, the cross button 68, And switch data indicating the presence / absence of operation on the sword member 222 is created (S4201). If the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with input members other than these, information on the presence or absence of input of the input members is also included in the switch data.

After S4201, the effect control microcomputer 91 controls to turn on or off the frame lamp 66 according to the lamp data created by the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process described later (S4202). Further, the effect control microcomputer 91 controls to displace the frame movable body 600 and the board movable body 15 according to the movable body drive data also created by the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process (S4203).

After S4203, the effect control microcomputer 91 executes other processing such as resetting the watchdog timer (S4299). After S4299, the sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing is terminated.

[Sub-side 10ms timer interrupt processing]
Next, the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process is executed by the effect control microcomputer 91 each time an interrupt pulse having a cycle of 10 ms is input.

In the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first executes a sub-side received command analysis process that analyzes the command received from the main control board 80 (S4301). Details of S4301 will be described later. After S4301, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs processing related to the effect hold image according to the change in the number of special figure hold (S4302).

After S4302, the effect control microcomputer 91 acquires the switch data created in S4201 of the sub-side 2ms timer interrupt processing (S4303). Then, the effect control microcomputer 91 executes a switch data analysis process that performs switch control according to operations on various input members based on the switch data (S4304). Details of S4304 will be described later.

After S4304, the effect control microcomputer 91 creates lamp data for controlling the lighting of the frame lamp 66 according to various effects (S4305). Further, the effect control microcomputer 91 creates movable body drive data for controlling the operation of the panel movable body 15 and the frame movable body 600 (S4306).

After S4306, the effect control microcomputer 91 executes other processes such as updating various random numbers used in the effect control microcomputer 91 (S4399), and ends the sub-side 10 ms timer interrupt process.

[Sub-side reception command analysis processing]
FIG. 31 shows the procedure of the sub-side received command analysis process of S4301 of FIG. In the sub-side reception command analysis process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first determines whether or not the fluctuation start command has been received (S4411). The fluctuation start command is output from the main control board 80, for example, when starting the fluctuation display of the special symbol.

When the variation start command is received from the main control board 80 (S4411: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 selects the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R to be finally stopped and displayed in the effect symbol variation effect (S4412). ). Specifically, in S4412, the effect control microcomputer 91 acquires the effect symbol random numbers and is based on the analysis result of the fluctuation start command from a plurality of tables classified according to the presence / absence of special symbols and the presence / absence of reach. One table is selected, and the effect symbol is selected by determining the acquired effect symbol random number using the table. As a result, the combination of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, and 8R to be finally stopped and displayed, such as "777", is determined.

After S4412, the effect control microcomputer 91 analyzes the content of the variation start command and selects the variation effect pattern (S4413). Specifically, in S4413, the effect control microcomputer 91 acquires a variation effect pattern random number, and from a plurality of tables classified according to the type of the variation pattern, one table is based on the analysis result of the variation start command. Is selected, and the variation effect pattern is selected by determining the acquired variation effect pattern random number using the table. As a result, the content of the variation effect is determined including details such as whether or not the frame lamp 66 is turned on and its timing, and whether or not the board movable body 15 and the frame movable body 600 are operated and their timing. In other words, once the variable effect pattern is determined, the variable effect time, the variable display mode of the effect pattern, the presence or absence of reach effect, the content of the reach effect, the presence or absence of button operation during the effect, the development configuration of the effect, the type of background, etc. The details of, that is, the scenario of the production during the pattern change will be decided.

After S4413, the effect control microcomputer 91 analyzes the content of the fluctuation start command and selects the advance notice effect (S4414). Specifically, in S4414, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the advance notice effect is executed, and when executing the advance notice effect, acquires the advance notice effect random number and the advance notice effect type random number, and determines these random numbers. Selects the advance notice effect. As a result, the contents of the so-called step-up notice effect and chance-up notice effect are determined.

After S4414, the effect control microcomputer 91 issues a variation effect start command including the effect symbol selected in S4412, the variation effect pattern selected in S4413, and various advance notice effects selected in S4414. It is set in the output buffer of the RAM 94 (S4415). The set variation effect start command is transmitted to the image control board 100 in S4006 of the sub-side activation process. The CPU 102 of the image control board 100 reads an effect image or the like corresponding to the command from the ROM 103, and causes the image display device 7 to display the image. As a result, the effect symbol variation effect is started.

After S4415, the effect control microcomputer 91 turns off the standby flag (S4416). The standby flag is a flag that indicates whether or not the system is in the standby state. If it is in the standby state, it is turned on, and if it is not in the non-waiting state, it is turned off. Immediately after the main power is turned on, it is in the standby state, and the initial value of the standby flag is on.

After S4416 or when the fluctuation start command has not been received from the main control board 80 (S4411: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the fluctuation end command has been received (S4421). The variation end command is output from the main control board 80, for example, when the variation display of the special symbol is completed. When the variation end command is received from the main control board 80 (S4421: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 analyzes the variation end command and outputs the variation effect end command for ending the effect symbol variation effect to the RAM 94. Set in the buffer (S4422).

After S4422, or when the fluctuation end command has not been received from the main control board 80 (S4421: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the customer waiting standby command has been received from the main control board 80. (S4461). The customer waiting / waiting command is output from the main control board 80, for example, when the number of special figure holdings becomes 0. When a customer waiting standby command is received from the main control board 80 (S4461: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 sets the customer waiting effect start command for executing the customer waiting effect in the output buffer of the RAM 94 (S4462). ). The set customer waiting effect start command is transmitted to the image control board 100 in S4006 of the sub-side activation process. The CPU 102 of the image control board 100 reads the effect image corresponding to the command from the ROM 103, and causes the image display device 7 to display the image. As a result, the customer waiting effect is started. After S4462, the effect control microcomputer 91 turns on the standby flag (S4463).

