JP7561523B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines, and in particular to gaming machines capable of executing effects involving pseudo stops.

Conventionally, pachinko machines, which are an example of gaming machines, generally acquire start information when a gaming ball enters a specific start hole, execute a predetermined lottery based on the start information, and execute a "jackpot game" that is advantageous to the player if the result of the lottery is a predetermined result. In addition, in pachinko machines, in order to notify the player of the result of the lottery, a variety of effects are executed to increase the expectation of the jackpot while the effect patterns are displayed in a varying manner on a display device such as a liquid crystal display screen. As one type of such effect, an effect using so-called pseudo-variation has been known in recent years. The pseudo-variation is an effect in which the effect patterns are changed multiple times for one change of a predetermined pattern that notifies the result of the lottery. This effect makes it possible to give the impression that actual changes are being executed repeatedly, increasing the interest of the game.

Patent No. 4868474

In the gaming machines disclosed in Patent Document 1 and other publications which execute effects related to pseudo-variations as described above, it cannot be said that they express a wide variety of pseudo-variations according to the presentation mode, and the gameplay lacks excitement.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a gaming machine that is capable of expressing a variety of simulated variations and can increase the entertainment value of the game.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a gaming machine including a win/lose lottery means capable of executing a win/lose lottery regarding whether or not a special game advantageous to a player can be executed based on start information obtained in response to a game ball entering a start component arranged on a game board, a pattern changing means capable of varying a predetermined pattern for a predetermined time in response to the win/lose lottery and notifying the result of the win/lose lottery by the stopping mode after the predetermined time has elapsed, a performance control means capable of varying a predetermined performance pattern based on the variation of the predetermined pattern and notifying the result of the win/lose lottery by the stopping mode after the variation, a special game execution means for enabling the special game to be executed based on the result of the win/lose lottery that allows the execution of the special game, and a game state setting means for shifting the game state before and after the special game to a different game state based on the execution of the special game, and the performance control means controls the variation of the performance pattern during the time until the variation of the predetermined pattern stops. It is possible to execute pseudo fluctuations including temporary stops, and the number of such pseudo fluctuations varies depending on the game state . When the game state after the special game is a specific game state, the game state setting means is capable of setting the specific game state to another game state triggered by a predetermined number of variable displays of a predetermined pattern. The presentation control means is capable of displaying a predetermined suggestive presentation at the time of a temporary stop or actual stop of a presentation pattern that occurs across multiple variable displays of the predetermined pattern in the other game state. By displaying the predetermined suggestive presentation at the time of the temporary stop or actual stop of a presentation pattern corresponding to a predetermined pattern that is displayed variable first, and the time of the temporary stop of a presentation pattern corresponding to a predetermined pattern that is displayed variable later, it is possible to execute a pre-reading presentation that gradually suggests the possibility of a stop display of a presentation pattern that will execute a special game at the time of the actual stop of a presentation pattern corresponding to a later predetermined pattern .
It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and each of the configurations that make up the group of features can also be an invention.

The gaming machine with each of the above configurations can provide a gaming machine that can express a variety of simulated fluctuations and increase the entertainment value of the game.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pachinko machine. FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a pachinko machine. A diagram showing an overview of a reserved memory area and a pre-acquired information memory area. A diagram showing an overview of the special drawing win/loss determination table. A diagram showing an overview of the special chart type determination table. A diagram showing an overview of a variation pattern determination table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a special game control table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a game status setting table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a general drawing pass/fail determination table. A diagram showing an overview of the general map fluctuation pattern determination table. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of an opening/closing body actuation table. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a CPU initialization process of the main control circuit. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a save process during power interruption of the main control circuit. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a timer interrupt process of the main control circuit. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a switch management process of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the first starting port passing processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the second starting port passing processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the special pattern random number acquisition process of the main control circuit. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a pre-determination process at the time of acquisition by the main control circuit. A diagram explaining the special chart game management phase. A flow chart showing the special game management processing of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the special pattern change waiting process of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing during special pattern variation of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing after the special pattern has stopped by the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the processing before opening of the large prize opening of the main control circuit. A flow chart showing the large prize opening/closing switching process. A flow chart showing the large prize opening control process. A flow chart showing the large prize opening closure validity processing. A flow chart showing the large prize slot end wait processing. A figure showing an example of a performance pattern S. This is a diagram showing the flow from the start of the change in the performance pattern S to its stopped display. An overview diagram explaining the number of pseudo fluctuations depending on the game status. A diagram explaining the pseudo-fluctuations and pre-reading effects according to the game status. A flow chart showing the sub-CPU initialization processing of the performance control circuit. 13 is a flow chart showing the sub timer interrupt processing of the performance control circuit. 13 is a flow chart showing the pre-determination command receiving process of the performance control circuit. FIG. A flow chart showing the variable pattern command receiving processing of the performance control circuit. A diagram showing an overview of a variable performance pattern determination table. 11 is a flow chart showing the time schedule management process of the performance control circuit.

