JP7478124B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines, and in particular to gaming machines that can notify the player of the likelihood of winning.

It is known that pachinko machines, which are a type of gaming machine, enhance the interest of the game by displaying various effects on a liquid crystal display or the like during the process leading up to the result of a lottery based on the entry of a gaming ball into a specific winning slot. In such pachinko machines, the effect display pattern is generally determined to correlate with the expectation of a win. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the color of the message or background (e.g., "blue," "green," "red") displayed during the effect display suggests the expectation of the currently unfolding effect display, and by understanding the above color, the player can gradually guess whether the variable effect will lead to a win.

JP 2014-061051 A

However, the indication of expectation through the above-mentioned colors is given for a very short period during a specific variable presentation, and in recent times the development progresses in a manner that changes one after another, so there is a concern that the colors may be overlooked or difficult to distinguish from normal patterns, resulting in a decrease in interest in the game.
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a gaming machine that can increase interest through specific variable presentations that suggest the degree of expectation.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a gaming machine including a winning/losing lottery means for executing a winning/losing lottery based on a ball entering a starting component provided on a gaming board, and a performance control means for suggesting the expectation level for the result of the winning/losing lottery during the fluctuation of a predetermined pattern that notifies the result of the winning/losing lottery by a stopping mode, the performance control means controlling a first performance of a plurality of types having different expectation levels, which are displayed on a performance display screen provided on the gaming board ;
When the expectation level suggested by the first performance is equal to or higher than a predetermined expectation level , a plurality of types of second performances can be executed by a performance device having a light-emitting part capable of emitting light in a pattern corresponding to the expectation level , and when different types of first performances are executed during one change of a predetermined pattern and the execution periods of the different types of first performances overlap, a second performance is executed in which the light-emitting part is made to light up in a pattern corresponding to the first performance with the highest expected expectation level suggested among the overlapping first performances, and when the execution periods of the different types of first performances do not overlap, a second performance is executed in which the light-emitting part is made to light up in a pattern corresponding to each of the first performances.
It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and each of the configurations that make up the group of features can also be an invention.

The gaming machine with each of the above configurations can increase the interest of the game.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pachinko machine. FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a pachinko machine. A diagram showing an overview of the special drawing hit/miss determination table. A diagram showing an overview of the special chart type determination table. A diagram showing an overview of a variation pattern determination table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a special game control table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a game status setting table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a general drawing pass/fail determination table. A diagram showing an overview of the general map fluctuation pattern determination table. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of an opening/closing body actuation table. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a CPU initialization process of the main control circuit. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a save process during power interruption of the main control circuit. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing timer interrupt processing of the main control circuit. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a switch management process of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the first starting port passing processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the second starting port passing processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the special pattern random number acquisition process of the main control circuit. A diagram explaining the special chart game management phase. A flow chart showing the special game management processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the special pattern change waiting process of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing during special pattern variation of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing after the special pattern has stopped by the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing before opening of the large prize opening of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the large prize opening/closing switching process of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the large prize opening control processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the effective processing of closing the large prize opening of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the large prize opening end wait processing of the main control circuit. A figure showing an example of a performance pattern S. A diagram showing the flow of the changing display of the performance pattern S. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a preview performance. 13 is a time chart showing a combination example of preview effects. A flow chart showing the sub-CPU initialization processing of the performance control circuit. 13 is a flow chart showing the sub timer interrupt processing of the performance control circuit. A flow chart showing the variable pattern command receiving processing of the performance control circuit. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing an example of a notice pattern determination table and a reach pattern determination table. 11 is a flow chart showing the time schedule management process of the performance control circuit.

The present invention will be described in detail below through the embodiments, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[Overall configuration of the gaming machine]
A pachinko machine 1 as an example of a gaming machine mainly comprises a vertically rectangular machine frame 2 installed in an island facility of an amusement parlor, a main body frame 3 attached to one side of the machine frame 2 by a hinge mechanism so as to be freely opened and closed, a game board 30 (see FIG. 2) housed in the main body frame 3, a panel frame 4 pivoted to be openable and closable in front of the main body frame 3 and having a glass window 4A arranged in the center and a receiving tray 6 provided below the glass window 4A, a handle unit 7 protruding forward from one side of the lower part of the panel frame 4, and a speaker unit 8 as a kind of presentation device arranged on both sides of the upper part of the panel frame 4. The sound output control of the speaker unit 8 is mainly executed by a presentation control circuit 200. When the panel frame 4 is closed to the main body frame 3 side, a player seated in front of the pachinko machine 1 can see a game area 31 (see FIG. 2) of the game board 30 housed in the main body frame 3 through the glass window 4A arranged in the panel frame 4. A plurality of panel-side LED boards Q are arranged inside the panel frame 4 as a type of performance device. A large number of LEDs capable of emitting multicolor light are mounted on the panel-side LED board Q. The light emission control of the panel-side LED board Q is mainly performed by the performance control circuit 200. Note that, although an LED board equipped with a plurality of LEDs is used in this example, a board capable of emitting light using an incandescent bulb or seven segments may also be used.

An operation mechanism 9 is disposed in the center of the receiving tray 6 as an operation means that can be operated at the player's discretion. The operation mechanism 9 is composed of a circular push button 9A that can be pressed by the player at will, and a dial 9B that can be rotated by the player around the push button 9A. The operation mechanism 9 is connected to a performance control circuit 200 described later, and the signals output from the push button 9A and the dial 9B are input to the performance control circuit 200 side. A ball lending switch 10A and a return switch 10B are disposed in the receiving tray 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball lending switch 10A and the return switch 10B are connected to a payout control circuit 150 described later. When the ball lending switch 10A is operated by the player, the payout control circuit 150 executes control to pay out to the player game balls corresponding to the number of balls that can be lent recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card. When the return switch 10B is operated, a recording medium return operation is executed from an IC card reader not shown that is connected to the pachinko machine 1. Additionally, the tray 6 is provided with a volume control button and a light intensity control button (not shown).

[About the composition of the game board]
As shown in Fig. 2, a game board 30 housed in the main body frame 3 has a game area 31 defined in a substantially circular shape by an outer guide rail 27 and an inner guide rail 28. The game area 31 is a space formed between the front surface of the game board 30 and the rear surface of the glass window 4A. A large number of nails and windmills (not shown) are arranged on the game board 30, and a game ball launched by a launching mechanism (not shown) in response to the player's operation of the handle unit 7 flows down the game area 31 while being irregularly guided by the large number of nails and windmills.

On the surface of the game board 30, game components such as a first start component 60, a second start component 62, a first large prize device 64 as an attacker, a second large prize device 65, multiple general prize components 66, and a passing gate 68 are arranged. When a game ball enters these start components or prize components, it is detected by switches built into each component (first start hole detection switch SW1, second start hole detection switch SW2, large prize hole detection switch SW3; SW4, general prize hole detection switch SW5, gate detection switch SW6). In addition, when a game ball enters the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62, in addition to paying out prize balls, the first and second big prize winning devices 64 and 65 are opened, and various lotteries are executed by the main control circuit 100, including a lottery regarding the possibility of a special game (big win game) that creates an advantageous state for the player, a lottery to determine the mode of the special game, or a game state after the special game. In other words, the entry of a game ball into the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62 is an opportunity to participate in the various lotteries described above.

A movable gadget 80 is arranged at the bottom right of the game board 30 as a type of performance device. The movable gadget 80 in this example is configured as a searchlight-type structure, and includes multiple flaps 82 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and configured to be openable and closable in the front-rear direction, and an LED board R arranged behind the flaps 82 as a light source. The LED board R is equipped with a large number of LEDs capable of emitting multiple colors, and when the multiple flaps 82 are open, the LEDs emit various colors, allowing the player to see the emitted colors. Details will be described later, but the colors that the movable gadget 80 can emit include various colors such as "purple," "red," "yellow," and "rainbow," and the expectation level for a "jackpot" is set to change depending on the type of color. From the player's perspective, the expectation level for a "jackpot" can also be interpreted as the "attention level" for a jackpot, and the same applies in the following explanation. The movable gadget 80 can be raised and lowered between the standby position shown in the figure and the appearance and disappearance position set above, and is driven during the variable performance described below to liven up the game. The light emission control of the LED board R and the drive control of the movable gadget 80 are mainly performed by the performance control circuit 200.

The first starting part 60 is located approximately in the center of the game board 30 in the left-right direction, and has a ball entry port that opens upward. The second starting part 62 is equipped with a one-wing opening and closing body 63 that can be in a closed state or an open state, and the difficulty of getting a ball into the second starting part 62 changes depending on the open/closed state of the opening and closing body 63. Specifically, when the opening and closing body 63 is in a closed state upright in the vertical direction, it is extremely difficult or impossible to get a ball into the second starting part 62. On the other hand, when the opening and closing body 63 is in an open state tilted in the left-right direction, it is easy to get a ball into the second starting part 62.

The opening operation of the opening/closing body 63 is performed when the result of a lottery regarding whether or not the opening operation of the opening/closing body 63 should be performed, which is executed by the main control circuit 100 in response to the passage of a game ball through a passing gate 68 arranged in the game area 31, is a winning lottery.

The first large prize winning device 64, which is disposed above the second starting component 62, comprises a large prize opening 64A and an opening/closing body 64B that closes or opens the large prize opening 64A. The opening/closing body 64B is a one-wing opening/closing body that can be in a closed state or an open state according to the operation of the solenoid SOL2, and the difficulty of a ball entering the first large prize winning device 64 changes depending on the open/closed state of the opening/closing body 64B. Specifically, when the opening/closing body 64B is in a closed state upright in the vertical direction, it is extremely difficult or impossible to enter the first large prize winning device 64. On the other hand, when the opening/closing body 64B is in an open state tilted left and right, it is easy to enter the first large prize winning device 64.

The second large prize device 65, which is disposed below the first large prize device 64, is equipped with a large prize opening 65A and an opening/closing body 65B that closes or opens the large prize opening 65A. The opening/closing body 65B is a one-wing opening/closing body that can be in a closed or open state according to the operation of the solenoid SOL3, just like the opening/closing body 64B, and when in the closed state upright in the vertical direction, it is extremely difficult or impossible for a ball to enter the second large prize device 65. On the other hand, when the opening/closing body 65B is in the open state tilted left and right, it is easy for a ball to enter the second large prize device 65.

At the bottom of the game area 31, an outlet 69 is provided to collect game balls that do not land on any of the multiple winning components. Game balls that land in the outlet 69 are detected by the out ball detection switch SW7 located behind the game board 30 and then discharged to the outside.

A liquid crystal display device 50 is provided in the approximate center of the game board 30 as a type of presentation device. The presentation device 50 is, for example, a display device equipped with a liquid crystal display, and has a display screen D1 capable of displaying various images, such as images related to the presentation pattern S described below, images related to the variable presentation displayed in conjunction with the variable display of the presentation pattern S, and images displayed during special play. In general, the player progresses through the game while visually checking the presentation of the various images displayed on the display screen D1. The display control of the images on the presentation device 50 is performed by the presentation control circuit 200.

Outside the play area 31 of the playboard 30, there are provided a first special symbol display device 35A, a second special symbol display device 35B, a first special symbol reserved display device 36A, a second special symbol reserved display device 36B, a normal symbol display device 37, and a normal symbol reserved display device 38. Each display device is controlled by the main control circuit 100 according to the progress of the game, and notifies the player of the game status by changes in the display.

[Internal structure of a pachinko machine]
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control means responsible for controlling the pachinko machine 1. As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 1 is equipped with a main control circuit 100 that mainly controls basic operations related to the overall game, a payout control circuit 150 that mainly controls the payout operation of game balls, a launch control circuit 160 that mainly controls the launch operation of game balls, and a performance control circuit 200 that mainly controls each of the above-mentioned performance devices.

The main control circuit 100 comprises a (main) CPU 100a, a (main) ROM 100b, and a (main) RAM 100c. The main control circuit 100 reads out a program pre-stored in the ROM 100b in response to inputs from the various detection switches and internal timers described below, and performs calculation processing according to the program. The main control circuit 100 also directly controls the above-mentioned devices connected to the main control circuit 100, and transmits various commands to other control circuits. At this time, the RAM 100c also functions as a work area during calculation processing by the CPU 100a, and temporarily stores various data and commands required for calculation.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main control circuit 100 is connected to a first start port detection switch SW1 that detects the entry of a game ball into the first start component 60, a second start port detection switch SW2 that detects the entry of a game ball into the second start component 62, a large prize port detection switch SW3 that detects the entry of a game ball into the first large prize device 64, a large prize port detection switch SW4 that detects the entry of a game ball into the second large prize device 65, a general prize port detection switch SW5 that detects the entry of game balls into the multiple general prize components 66, a gate detection switch SW6 that detects the passage of a game ball into the pass gate 68, and an out ball detection switch SW7, and the detection signals output from each detection switch are input to the main control circuit 100.

Also connected to the main control circuit 100 are a solenoid SOL1 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 63 provided on the second starting component 62, a solenoid SOL2 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 64B provided on the first large winning device 64, and a solenoid SOL3 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 65B provided on the second large winning device 65. These solenoids SOL1, SOL2, and SOL3 are directly controlled by the main control circuit 100. Also connected to the main control circuit 100 are the first special symbol display device 35A, the second special symbol display device 35B, the first special symbol reserved display device 36A, the second special symbol reserved display device 36B, the normal symbol display device 37, and the normal symbol reserved display device 38, and these displays are directly controlled by the main control circuit 100.

The payout control circuit 150 and the performance control circuit 200 are connected to the main control circuit 100. The payout control circuit 150 is a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown) like the main control circuit 100, and is connected to the main control circuit 100 so that it can communicate with it. In addition, an external information output terminal board 151 is connected to the main control circuit 100 and the payout control circuit 150. The external information output terminal board 151 transmits various information regarding the progress of the game output from the main control circuit 100 (CPU 100a) and the payout control circuit 150 (payout CPU not shown) to a host computer provided in the parlor where the pachinko machine 1 is installed.

The payout control circuit 150 is connected to a payout motor 152 for paying out game balls (prize balls, loan balls) to a player, and a ball counting switch 153. The payout control circuit 150 controls the payout motor 152 so that a predetermined number of prize balls is paid out based on the prize ball number information included in the payout command sent from the main control circuit 100. The prize balls paid out by driving the payout motor 152 are detected by the ball counting switch 153, and the payout control circuit 150 determines whether the appropriate prize balls have been paid out. The payout control circuit 150 also controls the payout motor 152 so that a predetermined loan number is paid out based on the input from the ball loan switch 10A. The loan balls paid out by driving the payout motor 152 are detected by the ball counting switch 153, and the payout control circuit 150 determines whether the appropriate loan balls have been paid out. In addition, the payout control circuit 150 is connected to various switches, such as a tray full detection switch that detects when more than the allowable number of game balls are stored in the tray 6, and a door open detection switch that detects when the door of the panel frame 4 or main body frame 3 is open.

