JP7510189B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines.

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, display the results of games played during advantageous periods.

JP 2017-113537 A

This type of conventional display of game results only allows players to recognize the game results during advantageous periods, and there is still room for improvement in terms of increasing interest in games.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase interest in gaming by displaying the game results.

According to the present invention, a game machine is provided with a display means and a display control means for controlling the display means, and the display control means is capable of executing a result display which expresses a game result in a specific period as a numerical value, and the result display is composed of a first result display and a second result display which displays, as a numerical value, a game result which is different from the game result related to the first result display and which has a positive correlation with the game result, and when the result display is executed, if the numerical value related to the first result display which constitutes the result display has not reached a first digit, the numerical value is displayed with a minimum number of digits, and when the numerical value related to the second result display which constitutes the result display has not reached a second digit, a gaming machine is provided in which, even if a power outage occurs during the specific period, the numerical value related to the second result display increases monotonically, the first result display is displayed in a color corresponding to the numerical value related to the first result display and is displayed in a predetermined color from when counting of the numerical value begins until the numerical value reaches a predetermined threshold value, the second result display is displayed in a predetermined color, and when a power outage occurs during the specific period and then the power is turned on and the result display is executed after the specific period is restored, the first result display based on the game result after restoration is executed, and the second result display is not executed.

The present invention provides a gaming machine that can increase interest in gaming by displaying game results.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons arranged in the area III shown in FIG. 1 and their surroundings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board installed in the gaming machine. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 8(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 8(b) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 1, Figure 8(c) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2, and Figure 8(d) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a small hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2. Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA. Figure 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, and Figure 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB. Figure 11 (a) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect, and Figure 11 (b) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect. FIG. 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the flow of the display screen in the final change of the special chart change pattern derivation state PC. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of the display screen in the final change of the special chart change pattern derivation state PB. 15(a) to 15(c) are diagrams showing specific examples of display patterns of the result screen. FIG. 16(a) is a diagram showing the correspondence between the number of consecutive wins and rank types, and the relationship between the number of consecutive wins and the display color of the consecutive win number display, and FIG. 16(b) is a diagram showing the display color of the total number of balls won. FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the display order of the displays constituting the result screen. FIG. 18 shows a flow of the result screen related numerical value update process. Figure 19(a) is a diagram showing an example of the result screen display when the power outage flag during RUSH is ON, and Figure 19(b) is a diagram showing an example of the result screen display when the number relating to the total number of balls won exceeds 99,999.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1, unless otherwise specified.
In the following explanation, "advantageous (degree of advantage)" refers to an advantage for the player, and further, unless otherwise specified, refers to an advantage in terms of the amount of prize balls (gaming media) obtained (including not only the payout of gaming balls but also the payout of medals), excluding aspects of presentation such as so-called premium images.

<Features of the present invention>
Before describing the details of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, the features of the invention described in this embodiment will be described.
In addition, when explaining the features, the configuration in parentheses is an example of the configuration of this embodiment that corresponds to the immediately preceding configuration, and the configuration may be described in parentheses for a similar purpose in the explanations of the gaming machine 10 that follow.

The present invention relates to
A display means (main display unit 81);
A display control means (first sub-control board 200) for controlling the display means;
Equipped with
The display control means is capable of executing a result display that numerically represents the game result during a specific period (a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC),
The above results are displayed as follows:
First result display (number of consecutive wins display),
A second result display (total number of balls won) that displays a game result that is different from the game result related to the first result display and has a positive correlation with the game result in a numerical value;
It is composed of
When the above results are displayed,
When the numerical value relating to the first result display constituting the result display does not reach the first digit (two digits), the numerical value is displayed with the minimum number of digits,
Even when the numerical value relating to the second result display constituting the result display has not reached the second digit (five digits), the numerical value is displayed in the second digit,
During the specific period, the numerical value related to the second result display increases monotonically.
This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, by displaying the numerical values relating to the first result display with the minimum number of digits, a sense of accomplishment for the gaming results in the specific period is given, while by displaying the numerical values relating to the second result display with the second number of digits rather than the minimum number of digits, it is possible to increase motivation to play in the next specific period and to increase interest in the game.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the effect of increasing motivation to play the game related to the second result display can be enhanced.

In addition, as long as there is a positive correlation between the corresponding values of the first result display and the second result display when the game is played in the normal gameplay method during the specific period, the types of values used for each result display are not important. Also, as long as the period during which each result display is updated is included in the specific period, the period during which each result display is updated does not need to be the same or to overlap partially.
Furthermore, the first and second digit numbers may be any number of digits as long as they are two or more digits, and the first and second digit numbers may be the same or different.

In addition, with regard to "even when the numerical value related to the second result display constituting the result display has not reached the second digit number, the numerical value is displayed in the second digit number", if the numerical value related to the second result display does not have enough digits for the second digit number, it is preferable to fill in the missing digits with "0" as in the present embodiment described below, but it is also possible to display the numerical value in the second digit number by entering a non-numeric character such as "-".

In the embodiment described below, an example of applying the present invention to a pachinko machine is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a slot machine that uses a predetermined number of medals to perform a pattern change that spins multiple reels, and pays out medals based on the result of the pattern change (the stopping pattern of the multiple reels).

The gaming machine 10 having the above characteristics will be specifically described based on the following embodiment.

<Structure of the gaming machine 10>
First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10.
1 to 5 are merely components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and components and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. In addition, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the components shown here, and some components or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, in which gaming balls are shot into the front area (hereinafter referred to as "gaming area 50a") of a gaming board 50 on which numerous gaming nails (not shown) are erected, and a prize ball is obtained when the gaming ball enters a prize opening (such as the big prize opening 55). Note that in the following explanation, the entry of a gaming ball into a prize opening may be simply expressed as "entering (a prize opening)."

The gaming machine 10 comprises a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens at the front and rear, a middle frame 17 that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a front frame 20 that is configured to cover the front side of the gaming board 50.

The middle frame 17 is supported so as to be freely rotatable about its left end by a hinge mechanism (not shown) on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed in front of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the front frame 20 (right in this embodiment)).

The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable about the left end side, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)).
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the playing area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the playing area 50a and the playing board 50 from view.
The front frame 20 also has an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart from each other vertically and are formed integrally with the front frame 20.
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.

1 to 5, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame door open sensor 76 that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame door open sensor 77 that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state.
This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 , and the open/closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17 .

3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player is arranged on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. The group of operation buttons includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a return operation of a prepaid card as a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100 described later, and includes an effect button 37 for switching effects occurring during a game or accepting an operation by a player to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 as an operation unit electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200 described later, and cursor buttons 38 (up cursor button 38a, down cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, center cursor button 38e) for instructing operations to the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the operation, and the control board to which it is connected detects the operation of each operation unit by a change in the detection state of the sensor.
Furthermore, a movable decorative body 22 that is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.

A ball ejection mechanism 36 is provided below the lower ball tray 29 to eject the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball ejection mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball tray 29 opens, and the game balls fall naturally from the bottom opening and are ejected.
Although not shown in the figure, the upper ball tray 27 is provided with a mechanism which, similar to the ball removal mechanism 36, can be operated to move the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, and by operating both this mechanism and the ball removal mechanism 36, it is possible to remove the stored balls.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. In addition, the upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed from a light-transmitting cover, within which a frame lamp 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) is disposed. The speaker 33 and the frame lamp 35 can emit sound or turn on or off in conjunction with effects and error notifications that occur during play.

The performance display device 80 is composed of a main display section 81 disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and a sub-display section 82 disposed around the main display section 81. The sub-display section 82 further includes an upper sub-display section 82a disposed above the main display section 81, a left sub-display section 82b disposed to the left of the main display section 81, and a right sub-display section 82c disposed to the right of the main display section 81.
Here, the main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal display device, and the upper sub-display unit 82a, the left sub-display unit 82b, and the right sub-display unit 82c are movable liquid crystal display devices operated by actuators such as motors (not shown).

The main display unit 81 can display the changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display in the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects.
In the variable display of the pattern rows (decorative patterns) displayed on the main display unit 81, the displayed decorative patterns form three pattern rows. In this embodiment, the direction of the variable display of each pattern row is downward, but the direction is not particularly limited. For example, it may be upward, left and right, depth, or a combination of these (diagonal direction).
Here, the depth direction refers to a virtual direction recognized by the player in a display mode that uses a technique (e.g., perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the main display unit 81 to the front or vice versa, even though in reality it is a planar changing display on the display screen of the main display unit 81.
In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" that imitates the number "1", a "2 symbol" that imitates the number "2", a "3 symbol" that imitates the number "3", a "4 symbol" that imitates the number "4", a "5 symbol" that imitates the number "5", a "6 symbol" that imitates the number "6", a "7 symbol" that imitates the number "7", an "8 symbol" that imitates the number "8", and a "9 symbol" that imitates the number "9", and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol", "3 symbol", "5 symbol", "7 symbol", and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols", and the "2 symbol", "4 symbol", "6 symbol", and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols".

Each of the sub-display sections 82 is not only provided for the purpose of displaying a performance image related to a performance, but is also configured to be movable.
The initial positions of the upper sub-display unit 82a are on the upper side relative to the main display unit 81, the left sub-display unit 82b are on the left side relative to the main display unit 81, and the right sub-display unit 82c are on the right side relative to the main display unit 81, and each of the sub-display units 82 is configured to be movable from these initial positions to a position where the entire display area of the sub-display unit 82 overlaps with the display area of the main display unit 81.

In addition, in this embodiment, the performance display device 80 (main display unit 81, upper sub-display unit 82a, left sub-display unit 82b, right sub-display unit 82c) all use liquid crystal display devices, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices, such as drum type and dot matrix type, can be used as the performance display device 80.