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

[Overall configuration of the gaming machine]
A pachinko machine 1 as an example of a gaming machine mainly comprises a vertically rectangular machine frame 2 installed in an island facility of an amusement parlor, a main body frame 3 attached to one side of the machine frame 2 by a hinge mechanism so as to be freely opened and closed, a game board 30 housed in the main body frame 3, a panel frame 4 pivotally attached to the front of the main body frame 3 so as to be openable and closable, a glass window 4A arranged in the center, and a receiving tray 6 arranged below the glass window 4A, a handle unit 7 protruding forward from one lower side of the panel frame 4, and speaker units 8 arranged on both upper sides of the panel frame 4. When the panel frame 4 is closed to the main body frame 3, a player seated in front of the pachinko machine 1 can see a game area 31 of the game board 30 housed in the main body frame 3 through the glass window 4A arranged in the panel frame 4.

In the center of the tray 6, an operating mechanism 9 is provided as an operating means that can be operated at the player's discretion. The operating mechanism 9 is composed of a circular push button 9A that the player can press, and a dial 9B that the player can rotate around the push button 9A. The operating mechanism 9 is connected to a performance control circuit 200, which will be described later, and the signals output from the push button 9A and the dial 9B are input to the performance control circuit 200. The performance control circuit 200 controls the display and operation of the main display device 80, for example, according to the input timing of the push button 9A. In addition, a ball lending button and a return button are provided on the tray 6, and the operation of these buttons is used to lend game balls corresponding to the number of available balls recorded on a recording medium such as an IC card inserted into a CR unit (not shown), or to return the recording medium.

[About the composition of the game board]
As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 30 housed in the main frame 3 has a game area 31 partitioned into a substantially circular shape by the outer guide rail 27 and the inner guide rail 28. The game area 31 is a space formed between the front surface of the game board 30 and the rear surface of the glass window 4A, and is an area where game balls shot out by a launching mechanism (not shown) can flow down. In addition, many nails are arranged on the game board 30, and game balls shot out by a launching mechanism (not shown) by the player's operation of the handle unit 7 flow down in the game area 31 while being irregularly guided by the many nails and windmills. The game area 31 is divided into a left hitting area EL and a right hitting area ER, roughly with a line CL as a boundary, and the strength of the game ball shot out can be adjusted by operating the handle unit 7 to select which area the game ball will flow down onto.

A first start winning component 60, a second start winning component 62, a large winning component 64, a passing gate 68, and a general winning component 70 are arranged on the surface of the game board 30, and when a game ball enters these winning components and is detected by the switches built into each component (first start hole detection switch SW1, second start hole detection switch SW2, large winning hole detection switch SW3, gate detection switch SW4, general winning hole detection switch SW5), a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to each winning component are paid out into the tray 6. In addition, as will be described in detail later, when a game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, in addition to paying out the prize balls, the main control circuit 100 opens the big winning component 64 and executes various lotteries, including a lottery regarding whether or not a special game (big win game) that creates an advantageous state for the player can be executed, a lottery to determine the mode of the special game, or a game state after the special game. In other words, the entry of a game ball into the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62 is an opportunity to participate in the various lotteries described above.

The first start winning part 60 is a winning part arranged in the left hitting area EL, is located approximately in the center of the game board 30 in the left-right direction, and has an upper opening ball entrance 60a. The second start winning part 62 is a winning part arranged in the right hitting area ER, and has a side opening ball entrance 62b and an opening/closing body 62a that closes or opens the winning entrance. The opening/closing body 62a is made of a wing-shaped member that can be in a closed state and an open state, and when the wing-shaped member is in a closed state upright in the vertical direction, the ball is prevented from entering the ball entrance 62b due to the positional relationship with the wall part 63 adjacent to the upper edge of the ball entrance 62b. On the other hand, when the wing-shaped member is in an open state lying down in the left-right direction, a space is created between the wall part 63 and the game ball, allowing the ball to flow down, and the ball is allowed to enter the ball entrance 62b. The opening and closing operation of the opening/closing body 62a is realized by driving the solenoid SOL1 described later. The opening operation of the opening/closing body 62a is triggered by the passage of a game ball through a passing gate 68 disposed on the right side of the game area 31, and is executed when the result of a lottery regarding whether or not the opening operation executed by the main control circuit 100 should be performed is a winning result. The passing gate 68 is a gate-shaped game component with upper and lower openings located upstream of the second start winning component 62 in the right-hitting area ER, and only game balls flowing down the right-hitting area ER can pass through it.