Connected to the launch control circuit 160 are a touch sensor 161 mounted in the handle unit 7, a launch volume 162, a ball feed motor 163 that sends game balls stored in the tray 6 into the launch mechanism not shown, and a ball launch motor 164 housed in the launch mechanism. The launch control circuit 160 controls the ball launch motor 164 based on an input signal from the launch volume 162 that changes according to the amount of operation of the handle unit 7 by the player, subject to launch permission from the payout control circuit 150 and input from the touch sensor 161, and launches the game balls stored in the tray 6 into the play area 31 with a predetermined launch force.

The performance control circuit 200 controls various performance displays during gameplay and standby. The performance control circuit 200 is equipped with a (sub) CPU 200a, a (sub) ROM 200b, and a (sub) RAM 200c, and is connected to the main control circuit 100 so that communication (one-way communication) is possible only from the main control circuit 100 to the performance control circuit 200. The performance control circuit 200 reads out a program pre-stored in the ROM 200b and performs calculation processing based on various commands related to performance transmitted from the main control circuit 100 and input signals from an internal timer, and executes image control of the display screen D1 of the performance display device 50 connected to the performance control circuit 200. In addition, the performance control circuit 200 executes sound output control to output sounds such as music (BGM) and sound effects from the speaker unit 8 during gameplay (for example, during the fluctuation of special patterns and during execution of special games). The performance control circuit 200 also performs light emission control to cause the LEDs mounted on the panel side LED board Q arranged on the panel frame 4 and the LED board R of the movable role 80 arranged on the game board 30 to emit light in various patterns according to the progress of the game. At this time, the RAM 200c functions as a work area during the calculation processing of the CPU 200a, and temporarily stores various data and commands necessary for the calculation.

The performance control circuit 200 is connected to the CPU 200a and includes an image control means such as a VDP for receiving various commands related to image display sent from the CPU 200a and displaying various images on the display screen D1, and a VRAM for temporarily storing various data required during the image display process. The performance control circuit 200 also includes audio data related to multiple songs and sound effects, and audio control means such as an audio synthesis LSI. The performance control circuit 200 also includes multiple light emission pattern data and light emission control means such as a driver circuit between each LED board Q, R. The performance control circuit 200 controls these multiple performance devices according to the progress of the game.

The aforementioned operation mechanism 9, which can be operated at will by the player, is connected to the presentation control circuit 200, and for example, each of the aforementioned controls can be executed in accordance with the operation (pressing) timing of the push button 9A arranged on the operation mechanism 9, making it possible to express a predetermined presentation according to the operation timing of the push button 9A.

Although not shown in the figure, a power supply circuit is connected to each of the above-mentioned control circuits, and by operating a power switch provided on the power supply circuit, power is supplied from an external power source on the gaming establishment side, and the external power is generated as the power required for the operation of each control circuit, and each control circuit is started by supplying the generated power to each control circuit. The power supply circuit is also equipped with a backup power source such as a capacitor, and in the event of a power outage, power is supplied from the backup power source to the main control circuit 100 and the payout control circuit 150, and various data and commands stored in the RAM of these two control circuits are retained. The power supply circuit is also equipped with a dedicated backup power source for the performance control circuit 200, and in the event of a power outage, some of the various data and commands stored in the RAM are stored in a separately equipped backup RAM by power supply from the dedicated backup power source.

Below, we will outline the flow of play on the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above.
When the game ball flowing down the game area 31 enters the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62 by the operation of the handle unit 7 by the player, the main control circuit 100 executes various lotteries such as a lottery for playing a special game (a so-called big win game) (hereinafter also referred to as a lottery for determining whether or not the special game is a big win), a lottery for determining the type of special symbol (hereinafter also referred to as a lottery for determining the type of special symbol), and a lottery for determining the variation pattern of the special symbol (hereinafter also referred to as a lottery for determining the variation pattern of the special symbol). If the result of the lottery for determining whether or not the special symbol is a big win is a big win, the first and second big winning devices 64 and 65 are opened, and a special game (big win game) that makes it easier for the game ball to enter is executed. Below, an overview of each lottery is explained.

First, when a game ball enters the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62, various random numbers are simultaneously acquired, such as a random number for determining whether or not a special chart has been won, a random number for determining the type of special chart, and a random number for determining a variation pattern, which are referenced in the special chart winning/losing lottery, and the acquired random numbers are stored in the reserved memory area of RAM 100c. In the following explanation, the various random numbers acquired upon the ball entering the first starting component 60 are collectively referred to as special 1 reserve, and the various random numbers acquired upon the ball entering the second starting component 62 are collectively referred to as special 2 reserve. Furthermore, special 1 reserve and special 2 reserve are collectively referred to as start information.

The reserved memory area includes a first special chart reserved memory area and a second special chart reserved memory area that can store the special 1 reserved and the special 2 reserved independently. The first special chart reserved memory area and the second special chart reserved memory area each have four memory sections (first memory section to fourth memory section). When the game ball enters the first starting part 60, the special 1 reserved is stored in the first memory section of the first special chart reserved memory area in order, and when the game ball enters the second starting part 62, the special 2 reserved is stored in the first memory section of the second special chart reserved memory area in order. However, the number of special 1 reserved and the number of special 2 reserved that can be stored in the first special chart reserved memory area and the second special chart reserved memory area are each set to four, and the number of reserved items does not increase beyond the upper limit of each reserved memory area.

[About the lottery process]
4 is a diagram showing an overview of the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB referenced in the special chart hit/miss lottery. When the game ball enters the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62, one special chart hit/miss judgment random number is obtained from the range of 0 to 65535. As shown in the figure, the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB is subdivided into a low probability special chart hit/miss judgment table TB1 referenced when the game state is a low probability of special chart, and a high probability special chart hit/miss judgment table TB2B referenced when the game state is a high probability of special chart.

In each special chart hit/miss judgment table, a judgment result ("jackpot", "miss") corresponding to the special chart hit/miss judgment random number from 0 to 65535 is specified. For example, when the low probability special chart hit/miss judgment table TB1 is referenced, the probability that the judgment result will be a "jackpot" is approximately 1 in 319. In contrast, when the high probability special chart hit/miss judgment table TB2 is referenced, the probability that the judgment result will be a "jackpot" is approximately 1 in 50. If the special chart hit/miss judgment random number obtained above is a random number corresponding to a "jackpot", the judgment result is judged to be a jackpot, and if it is a random number corresponding to a "miss", the judgment result is judged to be a miss.

As described above, the special chart low probability state is a game state in which the lottery result is determined by referring to the special chart win/loss judgment table TB1 for low probability in the special chart win/loss lottery. On the other hand, the special chart high probability state is a game state in which the lottery result is determined by referring to the special chart win/loss judgment table TB2 for high probability in the special chart win/loss lottery, and it can be said that this state is more likely to result in a "jackpot" than the special chart low probability state, making it easier to win the special game (jackpot game) described above.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an overview of the special chart type determination table TB referenced in the special chart type determination lottery. As shown in the figure, the special chart type determination table TB is divided into a special chart type determination table TB1, which is obtained when the special chart type determination random number is acquired by the ball entering the first starting part 60 and is referenced when the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery mentioned above is a "jackpot", a special chart type determination table TB2, which is obtained when the special chart type determination random number is acquired by the ball entering the second starting part 62 and is referenced when the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery mentioned above is a "jackpot", and a special chart type determination table TB3, which is referenced when the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery is a miss.

When the ball enters the first starting part 60 or the second starting part 62, for example, one special symbol type determination random number is obtained from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, the special symbol type determination table TB1; TB2 specifies the special symbol type corresponding to the special symbol type determination random number from 0 to 99 at a predetermined rate (selection rate). For example, when the special symbol type determination table TB1 is referenced and the obtained special symbol type determination random number is in the range of 0 to 9, the special symbol type is determined as the jackpot symbol A, when it is in the range of 10 to 59, the special symbol type is determined as the jackpot symbol B, and when it is in the range of 60 to 99, the special symbol type is determined as the jackpot symbol C. In other words, the result of the special symbol hit/miss lottery triggered by the ball entering the first starting part 60 is "jackpot", and when the special symbol type determination table TB1 is referenced, the selection rates of the jackpot symbols A to C are 10%, 50%, and 40%, respectively.

For example, when the special symbol type determination table TB2 is referenced, if the obtained special symbol type determination random number is in the range of 0 to 49, the special symbol type is determined to be jackpot symbol A, if it is in the range of 50 to 59, the special symbol type is determined to be jackpot symbol B, and if it is in the range of 60 to 99, the special symbol type is determined to be jackpot symbol D. In other words, the result of the special symbol win/loss lottery triggered by the ball entering the second starting part 62 is a "jackpot," and when the special symbol type determination table TB2 is referenced, the selection rates of jackpot symbol A, jackpot symbol B, and jackpot symbol D are 50%, 10%, and 40%, respectively.

In addition, if the result of the special chart lottery is "no win" and the special chart type determination table TB3 is referenced, the special chart type is unconditionally determined to be special chart X (no win chart X) regardless of the range of the special chart type determination random number.

6(a) is a diagram showing an example of a variation pattern determination table TB referred to in the special chart variation pattern determination lottery. When the ball enters the first starting part 60 or the second starting part 62, for example, one variation pattern determination random number is obtained from the range of 0 to 99, and a variation pattern number corresponding to the obtained variation pattern determination random number is determined from the variation pattern determination tables TB1 to TB3.
In this embodiment, the variation pattern determination table is divided into a variation pattern determination table TB1 that is referred to when the current game state is "normal low probability," and a variation pattern determination table TB2 that is referred to when the current game state is "normal high probability." When the ball enters the first starting part 60 or the second starting part 62, for example, one variation pattern determination random number is obtained from the range of 0 to 99, and one variation pattern number corresponding to the variation pattern determination random number is determined from one of the variation pattern determination tables TB.

As shown in the figure, the fluctuation pattern determination tables TB1 and TB2 specify a fluctuation pattern number (e.g., "01H") that corresponds to the fluctuation pattern determination random number according to the result of the special drawing lottery (special drawing judgment result) determined by the above-mentioned lottery and the number of reserved memories. Note that the fluctuation pattern determination tables TB1 and TB2 are examples, and for example, a different fluctuation pattern number may be determined according to the special drawing type in addition to the result of the special drawing lottery and the number of reserved memories.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), each of the variation pattern numbers defined in the variation pattern determination tables TB1 and TB2 is associated with a variation time (seconds). The variation time shown in the figure is the variation display time of the special pattern displayed on the first special pattern display device 35A or the second special pattern display device 35B, the variation time of the performance pattern S that is displayed on the display screen D1 in approximately synchronization with the variation display of the special pattern, and the time of the variable performance displayed along with the variation of the performance pattern S. In this embodiment, the variation time corresponding to the variation pattern number defined in the variation pattern determination tables TB1 to TB2 is set to, for example, 1.5 seconds at the shortest and 150 seconds at the longest. In addition, when the game state is a normal pattern high probability, the variation pattern determination table TB2 is referenced, and the variation time (average variation time) of the special pattern is significantly shortened (for example, to one-third) compared to when the normal pattern is low probability, improving game efficiency.

When a fluctuation pattern number is determined from any of the above fluctuation pattern determination tables TB1:TB2, a fluctuation pattern command including the fluctuation pattern number and information on the fluctuation time (fluctuation time information) is sent to the performance control circuit 200, and along with the fluctuation display of the performance pattern S, a fluctuation performance expressing various performances according to each fluctuation pattern number is displayed on the display screen D1.

In addition, in this embodiment, there is a large difference in the selection rate of the variation patterns "07H" to "10H" depending on the result of the winning/losing lottery, and these variation patterns are highly anticipated (attention-grabbing) variation patterns that are unlikely to be selected in the case of a "miss" and likely to be selected in the case of a "win." When the variation presentation described below is executed based on this variation pattern, the player will watch the game with a higher sense of trust and expectation for a jackpot than with variation presentations executed according to other variation pattern numbers.

The main control circuit 100 controls the first special pattern display device 35A or the second special pattern display device 35B at the same time as sending the variation pattern command, and starts the variation display of the special pattern on either display device. After that, based on the fact that the variation display time has elapsed, the main control circuit 100 controls the first special pattern display device 35A or the second special pattern display device 35B to stop the variation of the special pattern, and sends a special pattern stop designation command to the performance control circuit 200 side, which will be described later, to stop the variation of the performance pattern S that is displayed on the display screen D1. Details of the processing related to these variation displays will be described later.

As explained above, the main control circuit 100 executes the above-mentioned special symbol win/loss lottery, special symbol type determination lottery, and special symbol change pattern determination lottery when the special symbol starts to change, and notifies the result of the special symbol win/loss lottery, which is related to whether or not a special game can be executed, based on the final stopping state of the special symbol and the performance symbol S. In addition, hereinafter, the various lottery processes related to the execution of these special games may be collectively referred to as special symbol games. In addition, players will generally recognize the result of the special symbol win/loss lottery based on the stopping state of the performance symbol S, which changes and is displayed in sync with the display of the special symbol changes. In addition, the specific processing related to the above series of lotteries will be described later with reference to FIG. 21 and subsequent figures.

[Special games]
7 is a diagram showing an overview of the special game control table TB that is referenced when the result of the special game lottery is a "jackpot" and a special game (jackpot game) advantageous to the player is executed. Various data for controlling the special game is stored in this special game control table TB, and during the special game, the solenoids SOL2 and SOL3 that open and close the opening and closing bodies 64B and 65B are driven and controlled by referring to the table. Note that a plurality of special game control tables TB are provided for each special game type, and a corresponding table is set at the start of the special game according to the determined special game type, but here, control data corresponding to all special game types is shown in one table.