A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the main display unit 81, and these LEDs form the display area of the pattern display device 90, and special patterns and normal patterns are displayed on the pattern display device 90.
In addition, the symbol display device 90 is disposed at a position that is more difficult for the player to see than the main display section 81, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the main display section 81.
In addition, the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 2, but this is only one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.

The special symbols are symbols that are stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a special electric device (e.g., the special electric device 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on the second special symbol display device 92.
In addition, the special pattern may be abbreviated as "Special pattern", the first special pattern as "Special pattern 1", and the second special pattern as "Special pattern 2".

The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol variation that determines whether or not to operate a normal electric role (for example, the normal electric role 61). The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93.
In addition, normal patterns are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu", and normal electric devices are sometimes called "denchu".

In addition to the above-mentioned display devices, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol reservation lamp 94, a second special symbol reservation lamp 95, and a normal symbol reservation lamp 96.
The first special pattern reserve lamp 94 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 1, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 2, and the normal pattern reserve lamp 96 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved normal patterns, and all of them make it possible to identify the number of corresponding pattern variations by the lighting state of the two LEDs (in this embodiment, right side always lit only = 1, left and right sides always lit = 2, right side flashing + left side always lit = 3, left and right flashing = 4).

In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 displays a special pattern in a variable manner and then stops displaying the special pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the special pattern,'' and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern display device 93 displays a variable manner and then stops displaying the normal pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the normal pattern.''
In addition, in the following description, the change display of the pattern row (decorative pattern) displayed on the above-mentioned main display unit 81 may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern".
In the following explanation, when the term "pattern change" is used, it means a pattern change of a special design unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 4, a number of obstacles such as game pegs (not shown), windmills 52, and decorative parts are arranged on the front of the game board 50, thereby defining a game area 50a in which the shot game ball can roll.
Additionally, on the left and upper sides of the play area 50a, there are arranged a curved outer rail 51 and an inner rail 53 for guiding the game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the play area 50a. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the play area 50a as the reference point. Here, the windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the direction in which the game balls fall.

The gaming machine 10 allows the strength of the ball to be varied by the amount of rotation (e.g., the angle of rotation) of the operating handle 31, and various obstacles are arranged in the gaming area 50a to make the ball roll along either the first flow path X (so-called left hit), along which a weaker ball will roll, or the second flow path Y (so-called right hit), along which a stronger ball will roll.

In Figure 4, the main prize openings are shown as the large prize opening 55, the first start opening 57, the second start opening 59, the gate 63, and the general prize opening 67, but the prize openings shown are only examples, and the number and arrangement of the openings may be changed as appropriate.

The large prize opening 55 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A large prize opening sensor 72 is attached to the large prize opening 55, and a prize ball is determined to have been won in the large prize opening 55 based on the detection result of the large prize opening sensor 72, and the number of prize balls associated with the large prize opening 55 (15 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are positioned so that more game balls roll toward the large prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.

A special electric device 65 is disposed above the large prize opening 55. The special electric device 65 is a member that can be switched between an open state, in which it is easy to win a prize in the large prize opening 55, and a closed state, in which it is difficult to win a prize, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a special electric device solenoid 66.
More specifically, the special electric device 65 is in an open state during a part of a big win game that starts when a big win is derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment described later, or during a part of a small win game that starts when a small win is derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment, and thus entry into the big winning hole 55 is permitted. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, it is easy to enter the big winning hole 55, so the big win game and small win game in which the chance of winning a prize ball is greatly increased can be said to be advantageous game states. In addition, although details will be described later, the small win game in this embodiment can cause a big win game.
In a jackpot game, the special electric device 65 is alternately set to an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round game", and the total number of round games occurring in one jackpot may be referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls have entered the large prize opening 55, and the special electric device 65 enters a closed state. Furthermore, one open state in a jackpot game also ends when a sufficient time (30 s (seconds) in this embodiment) has elapsed for a predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55.
On the other hand, in the small win game, the game ends when the special electric device 65 is in the open state for 1.8 seconds or when 10 game balls enter the large winning hole 55. Therefore, in the small win game, it is more difficult for game balls to enter the large winning hole 55 than in the large win game.

However, when the special electric device 65 is set from the open state to the closed state based on the entry of a specified number of game balls (10 in this embodiment) in one round, it cannot immediately return to the closed state. Therefore, in one round of play in a big win game or in a small win game, there may be cases where more than the specified number of game balls enter the big win port 55, and such a win may be referred to as an over win.

The first starting hole 57 is located at the center of the lower part of the play area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined based on the detection result of the first starting hole sensor 70, and the number of prize balls (4 in this embodiment) associated with the first starting hole 57 is awarded. In at least some cases where the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined, the pattern of the special chart 1 is changed.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when they roll from the first flow path X compared to when they roll from the second flow path Y.

The second starting hole 59 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A second starting hole sensor 71 is attached to the second starting hole 59, and the winning of the second starting hole 59 is determined based on the detection result of the second starting hole sensor 71, and the number of prize balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In at least some cases where a winning jackpot has been awarded at the second starting hole 59, the pattern on special chart 2 will change.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the second starting hole 59 when they roll from the second flow path Y compared to when they roll from the first flow path X.

A normal electric device 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric device 61 is a member that can be switched between an open state in which it is easy to insert a game ball into the second starting port 59 and a closed state in which it is difficult to insert the ball, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a normal electric device solenoid 62.
More specifically, the normal electric device 61 is opened when the result of the normal winning/losing judgment described later is a normal winning (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as a "normal winning"), and thus entry into the second starting hole 59 is permitted. In this way, when the normal electric device 61 is in the open state, entry into the second starting hole 59 is possible, so that the opportunity for the pattern variation of the special drawing 2 to be executed can be greatly increased while suppressing the decrease in the game balls by the prize balls.

The gate 63 is located in the right center of the game area 50a. A gate sensor 74 is attached to the gate 63, and winning at the gate 63 is determined based on the detection result of the gate sensor 74. In at least some cases where winning at the gate 63 is determined, the pattern of the normal symbol is changed.
In this embodiment, the gate 63 can be a trigger for starting a jackpot game in a jackpot game standby state described later. Specifically, when the entry (passage) of a game ball into the gate 63 is detected in the jackpot game state, the standby jackpot game is started. Note that, a passage area for a game ball that triggers the start of a jackpot game may be provided in addition to the gate 63, but the passage area is preferably provided on the second flow path Y, similar to the gate 63.

The general winning opening 67 is located in the lower left of the game area 50a. A general winning opening sensor 73 is attached to the general winning opening 67, and a winning ball is determined based on the detection result of the general winning opening sensor 73, and the number of prize balls associated with the general winning opening 67 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X compared to when rolling from the second flow path Y, but the obstacles may be arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. Also, a plurality of general winning openings 67 may be provided.

The outlet 69 is disposed at the bottom of the game area 50a. Game balls that are shot into the game area 50a and do not enter any of the winning holes described above fall into the outlet 69 and are treated as out balls.
In this embodiment, an out ball sensor 75 (not shown) is provided for detecting out balls, which are game balls that enter the winning hole and the out hole 69.

As shown in Figure 5, the rear of the game board 50 is fitted with a main control board case 109 in which the main control board 100 is stored, a first sub-control board case 209 in which the first sub-control board 200 is stored, a second sub-control board case 309 in which the second sub-control board 300 is stored, a power supply control board case 509 in which the power supply control board 500 is stored, and a payout control board case 409 in which the payout control board 400 is stored.In addition to the rear of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an opening/closing cover 45 which covers part of the rear of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner.
In addition, a RAM clear switch 43 is provided on the main control board 100.
Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, and the corresponding substrates can be seen through each case and cover.

The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit 501 which generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit 502 which generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit 503 which detects power interruption (a specified voltage drop in the voltage supplied by the normal power supply).
In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit 501 of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400).
In addition, when a power interruption detection circuit 503 detects a power interruption, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
In addition, the backup power circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island.
In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

A game ball tank 46 is disposed on the back of the game board 50, above the opening and closing cover 45, in which game balls supplied from the game island's ball supply equipment are stored. The game ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 that leads to the upper ball tray 27 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 are paid out through the payout passage 49 to the upper ball tray 27.

So far, we have explained the structure of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, but this is just one specific example, and the present invention can also be implemented with a different configuration.

<Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 6 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 6.

The main control board 100 is equipped with a CPU 101 that performs various calculation processes related to the game, a ROM 102 that stores data such as control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 103 that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, an I/O port 104 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and a random number circuit 105 that operates separately from the program processing by the CPU 101 and generates random numbers (hard random numbers), and these are connected to each other via an internal bus.

The CPU 101 executes various processes related to the main control of the game by reading out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performing arithmetic processing.
The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power source generated in a backup power circuit described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when power is restored (when power is turned on) after a power outage, the data can be used to restore the gaming machine 10 to the state it was in immediately before the power outage. For example, in addition to the data of the stack pointer and each register held at the time of the power outage, information related to the game, such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (a game stop state or a game possible state), the current normal drawing state, etc., are backed up. Note that this information is cleared (initialized) by the RAM clear process. Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA (low probability of normal drawing described later) is newly set. Furthermore, when the RAM clear process is executed, the pattern string related to the decorative pattern is in a state in which the initial pattern combination is stopped and displayed, and even if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is turned on and the pattern variation is not being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the initial pattern combination is also stopped and displayed. In addition, this initial symbol combination is displayed statically only when the power is turned on, and is not displayed statically due to the execution of symbol variation.

In this embodiment, at least an area in which such information related to the game is stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related area of RAM 103) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of a checksum and a backup flag related to the game-related area of RAM 103 are stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related backup information area of RAM 103). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 returns to normal using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up game-related area of RAM 103 and the game-related backup information area of RAM 103.
In addition, the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited. For example, the area to be backed up in the RAM 103 may be realized with a configuration capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state. As another example, in the RAM 103, different hardware may be provided for a first memory configured to be capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10. In that case, the gaming machine 10 may save the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is cut off, and recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.