The big prize component 64 is disposed downstream of the second start prize component 62 in the right-hand hitting area ER. The big prize component 64 has a horizontally long rectangular ball entrance 64a that opens upward, and an opening/closing body 65 that closes or opens the ball entrance 64a. The opening/closing body 65 is a member that can move forward and backward in the front-rear direction of the game board 30 by driving the solenoid SOL2 described later, and closes the ball entrance 64a when it protrudes forward of the game board 30, and opens the ball entrance 64a when it retracts behind the game board 30. When a game ball reaches the big prize component 64 with the ball entrance 64a closed, the game ball passes over the opening/closing body 65 and is guided downstream via the slope 66 shown by the dashed line. The opening operation of the opening/closing body 65 is performed when a predetermined lottery result regarding whether or not a special game can be played when a game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62 is a winning result. The general winning component 70 is a member disposed in the lower left of the left hitting area EL, and has a ball entrance 70a that opens upward.

Below the ball entrance 70a, a first outlet 69a is opened. In addition, a second outlet 69b is opened at the bottom of the game area 31 below the big winning component 64. The first outlet 69a and the second outlet 69b are outlets that collect game balls that have not entered any of the multiple winning components, and game balls that flow down to these outlets 69a and 69b are discharged outside the machine via the back side of the game board 30. The first outlet 69a is an opening that mainly collects and discharges game balls that flow down the left hitting area EL. The second outlet 69b is an opening that collects and discharges game balls that flow down without being collected by the first outlet 69a and game balls that flow down the right hitting area ER.

Next, various display devices mounted on the game board 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a main display device 80 having a substantially rectangular display screen D1; D2 is disposed in the approximate center of the game board 30. The main display device 80 is a display device equipped with a liquid crystal display, and various types of images are displayed on the display screen D1; D2, such as images related to the performance pattern S described later, still images and videos expressing preview performances and reach performances displayed in conjunction with the variable display of the performance pattern S, and images displayed during special play. The player will enjoy playing the game while visually checking the variable performances such as the performance pattern S, preview performances, reach performances, or the look-ahead performances described later displayed mainly on the display screen D1; D2.
The display control of the image on the main display device 80 is executed by the performance control circuit 200 described later. In this example, the display screens D1 and D2 are divided in the vertical direction and can move toward or away from each other depending on the content of the variable performance.

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

[Internal structure of a pachinko machine]
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control means responsible for controlling the pachinko machine 1. As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 1 is equipped with a main control circuit 100 that mainly controls basic operations related to the overall game, a payout control circuit 150 that mainly controls the payout operation, a launch control circuit 160 that mainly controls the launching operation of game balls, and a performance control circuit 200 that mainly controls the main display device 80 mentioned above.

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

As shown in FIG. 3, the main control circuit 100 is connected to a first start hole detection switch SW1 that detects the entry of a game ball into the first start winning component 60, a second start hole detection switch SW2 that detects the entry of a game ball into the second start winning component 62, a large prize hole detection switch SW3 that detects the entry of a game ball into the large prize component 64, a gate detection switch SW4 that detects the passage of a game ball into the pass gate 68, and a general prize hole detection switch SW5 that detects the entry of a game ball into the general prize component 70, and the detection signals output from each detection switch are input to the main control circuit 100.

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

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

The payout control circuit 150 is connected to a payout motor 152 for paying out prize balls to the player, and a prize ball counting switch 153. The payout control circuit 150 controls the payout motor 152 so that a predetermined number of prize balls is paid out based on the prize ball number information included in the payout command sent from the main control circuit 100. The prize balls paid out by driving the payout motor 152 are detected by the prize ball counting switch 153, and the payout control circuit 150 determines whether the appropriate number of prize balls has been paid out. In addition, various switches are connected to the payout control circuit 150, such as a tray full detection switch 154 that detects that more than the allowable number of game balls are stored in the receiving tray 6, and a door open detection switch 155 that detects that the doors of the panel frame 4 or the main frame 3 are open.