The special game is made up of multiple rounds of play in which the large prize opening 64A (opening/closing body 64B) or the large prize opening 65A (opening/closing body 65B) is opened and closed a predetermined number of times (once in this example). The special game control table TB includes the opening time (waiting time until the first round of play begins), the maximum number of times the special electric device operates (the number of rounds of play executed during one special game), the number of times the special electric device opens and closes (the number of times the large prize opening 64A:65A is opened during one round (R)), the solenoid energizing time (the energizing time of the solenoid SOL2:SOL3 for each number of times the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A is opened, i.e., the number of times the large prize opening 64A:65A is opened once), and the number of times the special electric device opens and closes (the number of times the special ... prize opening 64A:65A is opened once), and the number of times the special prize opening 64A:65A is opened once, and the number of times the special prize opening 64A:65A is opened once, and the number of times the special prize opening 64A:65A is opened once). The control data for the special game includes the release time, the specified number (the maximum number of wins that can be won into the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A in one round of play), the effective time for closing the large prize opening (the time for closing the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A between rounds of play, i.e., the interval time), and the ending time (the waiting time from the end of the last round of play until the normal special game (display of the changing special symbols) is resumed). These are stored in advance for each type of special symbol as shown in the figure.

For example, when the special game (jackpot game) is executed when the special symbol type is the jackpot symbol A, the special game mode is such that the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65 is opened for 29 seconds by the opening operation of the opening/closing body 64B or the opening/closing body 65B by energizing the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3, or until one of the conditions is met that nine game balls (count C=9) enter the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65A, the round continues and the round is repeated 16 times. Note that the large prize winning hole 64A and the large prize winning hole 65A may be alternately opened every round, or one large prize winning hole may be opened until a predetermined round, and the other large prize winning hole may be opened thereafter, but details will be omitted.
In addition, when the special game (jackpot game) is executed when the special symbol type is the jackpot symbol B, the round continues until one of the following conditions is met as the mode of the special game: the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65A is opened for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 64B or the opening/closing body 65B, or 9 game balls (count C = 9) enter the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65A, and the round is repeated 8 times. In addition, when the special symbol type is the jackpot symbol C, the special game (jackpot game) is executed until one of the following conditions is met as the mode of the special game: the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65A is opened for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 64B or the opening/closing body 65B, or 9 game balls (count C = 9) enter the large prize winning hole 64A or the large prize winning hole 65A, and the round is repeated 10 times.
In addition, when a special game (jackpot game) is executed when the special symbol type is jackpot symbol D, the round continues until one of the following conditions is met: the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A is opened for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 64B or the opening/closing body 65B, or nine game balls (count C = 9) enter the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A, and the round is repeated 12 times.
In this manner, in this embodiment, even in the same jackpot game, there is a difference in the number of rounds of play, and when the special symbol type is special symbol A, the most prize balls can be obtained.

[About game status]
8 is a diagram showing an outline of the game state setting table TB, which is referred to in order to set the game state after the special game (jackpot game) is executed. As shown in the figure, the game state setting table TB specifies the game state after the special game and the number of games (number of high probability of special game, number of high probability of normal game) that the game state continues in accordance with the special game type (jackpot game).

As shown in the game state setting table TB, in this embodiment, when the special symbol type is the big win symbol A or the big win symbol B, the game state after the special game is a state of high probability of special symbols and high probability of normal symbols. In addition, the game state continues until the special symbols change 10,000 times.
On the other hand, if the special symbol type is the big win symbol C or the big win symbol D, the game state after the special game is a state of low probability of the special symbol and high probability of the normal symbol. Also, the game state continues until the special symbol changes 100 times.

The number of times the game is played is set as the count value (number of times of high probability of special game, number of times of high probability of normal game) of the special game high probability counter and the normal game high probability counter described below, respectively, and is subtracted each time the special game is played. When the count value becomes 0, the game state transitions to low probability of special game and low probability of normal game. The number of special game types and the combination of game states can be changed as appropriate depending on the specifications of the pachinko machine 1, and by further subdividing and setting the special game types, it is also possible to further subdivide and set the mode of special game and the game state after the special game. In addition to "big win", it is also possible to set "small win".

Here, the "special chart low probability" is a state in which the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB1 for low probability shown in Fig. 4 is referenced in the above-mentioned special chart hit/miss lottery (jackpot probability = 1 in 319). Also, the special chart high probability is a state in which the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB2 for high probability shown in Fig. 4 is referenced (jackpot probability = 1 in 50).
In addition, "low probability of normal drawing" refers to a state in which the variation pattern determination table TB1 shown in Fig. 6 is referenced in the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern determination lottery, the low probability normal drawing win/loss determination table TB1 shown in Fig. 9 is referenced in the below-mentioned normal drawing win/loss lottery, and when the judgment result is "win", the low probability normal drawing variation pattern determination table TB1 shown in Fig. 10 is referenced. In addition, "high probability of normal drawing" refers to a state in which the variation pattern determination table TB2 is referenced in the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern determination lottery, the high probability normal drawing win/loss determination table TB2 shown in Fig. 9 is referenced in the below-mentioned normal drawing win/loss lottery, and when the judgment result is "win", the high probability normal drawing variation pattern determination table TB2 shown in Fig. 10 is referenced.

As explained above, in the pachinko machine 1, various lotteries are held when a ball enters the first start component 60 or the second start component 62, and if the result of the various lotteries is a predetermined result, a special game advantageous to the player is played, and the game state after the special game is switched. Meanwhile, in the pachinko machine 1, independent of the various lotteries regarding the execution of the special game, lotteries regarding the possibility of playing a normal game by opening the opening/closing body 63 provided on the second start component 62 (a lottery for determining whether or not the normal game is to be played, a lottery for determining the normal game variation time pattern, etc.) are also held. Below, an overview of the various lottery processes regarding the possibility of playing a normal game (normal game) is explained.

When the game ball passes through the passing gate 68 while flowing down the game area 31, a random number for determining whether the game is a hit or a miss is obtained, which is referenced in the regular game hit lottery described below, and the obtained random number is stored in the reserved memory area of the RAM 100c. Here, the reserved memory area has a regular game memory area capable of storing the regular game hit or miss random number, and the regular game memory area has four memory sections (first memory section to fourth memory section). Then, when the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, the regular game hit or miss random number is stored in order starting from the first memory section. However, the number of reserved regular games that can be stored in the regular game hit or miss lottery is set to four, and the number of reserved regular games will not increase beyond this upper limit.

Figure 9 shows an overview of the regular winning/losing determination table TB that is referenced in the regular winning/losing lottery. When the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, a regular winning/losing determination random number is obtained, for example, from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, the regular winning/losing determination table TB is subdivided into a low probability regular winning/losing determination table TB1 that is referenced when the game state is the aforementioned "regular winning/losing low probability," and a high probability regular winning/losing determination table TB that is referenced when the game state is "regular winning/losing high probability."

Each table specifies the judgment result ("hit" or "miss") corresponding to the normal winning/losing random number between 0 and 99, and if the obtained normal winning/losing random number is a random number corresponding to "hit", the judgment result is a win, and if it is a random number corresponding to "losing", the judgment result is a miss. Also, as is clear from each table, the probability that the judgment result of the normal winning/losing lottery regarding the opening and closing of the opening/closing body 63 triggered by passing through the passing gate 68 will be a "hit" (winning probability) is set higher in the case of a high normal winning probability than in the case of a low normal winning probability.

Figure 10 is a diagram explaining the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB that is referenced in the normal pattern variation pattern determination lottery. When the above-mentioned normal pattern win/loss lottery is held, the normal pattern variation time is determined based on the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB. As shown in the figure, the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB is subdivided into a low probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB1 that is referenced when the game state is "low probability of normal pattern," and a high probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB2 that is referenced when the game state is "high probability of normal pattern," and each table specifies the normal pattern variation pattern determination random number and the corresponding variation time.

When the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, one random number for determining the normal map fluctuation pattern is obtained, for example, from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, in each table, the fluctuation times corresponding to the normal map fluctuation pattern determining random numbers from 0 to 99 are specified at a predetermined rate (selection rate), and one fluctuation time corresponding to the obtained normal map fluctuation pattern determining random number is determined.

Comparing the two tables TB1 and TB2, the high probability regular pattern variation pattern determination table TB2 specifies a variation time that is shorter than the low probability regular pattern variation pattern determination table TB1, and when the regular pattern probability is high, the time until the result of the regular pattern winning/losing lottery is derived is shorter than when the regular pattern probability is low. When the regular pattern variation time is determined, the regular pattern variation display displayed on the regular pattern display device 37 begins for the determined variation time, and after the variation time has elapsed, the display is stopped in a manner that shows the result of the regular pattern winning/losing lottery.

Here, the normal symbol display device 37 is configured, for example, as an array of multiple LED lamps, and the multiple lamps flash during the variable display, and if the result of the normal symbol win/lose lottery is a win, one of the multiple LED lamps lights up and stops, and if it is a loss, for example, all or some of the LED lamps are turned off.

[Regarding normal play]
11 is a diagram showing an overview of the opening/closing body operation table TB that is referenced in a normal game that is executed when the result of the normal symbol winning/losing lottery is a winning one and the normal symbol stops in a state indicating a winning one. As shown in the figure, the opening/closing body operation table TB specifies the number of times the opening/closing body 63 is opened and closed, and the opening time per opening operation, and is subdivided into a low probability opening/closing body operation table TB1 that is referenced when the game state is a "normal symbol low probability" and a high probability opening/closing body operation table TB2 that is referenced when the game state is a "normal symbol high probability".

When the game ball passes through the passage gate 68, one opening/closing body operation pattern determination random number is obtained, for example, from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, in each table, the number of times the opening/closing body 63 is opened and closed and the opening time corresponding to the opening/closing body operation pattern determination random numbers from 0 to 99 are specified at a predetermined ratio (selection rate), and the opening time of one opening of the opening/closing body 63 corresponding to the opening/closing body operation pattern determination random number is determined.

Comparing the two tables, in the case of "normal low probability," the opening time of the opening/closing body 63 is "0.3 seconds" or "1.5 seconds" and the number of times it is opened is "1 time," whereas in the case of "normal high probability," the opening time is "1.2 seconds" and the number of times it is opened is 3 times, so in the case of "normal high probability," the game ball can be more efficiently placed into the second starting part 62.

In this way, when the game state is "normal pattern high probability," the probability that the result of the normal pattern lottery will be a "win" is higher than when it is "normal pattern low probability," and the change time of the normal pattern is significantly shortened and the total open time of the opening/closing body 63 is longer, making it easier for the game ball to enter the second starting part 62, making it possible to efficiently play the above-mentioned special pattern game triggered by the ball entering the second starting part 62 while minimizing the consumption of game balls.

In this embodiment, a "low probability of winning" and a "high probability of winning" are created by combining three elements: the probability of the winning/losing normal symbol lottery result being a "win", the time the normal symbol changes, and the total opening time of the opening/closing body 63 (number of times it is opened, opening time). However, this is not limited to this, and it is also possible to create multiple game states using one or more of the above three elements. Below, the main processing by the main control circuit 100 in the above-mentioned pachinko machine 1 will be explained using several flowcharts.

[CPU Initialization Processing of the Main Control Circuit 100]
12 is a diagram showing an overview of the CPU initialization process executed by the CPU 100a of the main control circuit 100. When external power is supplied to the power supply circuit, power is supplied to the CPU 100a and a system reset is input, and the CPU 100a performs the following CPU initialization process (step S100).

(Step S100-1)
When the power is turned on, the CPU 100a reads a startup program from the ROM 100b as an initial setting process, and performs setting processes necessary for executing various processes.

(Step S100-3)
The CPU 100a sets a wait time in the timer counter. The wait time is a startup waiting time for the payout control circuit 150 and the performance control circuit 200. When the wait time has elapsed, the payout control circuit 150 and the performance control circuit 200 become capable of receiving various commands transmitted from the main control circuit 100.

(Step S100-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether a power interruption warning signal has been detected. A power interruption detection circuit is connected to the main control circuit 100, and when the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined value, the power interruption warning signal is output from the power supply detection circuit. If a power interruption warning signal has been detected, the process proceeds to step S100-3, and if a power interruption warning signal has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S100-7.

(Step S100-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the wait time set in step S100-3 has elapsed or not. If it is judged that the wait time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S100-9, and if it is judged that the wait time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S100-5.

(Step S100-9)
The CPU 100a executes the processes required to permit access to the main RAM 100c.

(Step S100-11)
The CPU 100a judges whether the RAM clear signal is on or not. A RAM clear button (not shown) is provided on the back of the pachinko machine 1, and when this RAM clear button is pressed, a RAM clear detection switch detects the pressing of the RAM clear button and outputs a RAM clear signal to the main control circuit 100. Here, if the power is turned on with the RAM clear button pressed, it is judged that the RAM clear signal is on. If it is judged that the RAM clear signal is on, the process proceeds to step S100-13, and if it is judged that the RAM clear signal is not on, the process proceeds to step S100-19.

(Step S100-13)
The CPU 100a performs an initialization process to clear data in the RAM 100c that is to be cleared when the power is turned on (when the RAM 100c is reset to clear the data).

(Step S100-15)
The CPU 100a performs a transmission process (a process of storing in a transmission buffer) of a sub-command (RAM clear command) for notifying the performance control circuit 200 that the RAM 100c has been cleared.

(Step S100-17)
The CPU 100a performs a transmission process (a process of storing in a transmission buffer) of a payout command (RAM clear command) to inform the payout control circuit 150 that the RAM 100c has been cleared.

(Step S100-19)
The CPU 100a executes the processing required to calculate the checksum.

(Step S100-21)
The CPU 100a judges whether the checksum calculated in step S100-19 is inconsistent with the checksum stored when the power was turned off. If it is determined that they are inconsistent, the process proceeds to step S100-13, and if it is determined that they are not inconsistent (they are in agreement), the process proceeds to step S100-23.

(Step S100-23)
The CPU 100a performs an initialization process to clear data in the RAM 100c that is to be cleared when the power is restored (when the RAM 100c is not cleared and the data before the power was turned off is maintained).

(Step S100-25)
The CPU 100a performs a transmission process (a process of storing in a transmission buffer) of a sub-command (power restoration command) for notifying the performance control circuit 200 that the power has been restored from a power outage.

(Step S100-27)
The CPU 100a performs a transmission process (a process of storing in a transmission buffer) of a payout command (power restoration command) to inform the payout control circuit 150 that the power has been restored from a power outage.

(Step S100-29)
The CPU 100a executes power-on sub-command set processing (processing to store in a transmission buffer) to send a power-on special chart type designation command indicating the special chart type, a special 1 reservation designation command indicating the special 1 reservation number, and a special 2 reservation designation command indicating the special 2 reservation number.

(Step S100-31)
The CPU 100a sets the timer interrupt period.

(Step S100-33)
The CPU 100a performs a process for inhibiting interrupts. This process inhibits the execution of an interrupt process for receiving data (main commands) from the payout control circuit 150 (not shown) during a timer interrupt, and the execution of the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 14.