The main control board 100 is also electrically connected to the first start opening sensor 70, the second start opening sensor 71, the large prize opening sensor 72, the general prize opening sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame open door sensor 76, the front frame open door sensor 77, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104.

In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first special pattern display device 91, the second special pattern display device 92, the normal pattern display device 93, the first special pattern reserve lamp 94, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95, the normal pattern reserve lamp 96, the normal electric role solenoid 62 and the special electric role solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I/O port 104.
Similarly, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the main operation unit 39 and the RAM clear switch 43 , and is configured to be able to detect the operation of the main operation unit 39 .

The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line, and are connected so that communication is possible in only one direction, from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, and various performance control commands are transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, data cannot be transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 is configured so as not to be able to request the main control board 100 to transmit data.
In addition, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is used for transmitting data from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may also be used.

The first sub-control board 200 comprises a CPU 201 which performs various arithmetic processing related to game presentation based on presentation control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 which stores data such as presentation control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 203 which functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 204 which inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and these are connected to each other via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 is configured to execute main control related to game presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 202.
In addition, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the performance button 37 and the cursor button 38, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of these operating sections.

In addition, the first sub-control board 200, through performance control processing based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, generates image control commands that instruct the image to be displayed on the second sub-control board 300, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, etc.
Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the voice control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, voice control command) is transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the voice control board 310, while in response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the control command was received successfully is transmitted from each control board (second sub-control board 300, voice control board 310) to the first sub-control board 200.

The first sub-control board 200 is also electrically connected to the frame lamp 35, and transmits lamp control data via the I/O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured such that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and transmits movement control data via the I/O port 204. The movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 are configured so that their movement is controlled by the movement control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.

The second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a CPU 301 that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 302 that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM 303 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 304 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 301 executes main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 302.
In addition, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP (not shown) that generates image data according to the content of the performance determined by the performance content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU 301, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the performance based on a control signal received from the CPU 301. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to an instruction from the CPU 301, processes the image data, and transmits the generated image data to the main display unit 81 and the sub-display unit 82. A high-speed VRAM that is used to expand and process the image data read from the image ROM is also connected to this VDP.

The audio control board 310 is equipped with a CPU 311 that performs various calculation processes related to audio performance based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs and audio data, etc., a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 311 executes main control related to audio performance according to the control program stored in the ROM 312. Therefore, the audio control board 310 can read audio data stored in the ROM 312 in response to audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesize the read audio data, and transmit the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, causing the speaker 33 to output audio.

The dispensing control board 400 is mainly composed of a CPU, ROM and RAM (all not shown).
In addition, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 for two-way communication, and performs control to drive the payout unit 48 to pay out game balls based on a payout control command from the main control board 100, and also controls the launch of the game balls by synchronously driving the ball feeding mechanism and the launching mechanism based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31.

The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit that generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above, based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit that generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit (all not shown) that detects power interruption (a specified voltage drop in the supply voltage from the normal power supply).
In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400).
In addition, when a power interruption detection circuit detects a power interruption, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
In addition, the backup power circuit is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island.
In addition, the backup power supply circuit may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

<Functional configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a functional configuration not shown in Fig. 7. Also, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 8 to 12 will be referred to as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a pre-determination means 125, a special drawing means 130, a normal drawing means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a pattern display control means 145, an electric role control means 150, a game state control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration process execution means 175, and a power cut process execution means 180. These means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using FIG. 6.

First, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the main control board 100, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. In particular, the data (performance control commands) stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is transmitted by the command transmission means to the sub-command management means 270 of the first sub-control board 200, which will be described later, after being stored.

The ball winning determination means 110 determines whether a ball has won at each winning hole based on the detection results of a sensor installed at each winning hole.
In addition, when the ball entry determination means 110 determines that a game ball has entered a prize hole by a sensor installed in a prize hole such as the large prize hole sensor 72, it generates a presentation control command (prize entry command) including information that can identify the type of sensor related to the prize, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The main random number generating means 115 is capable of generating multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges depending on the random number circuit 105, and when a win at a winning port is determined, it obtains (latches) one or more random numbers corresponding to that winning port from the random number circuit 105.
More specifically, when it is determined that the first start gate 57 or the second start gate 59 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 obtains a random number for determining whether or not the special symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a special symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a special symbol change pattern, which will be described later. When it is determined that the gate 63 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 stores a random number for determining whether or not the normal symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a normal symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a normal symbol change pattern, which will be described later, in a corresponding storage area of the main information storage means 160.
The random number circuit 105 monitors whether the multiple types of random numbers it updates are being updated normally, and if an update abnormality occurs in which the random numbers are not updated normally, information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is written to a specific storage area of the random number circuit 105. Therefore, the CPU 101 can grasp that an update abnormality has occurred in the random number circuit 105.

The main reservation control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern change of the special chart and the reservation of the pattern change of the normal chart. Regarding the special chart 1, the random number for determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, the random number for drawing the special chart stop pattern, and the random number for drawing the special chart change pattern, which are obtained as a result of winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special chart 1.
More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") which is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the draw by the special chart draw means 130), and controls the operation hold information to be stored in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and moves (shifts) the remaining activation hold information from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter which is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter.
In addition, the main reserve control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and regular drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the reserve counter for special drawing 2 is referred to as the special drawing 2 reserve counter, and the upper limit value of the special drawing 2 reserve counter in this embodiment is 4.
In addition, in the following explanation, "suspended operation information" may be expressed as "suspended pattern change" or simply as "suspended."
In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, when both the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 are reserved, a priority change is performed in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 is preferentially used. However, instead of this priority change, a simultaneous change in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 are simultaneously used in this case may be adopted.

The advance judgment means 125 executes an advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a specified advance judgment timing.
More specifically, the pre-judgment means 125 reads out each random number of the operation pending information that has been reserved this time, and executes pre-judgment for each of the special chart hit/miss judgment, special chart stop pattern lottery, and special chart change pattern lottery, which will be described later. In each pre-judgment, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used in the lottery corresponding to each pre-judgment is used. Therefore, the results of these pre-judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later.
In addition, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the derived result of the pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Since the pre-determination command is transmitted (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160) at least part of the timing of the predetermined pre-determination, it will be transmitted following the above-mentioned reserved command. Here, the predetermined pre-determination timing refers to a timing that is not during a jackpot game, for example, a timing when the operation reservation information of the special chart is reserved. In this embodiment, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 1 is reserved during the normal chart high probability described below, the pre-determination is restricted, and therefore the transmission of the pre-determination command corresponding to the pre-determination is also restricted. On the other hand, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 2 is reserved during the normal chart low probability described below, the pre-determination may be restricted, or it may not be restricted.

The special drawing means 130 includes a special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, a special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and a special drawing change pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, the special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and the special drawing change pattern derivation means 133. When the special drawing change start condition is satisfied, the special drawing lottery means 130 reads out the earliest operation pending information among the operation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160.
In addition, "the conditions for starting the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: a jackpot game is not being played, neither Special Chart 1 nor Special Chart 2 is currently changing the pattern (including when the pattern change related to Special Chart 1 or Special Chart 2 is displayed as stopped), and at least one of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2 has pending operation information.

Here, FIGS. 8 to 12 are diagrams that typically show lottery tables used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description.
In addition, in a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one lottery value, the addition is performed once), and a result corresponding to the lottery value where a carry (overflow) occurs is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery table, the lottery table is given a name for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data such as the lottery value included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is identifiable and stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, items described for convenience of explanation or "-" or "0" may be described as the lottery value, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. And, there is no winning result with "-" or "0" described as the lottery value. Furthermore, when the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range) is written in the lottery table, the result is derived 100%, so there is no need to perform a lottery. Also, when the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used for the lottery, a carry is always generated in the addition of the last lottery value, so the addition does not need to be performed, and in that case, the lottery value used for the addition itself is not necessary.

The special pattern hit/miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special pattern hit/miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes a special pattern hit/miss judgment to judge by lottery whether a big hit, a small hit, or a miss will be won, using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special pattern hit/miss judgment.
8(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss, and the drawing table is different between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), and a miss is otherwise obtained, and a small hit is not derived. On the other hand, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), a small hit is derived with a probability of 1820/65536 (about 1/36.0), and a miss is otherwise obtained.
In this embodiment, as described later, a jackpot game can occur via a small jackpot, so the probability of a jackpot being derived in the special chart hit/miss determination is set to the one probability mentioned above.

When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stopping pattern lottery means 132 determines the special chart stopping pattern by lottery using a random number for special chart stopping pattern lottery (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) and a lottery table for special chart stopping pattern lottery.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 8 (b), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 1, when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 1, pattern A is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 500/1000 (1/2), pattern B with a probability of 450/1000 (approximately 1/2.22), and pattern C with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20).
Here, regardless of whether pattern A, pattern B, or pattern C is determined, after the end of the jackpot game corresponding to these stopped patterns, the normal pattern will have a high probability, as described below, but the number of pattern changes during which the normal pattern high probability continues will be 10 times if the jackpot game ends when pattern A is determined, and 80 times if the jackpot game ends when pattern B or pattern C is determined.
Furthermore, the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to the symbols A and B is 4, while the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to the symbol C is 10. Therefore, it can be said that the symbol C is a more advantageous symbol than the symbol B in terms of the number of rounds, and the symbol B is more advantageous than the symbol A in terms of the prescribed number of times related to the normal symbol high probability.

As shown in Figure 8 (c), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 2, when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 2, symbol a is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11), and symbol b is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10).
Here, the symbol a is a stopping symbol for which the number of rounds of the corresponding jackpot game is 4 and which becomes a normal high probability after the end of the jackpot game, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability is 80. On the other hand, the symbol b is a stopping symbol for which the number of rounds of the corresponding jackpot game is 10 and which becomes a normal high probability after the end of the jackpot game, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability is 80. Therefore, it can be said that the symbol b is more advantageous than the symbol a in terms of the number of rounds.