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

The performance control circuit 200 controls various performance displays and performance operations during game progress and standby. The performance control circuit 200 includes a (sub) CPU 200a, a (sub) ROM 200b, and a (sub) RAM 200c, and is connected to the main control circuit 100 so that communication (one-way communication) is possible only from the main control circuit 100 to the performance control circuit 200. The performance control circuit 200 reads out a program stored in the ROM 200b in advance based on various commands related to performance transmitted from the main control circuit 100 and input signals from an internal timer, and performs calculation processing according to the program, and executes display control of images displayed on the display screens D1 and D2 of the main display device 80 connected to the performance control circuit 200, or operation control of motors not shown in the figure for operating the display screens D1 and D2, sound output control for outputting sounds such as music and sound effects from the speaker unit 8 during game progress, or light emission control for emitting light-emitting bodies (e.g., LEDs) arranged in various places such as the game board 30 and the panel frame 4 in various patterns. At this time, the RAM 200c functions as a work area during the calculation process of the CPU 200a, and temporarily stores various data and commands required for the calculation.
The performance control circuit 200 is also connected to the CPU 200a and includes hardware necessary for various controls, such as a VDP for receiving various commands related to image display transmitted from the CPU 200a and displaying various images on the display screens D1 and D2, a VRAM for temporarily storing various data required during the image display process, and a voice synthesis LSI for voice control. The performance control circuit 200 is also connected to the aforementioned operation mechanism 9 that can be operated at the player's discretion, and can execute the aforementioned controls in accordance with the operation timing of the operation mechanism 9, for example, to express a predetermined performance according to the operation timing of the operation mechanism 9.

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

The flow of the game of the pachinko machine 1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be outlined below. When a game ball that is shot out by the player's operation of the handle unit 7 and flows down the game area 31 enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, the main control circuit 100 executes various lotteries such as a lottery regarding whether or not a special game can be executed (hereinafter also referred to as a special symbol win/lose lottery), a lottery to determine the type of special symbol (hereinafter also referred to as a special symbol type determination lottery), and a lottery to determine the variation pattern (variation time) of the special symbol (hereinafter also referred to as a special symbol variation pattern determination lottery). Then, among the above lotteries, if the result of the special symbol win/lose lottery is "win", the opening/closing body 65 of the large winning component 64 is opened, and a special game that makes it easier for the game ball to enter is executed. An overview of each lottery will be explained below.

First, when the game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, various random numbers are simultaneously obtained, such as the special winning/losing determination random number, the special winning/losing type determination random number, and the variation pattern determination random number, which are referenced in the special winning/losing lottery, and the obtained random numbers are stored in the reserved memory area of RAM 100c. In the following explanation, the various random numbers obtained upon the ball entering the first start winning component 60 are collectively referred to as special 1 reserve, and the various random numbers obtained upon the ball entering the second start winning component 62 are collectively referred to as special 2 reserve. Furthermore, special 1 reserve and special 2 reserve are collectively referred to as start information.

Figure 4 (a) is a diagram showing an overview of the reserved memory area. As shown in the figure. The reserved memory area includes a first special chart reserved memory area and a second special chart reserved memory area that can store the special 1 reserved and the special 2 reserved independently. The first special chart reserved memory area and the second special chart reserved memory area each have four memory sections (first to fourth memory sections). When the game ball enters the first start winning component 60, the special 1 reserved is stored in the first memory section of the first special chart reserved memory area in order, and when the game ball enters the second start winning component 62, the special 2 reserved is stored in the first memory section of the second special chart reserved memory area in order. However, the number of special 1 reserved and the number of special 2 reserved that can be stored in the first special chart reserved memory area and the second special chart reserved memory area are set to four, respectively, and the number of reserved items does not increase beyond the upper limit of each reserved memory area. The example in the figure shows a state in which two pieces of start information (special 1 hold) are held and stored in the first hold memory area, and one piece of start information (special 2 hold) is held and stored in the second hold memory area.

[About the lottery process]
5 is a diagram showing an overview of the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB referenced in the special chart hit/miss lottery. When the game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, one special chart hit/miss judgment random number is obtained from the range of 0 to 65535. As shown in the figure, the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB is subdivided into a special chart hit/miss judgment table TB1 for special 1 that is referenced when special 1 is reserved, and a special chart hit/miss judgment table TB2 for special 2 that is referenced when special 2 is reserved.
The special chart hit/miss judgment tables TB1 and TB2 specify judgment results ("hit" or "miss") corresponding to the special chart hit/miss judgment random numbers from 0 to 65535. For example, when the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB1 for special 1 is referenced, the probability that the judgment result will be "hit" is about 1 in 199. On the other hand, when the special chart hit/miss judgment table TB2 for special 2 is referenced, the probability that the judgment result will be a hit is about 10 times, or about 1 in 19.9. Then, when the special chart hit/miss judgment random number acquired above is a random number corresponding to "hit", the judgment result is judged as a hit, and when it is a random number corresponding to "miss", the judgment result is judged as a miss.
In the above special chart hit/miss judgment tables TB1 and TB2, the judgment results are either "hit" or "miss", but the table may also include a "small hit" option.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an overview of the special chart type determination table TB referenced in the special chart type determination lottery. As shown in the figure, the special chart type determination table TB is divided into a special chart type determination table TB1, which is obtained when the special chart type determination random number enters the first start winning component 60 (special 1 reserved) and is referenced when the result of the special chart win/lose lottery mentioned above is a win, a special chart type determination table TB2, which is obtained when the special chart type determination random number enters the second start winning component 62 (special 2 reserved) and is referenced when the result of the special chart win/lose lottery mentioned above is a win, and a special chart type determination table TB3, which is referenced when the result of the special chart win/lose lottery is a miss.