(Step S100-35)
The CPU 100a updates the initial value update random number for the special drawing type determination random number. The initial value update random number for the special drawing type determination random number is for determining the initial value and the end value of the special drawing type determination random number. In other words, when the special drawing type determination random number goes through a cycle from the initial value update random number for the special drawing type determination random number to the initial value update random number for the special drawing type determination random number -1 by the update process of the special drawing type determination random number described later, the special drawing type determination random number is updated to the initial value update random number for the special drawing type determination random number at that time.

(Step S100-37)
The CPU 100a analyzes the reception data (main command) received from the payout control circuit 150, and executes various processes according to the reception data.

(Step S100-39)
The CPU 100 a performs processing for transmitting the sub-commands stored in the transmission buffer to the performance control circuit 200 .

(Step S100-41)
The CPU 100a performs a process for permitting an interrupt.

(Step S100-43)
The CPU 100a updates the variation pattern determination random number, and thereafter repeats the process from step S100-33 (hereinafter, for convenience, the process of repeating steps S100-33 to S100-43 is referred to as the main loop process).

Next, we will explain the interrupt processing in the main control circuit 100. Here, we will explain the power-off save processing (XINT interrupt processing) and timer interrupt processing.

[Power-off save process of the main control circuit 100 (XINT interrupt process)]
13 is a flow chart for explaining the power-off save process (XINT interrupt process) in the main control circuit 100. The CPU 100a monitors the power-off detection circuit, and when the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined value (a power-off warning signal is input), it interrupts the main loop process of the CPU initialization process described above to execute the power-off save process. Note that in this embodiment, the power-off save process is set not to interrupt during the timer interrupt process described below.

(Step S300-1)
When the power-off warning signal is input, the CPU 100a saves the registers.

(Step S300-3)
The CPU 300a checks the power-off warning signal.

(Step S300-5)
If the CPU 100a determines as a result of step S300-3 that a power-off warning signal has been detected, it proceeds to step S300-11. If the CPU 100a determines that a power-off warning signal has not been detected, it proceeds to step S300-7.

(Step S300-7)
The CPU 100a restores the register.

(Step S300-9)
The CPU 100a performs a process for permitting an interrupt, and ends the power-off save process without performing the save process (the power-off save process from step S300-11 onward).

(Step S300-11)
The CPU 100a executes an output port clear process to stop the output of the output port.

(Step S300-13)
The CPU 100a executes a checksum setting process to calculate and store a checksum.

(Step S300-15)
The CPU 100a executes a RAM protect setting process required to prohibit access to the RAM 100c.

(Step S300-17)
In order to set the power interruption occurrence monitoring time, the CPU 100a sets the counter value of a loop counter to a predetermined number of times the power interruption detection signal has been detected.

(Step S300-19)
The CPU 100a checks the power-off warning signal.

(Step S300-21)
The CPU 100a judges whether a power-off warning signal has been detected. If it is judged that a power-off warning signal has been detected, the process proceeds to step S300-17. If it is judged that a power-off warning signal has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S300-23.

(Step S300-23)
The CPU 100a decrements the value of the loop counter set in step S300-17 by one.

(Step S300-25)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the loop counter is 0. If it is judged that the counter value is not 0, the process proceeds to step S300-19, and if it is judged that the counter value is 0, the process proceeds to the above-mentioned CPU initialization process (step S100).

If a power outage actually occurs, the operation of the pachinko machine 1 will stop while steps S300-17 to S300-25 are looping.

[Timer interrupt processing of the main control circuit 100]
14 is a flow chart for explaining the timer interrupt process in the main control circuit 100. The main control circuit 100 is provided with a reset clock pulse generating circuit that generates a clock pulse at a predetermined cycle (4 ms in this embodiment, but 2 ms may also be used). When a clock pulse is generated by the reset clock pulse generating circuit, it interrupts the main loop process of the CPU initialization process (step S100) and executes the following timer interrupt process.

(Step S400-1)
The CPU 100a saves the register.

(Step S400-3)
The CPU 100a performs a process for permitting an interruption, which permits an interruption process for receiving reception data (main command) from the payout control circuit 150 (not shown in the figures) during the timer interruption.

(Step S400-5)
The CPU 100a outputs the common data set in the common output buffer to the output port and executes dynamic port output processing which controls the lighting of the first special pattern display device 35A, the second special pattern display device 35B, the first special pattern reserved display device 36A, the second special pattern reserved display device 36B, the normal pattern display device 37, and the normal pattern reserved display device 38.

(Step S400-7)
The CPU 100 a reads various input port information and executes a port input process for accurately acquiring the latest switch states of various devices connected to the main control circuit 100 .

(Step S400-9)
The CPU 100a performs a timer update process to update various timer counters. Here, the timer counters are decremented every time the timer interrupt process of the main control circuit 100 is performed, unless otherwise specified, and the decrement stops when the timer counter reaches 0. In this example, a special symbol stop timer that counts the elapsed time after the special symbol stops, and a general winning hole timer that counts the elapsed time after the game ball enters the general winning component 66 are provided.

(Step S400-11)
The CPU 100a executes an update process for the initial value update random number for the special chart type determination random number, similar to the above step S100-35.

(Step S400-13)
The CPU 100a performs a process of updating the special pattern type determination random number. Specifically, the random number counter is updated by adding 1, and when the result of the addition exceeds the maximum value of the random number range, the random number counter is returned to 0, and when the random number counter has completed one cycle, the random number is updated based on the value of the initial value update random number for the special pattern type random number at that time.

In this embodiment, the special drawing hit/miss judgment random number and the regular drawing hit/miss judgment random number use hardware random numbers updated by a hardware random number generation unit built into the main control circuit 100. The hardware random number generation unit updates each of the random numbers according to a certain rule, automatically changing the random number sequence every time the random number sequence goes through one cycle, and changing the start value every time the system is reset. In this embodiment, the special drawing hit/miss judgment random number and the regular drawing hit/miss judgment random number use hardware random numbers updated by the hardware random number generation unit as the random numbers for judgment, but when using software random numbers as the random numbers for judgment, the initial value can be changed by setting an initial value update random number in the same way as the special drawing type determination random number.

(Step S500)
Based on the processing of step S400-7, the CPU 100a executes a switch management process to determine whether or not a signal has been input from the first start hole detection switch SW1, the second start hole detection switch SW2, the special prize hole detection switch SW3, the special prize hole detection switch SW4, the general prize hole detection switch SW5, and the gate detection switch SW6. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S600)
The CPU 100a executes a special game management process. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S700)
The CPU 100a executes a general game management process for controlling the progress of the general game. Although detailed explanations are omitted, the general game management process is a process of loading a general game management phase (not shown) described later and selecting a general game control module corresponding to the loaded general game management phase, and various processes related to the general game are executed by calling a general game control module corresponding to a plurality of general game management phases described later.

(Step S400-15)
The CPU 100a executes an error management process for determining various errors and making settings according to the error determination results.

(Step S400-17)
The CPU 100a checks the input of the first start hole detection switch SW1, the second start hole detection switch SW2, the large prize hole detection switch SW3, the large prize hole detection switch SW4, and the general prize hole detection switch SW5, and executes prize hole switch processing to increment the corresponding counters for prize ball control, etc.

(Step S400-19)
The CPU 100a executes a payout control management process to create a payout command based on the counter value of the counter for controlling the winning balls set in the above step S400-17, and to send the command to the payout control circuit 150.

(Step S400-21)
The CPU 100a executes an external information management process for setting (storing in an output port buffer) output data for external information to be output from the external information output terminal board 151 to the outside.

(Step S400-23)
The CPU 100a executes an LED display setting process that sets common data for controlling the lighting of various displays (LEDs) such as the first special pattern display device 35A, the second special pattern display device 35B, the first special pattern reserved display device 36A, the second special pattern reserved display device 36B, the normal pattern display device 37, and the normal pattern reserved display device 38 in a common output buffer (storing it in an output port buffer).

(Step S400-25)
The CPU 100a executes a solenoid output image synthesis process to synthesize the solenoid output images of the solenoid SOL1 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 63, the solenoid SOL2 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 64B, and the solenoid SOL3 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 65B, and set them in the output port buffer (store them in the output port buffer).

(Step S400-27)
The CPU 100a executes a port output process for outputting the values of the common output buffers stored in the respective output port buffers to the output ports (excluding those output in the dynamic port output process of step S400-5).

(Step S400-29)
The CPU 100a restores the registers and ends the timer interrupt process.
Among the timer interrupt processes described above, the switch management process in step S500 and the special game management process in step S600 will be described in detail below.

[Switch Management Processing]
FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining the switch management process (step S500) in the main control circuit 100. As shown in FIG.

(Step S500-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the gate detection switch SW6 is turned on, i.e., whether a detection signal has been input from the gate detection switch SW6 based on the passage of the game ball through the passing gate 68. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, a gate detection designation command is generated and processing proceeds to step S510, and if there is no input, processing proceeds to step S500-3. The gate detection designation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, and the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the entry of the game ball into the passing gate 68 based on the command.

(Step S510)
The CPU 100a executes a gate passing process based on the passage of the game ball through the passing gate 68. Here, the gate passing process is a process of acquiring the above-mentioned normal winning/losing judgment random number, and storing the acquired normal winning/losing judgment random number in one of the first to fourth storage units, on the condition that the current normal reserved memory number is less than the upper limit that can be stored in the normal reserved memory area. In addition, when the storage is controlled by the performance control circuit, such as by displaying the display screen D1, a normal reserved designation command indicating the normal reserved memory number X3 stored in the normal reserved memory area is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer). In addition, by executing this process, the corresponding parts of the reserved display unit of the normal pattern reserved display device 38, which is provided in plurality in correspondence with the upper limit number of the normal reserved memory number X3, are lit up by the process of step S400-5. In addition, in the gate passing process, a gate switch passing designation command indicating that the game ball has passed through the normal passing gate 68 is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer).

(Step S500-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the first start hole detection switch SW1 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the first start hole detection switch SW1 based on the entry of the game ball into the first starting component 60. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, a first start hole detection designation command is generated and processing proceeds to step S520, and if there is no input, processing proceeds to step S500-5. The first start hole detection designation command is sent to the performance control circuit 200, and the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the entry of the game ball into the first starting component 60 based on the command.

(Step S520)
The CPU 100a executes a first starting hole passing process based on the entry of the game ball into the first starting component 60. Details of the first starting hole passing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S500-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether the second start hole detection switch SW2 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the second start hole detection switch SW2 based on the entry of the game ball into the second start component 62. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, a second start hole detection designation command is generated and processing proceeds to step S530, and if there is no input, processing proceeds to step S500-7. The second start hole detection designation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, and the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the entry of the game ball into the second start component 62 based on the command.

(Step S530)
The CPU 100a executes a second start opening passage process based on the entry of the game ball into the second start component 62. Details of the second start opening passage process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S500-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the large prize opening detection switch SW3 or the large prize opening detection switch SW4 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal is input from the large prize opening detection switch SW3 or the large prize opening detection switch SW4 based on the entry of a game ball into the first large prize winning device 64 or the second large prize winning device 65. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal is input from the large prize opening detection switch SW3 or the large prize opening detection switch SW4, a large prize opening detection designation command is generated and processing is shifted to step S500-9, and if there is no input, processing is shifted to step S500-11. The large prize opening detection command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, and the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the entry of the game ball into the first large prize winning device 64 or the second large prize winning device 65 based on the command.

(Step S500-9)
The CPU 100a executes a large prize opening passage process based on the entry of the gaming ball into the first large prize winning device 64 or the second large prize winning device 65. Details of the large prize opening passage process will be described later with reference to FIG. 17(b).

(Step S500-11)
The CPU 100a judges whether the general winning hole detection switch SW5 disposed in the general winning component 66 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the general winning hole detection switch SW5 based on the entry of a game ball into the general winning component 66. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input from the general winning hole detection switch SW5, the process proceeds to step S500-13, and if there is no input, the switch management process is terminated.
(Step S500-13)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a general winning port switch passing designation command indicating that the game ball has entered the general winning component. By transmitting the command to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the general winning component and the number of winning balls (for example, 1 or 3). Note that multiple general winning components are arranged, and since a general winning port detection switch SW5 is provided individually corresponding to each general winning component, it is possible to determine the general winning component that the ball entered and the number of winning balls. In addition, the number of winning balls of multiple general winning components does not have to be the same.

[First starting port passing process]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the first starting port passing process (step S520) in the main control circuit 100.

(Step S520-1)
The CPU 100a sets "00H" as the special symbol identification value. Here, the special symbol identification value is for identifying whether the reserved type is special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved. For example, the special symbol identification value "00H" indicates special 1 reserved, and the special symbol identification value "01H" indicates special 2 reserved.

(Step S520-3)
The CPU 100a sets the address of the reserved ball count counter for special pattern 1.

(Step S535)
The CPU 100a executes the special symbol random number acquisition process and ends the first start hole passing process. This special symbol random number acquisition process is executed using a module common to the second start hole passing process (step S530). Therefore, the details of the special symbol random number acquisition process will be explained after the explanation of the second start hole passing process.

[Second starting port passing process]
FIG. 17(a) is a flowchart explaining the second start port passing processing (step S530) in the main control circuit 100.

(Step S530-1)
The CPU 100a sets "01H" as the special symbol identification value.

(Step S530-3)
The CPU 100a sets the address of the special pattern 2 reserved ball count counter.

(Step S535)
The CPU 300a executes a special symbol random number acquisition process, which will be described later, and ends the process.

(Step S530-5)
The CPU 100a loads the normal game management phase. Here, the normal game management phase is "00H" indicating the execution of normal pattern change waiting processing, "01H" indicating the execution of normal pattern change processing, "02H" indicating the execution of normal pattern stop post processing, "03H" indicating the execution of normal electric role opening pre-processing, "04H" indicating the execution of normal electric role opening control processing, "05H" indicating the execution of normal electric role opening closing valid processing, and "06H" indicating the execution of normal electric role opening end wait processing, that is, the stage of the execution processing of the normal game, that is, the progress of the normal game, and is updated by the normal game management processing in the above-mentioned step S700 according to the stage of the execution processing of the normal game.