As shown in Figure 8 (d), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, pattern c is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11), and pattern d is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10).
Here, if a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern c, the number of rounds in the big win game will be 4, and the specified number of times after the big win game ends will be 80 times of normal high probability. On the other hand, if a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern d, the number of rounds in the big win game will be 10, and the specified number of times after the big win game ends will be 80 times of normal high probability. Therefore, it can be said that the pattern d is more advantageous than the pattern c in terms of the number of rounds when a big win game occurs.
In addition, when a big win game occurs in a small win game, the number of rounds in the big win game is the number calculated by counting the small win game as one round. In addition, in the following explanation, a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern c may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern c", and a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern d may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern d".

In addition, the special chart stop pattern selection means 132 determines pattern D as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 1 is a miss, and determines pattern e as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 2 is a miss.

In this way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the jackpot game generated by the pattern change related to special chart 2 tends to be more advantageous than the jackpot game generated by the pattern change related to special chart 1. Therefore, the transition from the special chart change pattern derivation state PA to another special chart change pattern derivation state described later can further increase the interest in the game.

The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern selection tables to be referred to when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern selection table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern hit/miss judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern selection table and the random number for special pattern variation pattern selection, and determines the variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from the start of the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) to the end of the pattern variation.
Although details of the transition conditions will be described later, the special chart variation pattern derivation state in this embodiment includes a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. The above-mentioned method of determining the special chart variation pattern is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. In addition, in the pattern variation related to the other special chart in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, a predetermined special chart variation pattern is determined according to the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.

Figure 9 (a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 9 (a), in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, special chart change patterns HNP to ASP-C can be determined.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP will appear with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11), the special chart change pattern HRP with a probability of 52/1000 (approximately 1/19.2), HSP1-A with a probability of 13/1000 (approximately 1/76.9), and HSP2-B with a probability of 11/1000 (approximately 1/90. 9) probability of HSP1-B, 9/1000 (about 1/111) probability of HSP2-A, 7/1000 (about 1/143) probability of HSP2-B, 5/1000 (1/200) probability of HSP3-A, 3/1000 (about 1/333) probability of HSP3-B are determined, and in this case, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-C are not determined. Note that, although details will be described later using FIG. 9 (b), when the special pattern variation pattern HNP is determined, the special pattern variation pattern is further specified using the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation.
On the other hand, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the special chart change pattern ASP1-A has a probability of 90/1000 (about 1/11.1), the special chart change pattern ASP1-B has a probability of 110/1000 (about 1/9.09), the special chart change pattern ASP2-A has a probability of 135/1000 (about 1/7.41), and the special chart change pattern ASP3-B has a probability of 165/1000 (about 1/6.01). Special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B is determined with a probability of 1.06), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180/1000 (approximately 1/5.56), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220/1000 (approximately 1/4.56), and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and in this case, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP to special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B will not be determined.
In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HRP to HSP3-B is determined at a rate of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a big hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP1-A to ASP-C is determined at a rate of 1000/1000 (1/1).
Here, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, when two special pattern variation patterns are described with "~" between them, the description of the special pattern variation pattern existing between the special pattern variation pattern described earlier and the special pattern variation pattern described later is omitted according to the order described in the drawing related to the special pattern variation pattern lottery table for each special pattern variation pattern derivation state. Also, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, regardless of whether the corresponding variation time is described or not, if the names of the special pattern variation patterns are different, it indicates that the different special pattern variation patterns are different (different variation times).

Figure 9 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 9 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 9 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during special chart variation pattern derivation state PA include special chart variation pattern HNP-A with a variation time of 3200 ms (milliseconds), special chart variation pattern HNP-B with a variation time of 5600 ms, special chart variation pattern HNP-C with a variation time of 8000 ms, and special chart variation pattern HNP-D with a variation time of 11200 ms, in that order of increasing variation time.
Specifically, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1). Similarly, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (about 1/6.67), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (about 1/1.18). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (about 1/6.67). The special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern variation is 0, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (about 1/1.18). In the following explanation, when the value of the special pattern reserved counter to be referred to is 3, it may be called "retention 3", when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 2, it may be called "retention 2", when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 1, it may be called "retention 1", and when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 0, it may be called "retention 0".
In this way, when the special pattern change pattern HNP is determined in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern (change time) that is likely to be determined by the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change differs. More specifically, the smaller the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a long pattern change will be determined (the larger the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a short change time will be determined).
In addition, such special chart variation pattern HNP (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "basic special chart variation pattern") also exists in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and in these special chart variation pattern derivation states, the reserved counter referenced is different from that in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and in both cases the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter is referenced.

FIG. 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in FIG. 10(a), in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, special chart change patterns HNP to ASP-F can be determined.
Specifically, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 960/1000 (about 1/1.04), the special chart change pattern HSP-D with a probability of 20/1000 (1/50), the HSP-E with a probability of 15/1000 (about 1/66.7), and the HSP-F with a probability of 5/1000 (1/200), and in this case, the special chart change pattern ASP-D to the special chart change pattern ASP-F are not determined. Note that, although details will be described later using FIG. 10(b), when the special chart change pattern HNP is determined, the special chart change pattern is further specified using the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change. And, the method of determining the special chart change pattern using this special chart 2 reserved counter is the same in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB described later.
On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, special chart change pattern ASP-D is determined with a probability of 500/1000 (1/2), ASP-E with a probability of 350/1000 (approximately 1/2.86), and ASP-F with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-F are not determined.
In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F is determined at a rate of 40/1000 (1/25), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 960/1000 (approximately 1/1.04). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F is determined at a rate of 1000/1000 (1/1).

Figure 10 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 10 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 10 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB include special chart variation pattern HNP-E with a variation time of 3000 ms and special chart variation pattern HNP-F with a variation time of 15000 ms.
Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-E is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-F is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-F is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-E is not determined.
In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-E and special chart variation pattern HNP-F are different from either the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, or the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC described below.

FIG. 11(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in FIG. 11(a), the special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC may differ depending on the number of pattern changes executed without a jackpot game in the special chart change pattern derivation state, and in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern ASP-I can be determined.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a miss, special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 950/1000 (approximately 1/1.05), special chart change pattern HSP-G with a probability of 25/1000 (1/40), special chart change pattern HSP-H with a probability of 15/1000 (approximately 1/66.7), and HSP-I with a probability of 10/1000 (1/100), and in this case, special chart change pattern ASP-G to special chart change pattern ASP-I are not determined.
On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a big hit or a small hit, regardless of the number of rotations in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined with a probability of 500/1000 (1/2), ASP-H is determined with a probability of 350/1000 (approximately 1/2.86), and ASP-I is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-I are not determined.

Figure 11 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 11 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 11 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 when the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is in include special chart variation pattern HNP-G with a variation time of 2000 ms and special chart variation pattern HNP-H with a variation time of 10000 ms.
Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is not determined.
In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-G and special chart variation pattern HNP-H are different from both the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.

In addition, at the start of the pattern change, the special pattern change pattern derivation means 133 generates a performance control command (change start command) that includes the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment, the determined special pattern to stop, and the determined special pattern change pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the most recent pending activation information from the pending activation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to perform a regular map hit/miss judgment to determine whether the regular map is correct or not, and determines various parameters related to the regular map (regular map change time, regular map stop display time, etc.) based on the result of the regular map hit/miss judgment and information such as the current special map change pattern derivation state.
In the normal drawing hit/miss judgment, there are a normal drawing lottery state with a high probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing high probability") and a normal drawing lottery state with a low probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing low probability"). Although the drawing of the lottery table is omitted, in this embodiment, in the normal drawing high probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 65535/65536, and the remaining probability of a 1/65536 miss, while in the normal drawing low probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 1/65536, and the remaining probability of a 65535/65536 miss. In addition, in the normal drawing low probability, it may be set so that the normal drawing does not hit (65536/65536 miss).

When a jackpot game starts, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (jackpot start command) including information related to the jackpot game (number of rounds and the state of the subsequent special chart variation pattern derivation) and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and when the jackpot game ends, it generates a presentation control command (jackpot end command) including the demo time related to the end demo of the jackpot game and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. This is also true for jackpot games caused by small jackpot games.

In addition, the jackpot game control means 140 starts a small jackpot game when the result of the special win/loss determination is a small jackpot, and if the game ball passes through the V winning area (not shown) provided in the large winning port 55 during the small jackpot game, it makes it possible to start a jackpot game corresponding to the small jackpot after the small jackpot game ends. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small jackpot game functions as a trigger for a jackpot game. Note that if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during the small jackpot game, the jackpot game does not start after the small jackpot game ends.

The pattern display control means 145 displays the special pattern 1 on the first special pattern display device 91 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 1, and displays the special pattern 1 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Similarly, the special pattern 2 is displayed on the second special pattern display device 92 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 2, and displays the special pattern 2 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Here, the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart refers to the time from when the special chart is stopped and displayed until the pattern change of the next special chart can start (when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss), or the time from when the pattern change of the special chart ends and until the big win game or small win game starts (when the result of the normal chart hit/miss judgment is a normal hit), and the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart in this embodiment is a uniform 300 ms, regardless of the type of special chart or the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a special chart game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of special chart 1 and special chart 2, and when the special chart is stopped from being displayed (at the timing when the value of the special chart game timer becomes "0"), it generates a presentation control command (variation stop command) for requesting a confirmed stop display of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Here, the definite stop display of the decorative pattern refers to the final stop display of the decorative pattern in the pattern change, and is different from the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern that may occur during the execution of the pattern change. In the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern, for example, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is accompanied by a small movement (so-called swinging movement) up and down, while in the definite stop display of the decorative pattern, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is not accompanied by swinging movement, and so on. Even if the same decorative pattern is displayed as stopped, the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as definite stop is different from the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as provisional stop. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the display of the decorative pattern is a definite stop display or a provisional stop display.