After S4463, or when the customer waiting standby command is not received from the main control board 80 (S4461: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 executes a process corresponding to a command other than the above-mentioned command (S4499). Commands other than the above commands include, for example, a start opening winning command when the game ball wins the start opening, a V passage command when the game ball passes through the specific area 39, various abnormality notification commands, and a surplus ball saucer. 62 full notification commands are applicable. After S4499, the sub-side received command analysis process is terminated.

[Switch data analysis processing]
FIG. 32 shows the procedure of the switch data analysis process of S4304 of FIG. In the switch data analysis process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the switch data acquired in S4303 and determines whether or not the effect button 63 is pressed (S6001).

When the effect button 63 is pressed (S6001: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the standby flag is on (S6002). When the standby flag is off (S6002: NO), since it is in the non-standby state, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not it is the timing to accept the pressing of the effect button 63, and responds to the scenario of the effect symbol variation effect. The effect button 63 is controlled (S6098). For example, in response to the pressing of the effect button 63, the display of the preview image and the reach display by the image display device 7, the displacement of the panel movable body 15 and the frame movable body 600, and the vibration of the effect button 63 by the vibration motor 223 are applicable. ..

On the other hand, when the standby flag is on (S6002: YES), since it is in the standby state, is it the timing when the effect control microcomputer 91 accepts the input of other selection items other than the volume setting by the operation of the effect button 63? It is determined whether or not (S6003). For example, when a player presses the effect button 63 during the standby state to customize the effect, a button validity period for accepting the press of the effect button 63 for customization is set. Therefore, if the timing is such that the input of a selection item other than the volume setting is accepted (S6003: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 controls the effect button 63 according to various selection items (S6099). ..

On the other hand, unless it is the timing when the input of the selection item other than the volume setting is accepted (S6003: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 issues the volume maximum command for setting the volume setting value to the maximum value of the RAM 94. Set in the output buffer (S6004). The set volume maximum command is transmitted to the image control board 100 in S4006 of the sub-side activation process. The CPU 102 of the image control board 100 stores the maximum value of the volume in the volume storage unit 109 in response to the command.

After S6004, after S6099, after S6098, or when the effect button 63 is not pressed (S6001: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 analyzes the switch data acquired in S4303 and moves to the left. It is determined whether or not the button 68L or the right direction button 68R is pressed (S6201). When the left direction button 68L or the right direction button 68R is pressed (S6201: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the standby flag is on (S6202).

When the standby flag is on (S6202: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the timing is accepting the input of other selection items other than the volume setting by operating the left direction button 68L or the right direction button 68R. (S6203).

Unless it is the timing when the input of a selection item other than the volume setting is accepted (S6203: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 sets the volume adjustment command for changing the volume in the output buffer of the RAM 94 (S6204). .. Specifically, the pachinko machine 1 has two types of volume control commands. When the left direction button 68L is pressed, the first volume control command that lowers the volume by one step is set, and the right direction button 68R is pressed. If so, a second volume control command that raises the volume by one level is set. The set volume control command is transmitted to the image control board 100 in S4006 of the sub-side activation process. The CPU 102 of the image control board 100 updates the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 in response to the command.

If it is the timing when input of selection items other than the volume setting is accepted (S6203: YES), or if the standby flag is off (S6202: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 has the left direction button 68L or the right. It is determined whether or not it is the timing to accept the pressing of the direction button 68R, and the left direction button 68L or the right direction button 68R is controlled according to various selection items (S6298).

After S6204, after S6298, or when the cross button 68 is not pressed (S6201: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 controls other input devices (S6299). Examples of other input devices include the sword member 222, the upward button 68U, and the downward button 68D. After S6299, the switch data analysis process is terminated.

8. Operation of Image Control Board 100 Next, the operation of the image control board 100 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. As a specific process executed by the image control board 100, there is an image side activation process. The counter, timer, flag, status, buffer, etc. that appear in the operation description of the image control microcomputer 101 are provided in the RAM 104.

[Image side startup process]
The image-side activation process executed by the image control microcomputer 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 33. The image-side activation process is executed by the image control microcomputer 101 when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on.

In the image-side startup process, the image control microcomputer 101 first initializes the CPU 102 (S7001). Specifically, in the S7001, the image control microcomputer 101 performs, for example, stack setting, constant setting, CPU setting, SIO, PIO, CTC (circuit for managing interrupt time) and the like. Note that S7001 is executed only once after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter.

After S7001, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the RAM initialization command is received from the effect control microcomputer 91 (S7002). When the RAM initialization command has been received (S7002: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 initializes the RAM 104 (S7011). As a result, various information stored in the RAM 104 is lost. After S7011, the image control microcomputer 101 sets the volume to the hardware value set by the DIP switch 106 (S7012). Specifically, in S7012, the hardware value is stored in the volume storage unit 109. As a result, the volume of the RAM 104 after initialization becomes the volume based on the hardware value.

After S7012, or when the RAM initialization command has not been received (S7002: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 disables interrupts (S7004). Next, the image control microcomputer 101 updates the values of various random numbers (S7005). After S7005, the image control microcomputer 101 transmits various commands set in the output buffer of the RAM 104 to other boards other than the main control board 80 (S7006).

After S7006, the image control microcomputer 101 enables interrupts (S7007). After that, S7004 to S7007 are repeated. While the interrupt is permitted, the image side timer interrupt process (S7009) can be executed.