For example, when the normal game management phase is "00H" indicating the execution of the normal pattern change waiting process, the normal game lottery using the normal game lottery judgment table TB and the normal game pattern determination lottery using the normal game pattern change pattern determination table TB are executed on the condition that the normal game number (X3) in the normal game memory area is 1 or more, and the determined normal game pattern change time is set in the timer. Also, when the normal game management phase is "01H" indicating the execution of the normal game pattern change process, the stop mode of the normal game pattern is determined and the stop time is set according to the elapse of the normal game pattern change time set in the timer, and the change of the normal game pattern is stopped. Also, when the normal game management phase is "02H" indicating the execution of the normal game pattern stop process, the result of the normal game lottery is confirmed after the stop time has elapsed, and the timer is set to the pre-open time, which is the time until the opening and closing body 63 opens, on the condition that it is "hit". If it is "miss", it returns to the normal game pattern change waiting process (00H). In addition, when the normal game management phase is "03H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening pre-processing, the normal electric role opening opening switching process is executed on the condition that the above pre-opening time has elapsed. Here, the normal electric role opening opening switching process is a process of extracting the control data of the solenoid SOL1 according to the above-mentioned opening and closing body operation table TB. In addition, when the normal game management phase is "04H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening opening control process, the solenoid SOL1 is energized according to the above-mentioned control data, the opening and closing body 63 is opened until the opening and closing number of times (upper limit number of times) of the opening and closing body specified in the opening and closing body operation table TB is reached, and the opening and closing body 63 is closed based on the upper limit number of times being reached. In addition, when the normal game management phase is "05H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening closing valid process, the timer is set to the wait time from when the above-mentioned opening and closing body 63 is closed until the normal pattern change waiting process (00H) is executed again. In addition, when the normal symbol game management phase is "06H" which indicates the execution of the normal electric role winning port end wait process, the normal symbol game management phase is transitioned to the normal symbol change wait process (00H) based on the elapse of the above-mentioned wait time.
As described above, each regular game play management phase switches depending on the stage of the regular game play execution processing, and the main control circuit 100 progresses the regular game play by executing processing corresponding to each regular game play management phase.

(Step S530-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the normal game management phase loaded in the above step S530-5 is less than the normal electric role release control state (normal game management phase < 04H). As described above, the "04H" of the normal game management phase indicates that the normal electric role release control process is in progress. In this normal electric role release control process, the solenoid SOL1 is energized and the opening and closing body 63 provided on the second start winning component 62 is controlled to be in an open state, so here, it is determined whether the opening and closing body 63 is in a state in which it can be properly opened. As a result, if it is determined that it is less than the normal electric role release control state, the process is transferred to step S530-9, and if it is determined that it is not less than the normal electric role release control state, the process is transferred to step S530-11.

(Step S530-9)
The CPU 100a judges whether or not an abnormal winning has occurred, and if it judges that an abnormal winning has occurred, it transmits a start port abnormal winning error designation command to the performance control circuit 200 and ends the second start port passing process. When the performance control circuit 200 receives the command, it notifies the possibility of an illegal winning by, for example, the display screen D1, the speaker unit 8, an LED, etc. The judgment of an abnormal winning may be made based on, for example, the winning of multiple game balls during a certain period of time less than the normal electric role release control state, or may be made immediately based on the winning of one game ball.

(Step S530-11)
The CPU 100a judges whether the normal game management phase is "04H" indicating that the normal electric role release control process is in progress. If the normal game management phase is "04H" as a result of the judgment, the process proceeds to step S530-13, and if it is not "04H", the second start gate passing process is terminated.

(Step S530-13)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the normal electric device winning ball count counter to a value obtained by adding "1" to the current counter value, and ends the second starting hole passing process.

[Big prize gate passing process]
FIG. 17(b) is a flow chart explaining the special prize opening passage process (step S533) in the main control circuit 100.

(Step S533-1)
The CPU 100a determines whether the current game state is a jackpot game or not, and if so, proceeds to step S533-3, and if not, proceeds to step S533-7.

(Step S533-3)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the counter for determining whether or not a jackpot has been won, and then proceeds to the next process.

(Step S533-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the counter for judging excess winnings at the time of a big win after the update exceeds a preset threshold value, and if it exceeds the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S533-11 as an abnormality judgment, and if it does not exceed the threshold value, the process of passing through the big win opening is terminated. Here, the counter for judging excess winnings at the time of a big win is a counter that is cleared at the same time as the start of a round of play, and is judged as abnormal if the counter value in one round of play exceeds the specified number of wins (9 in this example), for example, by 4 or more.

(Step S533-7)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the counter for determining excess winning during normal play and transfers the process.

(Step S533-9)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the counter for judging excess winning during normal times after the update exceeds a preset threshold value, and if it exceeds the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S533-11 as an abnormality judgment, and if it does not exceed the threshold value, the process of passing through the large prize opening is terminated. Here, the counter for judging excess winning during normal times is a counter that is cleared at regular intervals during normal times when a special game is not being played, and if the counter value exceeds a threshold value (for example, "2") during normal times when a special game is not being played, it is judged as an abnormality. The threshold value for the abnormality judgment can be set arbitrarily, and the abnormality judgment may be made immediately based on the winning of one game ball.

(Step S533-11)
The CPU 100a transmits a command for designating an abnormal winning error at the large winning port 64A or 65A to the performance control circuit 200 based on the occurrence of an abnormal winning at the large winning port 64A or 65A during a big win game or in normal play, and ends the process of passing through the large winning port. When the performance control circuit 200 receives the command, it notifies the possibility of an illegal winning by, for example, the display screen D1, the speaker unit 8, an LED, or the like.

[Special design random number acquisition process]
18 is a flow chart for explaining the special symbol random number acquisition process (step S535) in the main control circuit 100. This special symbol random number acquisition process is executed by using a common module in the above-mentioned first start hole passing process (step S520) and second start hole passing process (step S530).

(Step S535-1)
The CPU 100a loads the special symbol identification value set in the above step S520-1 or step S530-1.

(Step S535-3)
The CPU 100a loads the number of reserved balls for the target special symbol. Here, if the special symbol identification value loaded in the above step S535-1 is "00H", the counter value of the special symbol 1 reserved ball counter, i.e., the special 1 reserved number, is loaded. Also, if the special symbol identification value loaded in the above step S535-1 is "01H", the counter value of the special symbol 2 reserved ball counter, i.e., the special 2 reserved number, is loaded.

(Step S535-5)
The CPU 100a loads the special drawing win/loss determination random number updated by the hardware random number generation unit.

(Step S535-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the number of reserved balls with the target special symbol (the number of reserved balls with the special symbol 1 or the number of reserved balls with the special symbol 2) loaded in the above step S535-3 is equal to or greater than the upper limit of 4. If it is judged that the number of reserved balls is equal to or greater than the upper limit, the CPU 100a ends the special symbol random number acquisition process. If it is judged that the number of reserved balls is not equal to or greater than the upper limit, the CPU 100a proceeds to step S535-9.

(Step S535-9)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the target special pattern reserved ball count counter (special pattern 1 reserved ball count counter or special pattern 2 reserved ball count counter) to a value obtained by adding "1" to the current counter value.

(Step S535-11)
The CPU 100a calculates the target memory section (first memory section to fourth memory section) among the memory sections of the special drawing pending memory area, into which the acquired special drawing win/loss determination random number is to be saved.

(Step S535-13)
The CPU 100a obtains the special drawing win/loss determination random number loaded in step S535-5, the special drawing type determination random number updated in step S400-13, and the variation pattern determination random number updated in step S100-43, and stores them in the target memory unit calculated in step S535-11.

(Step S535-15)
The CPU 100a executes the acquisition time performance judgment process based on the various random numbers stored in the target storage unit in step S535-13. Although detailed explanations are omitted, the acquisition time performance judgment process is a process in which, when a new random number is stored by each of the above processes, a special pattern win/lose lottery process, a special pattern type determination process, and a change pattern determination process are executed prior to the special pattern change waiting process shown in FIG. 22 described later, and information corresponding to the lottery result derived by these lotteries (pre-determination information) is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 side as a look-ahead designation command at the time when the new random number is stored. By transmitting the look-ahead designation command to the performance control circuit 200 side in advance, the performance control circuit 200 side can display the result of the special pattern win/lose lottery ("jackpot", "miss") and a predetermined performance (look-ahead performance) suggesting a change pattern on the display screen D1 before the special pattern change waiting process based on the reservation for which the look-ahead designation command is generated is executed based on the information contained in the look-ahead designation command.

(Step S535-17)
The CPU 100a loads the counter values of the special pattern 1 reserved ball count counter and the special pattern 2 reserved ball count counter.

(Step S535-19)
The CPU 100a sets the special symbol reservation command in the transmission buffer (stores it in the transmission buffer) based on the counter value loaded in the above step S535-17, and ends the special symbol random number acquisition process (step S535). Here, the special symbol 1 reservation command is set based on the counter value (special 1 reservation number) of the special symbol 1 reserved ball number counter, and the special symbol 2 reservation command is set based on the counter value (special 2 reservation number) of the special symbol 2 reserved ball number counter.

By transmitting the special chart 1 reservation designation command or the special chart 2 reservation designation command to the performance control circuit 200 side, the performance control circuit 200 can grasp the current special chart 1 reservation number and special chart 2 reservation number. Specifically, the performance control circuit 200 is provided with a special chart 1 reservation ball number counter and a special chart 2 reservation ball number counter whose counter value increases in response to receiving the special chart 1 reservation designation command and the special chart 2 reservation designation command, and the special chart 1 reservation number and the special chart 2 reservation number are updated in real time. In addition, when the special chart 1 reservation designation command or the special chart 2 reservation designation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 side, the performance control circuit 200 performs control to increase the number of predetermined reservation number displays indicating the special chart 1 reservation number and the special chart 2 reservation number displayed on a part of the display screen D1, for example, so that the current special chart 1 reservation number and the special chart 2 reservation number can be visually recognized and recognized by the player. In addition, by executing this process, the corresponding parts of the reserve display section of the first special pattern reserve display device 36A and the second special pattern reserve display device 36B, which are provided in multiple numbers corresponding to the upper limit of the special 1 reserve number and the special 2 reserve number, are lit up by the process of step S400-5.

19 is a diagram for explaining the special game management phase. As described above, in this embodiment, various lottery processes (special game) regarding the possibility of a special game triggered by the entry of a game ball into the first starting part 60 or the second starting part 62, and various lottery processes (normal game) regarding the possibility of a normal game triggered by the passage of a game ball through the passing gate 68 proceed simultaneously in parallel.
The special game is executed step by step and repeatedly each time the game ball enters the first starting component 60 or the second starting component 62, and the main control circuit 100 manages each process related to the special game by a special game management phase.

As shown in FIG. 19, ROM 100b stores a number of special game control modules for controlling the execution of special game games, and each of these special game control modules is associated with a special game management phase. Specifically, when the special game management phase is "00H", a module for executing "special symbol change waiting process" is called, when the special game management phase is "01H", a module for executing "special symbol change during process" is called, when the special game management phase is "02H", a module for executing "special symbol stop after process" is called, when the special game management phase is "03H", a module for executing "large prize opening pre-process" is called, when the special game management phase is "04H", a module for executing "large prize opening control process" is called, when the special game management phase is "05H", a module for executing "large prize opening closing valid process" is called, when the special game management phase is "06H", a module for executing "large prize opening end wait process" is called.

[Special game management processing]
FIG. 20 is a flowchart explaining the special game management process (step S600) in the main control circuit 100.

(Step S600-1)
The CPU 100a loads the special chart game management phase.

(Step S600-3)
The CPU 100a selects a special game control module corresponding to the special game management phase loaded in step S600-1.

(Step S600-5)
The CPU 100a calls the special game control module selected in step S600-3 above and starts processing.

(Step S600-7)
The CPU 100a loads a special chart game timer that manages the control time related to the special chart game, and ends the special chart game management process.

[Special pattern change waiting process]
21 is a flowchart for explaining the special symbol change waiting process in the main control circuit 100. This special symbol change waiting process is executed when the special symbol game management phase is "00H".

(Step S610-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special symbol 2 reserved ball counter, i.e., the special 2 reserved number, is "1" or more. If the result of the judgment is that the special 2 reserved number is "1" or more, the process proceeds to step S610-5, and if the result is that the special 2 reserved number is not "1" or more, the process proceeds to step S610-3.

(Step S610-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special symbol 1 reserved ball counter, that is, the special 1 reserved number, is "1" or more. As a result, if it is judged that the special 1 reserved number is "1" or more, the process proceeds to step S610-5, and if it is judged that the special 1 reserved number is not "1" or more, the process of waiting for the change of the special symbol is terminated.

(Step S610-5)
The CPU 100a subtracts "1" from the counter value of the target special pattern reserved ball count counter corresponding to the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved, sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a special 1 reserved subtraction designation command or a special 2 reserved subtraction designation command indicating that the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved has been subtracted by "1", and block-transfers the special 2 reserved stored in the first memory unit to the fourth memory unit of the second special pattern reserved memory area, or the special 1 reserved stored in the first memory unit to the fourth memory unit of the first special pattern reserved memory area, to the memory unit with the next smaller ordinal number.
Specifically, RAM 100c is provided with a 0th memory section to be processed, and if it is determined in the above step S610-1 that the special 2 reservation number is "1" or more, the special 2 reservations stored in the 1st memory section to the 4th memory section of the second special chart reservation memory area are transferred to the 0th memory section to the 3rd memory section, and the 4th memory section is cleared.
In addition, in the above step S610-3, when it is determined that the number of reserved special symbols 1 is "1" or more, the reserved special symbols 1 stored in the first storage section to the fourth storage section of the first special symbol reserved storage area are transferred to the zeroth storage section to the third storage section, and the fourth storage section is cleared. In addition, a game status confirmation designation command is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer) based on the information of the special symbol probability status flag and the normal symbol probability status flag.

By transmitting the special 1 reservation reduction command or the special 2 reservation reduction command to the performance control circuit 200 side, information on the reduced special 1 reservation number or special 2 reservation number is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 side. Upon receiving the special 1 reservation reduction command or the special 2 reservation reduction command, the performance control circuit 200 subtracts one from the counter value of the special 1 reservation ball number counter or the special 2 reservation ball number counter. In addition, based on receiving the special 1 reservation reduction command or the special 2 reservation reduction command, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a command to the VDP to reduce the number of the predetermined reservation number display that has increased based on the special 1 reservation designation command or the special 2 reservation designation command, so that the reduced special 1 reservation number and special 2 reservation number can be visually recognized and recognized by the player on the display screen D1. In addition, by executing this process, the corresponding part of the reservation display unit of either the first special pattern reservation display device 36A or the second special pattern reservation display device 36B is turned off by the process of step S400-5. In addition, when a game status confirmation command is sent to the performance control circuit 200, information about the current game status is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 each time the special symbol starts to change.