Furthermore, the pattern display control means 145 causes the normal pattern display device 93 to display the normal pattern in a variable manner in accordance with a variable time corresponding to the determined normal pattern variable pattern of the normal pattern, and after the variable time has elapsed, causes the normal pattern to be displayed in a stopped state with the determined stopping pattern.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a regular pattern play timer for managing the time related to the regular pattern (regular pattern change time, regular pattern stop display time, etc.).

The electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66 during the big win game or small win game described above, and opens the special electric device 65 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the special chart.

The game state control means 155 controls the normal drawing state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal drawing state to low probability regardless of the stopped pattern of the special drawing related to the jackpot game at the start of the jackpot game, and when a specified condition such as the end of the jackpot game is satisfied, sets the normal drawing state to high probability until the pattern changes a specified number of times, and sets the normal drawing state to low probability after the pattern changes a specified number of times. In particular, in this embodiment, during a small jackpot game, the normal drawing state is maintained in the pattern change that caused the small jackpot game.

Such a general drawing state changes in link with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be described below with reference to Figures 12(a) and 12(b). Note that Figure 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Fig. 12(a), in the special pattern derivation state, there is a special pattern derivation state PA as a special pattern derivation state corresponding to a normal pattern low probability, and there are a special pattern derivation state PB and a special pattern derivation state PC as special pattern derivation states corresponding to a normal pattern high probability, and any of these special pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. And, there are transition conditions (i) to (v) for the transition conditions between the special pattern derivation state PA and the special pattern derivation state PC.

Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern A, transition condition (ii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern B or pattern C, transition condition (iii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern a, pattern b, pattern c, or pattern d, transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 10 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PB), and transition condition (v) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 80 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PC).
In addition, when a big win game occurs in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC again after the big win game ends, and the number of pattern variations related to the special pattern 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times related to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC is reset. Also, although not shown, if a big win game does not occur in a small win game that occurs in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, and if a big win game does not occur in a small win game related to the transition condition (iii), the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state ends with the end of the small win game as a trigger, and transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA.

As shown in FIG. 12(b), the average fluctuation time of each of the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is shorter in the order of special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. This is due to the length of the fluctuation time related to the basic special pattern fluctuation pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. Here, the average fluctuation time refers to the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that may occur in any pattern fluctuation, derived by multiplying the probability of the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment by the probability of the special pattern fluctuation pattern) for each of the fluctuation times related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in a certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, when there is only one special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in the certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state, the fluctuation time related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern is treated as the average fluctuation time.

In addition, when a transition occurs to the regular chart lottery state or the special chart variation pattern derivation state, the game state control means 155 generates a presentation control command (game state designation command) including the state after the transition, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Furthermore, the game state control means 155 counts the number of times that the pattern change related to the transition to another special pattern change pattern derivation state is executed in each special pattern change pattern derivation state, and generates a performance control command including the number of times of the counted pattern change each time the pattern change is started, and stores the command in the transmission command area of the main information storage means 160. The information included in the performance control command may be included in the above-mentioned change start command.

As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by each means and data derived by calculations or the like by each means in the corresponding storage areas.

The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I/O port 104 and determines whether the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, it stores a presentation control command (error command) including information that can identify the error state in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

When a performance control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the performance control command to the first sub-control board 200.
In principle, each performance control command is transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The power recovery process execution means 175 includes a recovery state setting means 176 and a playable state transition means 179.

The return state setting means 176 executes a return state setting process to set a return state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of power interruption immediately before the power is restored, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the state of the inner frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. The return states set by this process include a game stop state and a game ready state (which may or may not involve the execution of a RAM clear process).
Specifically, if there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, a game-stopped state is set regardless of the state of the RAM clear switch 43 and the state of the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is ON (pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is executed and a playable state is set on the condition that the middle frame door open sensor 76 is ON when power is restored (if the middle frame door open sensor 76 is OFF when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is OFF (not pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set.
Here, the game stop state is a return state in which game progress is impossible by not executing processing according to the detection results of the sensors installed at each winning port (it is not necessary to look at the detection results of the sensors themselves).
On the other hand, the playable state is a return state in which the game can be continued by executing a process according to the detection result of the sensor installed in each winning port. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is restored, the game returns to the playable state at the time of the last power outage. For example, if the last power outage was during a big win game or a small win game, the game returns to the big win game or small win game that was being executed, and if the last power outage was during a pattern change, the game returns to the pattern change that was being executed.

Whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 103 is determined by executing a RAM abnormality check at the beginning of the recovery state setting process (specifically, a process which determines whether or not a backup flag is stored (whether or not the backup flag is ON) in the backup information area related to the target area, derives a checksum of the target area and the complement stored in the backup information area related to the area if the backup flag is stored (if the backup flag is ON), and determines that the target area is normal if the calculation result is 0, otherwise determines that the target area is abnormal) on the area related to the game in RAM 103.

The playable state transition means 179 executes a playable state transition process for transitioning to a playable state when a playable state is set.
More specifically, in the game play state transition process, if the security signal output is ON, a process of turning the security signal output OFF and initial settings of the device are performed.
In addition, during the initial setting of the device, processes such as sending a launch permission command to the payout control board 400 to permit the launch of game balls, setting the state in which balls will be valid when they enter each winning port, and setting data to activate the random number circuit 105 are performed.

The power cut-off process execution means 180 executes a power cut-off process based on receiving a power cut-off signal from the power supply control board 500 .
Specifically, for an area of RAM 103 related to gaming, a process is performed in which a checksum for that area is derived and the complement of that checksum is stored in a backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming, and a backup flag indicating that a power cut process has been performed for that area is turned ON (a backup flag is stored in the backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming).

As shown in Figure 7, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generation means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable prop control means 245, a volume adjustment means 250, a brightness adjustment means 255, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 6.
Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply expressed as "receiving a performance control command."

The sub-random number generating means 210 can generate random numbers (software random numbers) that are updated by program processing by the CPU 201, and obtains random numbers at the timing when each lottery (details will be described later) is executed by the normal performance control means 220.

The normal presentation control means 220 includes a presentation mode control means 221, a presentation route determination means 222, a sub-hold control means 223, a look-ahead presentation control means 224, a presentation content determination means 225, a decorative pattern control means 226, and a jackpot presentation control means 227.

When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side.
The presentation modes in this embodiment are broadly divided into normal mode, challenge mode, and RUSH mode, with the normal mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the challenge mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and the RUSH mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

When the presentation route determination means 222 receives a pre-determination command, it determines (sets) a presentation route corresponding to the reserved pattern change based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special pattern change pattern). Note that, when the special pattern change pattern corresponding to the pattern change is the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern HNP, the presentation route determination means 222 does not determine a presentation route when the pre-determination command is transmitted, and at the start of the pattern change, it determines a presentation route based on the special pattern change pattern included in the change start command (for example, in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A to the special pattern change pattern HNP-D).
Here, the presentation route refers to the presentation from the start to the end of the pattern change, and specifies the process of the presentation that notifies the result of the special pattern determination in the pattern change, and the content of the presentation executed in the pattern change is determined by the presentation content determination means 225 described later in accordance with the presentation route corresponding to the pattern change.

The presentation route in this embodiment is roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss (the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is neither a big hit nor a small hit), and a big hit presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. Note that, as described later, when the big hit presentation route is determined, the development presentation is executed unless otherwise explained.
Here, the development performance is a performance that is executed after the decorative pattern reaches a reach state (a state in which the decorative pattern is displayed stationary except for one pattern row, and the remaining pattern rows are displayed in a variable manner), and at the end of the performance, it is notified whether the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit. Therefore, in the development performance corresponding to the development miss performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance is executed, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is neither a big hit nor a small hit. On the other hand, in the development performance corresponding to the big hit performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance is executed, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit.
In addition, as described later, in this embodiment, in one presentation mode, each of the determined special chart variation patterns corresponds to a different presentation route. Therefore, in the following description, the presentation route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple presentation routes may be made to correspond to one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one presentation route may be determined from multiple presentation routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern.

When the sub-hold control means 223 receives a hold command (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the occurrence of a hold winning), it sets performance data for displaying the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 1 and the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 2 in the hold display area (not shown) of the main display unit 81 based on the information on the special hold counter 1 and the special hold counter 2 included in the command. Note that the hold images are images that are the subject of a hold pre-reading performance that changes into various forms that suggest the degree of advantage, such as the expectation of a jackpot game occurring.

When the pre-reading performance control means 224 receives a pre-determination command, it determines the content of the so-called pre-reading performance based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command.

When the effect content determining means 225 receives a variation start command, it determines the content of the effect to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the presentation route already determined by the presentation route determining means 222.
More specifically, the performance content determination means 225 determines the performance content (performance pattern) for each performance execution timing in the pattern change by a lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determination means 222. In this way, it is possible to change the content of the performance related to (executed according to) the determined performance route, and to provide a connection between the performances in one pattern change. Even if the same performance route is determined, it is also possible to diversify the performances to be executed. Note that the timing for determining the performance content can be, for example, the start of the pattern change.