When the ball lands on the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, a special symbol type determination random number is obtained, for example, from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, the special symbol type determination tables TB1 and TB2 specify special symbol types corresponding to the special symbol type determination random numbers from 0 to 99 at a predetermined rate (selection rate). For example, when the special symbol type determination table TB1 is referenced, the special symbol type is determined to be special symbol A, regardless of the range of the obtained special symbol type determination random number.

On the other hand, when the special symbol type determination table TB2 is referenced, if the obtained special symbol type determination random number is in the range of 0 to 59, the special symbol type is determined to be special symbol B, and if it is in the range of 60 to 99, the special symbol type is determined to be special symbol C. In other words, the result of the special symbol win/lose lottery triggered by the ball entering the second start winning component 62 is a win, and when the special symbol type determination table TB2 is referenced, the selection rates of special symbol B and special symbol C are 60% and 40%, respectively.

In addition, the special pattern type determination table TB3 is referenced when the result of the special pattern win/lose lottery is "lose," and the special pattern type is unconditionally determined to be special pattern X (losing pattern X) regardless of the range of the obtained special pattern type determination random number and the trigger for obtaining the special pattern type determination random number.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a variation pattern determination table TB referenced in the special pattern variation pattern determination lottery. In this embodiment, the variation pattern table is subdivided into a variation pattern determination table TB1 referenced when the game state is a low probability of a normal pattern, a variation pattern determination table TB2 referenced when the game state is a high probability of a first normal pattern, a variation pattern determination table TB3 referenced when the game state is a high probability of a second normal pattern, and a variation pattern determination table TB4 referenced when the game state is a high probability of a third normal pattern. When the ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, a variation pattern determination random number is obtained, for example, from a range of 0 to 99, and a variation pattern number corresponding to the variation pattern determination random number is determined from one of the variation pattern determination tables TB.

As shown in the figure, the variation pattern determination table TB1 specifies a variation pattern number corresponding to the variation pattern determination random number according to the result of the special chart win/lose lottery (special chart judgment result) determined by the above-mentioned lottery, and the number of reserved memories in the start information. Note that in this embodiment, if the special chart judgment result is "win", the variation pattern number is determined according to the variation pattern determination random number, regardless of the number of reserved memories. Note that the variation pattern determination table TB1 is an example, and for example, a different variation pattern number may be determined depending on the special chart type in addition to the result of the special chart win/lose lottery and the number of reserved memories.

In the fluctuation pattern determination tables TB2 to TB4, a fluctuation pattern number corresponding to the fluctuation pattern determination random number is specified according to the result of the special chart win/loss lottery determined by the above-mentioned lottery. For example, the fluctuation pattern determination table TB2 specifies a fluctuation pattern number ("10H" to "12H") corresponding to the fluctuation pattern determination random number, regardless of the result of the special chart win/loss lottery. In addition, the fluctuation pattern determination table TB3 specifies a fluctuation pattern number ("13H") regardless of the result of the special chart win/loss lottery and the fluctuation pattern determination random number. In addition, the fluctuation pattern determination table TB4 specifies a fluctuation pattern number ("14H" to "16H") corresponding to the fluctuation pattern determination random number, regardless of the result of the special chart win/loss lottery.

As shown in the table of FIG. 7, the change pattern number defined in each of the change pattern determination tables TB1 to TB4 is associated with a change time (seconds). The change time is the change display time of the special pattern displayed on the first special pattern display device 35A or the second special pattern display device 35B, and the special pattern is displayed stationary when the change time has elapsed from the start of the change. The change time also corresponds loosely to the change time of the performance pattern S, which is displayed and changed approximately in sync with the change display of the special pattern on the main display device 80, and the time of the change performance (preview performance, reach performance, foresight performance) displayed in conjunction with the change of the performance pattern S, and the change performance according to the change time is executed. Note that the shortest change time in this embodiment is, for example, 1.5 seconds, and the longest change time is 120 seconds.