[Image side timer interrupt processing]
Next, the image-side timer interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The image-side timer interrupt process is executed by the image control microcomputer 101 every time an interrupt pulse having a cycle of 10 ms is input.

In the image-side timer interrupt process, the image control microcomputer 101 first executes an image-side received command analysis process that analyzes commands received from other boards such as the sub-control board 90 (S7301). Details of S7301 will be described later.

After S7301, when the effect symbol variation effect is being executed, the image control microcomputer 101 controls the effect symbol variation effect according to the scenario of the effect symbol variation effect (S7302). For example, a predetermined effect image is displayed on the image display device 7 at a predetermined timing. In addition, a predetermined production sound and production music are output to the speaker 67 at a predetermined timing. When the sound or the music is output from the speaker 67, the volume is output based on the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 of the RAM 104.

After S7302, the image control microcomputer 101 controls the advance notice effect according to the scenario of the advance notice effect when the effect symbol variation effect is being executed (S7303). For example, a predetermined preview image is displayed on the image display device 7 at a predetermined timing. Further, a predetermined warning voice is output to the speaker 67 at a predetermined timing. When the sound is output from the speaker 67, the sound is output at a volume based on the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 of the RAM 104, similarly to S7302.

After S7303, when the customer waiting effect is being executed, the image control microcomputer 101 executes the customer waiting display process for controlling the display of the image display device 7 in the standby state according to the scenario of the customer waiting effect. (S7304). Details of S7304 will be described later.

After S7304, the image control microcomputer 101 executes other processes such as updating various random numbers used in the image control microcomputer 101 (S7399), and ends the image side timer interrupt process.

[Image side reception command analysis processing]
FIG. 35 shows the procedure of the image side reception command analysis process of S7301 of FIG. 34. In the image-side reception command analysis process, the image control microcomputer 101 first determines whether or not the variation effect start command has been received (S7411). The variation effect start command is output from the sub-control board 90 when starting the variation display of the special symbol.

When the variation effect start command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7411: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 executes the variation effect process for starting the effect symbol variation effect based on the variation effect start command (S7412). Details of S7412 will be described later.

After S7412, the image control microcomputer 101 hides the standby screens 701 to 704 displayed by the customer waiting effect (S7415). If the standby screens 701 to 704 are not displayed, S7415 is omitted. Further, the image control microcomputer 101 hides the maximum volume setting screen 705 displayed by the customer waiting effect (S7416). If the maximum volume setting screen 705 is not displayed, S7416 is omitted.

After S7416, or when the variation effect start command has not been received from the sub-control board 90 (S7411: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the variation effect stop command has been received (S7421). The variation effect stop command is output from the sub control board 90 when the variation display of the special symbol is finished.

When the variation effect stop command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7421: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 stops the effect symbol variation effect (S7422). As a result, the effect symbol during the variable display is stopped and displayed.

After S7422 or when the variation effect stop command is not received from the sub control board 90 (S7421: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the background switching command has been received (S7341). The background switching command is output from the sub control board 90, for example, when the switching condition for switching the background image is satisfied. The switching condition corresponds to, for example, the execution of a predetermined number of jackpot lottery.

When the background switching command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7431: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value (S7431: YES). S7432). When the current volume setting value is the maximum value (S7432: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 reads out the background image specified by the background switching command from the plurality of background images stored in the ROM 103. The read background image is displayed on the image display device 7 (S7343). If no background image is specified, the image control microcomputer 101 selects the background image based on random numbers. On the other hand, when the current volume setting value is not the maximum value (S7432: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 does not switch the background image. That is, the image control microcomputer 101 cancels the switching of the background image.

After S7433, or when the volume setting value is not the maximum value (S7432: NO), or when the background switching command is not received from the sub control board 90 (S7431: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 sets the volume. It is determined whether or not the adjustment command has been received (S7441). The volume control command is output from the sub control board 90 when the left direction button 68L or the right direction button 68R is pressed during the standby state.

When a volume control command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7441: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 analyzes the volume control command and changes the volume (S7442). Specifically, the volume control command includes information on whether to raise or lower the volume by one step, and in S7442, the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is raised by one step or 1 according to the volume control command. Step down. Further, the image control microcomputer 101 causes the image display device 7 to display the volume setting screen 706 in the foreground in order to notify that the volume has been changed (S7443). The image control microcomputer 101 hides the volume setting screen 706 after displaying it for a predetermined time. When a volume adjustment command for raising the volume by one step is received when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value, or when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the minimum value. When a volume control command for lowering the volume by one step is received, S7442 and S7443 may be omitted.

After S7443, or when the volume control command is not received from the sub-control board 90 (S7441: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the volume maximum command has been received (S7451). The volume maximum command is output from the sub control board 90 when the effect button 63 is pressed during the standby state.

When the volume maximum command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7451: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 sets the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 to the maximum value (S7452). Further, the image control microcomputer 101 causes the image display device 7 to display the volume setting screen 706 in the foreground in order to notify that the volume has reached the maximum value (S7453). The image control microcomputer 101 hides the volume setting screen 706 after displaying it for a predetermined time. After S7453, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the maximum volume setting screen 705 is being displayed (S7454). When the maximum volume setting screen 705 is being displayed (S7454: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 hides the maximum volume setting screen 705 (S7455). If the volume maximum command is received when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value, S7452, S7453, S7454, and S7455 may be omitted.

After S7455, when the maximum volume setting screen 705 is not displayed (S7454: NO), or when the maximum volume command is not received from the sub control board 90 (S7451: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 is used. It is determined whether or not the customer waiting effect start command has been received (S7461). The customer waiting effect start command is output from the sub control board 90, for example, when the special figure hold is 0 and the customer waiting effect is not executed.