(Step S610-7)
The CPU 100a loads the hold type, the special pattern probability state flag which identifies whether the special pattern has a low probability or a high probability, and the special pattern hit/miss judgment random number transferred to the 0th memory unit, selects the corresponding special pattern hit/miss judgment table TB1 for low probability or special pattern hit/miss judgment table TB2 for high probability in Figure 4, performs a special pattern hit/miss lottery process, and stores data related to the lottery result ("jackpot", "miss") (special pattern hit/miss judgment data).

(Step S610-9)
The CPU 100a executes a special pattern type determination process for determining the special pattern type. Here, if the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery in the above step S610-9 is a "jackpot", the reserved type and the special pattern type determination random number transferred to the 0th storage unit are loaded, the special pattern type (jackpot pattern) is extracted from either the special pattern type determination table TB1; TB2, and data (special pattern type data) related to the extracted special pattern type is stored. On the other hand, if the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery in step S610-7 is a "loss", the special pattern type related to the special pattern X (losing pattern X) is extracted from the special pattern type determination table TB3, and the special pattern type data related to the special pattern X is stored.
After storing the special chart type data, a special chart type designation command corresponding to the special chart type data is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer). That is, by transmitting the special chart type designation command, information on the extracted special chart type is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 side every time the special chart type determination process is performed.

(Step S610-11)
The CPU 100a saves the special symbol stop symbol number corresponding to the special symbol type extracted in the above step S610-9. The first special symbol display device 35A and the second special symbol display device 35B are each composed of 7 segments, and each segment constituting the 7 segments is associated with a number (counter value). The special symbol stop symbol number determined here indicates the number (counter value) of the segment that will finally be lit up.

(Step S610-13)
The CPU 100a executes a special pattern variation pattern determination lottery to determine the variation pattern of the special pattern. Specifically, it loads a normal pattern probability state flag that identifies whether the current game state is "normal pattern low probability" or "normal pattern high probability", and when the game state is "normal pattern low probability", it refers to the variation pattern determination table TB1, and when the game state is "normal pattern high probability", it refers to the variation pattern determination table TB2, and selects and determines a variation pattern number corresponding to the result of the special pattern win/loss lottery ("jackpot", "miss") and the variation pattern determination random number transferred to the 0th memory unit according to the reserved memory number from one of the variation pattern determination tables TB.
The CPU 100a extracts from the variation pattern determination table TB table, and sets a variation pattern command including the determined variation pattern number and the variation time corresponding to the variation pattern number in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer). By transmitting the variation pattern command to the performance control circuit 200 side, the performance control circuit 200 side determines the content of more specific variation performance according to the variation pattern number, and transmits a command including information regarding the determined content of the variation performance to the VDP, thereby displaying various variation performances on the display screen D1 together with the variation display of the performance pattern S.

(Step S610-15)
The CPU 100a loads the fluctuation time corresponding to the fluctuation pattern number extracted in step S610-13, and sets it in the special pattern fluctuation timer.

(Step S610-17)
The CPU 100a judges whether the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery in the above step S610-9 is a "jackpot", and if it is a "jackpot", loads the special symbol type data stored in the above step S610-9 and checks the type of the special symbol. Then, referring to the game state setting table TB shown in FIG. 9, it judges the game state to be set after the special game (jackpot game) ends, and saves the judgment result in the game state reserve flag (special symbol probability state reserve flag, normal symbol probability state reserve flag), the special symbol high probability number cut reserve counter, and the normal symbol high probability number cut reserve counter. Here, the game state set at the time of winning the special game is stored.

(Step S610-19)
The CPU 100a executes a process of setting a special symbol display counter in order to start the variable display of the special symbol in the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B. A counter value is associated with each segment of the 7-segment that constitutes the first special symbol display device 35A and the second special symbol display device 35B, and the segment corresponding to the counter value set in the special symbol display counter is controlled to light up. Here, the counter value corresponding to the segment to be lit at the start of the variable display of the special symbol is set in the special symbol display counter. In addition, the special symbol display counter is provided separately as a special symbol 1 display counter corresponding to the first special symbol display device 35A and a special symbol 2 display counter corresponding to the second special symbol display device 35B, and here, a counter value is set in the counter corresponding to the reservation type.

(Step S610-21)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol game management phase to "01H" and ends the special symbol change waiting process. By executing the series of special symbol change waiting processes, the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B starts to display the special symbol change, and the display of the performance symbol S starts to display the special symbol change on the display screen D1 in approximately synchronization with the special symbol change.

[Special pattern change processing]
22 is a flowchart for explaining the special symbol variation process in the main control circuit 100. The special symbol variation process is executed when the special symbol game management phase is "01H".

(Step S620-1)
The CPU 100a executes a process of updating the special symbol variation base counter. The special symbol variation base counter is set to a counter value that completes one revolution in a predetermined cycle (e.g., 100 ms). Specifically, when the counter value of the special symbol variation base counter is "0", a predetermined counter value (e.g., 25) is set, and when the counter value is "1" or more, the counter value is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current counter value.

(Step S620-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special symbol variation base counter updated in the above step S620-1 is "0". If the counter value is "0", the process proceeds to step S620-5. If the counter value is not "0", the process proceeds to step S620-9.

(Step S620-5)
The CPU 100a performs a special symbol fluctuation timer update process to subtract a predetermined value from the timer value of the special symbol fluctuation timer set in the above step S610-15.

(Step S620-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special symbol fluctuation timer updated in the above step S620-5 is "0". If the timer value is "0", the process proceeds to step S620-15. If the timer value is not "0", the process proceeds to step S620-9.

(Step S620-9)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol display timer that measures the lighting time of each of the 7-segment segments that make up the first special symbol display device 35A and the second special symbol display device 35B. Specifically, if the timer value of the special symbol display timer is "0", a predetermined timer value is set, and if the timer value is "1" or more, the timer value is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current timer value.

(Step S620-11)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special symbol display timer is "0". If it judges that the timer value of the special symbol display timer is "0", the process proceeds to step S620-13, and if it judges that the timer value of the special symbol display timer is not "0", the process during the special symbol variation is terminated.

(Step S620-13)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the special symbol display symbol counter to be updated, so that each segment of the 7-segment display is sequentially lit at predetermined time intervals.

(Step S620-15)
The CPU 100a updates the special chart game management phase to "02H".

(Step S620-17)
The CPU 100a saves the special symbol stop symbol number (counter value) determined in step S610-13 in the target special symbol display symbol counter. As a result, the determined special symbol is stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B.

(Step S620-19)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a special symbol stop designation command indicating that a special symbol is stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B. When the special symbol stop designation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP and stops and displays the changing performance symbol S on the display screen D1 in approximately synchronization with the stopped display of the special symbol.

(Step S620-21)
The CPU 100a sets a special symbol variation stop time (fixed time), which is the time for stopping and displaying the special symbol, in a special game timer, and transfers the processing.

(Step S620-23)
The CPU 100a sets a predetermined count value (for example, a count value corresponding to 5 seconds) in the special symbol stop timer and ends the special symbol change process. The count value set in the process is updated in the above-mentioned step S400-9.

[Special symbol stop post-processing]
23 is a flowchart for explaining the special symbol stop post-processing in the main control circuit 100. This special symbol stop post-processing is executed when the special symbol game management phase is "02H".

(Step S630-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special game timer set in the above step S620-21 is "0". If it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is not "0", the CPU 100a ends the post-stop processing of the special symbol, and if it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is "0", the CPU 100a proceeds to step S630-3.

(Step S630-3)
The CPU 100a checks the results of the special drawing.

(Step S630-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether the result of the special drawing lottery is a "jackpot". If it is judged to be a "jackpot", the process proceeds to step S630-15, and if it is judged not to be a "jackpot", the process proceeds to step S630-7.

(Step S630-7)
The CPU 100a executes a count cut management process. Here, the special symbol probability state flag is loaded to check whether the current game state is "special symbol low probability" or "special symbol high probability". If the game state is "special symbol high probability", the counter value of the special symbol high probability count cut counter is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current counter value. If the counter value becomes "0" as a result of updating the special symbol high probability count cut counter, the special symbol probability state flag corresponding to the special symbol low probability is set. As a result, in a game state of a special symbol high probability, when the special symbol is confirmed a predetermined number of times without winning a "jackpot", the game state will transition from a special symbol high probability to a special symbol low probability.

The normal symbol probability state flag is loaded to check whether the current game state is "normal symbol low probability" or "normal symbol high probability". If the game state is "normal symbol high probability", the counter value of the normal symbol high probability count cut counter is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current counter value. If the counter value becomes "0" as a result of updating the normal symbol high probability count cut counter, the flag corresponding to "normal symbol low probability" is set. As a result, in the "normal symbol high probability" game state, when the special symbol is confirmed a predetermined number of times without winning a "jackpot", the game state will transition from "normal symbol high probability" to "normal symbol low probability". Also, in step S630-7, if the game state transition is performed, the CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a game state change designation command for transmitting the game state after the transition to the performance control circuit 200. As a result, the change in the game state is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200.

(Step S630-9)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a game state confirmation designation command at the time of special symbol determination, which indicates the game state when the special symbol is determined.

(Step S630-11)
The CPU 100a sets in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer) a count command for transmitting the special symbol high probability count and the normal symbol high probability count updated in the above step S630-7 to the performance control circuit 200. That is, by the processing of the above step S630-9 and the step S630-11, each time a special symbol is determined, the game state at that time and the special symbol high probability count and the normal symbol high probability count are transmitted to the performance control circuit 200.

(Step S630-13)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol game management phase to "00H" and ends the special symbol stop post-processing. This ends the special symbol game management process based on the special symbol 1 reservation or special symbol 2 reservation (start information) of 1, and if the special symbol 1 reservation or special symbol 2 reservation is stored, processing to start the variable display of the special symbol based on the next reservation will be performed.

(Step S630-15)
The CPU 100a sets data defined in the special game control table TB shown in FIG. 8 according to the determined special symbol type (jackpot symbol).

(Step S630-17)
The CPU 100a performs a process of setting the maximum number of times the special electric device operates. Specifically, the CPU 100a refers to the data set in step S630-17, and sets a predetermined number (counter value corresponding to the special picture type = number of rounds) as a counter value in the maximum number of times the special electric device operates.

The special electric device maximum operation count counter indicates the number of rounds that can be played in the special game that is about to start. Meanwhile, a special electric device continuous operation count counter is provided in RAM 100c, and the current number of rounds is managed by adding "1" to the counter value of the special electric device continuous operation count counter at the start of each round of play (processing of step S640-3 described below). Here, when a special game starts, a process is also executed to reset (update to "0") the counter value of the special electric device continuous operation count counter.

(Step S630-19)
The CPU 100a refers to the data set in the above step S630-15, and saves a predetermined opening time as a timer value in the special game timer.

(Step S630-21)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) an opening designation command for transmitting the start of a special game to the presentation control circuit 200. When the opening designation command is transmitted, the presentation control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP, and for example, prior to the start of the special game, a predetermined opening presentation that notifies the player that a special game (jackpot game) is about to start, and the following special game presentation are displayed on the display screen D1.

(Step S630-23)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol game management phase to "03H" and ends the special symbol stop processing. This starts the special game (jackpot game).

[Pre-opening process for the big prize hole]
24 is a flow chart for explaining the process before the opening of the large prize opening in the main control circuit 100. This process before the opening of the large prize opening is executed when the special game management phase is "03H".

(Step S640-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value (opening time) set in the above step S630-21 is not "0". If it is judged that the timer value is not "0", the pre-opening process for the large prize opening is terminated, and if it is judged that the timer value is "0", the process proceeds to step S640-3.

(Step S640-3)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the special electric device continuous operation number counter to a value obtained by adding "1" to the current counter value.

(Step S640-5)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a command to specify the opening of the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A (start of the round game) to the performance control circuit 200 (specifically, a command indicating the round to be executed (1R, 2R, ...)). When the command to specify the opening of the large prize opening is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP, and displays, for example, a display regarding the current number of rounds on the display screen D1. In addition, by transmitting information (commands) regarding the number of balls that have passed the large prize opening detection switch SW3 or the large prize opening detection switch SW4 during a special game (a big win game) or the number of balls that have been instructed to the payout control circuit 150 during a special game, to the performance control circuit 200, the number of balls that have entered the game or the number of prize balls can be displayed on the display screen D1.

(Step S641)
The CPU 100a executes a special prize opening/closing switching process, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S640-7)
The CPU 100a updates the special game management phase to "04H" and ends the pre-opening processing for the large prize opening.

[Big prize opening/closing switching process]
FIG. 25 is a flowchart explaining the special prize opening/closing switching process in the main control circuit 100.

(Step S641-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special electric device opening/closing switching counter is the upper limit value of the special electric device opening/closing switching count (the number of times the special electric device opening/closing switching count of the special electric device opening/closing switching count in one round of play) (in this embodiment, it judges whether it is "1"). As a result, if it is judged that the counter value is the upper limit value, the special electric device opening/closing switching process is terminated, and if it is judged that the counter value is not the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S641-3.

(Step S641-3)
The CPU 100a refers to the data in the special game control table TB, and extracts solenoid control data for controlling the energization of solenoid SOL2 or solenoid SOL3, and timer data which is the energization time or de-energization time of solenoid SOL2 or solenoid SOL3, based on the counter value of the special electric device opening/closing switching count counter.

(Step S641-5)
Based on the solenoid control data extracted in step S641-3, the CPU 100a executes a special prize opening solenoid energization control process to start energization of the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3, or to stop energization of the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3. By executing this special prize opening solenoid energization control process, the start or stop of energization of the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3 is controlled in step S400-25 and step S400-27.

(Step S641-7)
The CPU 100a saves the timer value based on the timer data extracted in step S641-3 in the special game timer. The timer value saved in the special game timer here is the maximum opening time of the special prize opening 64A or 65A in one time.

(Step S641-9)
The CPU 100a judges whether the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3 is in the energization start state, that is, whether the control process to start energization of the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3 has been performed in the above step S641-5. If it is judged to be in the energization start state, the process proceeds to step S641-11, and if it is judged not to be in the energization start state, the big prize opening opening/closing switching process is terminated.

(Step S641-11)
The CPU 100a updates the counter value of the special electric device opening/closing switching count counter to a value obtained by adding "1" to the current counter value, and ends the large prize opening opening/closing switching process.