When a fluctuation pattern number is determined from one of the fluctuation pattern determination tables TB, a fluctuation pattern command including information (fluctuation information) on the fluctuation pattern number and fluctuation time is sent to the performance control circuit 200, and various preview effects and reach effects according to each fluctuation pattern number are displayed on the display screens D1 and D2 of the main display device 80 along with the fluctuation display of the performance pattern S. Also, if it is determined by the processing described below that a pre-reading effect is to be executed, a predetermined pre-reading effect is displayed in addition to the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, the main control circuit 100 controls the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B at the same time as transmitting the variable pattern command, and starts the variable display of the special symbol on either display device. After that, the main control circuit 100 controls the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B based on the fact that the variable display time has elapsed, and transmits a special symbol stop designation command to the performance control circuit 200 side, which will be described later, and stops the variation of the performance symbol S displayed on the display screen D1; D2. Details of the processing related to these variable displays will be described later.
As described above, the main control circuit 100 executes the above-mentioned special symbol winning/losing lottery, special symbol type determination lottery, and special symbol variation pattern determination lottery at the start of the variation of the special symbol, and notifies the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery related to the possibility of the special game being executed or not, depending on the final stopping state of the special symbol and the performance symbol S. In addition, hereinafter, various lottery processes related to the execution of these special games may be collectively referred to as special symbol games. In addition, generally, the player will recognize the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery by the stopping state of the performance symbol S that is displayed on the display screen D1; D2 in synchronization with the display of the variation of the special symbol. In addition, the specific processing related to the above series of lotteries will be described later with reference to FIG. 22 and subsequent figures.

[Special games]
8 is a diagram showing an overview of the special game control table TB that is referenced when the result of the special game lottery is "win" and a special game advantageous to the player is executed. Various data for controlling the special game is stored in this special game control table TB, and during the special game, the solenoid SOL2 that opens and closes the opening and closing body 65 is driven and controlled by referring to the table. Note that a plurality of special game control tables TB are provided for each special game type, and a corresponding table is set at the start of the special game according to the determined special game type, but here, control data corresponding to all special game types is shown in one table.

The special game is composed of multiple rounds of play in which the opening and closing body 65 is opened a predetermined number of times. In the special game control table TB, the opening time (waiting time until the first round play starts), the maximum number of times the special electric device operates (the number of rounds played during one special game), the number of times the special electric device opens and closes (the number of times the opening and closing body 65 opens during one round (R)), the solenoid energizing time (the energizing time of the solenoid SOL2 for each opening of the opening and closing body 65, i.e., the opening time of one opening and closing body 65), the prescribed number (the maximum number of wins that can be won into the large prize winning hole in one round play), the effective time for closing the large prize winning hole (the closing time of the opening and closing body 65 between rounds of play, i.e., the interval time), and the ending time (waiting time from the end of the last round play until the normal special game (display of the changing special pattern) is resumed) are pre-stored as control data for the special game for each special symbol type as shown in the figure.

For example, when the special symbol type is special symbol A and a special game is executed, the round continues until one of the following conditions is met as the mode of the special game: the ball entrance 64a is opened for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 65 by energizing the solenoid SOL2, or 10 game balls (count C = 10) enter the ball entrance 64a, and the round is repeated four times. Also, when the special symbol type is special symbol B and a special game is executed, the round continues until one of the following conditions is met as the mode of the special game: the ball entrance 64a is opened for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 65, or 10 game balls (count C = 10) enter the ball entrance 64a, and the round is repeated ten times. In addition, when the special game is executed when the special symbol type is special symbol C, the round continues until one of the following conditions is met: the ball entrance 64a is open for 29 seconds by the opening action of the opening/closing body 65, or 10 game balls (count C = 10) enter the ball entrance 64a, and the round is repeated five times.

In other words, in this embodiment, the maximum number of times the special electric device can be operated and the solenoid power supply time are set differently depending on the type of special symbol, so the number of prize balls that a player can win in one special game will change depending on the type of special symbol.