When the customer waiting effect start command is received from the sub-control board 90 (S7461: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 executes the customer waiting start process for displaying the standby screens 701 to 704 (S7462). Details of S7462 will be described later.

After S7462, or when the customer waiting effect start command is not received from the sub-control board 90 (S7461: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 executes a process corresponding to a command other than the above-mentioned command (S7499). .. Examples of commands other than the above-mentioned commands include a V-passage notification command for notifying that the game ball has passed the specific area 39, various abnormality notification commands, and a full notification command for the surplus ball saucer 62. After S7499, the image side reception command analysis process is terminated.

[Variation effect processing]
FIG. 36 shows the procedure of the variation effect processing of S7412 of FIG. 35. In the variation effect processing, the image control microcomputer 101 first analyzes the variation effect start command, and determines the variation effect pattern and the scenario of the advance notice effect to be executed by the image display device 7 or the like (S7711).

After S7711, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value (S7712). When the current volume setting value is not the maximum value (S7712: NO), the volume adjustment reminder effect, which is the effect for urging the volume adjustment, is added to the scenario determined in S7711 (S7713).

Specifically, as a volume adjustment reminder effect, for example, as shown in FIG. 37, a dialogue image 707, which is an image including dialogue for urging volume adjustment, is displayed on the image display device 7. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 38, the band image 708, which is a band-shaped image for scrolling and displaying a message prompting volume adjustment, is displayed on the image display device 7. Alternatively, a voice including a line prompting the volume adjustment may be output from the speaker 67. However, when outputting audio, there is a high possibility that the player will not be able to hear it if the volume setting value is small. Therefore, it is preferable to combine it with the display of an image that encourages volume adjustment, such as a dialogue image 707.

After S7713, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the premier effect is executed (S7714). Which effect is to be the premier effect is determined in advance, and the image control microcomputer 101 determines that the premier effect is executed when the premier effect is included in the scenario determined in S7711. ..

When there is execution of the premier effect (S7714: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 determines an alternative effect to replace the premier effect scheduled to be executed (S7715). In the image control microcomputer 101, an alternative effect is predetermined for each type of the premier effect, the alternative effect is determined according to the type of the premier effect, and the execution of the premier effect is cancelled. The alternative production is a production other than the premier production, and is a production that is executed more frequently than the premier production. If it is difficult to substitute the effect, S7715 decides not to execute the premier effect scheduled to be executed. On the other hand, when the current volume setting value is the maximum value (S7712: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 does not substitute for the premier effect. That is, the execution of the premier production is not canceled.

After S7715, when there is no execution of the premier effect (S7714: NO), or when the current volume setting value is the maximum value (S7712: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 is required for the effect symbol variation effect. The image and sound are read from the ROM 103 (S7721). Further, the image and sound necessary for the advance notice effect are read from the ROM 103 (S7722).

Then, after S7722, the image control microcomputer 101 displays the read image on the image display device 7 at the timing according to the scenario, and outputs the read sound to the speaker 67 at the timing according to the scenario. Is started (S7723). After S7723, the variation effect processing is terminated.

[Customer waiting start processing]
FIG. 39 shows the procedure of the customer waiting start processing of S7462 of FIG. 35. In the customer waiting start process, the image control microcomputer 101 first reads out a plurality of standby screens 701 to 704 (see FIG. 17) displayed during the execution of the customer waiting effect from the ROM 103 (S7611). Further, the image control microcomputer 101 reads out the maximum volume setting screen 705 for prompting the volume adjustment to the maximum volume from the ROM 103 (S7612). Then, the image control microcomputer 101 causes the image display device 7 to display the plurality of read standby screens 701 to 704 with the standby screen 701 in the foreground (S7613).

After S7613, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value (S7621). When the current volume setting value is not the maximum value (S7621: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 causes the image display device 7 to display the maximum volume setting screen 705 read out in S7612 in the foreground (S7622). As a result, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed in front of the other standby screens 701 to 704 in preference to the other standby screens 701 to 704. After S7622, the customer waiting start process is terminated. Further, when the current volume setting value is the maximum value (S7621: YES), since it is not necessary to display the maximum volume setting screen 705, the customer waiting start process is terminated without displaying the maximum volume setting screen 705. ..

[Customer waiting display processing]
FIG. 40 shows the procedure of the customer waiting display process of S7304 of FIG. 34. In the customer waiting display process, the image control microcomputer 101 first determines whether or not the customer waiting effect is being executed (S7511).

When the customer waiting effect is being executed (S7511: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not it is the display timing of the next standby screen (S7512). During the execution of the customer waiting effect, the display period of the image control microcomputer 101 is defined for each standby screen, and the standby screen read out each time the display period corresponding to the standby screen currently being displayed in the foreground elapses. The standby screen to be displayed in the foreground is switched from 701 to 704. Therefore, in S7512, when the display period corresponding to the standby screen currently displayed in the foreground is exceeded, it is determined that the display timing is the next standby screen. If it is the display timing of the next standby screen (S7512: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 switches the display of the standby screen displayed in the foreground (S7513).

After S7513, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is the maximum value (S7514). When the current volume setting value is not the maximum value (S7514: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 displays the maximum volume setting screen 705 in the foreground (S7515). As a result, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed in front of the other standby screens 701 to 704 in preference to the other standby screens 701 to 704. On the other hand, when the volume setting value is the maximum value (S7514: YES), the display of the maximum volume setting screen 705 is unnecessary, so that the image control microcomputer 101 hides the maximum volume setting screen 705 (S7516). ). If the maximum volume setting screen 705 is not displayed, S7516 is omitted.