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (confirmed stopped) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, middle pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern.
Specifically, in the pattern variation related to the special pattern 1, one of the pattern alignments related to the decorative patterns other than the 7 pattern is determined for the pattern A and the pattern B, and the pattern alignment related to the 7 pattern is determined for the pattern C. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the pattern alignment related to the decorative patterns other than the 7 pattern is stopped and displayed, the subsequent performance mode, that is, the performance mode set at the opportunity of the end of the big win game related to the pattern alignment, cannot be accurately determined from the pattern alignment that is stopped and displayed. On the other hand, when the pattern alignment related to the 7 pattern is stopped and displayed, the player can determine that the RUSH mode will be set afterwards.
In addition, in the pattern variation related to the special chart 2, any of the pattern combinations related to the decorative patterns except for the 7 pattern is determined for the patterns a and c, and any of the pattern combinations related to the decorative patterns including the 7 pattern is determined for the patterns b and d. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the pattern combinations related to the decorative patterns except for the 7 pattern are stopped and displayed, it is not possible to accurately determine the number of rounds of the jackpot game related to the pattern combination. On the other hand, when the pattern combinations related to the 7 pattern are stopped and displayed, the player can determine that the number of rounds of the jackpot game related to the pattern combination is 10.

When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot effect control means 227 determines the content of the effects during the jackpot game based on the information included in the command, etc. The effects during the jackpot game include a round effect that notifies the player that a round game is in progress and an end demo effect that notifies the player that the jackpot game has ended.
In addition, in this embodiment, the jackpot presentation control means 227 is configured to be capable of determining the content of a presentation mode announcement presentation that announces the presentation mode after the end of a jackpot game (capable of identifying the presentation mode after the end of a jackpot game), and details of the presentation including the start conditions will be described later.

The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read performance data includes performance data related to images, an image control command is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read performance data includes performance data related to sound, an audio control command related to sound is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.
In addition, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for informing the player that the game has become playable with the execution of the RAM clear process when the return state at the time of power recovery is a playable state with the execution of the RAM clear process, and reads presentation data for informing the player that the game has become playable without the execution of the RAM clear process when the return state at the time of power recovery is a playable state without the execution of the RAM clear process. Furthermore, in the case where the return state at the time of power recovery is a play-stop state, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for informing the player that the game has become a play-stop state and that the execution of the RAM clear process is required. Details of these notifications are omitted, but it is preferable that they are executed continuously for a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds) after the execution is started, and the presentation device for executing the notification does not matter.

When an error command is transmitted, the sub-error control means 230 determines an error notification pattern, and reads out performance data for executing an error notification in accordance with the error notification pattern.
In addition, the error notification is executed in priority over the variable performance related to the pattern variation. Here, the error notification is executed in priority, which does not only mean that when the device related to the execution of the error notification and the device related to the execution of the variable performance are the same device, only the error notification is executed in the device (the execution of the variable performance is restricted by the execution of the error notification), but also includes the error notification being executed in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable performance in the device.
In addition, the sub-error control means 230 may independently (independently of the main error control means 165) determine whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, and if it determines that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, read out presentation data that executes an error notification.

The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35. For example, if the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a lamp, the lamp control means 240 reads out the lamp control data based on the performance data, and transmits the read lamp control data to the lamp to be executed.

When the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a movable role, the movable role control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82 from the ROM 202 based on the performance data, transmits the read movement control data to the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and controls the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82.

As described above, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in said means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas.

The sub-command management means 270 receives performance control commands transmitted from the main control board 100 and stores the received performance commands in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. If an image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260, the sub-command management means 270 transmits the image control command to the second sub-control board 300. Furthermore, if a voice control command or a volume adjustment command is stored in the storage area, the sub-command management means 270 transmits these commands to the voice control board 310. In principle, these commands are transmitted in the order in which they are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.

As described above, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment is configured to transition from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA (normal mode) via the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB (challenge mode) or directly from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC (RUSH mode), and in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC after the transition, the specified number of times related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is reset each time a jackpot game is executed. Therefore, the player can obtain a large number of game balls by generating a jackpot game during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC and looping the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.
In contrast, in this embodiment, at the end of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, a result screen showing the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC (special chart variation pattern derivation states PC connected via a jackpot game without a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA) can be displayed, and the display of this screen increases interest in the game.
The invention related to this function will be described in detail below.

<About the result screen>
First, the result screen according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
13 is a diagram showing the flow of the display screen in the final change of the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of the display screen in the final change of the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB. Here, the final change refers to the pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to the special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in each special pattern change pattern derivation state reaches a specified number.
15(a) to 15(c) are diagrams showing specific examples of display patterns of the result screen.

As shown in Fig. 13, in the final variation of the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed in a scattered manner in the display area related to the main display unit 81, and then a mode end image msg1 indicating that the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC is ended is displayed. Then, after the display of the mode end image msg1 is ended, a result screen is displayed and the final variation is ended.
More specifically, on the result screen, the display area 811 of the main display unit 81 displays the number of consecutive wins, which is the number of consecutive wins that occurred in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC, along with the word "Result" (in this example, "3 consecutive wins" is displayed, indicating that the number of consecutive wins is 3), and the display area 812 of the main display unit 81 displays the total number of balls that the player has won (paid out) in the jackpot games that occurred in the series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC (in this example, "01800 balls" is displayed, indicating that the total number of balls won is 1800 balls). Furthermore, on the result screen, the display area 813 of the main display unit 81 displays the rank type corresponding to the number of consecutive wins (in this example, "Rank E" is displayed, indicating that the rank is Rank E).
In addition, the performance example shown in FIG. 13 is a case where the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the final change of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is a miss, and if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the mode end image msg1 and the result screen are not displayed in the final change, and the development performance is executed to notify the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment. However, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the final change of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is a big hit or a small hit, the mode end image msg1 and the result screen are displayed in the final change, and during the subsequent final change, a performance (for example, a development performance) that notifies that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the final change is a small hit or a big hit may be executed. This is also the case shown in FIG. 14.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 14, in the final variation of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, after the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed in a scattered manner in the display area related to the main display unit 81, a mode end image msg2 different from the mode end image msg1 and indicating that the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB is ended is displayed, and then the final variation ends. That is, in this embodiment, in the final variation of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, the final variation ends without displaying the result screen.
In addition, similar to the example shown in Figure 13, the presentation example shown in Figure 14 is a case where the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the final fluctuation of the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a miss, and if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the mode end image msg2 is not displayed in the final fluctuation, and an advanced presentation is executed to announce the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.

Also, as described above, in this embodiment, if a small win game occurs in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC and the game ball does not pass through the V winning area and a big win game does not occur, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC ends and transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA. In this case, neither the mode end image msg1 nor the result screen is displayed, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC ends and transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.
Similarly, if a small win game occurs in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and the game ball does not pass through the V winning area and a big win game does not occur, the mode end image msg2 is not displayed, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB ends and transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

As shown in Figures 15(a) to 15(c), in this embodiment, when displaying the result screen, the method of displaying the numbers relating to the number of consecutive wins and the method of displaying the numbers relating to the total number of balls won are different.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 15 (a), in the consecutive wins display, if the number related to the consecutive wins display is a single digit (decimal display, the same applies below) (if the number does not reach two digits), the number is displayed as a single digit (in this example, "3 consecutive"). On the other hand, in the total number of balls displayed, even if the number related to the total number of balls displayed is a four digit (if the number does not reach five digits), the number is displayed as a five digit number with "0" added to the digit that is short of five (in this example, "01800 balls").
15B, in the consecutive win count display, if the number related to the consecutive win count display is two digits, the number is displayed in two digits (in this example, "20 consecutive wins"). Similarly, in the total number of balls display, if the number related to the total number of balls display is five digits, the number is displayed in five digits (in this example, "14,000 balls").

Also, as shown in Figure 15 (c), when the consecutive win count display is a three-digit number (for example, when the consecutive win count is 100 and values exceeding 99 do not necessarily need to be calculated), the consecutive win count display will be the maximum value that can be displayed in two digits (specifically, "99").
In this embodiment, the maximum number of digits that can be displayed in the total number of balls acquired is six digits, and details of the total number of balls acquired display when the number related to the total number of balls acquired is a six-digit value and when the number related to the total number of balls acquired is six digits will be described later.

In this way, in this embodiment, the result screen showing the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC is configured to be able to display the consecutive number of balls display and the total number of balls display. In the consecutive number of balls display, if the number related to the consecutive number of balls display is a single digit (if the number related to the consecutive number of balls display has not reached a double digit), the number is displayed in a single digit, while in the total number of balls display, even if the number related to the total number of balls display has not reached a five digit, the number is displayed in a five digit. In particular, in this embodiment, the consecutive number of balls display is the number of jackpot games that have occurred in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC, and the total number of balls display is the total number of game balls that the player has acquired in the jackpot games that have occurred in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC, and there is a positive correlation between the numbers related to these displays.
According to this, by displaying the number of consecutive wins with the minimum number of digits, a sense of accomplishment can be given for the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PCs, while by displaying the total number of balls won with five digits rather than the minimum number of digits, it is possible to increase the desire to play for the next series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PCs and improve interest in the game.

In addition, when this effect is achieved, the two numerical displays displayed on the result screen can be of any type as long as there is a positive correlation between the numerical values corresponding to each numerical display when the game is played according to the normal game method (in this embodiment, the launch of a game ball toward the second flow path Y) in a series of special pattern variation pattern derivation states PC. In other words, these numerical values may be the number of times a jackpot game with 4 rounds is played or the number of times a jackpot game with 10 rounds is played, or a numerical value that increases by simply staying in a series of special pattern variation pattern derivation states PC even if a jackpot game does not occur, such as the total number of times the pattern changes related to special pattern 2 are played in a series of special pattern variation pattern derivation states PC.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) is capable of executing a result display that numerically represents the game results in a specific period (a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC), and the result display is composed of a first result display (display of the number of consecutive games) and a second result display (display of the total number of balls won) that numerically displays the game results that are different from the game results related to the first result display and have a positive correlation with the game results, and when the result display is executed, if the numerical value related to the first result display that constitutes the result display has not reached the first digit number (two digits), the numerical value is displayed with the minimum number of digits, while, in other words, even if the numerical value related to the second result display that constitutes the result display has not reached the second digit number (five digits), the numerical value is displayed with the second digit number.