[About game status]
9 is a diagram showing an outline of a game state setting table TB that is referred to in order to set the game state after the special game when the above-mentioned special game is executed. As shown in the figure, the game state setting table TB specifies the current game state and the game state after the special game corresponding to the special game type, and the number of games (normal game high probability number) during which the game state continues.
As shown in the game state setting table TB, if the current game state is a low probability of normal symbols and the special symbol type is special symbol A, the game state after the special game will transition to the first high probability of normal symbols. In addition, the first high probability of normal symbols will continue until the variation of the special symbols after the transition is confirmed six times, and after six confirmations, it will return (fall) to the low probability of normal symbols.
In addition, if the current game state is the first regular pattern high probability and the special pattern type is the special pattern B or C, the game state after the special game transitions to the second regular pattern high probability. The second regular pattern high probability continues until the special pattern changes 11 times after the transition, and transitions to the third regular pattern high probability after the transition. The third regular pattern high probability continues until the special pattern changes 20 times after the transition, and transitions back (falls) to the regular pattern low probability after the transition. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the second and third regular pattern high probabilities are a series of game states transitioned to when the current game state is the first regular pattern high probability and the special pattern type is the special pattern B or C, and can also be said to be game states that continue until the special pattern changes 31 times after the transition to the second regular pattern high probability. In addition, if the current game state is the second or third regular symbol high probability and the special symbol type is special symbol B or C, the game state after the special game will transition to the second regular symbol high probability (renchan). The number of regular symbol high probability times in each game state is set as a counter value of the regular symbol high probability number cut counter described below, and is subtracted each time the special symbol game is executed. Then, when the counter value becomes 0, the game state transitions to another game state (including falling).
In addition, the number of special chart types and the combination of game states can be changed as appropriate depending on the specifications of the pachinko machine 1, and by further subdividing and setting the special chart types, it is also possible to further subdivide and set the special game format and the game state after the special game.

In addition, a low probability of a regular drawing means that in the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern determination lottery, the variation pattern determination table TB1 shown in Figure 7 is referenced, and in the regular drawing win/lose lottery described below, the low probability regular drawing win/lose judgment table TB1 shown in Figure 10 is referenced, and if the judgment result is "win", the low probability regular drawing variation pattern determination table TB1 shown in Figure 11 is referenced.
In addition, the first regular pattern high probability to the third regular pattern high probability refer to a state in which the fluctuation pattern determination tables TB2 to TB4 are referenced in the aforementioned special pattern fluctuation pattern determination lottery, and in the regular pattern win/loss lottery described below, the high probability regular pattern win/loss determination table TB2 shown in Figure 10 is referenced, and if the determination result is "win", the high probability regular pattern fluctuation pattern determination table TB2 shown in Figure 11 is referenced.

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

When the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, a random number for determining whether the game is a win or lose is obtained, which is referenced in the lottery for determining whether the game is a win or lose, as described below, and the obtained random number is stored in the reserved memory area of the RAM 100c. Here, the reserved memory area has a regular map memory area capable of storing the regular map win or lose random number, and the regular map memory area has four memory sections (first to fourth memory sections). Then, when the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, the regular map win or lose random number is stored in order starting from the first memory section. However, the number of reserved regular maps (X3) that can be stored in the regular map reserve memory area is set to four, and the number of reserved regular maps X3 will not increase beyond this upper limit.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing an overview of the regular winning/losing judgment table TB referenced in the regular winning/losing lottery. When the game ball passes through the passing gate 68, one regular winning/losing judgment random number is obtained, for example, from the range of 0 to 99. As shown in the figure, the regular winning/losing judgment table TB is subdivided into a low probability regular winning/losing judgment table TB1 referenced when the game state is the above-mentioned regular low probability, and a high probability regular winning/losing judgment table TB2 referenced when the game state is the first regular high probability to third regular high probability. The regular winning/losing judgment tables TB1 and TB2 specify judgment results ("hit" or "miss") corresponding to the regular winning/losing judgment random numbers from 0 to 99. For example, the probability that the judgment result will be "hit" when the low probability regular winning/losing judgment table TB1 is referenced is 1 in 50. In contrast, when the high probability regular drawing hit/miss judgment table TB2 is referenced, the probability that the judgment result will be a hit is 1 in 1.2. If the regular drawing hit/miss judgment random number acquired above is a random number that corresponds to "hit", the judgment result will be a hit, and if it is a random number that corresponds to "miss", the judgment result will be a miss.

Figure 11 is a diagram explaining the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB referred to in the normal pattern variation pattern determination lottery. When the above-mentioned normal pattern win/loss lottery is performed, the normal pattern variation time is determined based on the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB. As shown in the figure, the normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB is subdivided into a low probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB1, which is referenced when the game state is a low probability of a normal pattern, and a high probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB2, which is referenced when the game state is a first normal pattern high probability to a third normal pattern high probability, and a single variation time is specified for each table. According to the low probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB1, the normal pattern variation time is determined to be "30 seconds", and according to the high probability normal pattern variation pattern determination table TB2, the normal pattern variation time is determined to be "1 second". When the normal symbol variation time is determined in this manner, the normal symbol variation display on the normal symbol display device 37 begins for the determined variation time, and after the variation time has elapsed, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed in a manner that indicates the result of the normal symbol win/lose lottery.