After S7515 or S7516, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a specific standby screen is displayed by switching the standby screen in S7513 (S7521). In this embodiment, the standby screen 704 is a specific standby screen. When a specific standby screen is displayed (S7521: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not it is the third display of the specific standby screen after starting the execution of the customer waiting effect. (S7522).

When the display of the specific standby screen is displayed for the third time after the execution of the customer waiting effect is started (S7522: YES), the hardware value set by the DIP switch 106 is predetermined in the image control microcomputer 101. It is determined whether or not it is larger than the set reference value (“7” in this embodiment) (S7523). When the hardware value is larger than the reference value (S7523: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 stores the hardware value in the volume storage unit 109 (S7524). On the other hand, when the hardware value is not larger than the reference value (S7523: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 stores the reference value in the volume storage unit 109 (S7525). As a result, the volume setting value is updated at least above the reference value.

In this embodiment, the reference value is set to "7", which is the manufacturer's recommended value, but the value is not limited to the manufacturer's recommended value. For example, the reference value may be the maximum value "9". In this case, the chance that the set value of the volume stored in the volume storage unit 109 becomes the maximum value increases, and the period during which the execution of the premier effect is restricted is shortened.

After S7524 or S7525, or when the specific standby screen is not displayed for the third time after starting the execution of the customer waiting effect (S7522: NO), or when the specific standby screen is not displayed (S7521: NO), or when it is not the display timing of the next standby screen (S7512: NO), or when the customer waiting effect is not in progress (S7511: NO), the customer waiting display process is terminated.

In this embodiment, it is determined whether to cancel the switching of the background image and the execution of the premier effect depending on whether or not the volume setting value is the maximum value, but it is not always necessary to perform both. Only one may be used. That is, if the volume setting value is not the maximum value, at least one special effect may be difficult to execute.

In addition, the production to be replaced is not limited to the premier production in which the jackpot is fixed, and the production may have an extremely high probability of winning the jackpot, and the execution probability is irrespective of the reliability of the jackpot. It may be a low production. For example, all the effects in which a specific character appears may be used as substitutes, or all the effects in which a specific movable body is operated may be used as substitutes. Further, the production to be replaced is not limited to all the premier productions for which the jackpot has been confirmed, and may be some premier productions.

Further, in this embodiment, if the volume setting value is not the maximum value, the background image switching is always canceled and the execution of the premier effect is canceled. However, even if these execution feasibility is determined by random numbers. good. That is, any process may be used to reduce the frequency with which the special effect is executed, and it is not necessary to cancel the special effect 100%. In this case, it is advisable to set the ratio of random numbers so that the farther the current volume setting value is from the predetermined value (the maximum value in this embodiment), the more difficult it is for the special effect to be executed. If the current volume setting value is other than the maximum value, the frequency at which the premier effect is executed is set as the normal frequency, and if the current volume setting value is the maximum value, the frequency at which the premier effect is executed is set. It may be increased more than usual. In addition, as in this embodiment, if the volume setting value is not the maximum value, these special effects are not executed, that is, by canceling the special effects 100%, the volume can be adjusted more for the player. It can be expected to encourage.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the volume setting value is not the maximum value, the volume control reminder effect is always added in S7713, but the addition of the volume control reminder effect may be determined by a random number. That is, it is not necessary to 100% add the volume control reminder effect. In this case, it is advisable to set the ratio of random numbers so that the volume adjustment reminder effect is more easily executed as the current volume setting value deviates from the predetermined value (maximum value in this embodiment). In addition, it is not necessary to add the volume adjustment reminder effect regardless of the current volume setting value. That is, it is not necessary to execute the volume control reminder effect.

Further, in the present embodiment, the player is notified that the premier effect is not executed unless the volume setting value is set to the maximum value on the maximum volume setting screen 705 during the standby state, but the execution of the premier effect is restricted. The mode of notification of what is done is not limited to this. For example, it may be notified on another standby screen, or may be described in a booklet (a simple manual for the gaming machine) placed around the pachinko gaming machine 1.

9. The effect of the embodiment The pachinko gaming machine 1 is based on a reference value of a volume predetermined as a volume at which the game can be enjoyed and a DIP switch 106 when the set value of the volume in the standby state is initialized. Of the hardware values, the one with the louder volume is set. Therefore, the volume of the pachinko gaming machine 1 rises to at least the volume based on the reference value. From this, the gaming machine has a volume that can be expected to fully enjoy the game even if the volume in the hall is high. In addition, regardless of the magnitude of the hardware value, the volume does not fall below the volume based on the reference value at least, so that the player has to reduce the trouble of adjusting the volume again.

10. First Modified Example of the Embodiment Next, a modified example of the pachinko gaming machine 1 described above will be described. In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification, the sub-control board 90 side determines the effect according to the set value of the volume. In this respect, the image control board 100 is different from the above-described embodiment in which the effect determined by the sub-control board 90 is switched to an alternative effect according to the set value of the volume.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification, since the effect control microcomputer 91 of the sub control board 90 determines the effect according to the set value of the volume, the image control board 100 to the sub control board 90 Then, the set value of the volume stored in the volume storage unit 109 is input. For example, the image control microcomputer 101 transmits a signal corresponding to the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 to the sub control board 90 in another process (S7399) of the image side timer interrupt process. The sub-control board 90 receives the signal from the image control board 100 and stores it in a predetermined input buffer. In addition, the image control board 100 may be configured to respond to the set value of the volume in response to the request from the sub control board 90.