In particular, in this embodiment, the consecutive win count display is the number of jackpot games that occurred in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC, and the total number of balls acquired is the total number of game balls acquired by the player in the jackpot games that occurred in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC. Therefore, the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the total number of balls acquired display tends to be larger than the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the consecutive win count display. And, the minimum number of digits (five digits) related to the total number of balls acquired consecutive win count display is larger than the maximum number of digits (two digits) related to the consecutive win count display.
This can further enhance the effect of increasing motivation to play for the next series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC described above.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, during a specific period (a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC), the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the second result display (total number of balls won display) tends to be greater than the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the first result display, and in other words, the second number of digits (five digits) is greater than the first number of digits (two digits).

In addition, in this embodiment, in the final change of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, a mode end image (mode end image msg2) is displayed, similar to the final change of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, but unlike the final change of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, a result screen is not displayed.
This can reduce the sense of disappointment felt when a jackpot game cannot be generated in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC cannot be made.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area in the small hit game that has occurred and a big hit game has not occurred, the special chart variation pattern derivation state ends and transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, in which case the mode end image (mode end image msg1, mode end image msg2) is not displayed. And the mode end image msg1 and the mode end image msg2 are different images.
This can reduce the sense of disappointment that may occur when, due to a malfunction or the like, a small win game does not result in a big win game, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC ends and transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

<Regarding the display color of rank type and consecutive win count>
Next, the rank types and the display colors of the consecutive win counts displayed on the result screen will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
Fig. 16(a) is a diagram showing the correspondence between the number of consecutive wins and the rank type, and the relationship between the number of consecutive wins and the display color of the consecutive win number display, and Fig. 16(b) is a diagram showing the display color of the total number of balls acquired. Here, the display color of the consecutive win number display refers to the color of the number part and unit part (specifically, the character "Consecutive") that make up the consecutive win number display. Similarly, the display color of the total number of balls acquired refers to the color of the number part and unit part (specifically, the character "Ball") that make up the total number of balls acquired.

As shown in FIG. 16(a), the rank type is determined according to the value of the consecutive number of consecutive games. Specifically, when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 4 or less, the rank E is determined; when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 5 to 9, the rank D is determined; when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 10 to 14, the rank C is determined; when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 15 to 19, the rank B is determined; when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 20 to 29, the rank A is determined; when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 30 to 39, the rank S is determined; and when the consecutive number of consecutive games is 40 or more, the rank SS is determined. When the result screen is displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 15(a) to FIG. 15(c), the rank type corresponding to the consecutive number of consecutive games on the result screen is displayed in the display area 813. In this embodiment, the total number of balls obtained is not referred to when determining the rank type.
This can enhance the effect of the consecutive win count display described above, that is, the sense of accomplishment from the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) is capable of executing a specific display (display of rank type) in parallel with the result display when displaying the result, and in other words, the display mode of the specific display is determined by referring to the numerical value related to the first result display (number of consecutive wins) without referring to the numerical value related to the second result display (total number of balls won).

16(a), the display color of the consecutive win count display is determined according to the value of the consecutive win count. Specifically, black corresponds to the consecutive win count of 9 or less, red corresponds to the consecutive win count of 10 to 19, gold corresponds to the consecutive win count of 20 to 39, and rainbow corresponds to the consecutive win count of 40 or more.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16(b), the display color for the total number of balls won will be a predetermined display color (black in this embodiment) regardless of the value of the total number of balls won.
This achieves the effect of the above-mentioned consecutive win count display, i.e., it enhances the sense of accomplishment for the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PCs, while making it easier for the player to recognize the numbers related to the total number of balls won display, thereby further enhancing the effect of increasing motivation to play in the next series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PCs.
In order to achieve this effect, the display mode of the consecutive win count display is changed by changing the display color, but this is not limited to this. For example, the display mode of the consecutive win count display may be changed by changing the font of the constituent numbers or letters, or by changing the size of the constituent numbers or letters, or by a combination of these (including the display color).

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the first result display (display of the number of consecutive wins) is in a display mode that corresponds to the numerical value related to the first result display, while the second result display (display of the total number of balls won) is in a display mode that does not correspond to the numerical value related to the second result display, but is in a predetermined display mode.

In addition, in this embodiment, the display mode of the total number of balls won (black) is included in the display mode of the consecutive win number display.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize the numbers displayed on the total number of balls won.
In particular, the effect can be further enhanced because the display mode of the total number of balls won matches the display mode corresponding to the value corresponding to the smallest number of consecutive wins (range) among the display modes of the consecutive win number display.

<Display order on the results screen>
Next, the display order of the displays constituting the result screen will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the display order of the displays that make up the result screen.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the result screen is displayed, the display starts with the number of consecutive wins, the total number of balls won, and the rank type, in that order.
Specifically, at timing t1 when the display of the mode end image (mode end image msg1) ends, the consecutive win count display starts in place of the mode end image. At the following timing t2, the total number of balls acquired starts to be displayed, and at the following timing t3, the rank type display starts. Then, at timing t4 when the symbol related to the final change is displayed and the change of the symbol ends, the consecutive win count display, the total number of balls acquired display, and the rank type display end.

In particular, when displaying the number of consecutive wins and the total number of balls won, the numbers relating to the number of consecutive wins are displayed in order from the lowest digit to the highest digit, and it takes a time corresponding to the number of digits displayed before all of the numbers making up each display become visible.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the time required from timing t1 to timing t2 is set to be longer than the maximum time required to display all of the numbers that make up the consecutive win count display.
This allows the player to recognize the number of consecutive wins and the total number of balls won in that order, thereby further enhancing the effect of increasing the player's motivation to play for the next series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PC described above.
In addition, when achieving this effect, the numbers related to the consecutive win count display may be displayed all at once. In this case, timing t2 need only be later than timing t1, and there is no limit to the time required from timing t1 to timing t2.

Therefore, in other words, when the gaming machine 10 executes the result display, after all the digits of the number relating to the first result display (number of consecutive wins display) constituting the result display are displayed and the number becomes visible, the display of the number relating to the second result display (total number of balls won display) constituting the result display begins.

In addition, in this embodiment, the time required from timing t2 to timing t3 is set to be longer than the maximum time required to display all of the numbers that make up the total number of balls acquired.
This increases the effectiveness of having the player recognize the display of the number of consecutive wins and then the total number of balls won, and also makes it easier for the player to recognize the numerical value related to the display of the total number of balls won.

In this embodiment, the time required from timing t2 to timing t3 is made different from the time required from timing t1 to timing t2.
This makes it possible to differentiate the ease of recognition of the numbers relating to the consecutive win count display from the ease of recognition of the numbers relating to the total number of balls won display.

Therefore, in other words, when the result display is executed on the gaming machine 10, the time from when the first result display (display of the number of consecutive wins) constituting the result display starts to when the second result display (display of the total number of balls won) constituting the result display starts (the time required from timing t1 to timing t2) is different from the time from when the second result display starts to when the specific display starts (the time required from timing t2 to timing t3).

In particular, in this embodiment, the minimum number of digits (five digits) for displaying the total number of balls won and the number of consecutive wins is greater than the maximum number of digits (two digits) for displaying the number of consecutive wins, so the time required from timing t2 to timing t3 is made longer than the time required from timing t1 to timing t2.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize the number indicating the total number of balls won than the number indicating the number of consecutive wins.

In addition, as with the numbers related to the display of the number of consecutive wins, the constituent numbers for the total number of balls won may be displayed all at once, but it is preferable to display them in order from the lowest digits to the highest digits, as in this embodiment.
In this embodiment, regarding the rank type display, the characters constituting the display are displayed at once.

In addition, in this embodiment, the number of consecutive wins and the total number of balls won are displayed in that order, and then a rank type corresponding to the number related to the number of consecutive wins display is displayed.
According to this, the rank type display can give a sense of accomplishment for the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC.

<About updating the results screen-related figures>
Next, the details of the update process for the result screen related numbers (numbers relating to the display of the number of consecutive wins and the number of total balls won) will be described with reference to Figures 18 and 19.
FIG. 18 shows a flow of the result screen related numerical value update process, which is executed by the first sub-control board 200 at each timer interrupt.
Fig. 19(a) is a diagram showing an example of the result screen when the RUSH power failure flag is ON, and Fig. 19(b) is a diagram showing an example of the result screen when the value related to the total number of balls acquired exceeds 99999.

As shown in FIG. 18, in the first step S202 of the result screen related numerical value update process, it is determined whether or not a jackpot game has started, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S204, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S206.
In step S204, the numerical value related to the consecutive game number display (the consecutive game number) is updated, and the result screen related numerical value update process is terminated. Note that, in this update, 1 is added to the consecutive game number.

In step S206, it is determined whether the power interruption during RUSH flag is ON. If the condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S208. If the condition is met, the process ends the result screen related numerical value update process.
Here, the RUSH power failure flag is a flag that is set to ON when a power failure occurs during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC (it may be set to ON when the power is turned on after the power failure), and the flag is set to OFF (initial value) when the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA is set. In particular, in this embodiment, when the RUSH power failure flag is ON, the display related to the numerical value that is not updated in that case (the total number of balls obtained display) is not performed.

In step S208, it is determined whether or not a jackpot game is being played. If the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S210. If the condition is not met, the process ends the result screen-related numerical value update process.
In step S210, it is determined whether or not a win has occurred in the large prize slot 55. If the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S212. If the condition is not met, the process of updating the numerical values related to the result screen is terminated.
In step S212, the total number of acquired balls is updated, and the result screen related numerical value update process is terminated. In this update, 15 is added to the total number of acquired balls.