[Big prize opening control process]
26 is a flowchart for explaining the special prize opening control process in the main control circuit 100. This special prize opening control process is executed when the special game management phase is "04H".

(Step S650-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special game timer saved in the above step S641-7 is "0". If it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is not "0", the process proceeds to step S650-5, and if it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is "0", the process proceeds to step S650-3.

(Step S650-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special electric role opening/closing switching counter is the upper limit value of the special electric role opening/closing switching count. If it is judged that the counter value is the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S650-7, and if it is judged that the counter value is not the upper limit value, the process proceeds to step S641.

(Step S641)
In the above step S650-3, when it is determined that the counter value of the special electric role opening/closing switching count counter is not the upper limit value of the special electric role opening/closing switching count, the CPU 100a executes the process of the above step S641.

(Step S650-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the large prize opening winning ball counter updated in the above step S500-9 has reached a specified number, that is, whether the same number of game balls as the maximum number of winning balls in one round have entered the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A. If it is determined that the specified number has not been reached, the large prize opening opening opening control process is terminated, and if it is determined that the specified number has been reached, the process proceeds to step S650-7.

(Step S650-7)
The CPU 100a executes a special prize opening closing process required to close the special prize opening 64A or the special prize opening 65A by stopping the energization of the solenoid SOL2 or the solenoid SOL3. This causes the special prize opening 64A or the special prize opening 65A to be in a closed state.

(Step S650-9)
The CPU 100a saves the effective time (interval time) for closing the large prize opening in the special game timer.

(Step S650-11)
The CPU 100a updates the special chart game management phase to "05H".

(Step S650-13)
The CPU 100a sets in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer) a large prize opening closure designation command indicating that the large prize opening 64A or the large prize opening 65A has been closed, and ends the large prize opening opening control process.

[Large prize winning hole closure validity processing]
27 is a flowchart for explaining the special prize opening closing validity process in the main control circuit 100. This special prize opening closing validity process is executed when the special game management phase is "05H".

(Step S660-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special game timer saved in the above step S650-9 is "0". If it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is not "0", the CPU 100a ends the special prize opening closure valid processing, and if it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is "0", the CPU 100a proceeds to step S660-3.

(Step S660-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special electric device continuous operation counter matches the counter value of the special electric device maximum operation counter, that is, whether a preset number of rounds have been played. If it is judged that the counter value of the special electric device continuous operation counter matches the counter value of the special electric device maximum operation counter, the process proceeds to step S660-9, and if it is judged that they do not match, the process proceeds to step S660-5.

(Step S660-5)
The CPU 100a updates the special chart game management phase to "03H".

(Step S660-7)
The CPU 100a saves the predetermined special prize opening closing time in the special game timer and ends the special prize opening closing validity process, thereby starting the next round of games.

(Step S660-9)
The CPU 100a executes an ending time setting process for saving the ending time in a special game timer.

(Step S660-11)
The CPU 100a updates the special chart game management phase to "06H".

(Step S660-13)
The CPU 100a sets an ending designation command indicating the start of the ending in the transmission buffer (stores it in the transmission buffer) and ends the large prize opening closing validity process. By transmitting the ending designation command, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP and displays a predetermined ending performance on the display screen D1 to inform the player that the special game (large prize game) has ended.

[Wait processing for finishing the large prize slot]
28 is a flowchart for explaining the large prize opening end wait process in the main control circuit 100. This large prize opening end wait process is executed when the special game management phase is "06H".

(Step S670-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the timer value of the special game timer saved in the above step S660-9 is not "0". If it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is not "0", the CPU 100a ends the waiting process for the end of the special winning port, and if it is judged that the timer value of the special game timer is "0", the CPU 100a proceeds to step S670-3.

(Step S670-3)
The CPU 100a executes a game state setting process for setting the game state after the special game ends. Specifically, the CPU 100a loads the special symbol probability state reserve flag and the normal symbol probability state reserve flag saved in the above step S610-17, and saves data related to the game state.
In addition, the CPU 100a loads the special chart high probability number of times cut spare counter and the regular chart high probability number of times cut spare counter saved in step S610-17, and saves the special chart high probability number of times and regular chart high probability number of times corresponding to the special chart type in the special chart high probability number of times cut counter and the regular chart high probability number of times cut counter, respectively.

(Step S670-5)
The CPU 100a sets in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer) a game state change designation command for transmitting the game state that will be set after the special game ends.

(Step S670-7)
The CPU 100a sets in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer) a number command corresponding to the number of times of high probability of special drawing and the number of times of high probability of normal drawing saved in the above step S670-3.

(Step S670-9)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol game management phase to "00H" and ends the waiting process for the end of the special winning port. As a result, if the special 1 reserve or the special 2 reserve is stored, the variable display of the special symbol will be resumed after the end of the special game (jackpot game).

The above describes the main control processing by the main control circuit 100, but on the presentation control circuit 200 side, various presentations are executed based on the reception of various commands sent from the main control circuit 100, such as various change presentations that are displayed in approximately sync with the changing display of the special symbols, and special game presentations that are displayed during special games that may be executed after the special symbols have stopped. Below, we will explain these presentations executed by the presentation control circuit 200.

Based on receiving the variation pattern command, the performance control circuit 200 executes a variation performance determination process to start the variation display of the performance pattern S, and executes various variation performances according to the type of variation pattern command along with the variation display of the performance pattern S.

Figure 29 (a) is a front view that shows a schematic of the display screen D1 waiting for a change in a specified display mode. The changeable areas AL, AC, and AR of the display screen D1 located at the top display a changeable display of the display pattern S that changes in sync with the changeable display of the special pattern mentioned above. The display pattern S changes (scrolls) in each changeable area AL, AC, and AR, for example, in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 29(b), the effect pattern S is composed of an image (effect pattern "1" to effect pattern "8") that combines consecutive numeral notations, for example, from 1 to 8, and a predetermined character corresponding to each numeral notation. The effect pattern "8" including the numeral notation and the effect pattern "1" are set as consecutive patterns.

The display screen D1 is provided with a reserved display icon display area EI. The reserved display icon display area EI is divided in the left-right direction into a first icon display area EIA in which reserved display icons indicating the number of special 1 reserved memories are arranged, and a second icon display area EIB in which reserved display icons indicating the number of special 2 reserved memories are arranged. Each area can display reserved display icons P corresponding to the maximum number of special 1 reserved memories and special 2 reserved memories (special 1 reserved = 4, special 2 reserved = 4), and in the first icon display area EIA, reserved display icons P are arranged from right to left as the number of special 1 reserved memories increases, and in the second icon display area EIB, icons P are arranged from left to right based on the number of special 2 reserved memories. In the center of the reserved display icon display area EI, a variable target icon display area EIC is set as a rectangular area, which represents the reserved display icon P corresponding to the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved that is the subject of the special drawing (variation). In the illustrated example, three reserved display icons P are displayed in the first icon display area EIA, and one reserved display icon P is displayed in the second icon display area EIB, indicating that three unconsumed special 1 reserved items are reserved and one special 2 reserved item is reserved. Also, as shown by the arrow, when a special pattern lottery based on the start information (special 1 reserved item or special 2 reserved item) is executed, the target reserved display icon P is displayed to move to the variable target icon display area EIC, and the variable display of the performance pattern S begins approximately in sync with the timing of the movement display.

In this way, each time the effect pattern, which changes and is displayed approximately in sync with the change and stopping of the special pattern, starts to change, the reserved display icon P that was the subject of the special pattern lottery shifts toward the change target icon display area EIC, and the subsequent reserved display icons P are displayed shifting position by one, so the player can properly grasp one cycle from the start of the change of the effect pattern S, which is approximately in sync with the change and stopping of the special pattern.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the basic flow from when the performance pattern S starts to change to when it stops in one change performance. As shown in FIG. 30(a), when the change display of the performance pattern S starts, the change areas AL, AR, and AC are scrolled downward with a predetermined time difference. Then, as shown in FIG. 30(b), after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the change display of the performance pattern S, the performance pattern S of each change area AL, AC, and AR changes at high speed, making it difficult to visually recognize the contents of the performance pattern S (number display, character).
Next, as shown in FIG. 30(c), at the end of the variable time, for example, the performance pattern S of the variable area AL is displayed first, and then the performance patterns S of the variable areas AR and AC are displayed in that order. Then, as shown in FIG. 31(d), finally, in response to the performance control circuit 200 receiving the special pattern stop designation command set in step S620-19 of FIG. 22, the performance pattern S related to the variable area AC is displayed in a stopped state, and all the performance patterns S are displayed in a predetermined arrangement. Here, the final arrangement of the performance patterns S is determined based on the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery and the variable performance number described later. In addition, from the start of the display of the performance pattern S to the stop of the change, various types of performances such as multiple patterns of notice performance, reach, and super (SP) reach are expressed by still images and videos, etc., to liven up the game until the performance pattern S is displayed in a stopped state.

During the above-mentioned change performance (while the special symbols are changing), the speaker unit 8 outputs background music during the change, the stopping sounds of each performance symbol S, or sound effects corresponding to advance notice and reach performances. At the same time, the LEDs mounted on the panel side LED board Q and the LED board R arranged on the movable role piece 80 emit light in various patterns corresponding to the change performance. In other words, the change performance executed while the special symbols are changing is expressed not only by the change in the performance symbol S displayed on the performance display screen D1, but also by the output of sound and the emission of LEDs, etc.

31 is a diagram showing a plurality of examples of preview effects displayed during one variation performance. Fig. 31(a) shows an example of a line preview, and as shown in the figure, the line preview is a mode in which a specific character is displayed large and a specific line corresponding to the character (in the figure, "I will not let my targeted prey escape") is displayed below.
As shown in the figure, five patterns are set for the color of a specific line, including the default "black,""red,""gold,""tiger," and "rainbow," and the expectation (attention) of a "jackpot" increases from "black" to "rainbow." In other words, if the result of the special drawing lottery is a "miss," the probability of a color other than "black" appearing tends to be low, and if the result of the special drawing lottery is a "win," the probability of a color other than "black" appearing tends to be high. This tendency is also true for various preview effects described below. Note that the object to be colored may not only be the lines, but may also be the entire (background) image including the lines.

As shown in FIG. 31(a), each color of the dialogue is associated with a light emission pattern (color) of the movable gadget 80. As a specific example, "no light emission" corresponds to the dialogue of "black," "red" corresponds to the light emission color "red," "gold" and "tiger" corresponds to the light emission color "yellow," and "rainbow" corresponds to the light emission color "rainbow." By this correspondence, when the dialogue preview of the above multiple patterns appears, the LED board R of the movable gadget 80 is controlled, and in addition to the expectation level (attention level) represented by the color of the dialogue, the light emission color of the movable gadget 80 may also supplementarily suggest the expectation level (attention level) of a jackpot, and the player can grasp the expectation level of a jackpot from the light emission color.

Figure 31 (b) shows an example of a handcuffs notice, and as shown in the figure, the handcuffs notice is displayed as if many handcuffs are intertwined. In addition to the default "silver", the handcuffs are also set with color patterns of "red" and "gold", with the expectation (attention level) of a "jackpot" increasing from "silver" to "gold". As with the dialogue notice, the object to be colored may not only be the handcuffs, but may be the entire (background) image including the handcuffs. In addition, the light emission color of the movable part 80 is associated with "silver" handcuffs as "no light emission", "red" handcuffs as "red" light emission color, and "yellow" handcuffs as "gold" handcuffs.

The figure shows an example of an icon appearance announcement that may be executed following a handcuffs announcement. The icon appearance announcement is always executed if the color of the handcuffs in the handcuffs announcement is "red" or higher, and is executed with a specified probability if the color is "silver". As shown in the figure, the icon appearance announcement is an effect in which an icon with a specified character or message is displayed large, and the icon is set to "red", "gold", "tiger", and "rainbow" in addition to the default "black". Furthermore, "no light" is associated with the "black" icon, "yellow" is associated with the "red", "gold" and "tiger" icons for the "red" handcuffs, and "rainbow" is associated with the "rainbow" icon as the light emission color of the movable part 80. Note that the object to be colored is not limited to the icon, and it is also possible to apply color to the entire (background) image including the icon, etc.

Figure 31 (c) shows an example of a manga-style preview. A manga-style preview is a presentation in which a specific character is displayed to represent a frame of a manga, and in addition to the default "black," "red" and "gold" are set as color patterns for the frames representing the frames. In addition, the light emission colors of the movable props 80 are associated with "no light" for a "black" frame, "red" for a "red" frame, and "yellow" for a "gold" frame.

The figure shows an example of a line appearance announcement that may be executed following a cartoon-style announcement. Note that the line appearance announcement is always executed when the frame color in the cartoon-style announcement is "red" or higher, and is executed with a specified probability when it is "black". As shown in the figure, the line appearance announcement is a performance in which a specified cartoon line is displayed large, and in addition to the default "black", "red", "gold", and "rainbow" are set for the line. Also, "no light" is associated with "black" line, "red" with "red" line, "yellow" with "gold" line, and "rainbow" with "rainbow" line as the light color of the movable prop 80. Note that the object to be colored is not limited to the line, and it is also possible to apply color to the entire (background) image including the line, etc.

Figure 31 (d) shows an example of a zone notice. As shown in the figure, the zone notice is set to zone notice 1 and zone notice 2, which has a higher expectation of a jackpot (attention level) than zone notice 1. Zone notice 1 has a purple background and is an effect in which a specific character and a message "Fujiko Zone" are displayed, and is an effect that is mainly developed at the same time as the special pattern (effect pattern) starts to change. Zone notice 2 has a gold background and is an effect in which a specific character and a message "Super Fujiko Zone" are displayed, and is an effect that is mainly developed at the same time as the special pattern (effect pattern) starts to change, similar to zone notice 1. In addition, "purple" is associated with zone notice 1, and "rainbow" is associated with zone notice 2 as the light emission color of the movable role object 80.

As described above, the preview performance, which constitutes part of the variable performance, has a plurality of patterns based on color, and the color pattern suggests the expectation degree (attention degree) of a big hit. In addition, since the display time of the preview performance, or the display time of a message or image having a specific color is short compared to the entire time of the variable performance, it can be said that it is easy to miss it, and to supplement this, the light color of the movable role object 80 is further supplementarily suggested to suggest the expectation degree (attention degree).
In addition, each preview performance may be displayed multiple times or may be overlapped during one variable performance, and the light emission control of the movable prop 80 in such cases will be described below.

Figure 32 is a time chart showing the flow of variable effects when multiple preview effects are combined. As shown in the figure, the light colors of the movable parts 80 are prioritized, with the order of priority (expectations, attention) increasing from "purple" < "red" < "gold" < "rainbow."