The effect control microcomputer 91 executes the variation effect pattern selection process shown in FIG. 41 when selecting the variation effect pattern of S4413 in the sub-side reception command analysis process (see FIG. 31). In the variation effect pattern selection process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first determines whether or not the jackpot and SP reach are specified by the variation start command received from the main control board 80 (S4511).

When it is a big hit and SP reach is specified (S4511: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 acquires the set value of the volume stored in the input buffer (S4512). Then, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the acquired current volume setting value is the maximum value (S4513).

When the current volume setting value is the maximum value (S4513: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 uses the variation effect pattern random number from the variation effect pattern group in which the variation effect pattern for performing the premier effect is included in the options. Then, one variation effect pattern is determined (S4514). For example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 stores in the ROM 93 a special selection table 931 in which a large number of variable effect patterns for performing a premier effect as shown in FIG. 42 are registered, and records of the records registered in the special selection table 931. One is selected. In the special selection table 931 shown in FIG. 42, the variation effect patterns corresponding to the scenarios “Sc11”, “Sc12”, or “Sc13” include the premier effect, and these variation effect patterns do not include the premier effect. The variation effect pattern random number is set so that it is difficult to select compared with other variation effect patterns.

On the other hand, when the current volume setting value is not the maximum value (S4513: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 has a group of variable effect patterns in which the choice of the variable effect pattern for performing the premier effect is smaller than that in FIG. 42. , Fluctuation effect pattern One variation effect pattern is determined by using a random number (S4515). For example, the pachinko gaming machine 1 stores in the ROM 93 a normal selection table 932 in which only one option of a variable effect pattern including a premier effect as shown in FIG. 43 is registered, and is registered in the normal selection table 932. One of the records is selected. In the normal selection table 932 shown in FIG. 43, the variation effect pattern corresponding to the scenarios “Sc11” and “Sc12” is not registered, and it is difficult to select the variation effect pattern for performing the premier effect. For example, if the variation effect pattern random number is "250 to 251", the scenario "Sc11" of the variation effect pattern including the premier effect is selected in the special selection table 931, whereas the normal selection table 932 includes the premier effect. The scenario "Sc01" is selected as a scenario other than the variation effect pattern.

On the other hand, when it is neither a big hit nor SP reach (S4511: NO), the effect control microcomputer 91 refers to the table corresponding to the content of the fluctuation start command and determines one fluctuation pattern (S4521). After S4514, after S4515, or after S4521, the variation effect pattern selection process ends.

After that, the process returns to the sub-side reception command analysis process, and when selecting the advance notice effect, as with the variable effect pattern selection process, if the current volume setting value is the maximum value, the advance notice effect that performs the premier effect is an option. From the advance notice effect group included in, one or more advance notice effects are selected by using the advance notice effect random numbers. On the other hand, if the current volume setting value is not the maximum value, one or more advance notice effects are selected from the advance notice effect group in which the advance notice effect for performing the premier effect is not included in the options, using the advance notice effect random numbers. do.

Then, the image control board 100 receives the variation effect start command including the selected variation effect pattern and the advance notice effect, and the image control microcomputer 101 executes the effect according to the content of the variation effect start command. In this modification, since the effect control microcomputer 91 selects the effect according to the volume setting value, the image control microcomputer 101 determines the alternative effect according to the volume setting value (S7714 to 7715). Is omitted.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification described above, when the volume based on the current set value is the maximum value, that is, the volume based on the predetermined value (the volume based on the set value "8" immediately before the maximum value). ), The special effect is likely to be executed. Therefore, the chances of seeing the special effect increase, and the player who wants to see the special effect can be motivated to adjust the volume. Therefore, even in the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification, it can be expected to indirectly encourage the player to set the volume to a predetermined value or higher. Further, since the execution of the special effect is controlled by the sub control board 90, it is easy to control the special effect including the devices that are not directly connected to the image control board 100, such as the frame movable body 600 and the board movable body 15.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification, a variation pattern including a premier effect can be executed regardless of whether the current volume setting value is the maximum value or not. Therefore, in the message image 705B (see FIG. 18) that prompts the player to adjust the volume, for example, a caution that the appearance probability of the premier effect increases when the set value of the volume is maximized may be displayed.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the first modification, it is not necessary to register any variation pattern including the premier effect in the normal selection table 932. That is, the execution of the variation pattern including the premier effect may be restricted.

11. Second Modification Example of the Embodiment Next, another modification example of the pachinko gaming machine 1 described above will be described. In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the second modification, as automatic adjustment of the volume setting, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state, the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is set by the DIP switch 106. Set to a value greater than or equal to the set hardware value. This point is different from the above-described embodiment in which the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is set to a value equal to or higher than the reference value when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state.

Specifically, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the second modification, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state, the current volume setting value and the hardware value are compared, and the larger value is newly added. Set the volume. For example, when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is "2" and the hardware value is "3", the hardware value "3" is stored as a new set value. On the other hand, when the set value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is "7" and the hardware value is "3", the set value remains "7". The predetermined conditions for performing the automatic adjustment may be the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and even in this modified example, when the standby screen 704 is displayed for the third time during the standby state or after the standby state is entered. ， The volume setting shall be adjusted automatically.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the second modification, the customer waiting display process of S7305 that automatically adjusts the volume is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 40. Therefore, the customer waiting display process of this modification will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The same processing as the customer waiting display processing (see FIG. 40) of the above-described embodiment is designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the customer waiting display processing of the second form, the customer waiting effect is being executed (S7511: YES), the display timing of the next standby screen is (S7512: YES), and a specific standby screen (this modification). Then, when the standby screen 704) is displayed (S7521: YES) and the specific standby screen is displayed for the third time after the execution of the customer waiting effect is started (S7522: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 Determines whether the hardware value set by the DIP switch 106 is larger than the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 (S7553).