In this way, in this embodiment, when the RUSH power failure flag is ON, the total number of balls won is not displayed. On the other hand, with regard to the consecutive win number display, even if the RUSH power failure flag is ON, the consecutive win number is updated and the consecutive win number is displayed.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 19(a), when the power failure flag during RUSH is ON, the consecutive win count and rank type are displayed, but the total number of balls won is not displayed in the display area 812. In particular, this embodiment is configured so that the consecutive win count is not backed up when the power is lost. Therefore, when the power failure flag during RUSH is ON, the consecutive win count is the value updated since the most recent power-on.
This allows the effect of providing a sense of accomplishment for the game results in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation state PCs to be retained, while reducing the disappointment caused by the numbers on the result screen being reset when power is restored after a power outage.
In addition, in order to achieve this effect, the total number of balls won may be displayed as a five-digit "0" or "-", and displaying in this manner is equivalent to not displaying the total number of balls won in this invention.

In other words, when a power outage occurs in the gaming machine 10 during a specific period (a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC) and the power is then turned on and the result display is executed after the specific period is restored, the first result display (display of the number of consecutive wins) based on the game results after the power is restored is executed, but the second result display (display of the total number of balls won) is not executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the total number of balls is added by the entry of the game ball into the big prize opening 55 during the big win game, but the value is not subtracted. In other words, it can be said that the total number of balls is a monotonically increasing value in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC.
This can enhance the effect of increasing motivation to play by displaying the total number of balls won.
In this embodiment, like the total number of balls won, the number of consecutive wins can also be said to be a number that monotonically increases in a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, during a specific period (a series of special chart variation pattern derivation states PC), the value related to the second result display (display of the total number of balls won) increases monotonically.

Also, as shown in FIG. 19(b), in this embodiment, the total number of balls won can be displayed up to six digits, and the sixth digit is only displayed when the total number of balls won exceeds 99,999.
This increases the sense of accomplishment when the minimum number of digits required to display the total number of balls won reaches six digits, while reducing the sense of disappointment when the minimum number of digits required does not reach six digits.

In other words, in the gaming machine 10, the first result display (number of consecutive wins display) is configured not to display a number with more than a first digit (two digits), while the second result display (total number of balls won display) is configured to be able to display a number with more than a second digit (five digits).

In addition, in this embodiment, the values updated in the result image related value update process are initialized (cleared to zero) when the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is set, in addition to the occurrence of a power outage. Therefore, for example, if a jackpot game occurs due to the pattern change related to special chart 2 that is reserved immediately after transitioning from the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is set again, but at this time, the number of consecutive wins and the total number of balls won are both cleared to zero.

<Other Modifications>
Modifications not mentioned in the above description are listed below.

First, in this embodiment, the value related to the total number of balls won is a value that is updated every time a ball wins in the jackpot winning port 55, but in addition to this, the value related to the total number of balls won may be updated (specifically, by adding 4) every time a game ball wins in the general winning port 67 during a jackpot game.

In addition, each time the number related to the consecutive win count display is increased by, for example, 5, i.e., each time a threshold value set every 5 is reached, a breakthrough image (for example, a text display saying "5 consecutive wins over") that indicates that the threshold has been reached may be displayed in the display area related to the main display unit 81.
This makes it possible to make the numbers relating to the consecutive win count display easier to recognize when displaying the result screen.
In order to achieve this effect, the number of thresholds for displaying the breakthrough image does not matter as long as there are multiple types. In particular, when there are three or more types of thresholds, it is preferable that the intervals between the thresholds are equal.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the display control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) executes a predetermined display each time the numerical value related to the first result display (number of consecutive wins display) reaches a threshold value.

In order to achieve this effect, it is preferable not to display an image equivalent to the breakthrough image described above when updating the numerical value related to the total number of balls acquired.

In addition, in this embodiment, the numerical value related to the consecutive win count display does not include jackpot games (so-called first wins) that occur in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, or jackpot games that occur in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, but these jackpot games may be included in the numerical value related to the consecutive win count display.

In addition, in this embodiment, the mode end image and result screen are displayed while the final variation is being performed, but this is not limited to this. For example, they may be executed during the interval period related to the final variation (the period during which the stopped pattern displayed in the final variation is maintained, during which the normal pattern is already low probability). In other words, the mode end image and result screen may be executed around the timing when the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC ends and the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA is set.

Although not mentioned in the above explanation, during the execution of pattern changes other than the final change in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB, a number related to the consecutive win count and a number related to the total number of balls won may be displayed. However, in this case, it is preferable to display the number related to the total number of balls won with the minimum number of digits necessary to express the number.

The gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment is a so-called type 1/type 2 mixed machine that can derive both a big win and a small win that can cause a big win game in the special chart hit/miss judgment, but is not limited to this. Specifically, it is also possible to use a machine that can derive only a so-called type 1 hit or a machine that can derive only a so-called type 2 hit.

In addition, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, the special chart variation pattern may be determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 11, or the special chart variation pattern may be determined using another special chart variation pattern lottery table, or the special chart variation pattern may be determined without using the special chart variation pattern lottery table (without performing a lottery). However, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, it is preferable that the special chart variation pattern is determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 11 for more than half of the period during which the special chart variation pattern derivation state continues.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as long as the relationship between the probability, ratio, frequency, and number of times is ensured, the smaller value may be 0, and the larger value may be the maximum value. In particular, as long as the phenomenon aspect is ensured, the control for realizing the high and low of each ratio described above does not matter.
Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is just an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.

In addition, in the above explanation, the recovery state when power is restored is determined by referring to the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, but it is also possible to refer to whether the time that the RAM clear switch 43 has been ON since power was restored exceeds a specified time (e.g., 3 seconds). In this way, the occurrence of erroneous RAM clear processing can be further reduced.

In addition, in the above explanation, the state of the middle frame open door sensor 76 (open/closed state of the middle frame 17) was referenced when determining the return state when power was restored, but the return state may be set without reference to that state. In this case, the return state when power is restored may be set uniformly according to the case when the middle frame open door sensor 76 is ON (the middle frame 17 is open).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above description, but includes various modifications, improvements, and other aspects as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

<Additional Notes>
The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea.
(1)
A display means;
A display control means for controlling the display means;
Equipped with
the display control means is capable of executing a result display in which a game result during a specific period is expressed as a numerical value;
The result display is
A first result display;
a second result display that displays a game result that is different from the game result related to the first result display and has a positive correlation with the game result in a numerical value;
It is composed of
When the result display is performed,
When the numerical value relating to the first result display constituting the result display does not reach the first digit number, the numerical value is displayed with the minimum number of digits,
Even when the numerical value relating to the second result display constituting the result display has not reached the second digit, the numerical value is displayed in the second digit,
During the specific period, the numerical value related to the second result display monotonically increases.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(2)
The gaming machine according to (1) above,
during the specific period, the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the second result display tends to be greater than the minimum number of digits required to express the numerical value related to the first result display,
the second digit number is greater than the first digit number;
A gaming machine characterized by:
(3)
The gaming machine according to (1) or (2) above,
The first result display is configured not to display a number of digits beyond the first number of digits,
The second result display is configured to be capable of displaying a number of digits exceeding the second number of digits.
A gaming machine characterized by:

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable decorative body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame portions 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) Frame lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Performance button 38 Cursor button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Center cursor button 39 Main operation portion 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 45 Opening and closing cover 46 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53, inner rail 54, protective member 55, large prize opening 57, first start opening 59, second start opening 61, normal electric role 62, normal electric role solenoid 63, gate 65, special electric role 66, special electric role solenoid 67, general prize opening 69, out opening 70, first start opening sensor 71, second start opening sensor 72, large prize opening sensor 73, general prize opening sensor 74, gate sensor 75, out ball sensor 76, middle frame door open sensor 77, front frame door open sensor 80, performance display device 81, main display section 82, sub-display section 82a, upper sub-display section 82b, left sub-display section 82c, right sub-display section 90, pattern display device 91, first special pattern display device 92, second special pattern display device 93, normal pattern display device 94, first special pattern hold lamp 95, second special pattern hold lamp 96, normal pattern hold lamp 100, main control board 101, CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 I/O port 105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main hold control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special chart lottery means 131 Special chart win/loss determination means 132 Special chart stop pattern lottery means 133 Special chart change pattern derivation means 135 Regular chart lottery means 140 Big win game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electric role control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power restoration process execution means 176 Recovery state setting means 179 Playable state transition means 180 Power cut process execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 I/O port 209 First sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generation means 220 Normal presentation control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Presentation route determination means 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Pre-reading presentation control means 225 Presentation content determination means 226 Decoration pattern control means 227 Big win presentation control means 230 Sub-error control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable role control means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 I/O port 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Audio control board 311 CPU
312 ROM
313 RAM
314 I/O port 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case 811 Display area 812 Display area 813 Display area X First flow path Y Second flow path msg1 Mode end image msg2 Mode end image

Claims (1)

A display means;
A display control means for controlling the display means;
Equipped with
the display control means is capable of executing a result display in which a game result during a specific period is expressed as a numerical value;
The result display is
A first result display;
a second result display that displays a game result that is different from the game result related to the first result display and has a positive correlation with the game result in a numerical value;
It is composed of
When the result display is performed,
When the numerical value relating to the first result display constituting the result display does not reach the first digit number, the numerical value is displayed with the minimum number of digits,
Even when the numerical value relating to the second result display constituting the result display has not reached the second digit, the numerical value is displayed in the second digit,
During the specified period, the numerical value relating to the second result display increases monotonically,
the first result display is displayed in a color corresponding to a numerical value related to the first result display, and is displayed in a predetermined color from when counting of the numerical value starts until the numerical value reaches a predetermined threshold value;
The second result display is displayed in a predetermined color,
When a power outage occurs during the specific period and the power is then turned on and the result display is executed after the specific period is restored, the first result display based on the game result after the power is restored is executed, and the second result display is not executed.
A gaming machine characterized by:

Images