Figure 32 (a) shows a case where the zone notice 1 and the line notice ("gold") are displayed in parallel. As mentioned above, the zone notice 1 is a performance that starts immediately after the performance pattern S starts to change, and is displayed continuously until just before the performance pattern S stops changing. In addition, the line notice ("gold") is displayed so as to overlap (coexist) with the zone notice 1 during the period T1 of the changing performance. In this case, the light color of the movable part 80 becomes "purple" at the same time as the zone notice 1 starts, and is maintained continuously for a certain period of time. In addition, when the line notice ("gold") starts at the beginning of T1, it changes to a light color of "yellow" that takes precedence over "purple" in response to the start timing, and is maintained until the end of T1. Next, it changes (returns) to "purple", which is the light color corresponding to the zone notice 1, in response to the timing when the line notice ("gold") ends, and continues until the end of the zone notice 1.

Figure 32 (b) shows a case where Zone Notice 2 and a line notice ("Gold") are displayed overlapping each other. In this case, the light color of the movable part 80 becomes "rainbow", which has the highest priority, at the same time as Zone Notice 2 starts. After that, although the line notice ("Gold") starts at the beginning of T1, "rainbow", which has the highest priority, is maintained without changing to "yellow", which has a lower priority, and continues until Zone Notice 2 ends.

In this way, if there is a period during a single variable performance where preview performances overlap, the light color will be selected according to priority.

On the other hand, the example shown in Figure 32 (c) shows an example in which multiple preview effects are individually displayed during one variable performance, and in the figure, a dialogue preview ("gold") is executed during period T1, and a handcuff preview (red) and an icon appearance preview (rainbow) are displayed during periods T2 and T3.
In such a case, since the preview performances do not overlap at the same time, light emission control is performed with a predefined light color corresponding to each preview performance. Specifically, the light color is "yellow" at T1, changes to "red" at T2, and changes to "rainbow" at T3. Note that the light emission is "none (off)" outside the preview performance period, such as between T1 and T2.
The main processing of the performance control circuit 200 capable of executing the above-mentioned performance processing will be described below.

[CPU initialization process of the performance control circuit 200]
FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating the sub-CPU initialization process (step S1000) of the performance control circuit 200.

(Step S1000-1)
When the power is turned on, the CPU 200a reads a CPU initialization program from the ROM 200b and initializes and sets flags and the like stored in the RAM 200c.

(Step S1000-3)
Next, the CPU 200a performs a process of updating the random numbers involved in determining the variable performance (in this example, the random numbers determining the preview performance, the random numbers determining the reach pattern, etc.), and thereafter repeats the process of step S1000-3 until the interrupt process is performed.

[Sub timer interrupt processing of the performance control circuit 200]
34 is a flow chart for explaining the sub timer interrupt process (step S1100) of the performance control circuit 200. The performance control circuit 200 is provided with a reset clock pulse generating circuit (not shown) that generates a clock pulse at a predetermined period. When the reset clock pulse generating circuit generates a clock pulse, the CPU 200a reads a timer interrupt process program and starts the sub timer interrupt process.

(Step S1100-1)
The CPU 200a saves the register.

(Step S1100-3)
The CPU 200a performs a process for permitting an interrupt.

(Step S1100-5)
The CPU 200a performs update processing of various timer counters used in the performance control circuit 200. Here, unless otherwise specified, the various timer counters are decremented by 1 each time the sub-timer interrupt processing of the performance control circuit 200 is performed, and the decrement stops when the counter reaches 0.

(Step S1200)
The CPU 200a analyzes the commands stored in the receiving buffer of the RAM 200c and performs various processes according to the received commands. In the performance control circuit 200, when the various commands described above are transmitted from the main control circuit 100, a command reception interrupt process (not shown) is performed and the command transmitted from the main control circuit 100 is stored in the receiving buffer. Here, the command stored in the receiving buffer is analyzed by the command reception interrupt process.

(Step S1300)
The CPU 200a measures the elapsed time of the variable performance, and performs a time schedule management process by referring to a time table set for each variable performance and executing a process corresponding to the corresponding time stored in the time table during the variable performance. The details of this time schedule management process will be described later.

(Step S1100-7)
The CPU 200a transmits and outputs commands (internal commands) and various data and internal commands set in the transmission buffer of the RAM 200c to a VDP for the above-mentioned image control of the display screen D1, a voice synthesis LSI for voice control, or a driver circuit for controlling the lighting of LEDs, etc.

(Step S1100-9)
The CPU 200a restores the registers and ends the sub timer interrupt process.

[Variation pattern command reception processing]
Fig. 35 is a flow chart for explaining the variation pattern command receiving process (step S1210) executed when a variation pattern command is received in the command analysis process of step S1200 in Fig. 34. As described above, the variation pattern command is set in the main control circuit 100 in step S610-14 in Fig. 21, and then transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 by the sub-command transmission process of step S100-39.

(Step S1210-1)
When the variation pattern command is received, the CPU 200a analyzes the received variation pattern command.

(Step S1210-3)
The CPU 200a obtains random numbers (0 to 249) related to the variable performance such as the preview performance determination random number and the reach pattern determination random number updated in the above step S1000-3, and refers to the preview performance pattern determination table TB and the reach pattern determination table TB corresponding to the variable pattern number, determines a specific preview performance pattern and reach pattern from these tables, and the content of the variable performance is determined.

36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the advance notice performance pattern determination table TB and the reach pattern determination table TB. As shown in the figure, each table is subdivided according to the result of the special drawing lottery and the variation pattern number determined by the main control circuit 100 side.
Fig. 36(a) shows, as an example of the advance notice performance pattern determination table TB, the advance notice performance pattern determination table TB1;TB2 that is referred to when the variation pattern number is "H08" and the result of the special chart winning/losing lottery is "jackpot" and "miss", respectively. Also, Fig. 36(b) shows, as an example of the reach pattern determination table TB, the reach pattern determination table TB1;TB2 that is referred to when the variation pattern number is "09H" and the result of the special chart winning/losing lottery is "jackpot" and "losing", respectively.

In the preview performance pattern determination table TB1;TB2, multiple preview performance numbers are specified for the range of the preview performance pattern determination random number from 0 to 199. Each preview performance number is associated with the content of the preview performance described above. As is clear from the difference in the distribution rate of the preview performance pattern determination random number in the preview performance pattern determination table TB1;TB2, the probability that the color in the preview performance will be "red" or higher ("red", "gold", "tiger", "rainbow") or "gold" or higher is set higher when the result of the special chart lottery is a "jackpot" than when it is a "miss", and for example, the preview performance corresponding to "0FH" which corresponds to "rainbow" is a preview performance that is selected only when it is a "jackpot". In this way, the color pattern in the preview performance has a correlation with the expectation (attention) of a "jackpot", and the player can infer the expectation (attention) of a "jackpot" by recognizing the color in the preview performance.

As shown in FIG. 36(b), the reach pattern determination table TB1;TB2 specifies a number of reach performance numbers for the reach pattern determination random number range from 0 to 199. Each reach performance number is associated with the content of the reach performance. Here, the reach performance is a performance that unfolds after forming a so-called reach state in which two of the three performance patterns S temporarily stop with the same pattern, and expresses whether the remaining performance pattern S stops with the same pattern as the performance pattern S that formed the reach, and the reach performance is expressed by moving images and still images with various characters and backgrounds. In contrast, the notice performance means a general performance that suggests the expectation of a big hit and the development of the reach performance before and after the formation of the reach. In the figure, "SP1", "SP2", "movable body SP1", and "movable body SP2" are shown as examples of reach effects, but this is not limited to these, and various reach effects not shown in the figure are set according to the movement pattern selected on the main control circuit 100 side.

In the figure, "movable body SP1" and "movable body SP2" are reach patterns that involve the raising and lowering movement of the movable role object 80 in the reach performance, and when a reach pattern that involves such raising and lowering movement is selected, the light emission control corresponding to the color of the advance notice performance shown in Figures 31 and 32 is prohibited. This prohibition processing takes into consideration the confusion of the player when light emission corresponding to the color of the advance notice performance and the raising and lowering movement are mixed, but if the end of the advance notice performance and the start of the raising and lowering movement are separated in time, the light emission control may be executed.

In this way, various types of preview performance patterns and reach patterns are provided with different types and allocation rates according to the variation pattern number determined by the main control circuit 100, and the variation performance patterns that unfold on the display screen D1 are extremely diverse depending on the preview performance pattern and reach pattern selected.

As described above, the performance control circuit 200 refers to the result of the special drawing and to one of the advance notice performance pattern determination tables TB and reach pattern determination tables TB that correspond to the variable pattern number, and extracts and determines the advance notice performance number and reach performance number that correspond to the obtained random number from each of the referenced tables.

(Step S1210-5)
The CPU 200a sets (stores) in the transmission buffer a variable performance execution command for executing the specific variable performance (preview performance + reach performance) determined in step S1210-3 above, and transfers processing. The variable performance execution command set here includes information on the preview performance number and the reach performance number, etc. When the variable performance execution command is sent as an internal command to the VDP, the VDP starts image display control for displaying the variable performance. In addition, when music data, light emission pattern data, and internal commands corresponding to the variable performance are set in the transmission buffer, the BGM and LED light emission during the variation starts.

(Step S1210-7)
The CPU 200a sets data in a time table that specifies the time required for the variable performance (preview performance + reach performance) determined in step S1210-3 above, such as the display time of the video or image corresponding to the variable performance, the button valid period, and the time when the performance pattern S is displayed stationary.
In this example, based on the fact that a preview performance pattern other than the default colors ("black" and "silver") has been determined as the preview performance, data on the time table related to the light emission control for controlling the movable role object 80 with a color corresponding to the preview performance color is set. Specifically, data on the light emission color and the light emission timing and period corresponding to the start timing and length of the preview performance is set.

(Step S1210-9)
The CPU 200a resets the variable time measuring timer to measure the execution time of the variable performance, and ends the variable pattern command receiving process. The variable time measuring timer reset here has a counter value added each time a timer interruption process is performed in the time schedule management process of step S1300, thereby measuring the execution time of the variable performance, and a predetermined control process is performed at each period specified in the time table.

[Time schedule management process]
37 is a flow chart explaining the time schedule management process (step S1300). As described above, the CPU 200a sets the variable performance execution command in the transmission buffer, and the command is transmitted as an internal command to the VDP that controls the display screen D1 in step S1100-7, whereby the variable display of the performance pattern S is started on the display screen D1, and the variable performance is started in various forms in accordance with the variable display. The time schedule management process manages the time of displaying various performances that are expressed during the execution of the variable performance.

(Step S1300-1)
First, the CPU 200a increments the counter value of the variable time timer to update the execution time of the variable performance. As described above, the counter value of the variable time timer is reset every time in step S1210-9.

(Step S1300-3)
The CPU 200a refers to the time table, sets various internal commands in the transmission buffer according to the current execution time of the variable performance, and controls the performance display device 50 so that a specified performance is performed at a specified time on the display screen D1, and then terminates the time schedule management process.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments, and it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made by combining the embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that such forms with various modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, the information about the color of the preview performance (first performance) displayed on the display screen D1 of the performance display device 50 as one performance device is supplemented by the luminous color (second performance) of the movable role object 80 as another performance device, but this is not limited to this, and a voice message corresponding to the color ("red", "gold", "tiger", "rainbow") may be output from the speaker unit 8 as another performance device, either alone or in combination with the luminous color. In addition, in this embodiment, the end timing of the second performance is set at the same time as the first performance timing, but this is not limited to this, and an end condition other than the end timing of the first performance may be set. For example, the end timing of the second performance may be set when the movable role object 80 operates, when the SP reach occurs, when the push button 9A is pressed, or within the valid period. As a result, even if the first performance ends, the suggestion and notification by the second performance continue, making it easier for the player to notice the occurrence of the performance and the expectation (attention level). Also, for example, the player may be able to select whether or not to execute the second effect and the conditions for ending the second effect, etc., by custom settings related to the effects made by the player before the start of the game. Also, in this embodiment, a preview effect is given as an example of the first effect, but an error notification displayed on the display screen D1 may also be an example, and the second effect may be supplementarily executed depending on the importance (attention level) of an error such as an illegal win, an open door, or a ball jam.

In the above embodiment, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol random number acquisition process (step S535) in FIG. 18 constitutes the start information acquisition means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol win/lose lottery process (step S610-7) in FIG. 21 constitutes the win/lose lottery means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol type determination lottery process (step S610-9) in the same figure constitutes the win type determination means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol variation pattern determination lottery process (step S610-13) in the same figure constitutes the variation pattern determination means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the processes in FIG. 24 to FIG. 28 constitutes the special game execution means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the number of times cut management process (step S630-7) in FIG. 23 and the game status setting process (step S670-3) in FIG. 28 constitutes the game status setting means. Also, the CPU 200a that executes the processes related to the overall performance control related to FIG. 33 to FIG. 37 constitutes the performance control means.

1 Pachinko machine, 8 Speaker unit, 30 Game board,
35A first special symbol display device, 35B second special symbol display device,
50: Performance display device, 60: First start part, 62: Second start part, 64: Big prize device,
68 Pass gate, 100 Main control circuit, 100a Main CPU,
100b main ROM, 100c main RAM, 150 payout control circuit,
200: performance control circuit, 200a: sub CPU, 200b: sub ROM,
200c Sub RAM

Claims (1)

A winning/losing lottery means for executing a winning/losing lottery based on the ball entering a starting part provided on a game board;
A performance control means capable of suggesting the expectation level of the result of the winning/losing lottery during the fluctuation of a predetermined pattern which notifies the result of the winning/losing lottery by a stopping mode;
A gaming machine comprising:
The effect control means includes: a plurality of types of first effects, each having a different expectation level, which are displayed on an effect display screen provided on the game board;
When the expectation level suggested by the first performance is equal to or higher than a predetermined expectation level , a plurality of types of second performances are produced by a performance device having a light-emitting unit capable of emitting light in a pattern corresponding to the expectation level ;
It is possible to execute
When different types of the first performances are executed during one change of the predetermined pattern, and when the execution periods of the different types of the first performances overlap, a second performance is executed in which the light-emitting unit is illuminated according to a pattern corresponding to the first performance with a high expected degree among the first performances executed in the overlapping manner;
A gaming machine characterized in that, when the execution periods of the different types of first effects do not overlap, the second effect is executed to cause the light-emitting section to emit light in a pattern corresponding to each of the first effects.

Images