When the hardware value is larger than the current volume setting value (S7553: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 stores the hardware value in the volume storage unit 109 (S7554), and ends the customer waiting display process. On the other hand, when the hardware value is not larger than the current volume setting value (S7553: NO), the customer waiting display process is terminated without changing the current volume setting value. As a result, the volume setting value is updated at least above the hardware value.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the second modification, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state, the volume setting value is set to the larger of the hardware value and the current volume setting value, so that at least Ensure the volume level of the hardware value. Therefore, if the volume is adjusted to be higher than the volume based on the hardware value by the player's manual adjustment after startup, the pachinko gaming machine 1 can continue the volume, and the player adjusts the volume. There is no need to fix it. In addition, if the staff of the hall or the like has changed the value of the DIP switch 106 to a value with a high volume, even if the previous player changes the value to a set value with a low volume, the value is returned to the hardware value desired by the hall. .. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the next player can enjoy the game, and the next player has less time and effort to raise the volume setting value.

12. Other Modifications of the Embodiment The present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, as a matter of course, the present invention can be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the numerical values (number of lottery numbers, set values of various tables, upper limit of various holding numbers, etc.) described in the present embodiment are examples and may be appropriately selected.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the background image is not changed while the stop symbol is displayed during the standby state, but it may be changed. For example, an advertisement for a manufacturer or a hall may be displayed, or a demonstration video may be played.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the current volume setting value (value stored in the volume storage unit 109) is set with the display of the third standby screen 704 during the execution of the customer waiting effect. It has been updated, but the conditions for updating are not limited to this. For example, it may be another standby screen, and the number of display times is not limited to three. Further, the update condition may be that a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of execution of the customer waiting effect.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, "one input" is a single touch operation or a long press operation of the effect button 63, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of effect buttons 63 within a predetermined period are used. The operation of one time may be referred to as "one input". Further, the multiple operations are not limited to one input means, and may be a combination of a plurality of input means.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the volume setting value is set to the maximum value by pressing the effect button 63 once in the standby state, but a shortcut that can be set to such a specific volume. It is not necessary to provide means.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the volume setting value is set to the maximum value by pressing the effect button 63 in the standby state, but the set volume setting value is limited to the maximum value. is not it. For example, it may be set to the manufacturer's recommended value. In this case, in S7621 and S7514, it is sufficient to determine whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is smaller than the manufacturer's recommended value. If it is smaller, the effect button 63 is pressed. The notification screen may be displayed. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the current volume setting value stored in the volume storage unit 109 is different from the manufacturer's recommended value, and if it is different from the manufacturer's recommended value, a notification screen indicating that the effect button 63 is pressed is displayed. You may.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the effect button 63 pressed during the effect symbol variation effect also serves as a button for maximizing the volume setting value, but the volume set value is maximized. A dedicated button for setting the value may be provided. In this case, the dedicated button should accept operations even in a state other than the standby state, and set the volume to the maximum value according to the player's operation. Since the effect button 63 also serves as a button that maximizes the volume setting value, the player can maximize the volume setting value by a familiar operation.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, when the volume setting value is not maximized during the standby state, the maximum volume setting screen suggesting that the volume setting value is maximized by the effect button 63. Although 705 is displayed, it is not necessary to display it. However, by displaying the maximum volume setting screen 705, it is easy for the player to use the volume adjustment by the effect button.

Further, in the embodiment, the determination as to whether or not to display the maximum volume setting screen 705 during the standby state is performed at the start of execution of the customer waiting effect or at the time of switching the standby screen, but the timing of the determination is performed. Is not limited to these. For example, it may be determined periodically during the standby state, or it may be determined when the cross button 68 is pressed.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, when the current volume setting value is not the maximum value, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is displayed in the foreground in preference to other images, but other images. Does not have to be prioritized. For example, it may be displayed as one of the standby screens that are repeatedly displayed during the standby state. Further, the maximum volume setting screen 705 does not have to be displayed regardless of the current volume setting value.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the pressing of the effect button 63 is notified on the maximum volume setting screen 705, but the volume adjustment by pressing the cross button 68 may be notified. However, pressing the effect button 63 makes it possible to maximize the volume setting value with a simple operation, so that the burden on the player's operation can be reduced.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, when the current volume setting value is not the maximum value, the maximum volume setting screen 705 is continuously displayed, but for example, it is displayed every predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). And hide may be repeated.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, when the volume based on the current set value is smaller than the predetermined value (the maximum value in this embodiment), the premier effect is not executed among the plurality of effects, that is, the current volume. The execution frequency of the premier effect is changed according to the set value, but it does not have to be changed. In this case, S7714 and S7715 in FIG. 36 may be omitted. Alternatively, S4513 and S4515 in FIG. 41 may be omitted.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the effect button 63 and the cross button 68 are used to distinguish whether the volume is set to the maximum value or adjusted step by step depending on the difference in the input means. ， Not limited to this. For example, depending on the difference in the input operation, it may be distinguished whether the volume is set to the maximum value or adjusted step by step. For example, in the switch data analysis process (see FIG. 32) by the sub-control board 90, when the cross button 68 or the effect button 63 is pressed during the volume setting timing, the pressing operation has a short pressing time (touch). Judge whether the operation is an operation with a long pressing time (equivalent to the second operation) or an operation with a long pressing time (long pressing operation. Equivalent to the first operation). ), And if it is a long press operation, it may be adjusted to the maximum value (set of volume maximum command).

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the embodiment, the image control board 100 is connected to the speaker 67, and the current volume setting value is stored in the RAM 104 of the image control microcomputer 101. It is not limited to this. For example, the sub control board 90 may be connected to the speaker 67 via the voice control board, and the volume setting value may be stored in the RAM 94 of the effect control microcomputer 91. In this case, the value set in the DIP switch 106 is input from the image control board 100 to the sub control board 90 at an arbitrary timing or during the period when the main power supply is on. Further, when the sub control board 90 is connected to the speaker 67 via the voice control board and the set value of the volume is stored in the RAM 94 of the effect control microcomputer 91, the DIP switch 106 is also connected to the sub control board 90. There may be. In this case, it is not necessary to input a signal related to the volume from the image control board 100 to the sub control board 90.

In the description of the means described below, the corresponding configuration names and expressions in the [form for carrying out the invention], the codes used in the drawings, etc. are added in parentheses for reference. However, the components of the present invention are not limited to this appendix.

The gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine 1) disclosed in the present specification outputs a storage means (volume storage unit 109) for storing a set value of the volume and a sound corresponding to the set value stored in the storage means. Audio output means (speaker 67), setting means for setting the volume (DIP switch 106), input means for receiving input by the player's operation (cross button 68), and control means (image control board 100, sub-control). The control means includes a substrate 90), and the control means has a volume setting process (S6204, S7442) for changing the set value in response to receiving an input to the input means, and a predetermined condition during the standby state. When is satisfied, the determination process (S7523) for determining whether or not the volume based on the hardware value, which is the value set by the setting means, is higher than the volume based on the reference value, and the determination process described above. When it is determined that the volume based on the hardware value is louder than the volume based on the reference value, the set value is set to the hardware value, and the volume based on the hardware value is the reference value in the determination process. When it is not determined that the volume is louder than the volume based on the above, the initialization process (S7524, S7525) for setting the set value to the reference value is executed.

The gaming machines disclosed in the present specification have a reference value defined in advance as a volume at which the game can be enjoyed when the volume is automatically adjusted during the standby state, and a setting typified by a hardware switch such as a DIP switch. By setting the volume to the value that is louder than the hardware value set by the means, the volume is raised to at least the volume based on the reference value. As a result, the gaming machine can be expected to fully enjoy the game even if the volume in the hall is high. In addition, since the volume does not fall below the volume based on the reference value at least, the time and effort for the player to adjust the volume again is reduced.

Further, the reference value may be the maximum volume of the audio output means. At maximum volume, the possibility of enjoying the game increases.

Further, the gaming machine disclosed in the present specification is provided with a display means (image display device 7), and it is a predetermined condition that the display means displays a predetermined standby image a predetermined number of times during the standby state. It is good to say. When a predetermined image is displayed a predetermined number of times, it is highly possible that the game has not been performed for a predetermined time or longer. Therefore, it is preferable to initialize the volume for the next player.

Further, the gaming machine disclosed in the present specification includes an erasure input means (RAM clear switch 161) that receives an input of an erasure instruction of information stored in the storage means, and the control means is sent to the erasure input means. In response to the reception of the input of the erasing instruction, the erasing process (S7011) for erasing the information stored in the storage means and the hardware value are added to the set value after the erasing process is executed. It is advisable to execute the initial volume setting process (S7012) to be set. If the set value is unknown, it is preferable to use the hardware value.

A control method for realizing the functions of the gaming machine, a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium for storing the computer program are also new and useful.

Further, the processing disclosed in the embodiment is mainly executed by the CPU 82 of the game control microcomputer 81 of the main control board 80, the CPU 92 of the effect control microcomputer 91 of the sub control board 90, and the CPU 102 of the image control microcomputer 101. However, for example, it may be executed by a single CPU or a plurality of CPUs with a single control board. Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment may be executed by a plurality of CPUs in at least one of the game control microcomputer 81, the effect control microcomputer 91, and the image control microcomputer 101. Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment may be executed in combination with other hardware in addition to the game control microcomputer 81, the effect control microcomputer 91, or the image control microcomputer 101. Further, among the processes disclosed in the embodiment, a part of the processes of the game control microcomputer 81, the effect control microcomputer 91, or the image control microcomputer 101 may be executed by another microcomputer. That is, the game control microcomputer 81, the effect control microcomputer 91, the image control microcomputer 101, one microcomputer including these, and other hardware are combined, all of which are examples of control means. Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various modes such as a recording medium or a method in which a program for executing the process is recorded.

1 Pachinko game machine 63 Production button 67 Speaker 68 Cross button 7 Image display device 701 Standby screen 705 Maximum volume setting screen 706 Volume setting screen 80 Main control board 81 Game control microcomputer 90 Sub control board 91 Production control microcomputer 100 Image control board 101 Microcomputer for image control 106 DIP switch 109 Volume storage unit

Claims (1)

A storage means for storing volume settings and
An audio output means that outputs audio at a volume corresponding to the set value of the volume stored in the storage means, and an audio output means.
The first reference volume value, which is the volume value set when the power is turned on and is the volume value set by the operating means, and
Control means and
With
The control means
Judgment processing that compares the first reference volume value and the second reference volume value, which is a manufacturer-recommended volume value preset in the gaming machine, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the standby state.
When the determination process determines that the first reference volume value is larger than the second reference volume value, the volume setting value is set to the first reference volume value, while the determination is made. When it is not determined in the process that the first reference volume value is larger than the second reference volume value, the initialization process of setting the volume setting value to the second reference volume value is performed. ，
A gaming machine characterized by executing.

Images