Here, the normal symbol display device 37 is configured, for example, as an array of multiple LED lamps, and the multiple lamps flash during the variable display, and if the result of the normal symbol win/lose lottery is a win, one of the multiple LED lamps lights up and stops, and if it is a miss, for example, all or some of the LED lamps are turned off. Note that, although the above explanation shows an example in which a single variable time is specified according to the game state, multiple variable times may be specified for each game state, and the variable time of the normal symbol that differs for each game state may be determined by lottery using a predetermined random number.

[Regarding normal play]
12 is a diagram showing an outline of the opening and closing body operation table TB that is referenced in the normal game that is executed when the result of the normal pattern lottery is a win and the normal pattern stops in a manner indicating a win. As shown in the figure, the opening and closing body operation table TB specifies the number of times the opening and closing body 62a is opened and the opening time per opening operation, and is subdivided into a low probability opening and closing body operation table TB1 that is referenced when the game state is a low probability of a normal pattern, and a high probability opening and closing body operation table TB2 that is referenced when the game state is a high probability of a first normal pattern to a high probability of a third normal pattern. Then, when the game state is a low probability of a normal pattern and the normal pattern stops in a manner indicating a win, the opening and closing body operation table TB1 is referenced, so that the solenoid SOL1 is energized and the opening and closing body 62a of the second start winning component 62 is opened once for 0.3 seconds. On the other hand, when the game state is one in which the probability of a normal symbol is high, and the normal symbol stops in a manner indicating a win, the above-mentioned opening/closing body operation table TB2 is referenced, so that the solenoid SOL1 is controlled to be energized, and the operation of opening the opening/closing body 62a of the second start-up winning component 62 for 1.8 seconds is repeated three times.

In other words, when the game state is between the first regular pattern high probability and the third regular pattern high probability, the probability that the result of the regular pattern lottery will be a "win" is higher than when the regular pattern is a low probability, the normal pattern variation time is significantly shortened, and the total opening time of the opening and closing body 62a is longer. Therefore, when the game ball is shot into the right-hitting area ER, the game ball is more likely to enter the second start winning part 62, and it is possible to efficiently play the above-mentioned special pattern game triggered by the ball entering the second start winning part 62 while suppressing the consumption of game balls. In this embodiment, the three elements of the probability that the result of the regular pattern lottery will be a "win", the normal pattern variation time, and the opening time of the opening and closing body 62a are more favorable than when the regular pattern is a low probability, thereby fostering a state of the first regular pattern high probability to the third regular pattern high probability, but this is not limited to this, and it is also possible to foster a state of a high regular pattern probability by changing at least one of the above three elements. Below, we will explain the main processing by the main control circuit 100 in the above-mentioned pachinko machine 1 using several flowcharts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S100-33)
The CPU 100a performs a process for inhibiting interrupts. This process inhibits the execution of an interrupt process for receiving data (main commands) from the payout control circuit 150 (not shown) during a timer interrupt, and the execution of the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 15.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S400-9)
The CPU 100a performs a timer update process to update various timer counters. Here, unless otherwise specified, the timer counters are decremented every time the main control circuit 100 executes a timer interrupt process, and the decrement stops when the timer counters reach 0.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S400-25)
The CPU 100a executes a solenoid output image synthesis process to synthesize the solenoid output images of the solenoid SOL1 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 62a, and the solenoid SOL2 for opening and closing the opening/closing body 65, and set them in the output port buffer (store them in the output port buffer).

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

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

[Switch Management Processing]
FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining the switch management process (step S500) in the main control circuit 100. As shown in FIG.

(Step S500-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the gate detection switch SW4 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the gate detection switch SW4 based on the passage of the game ball through the passing gate 68. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, the process proceeds to step S510, and if no input has been input, the process proceeds to step S500-3.

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

(Step S500-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the first start hole detection switch SW1 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the first start hole detection switch SW1 based on the entry of the game ball into the first start winning component 60. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, the process proceeds to step S520, and if there has been no input, the process proceeds to step S500-5.

(Step S520)
The CPU 100a executes a first start opening passage process based on the entry of the gaming ball into the first start winning component 60. Details of the first start opening passage process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Step S500-5)
The CPU 100a judges whether the second start hole detection switch SW2 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal is input from the second start hole detection switch SW2 based on the entry of the game ball into the second start winning component 62. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input, the process proceeds to step S530, and if there is no input, the process proceeds to step S500-7.

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

(Step S500-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the special prize opening detection switch SW3 is turned on, that is, whether a detection signal has been input from the special prize opening detection switch SW3 based on the entry of a gaming ball into the special prize component 64. If the result of the judgment is that a detection signal has been input from the special prize opening detection switch SW3, the process proceeds to step S500-9, and if there is no input, the switch management process is terminated.

(Step S500-9)
The CPU 100a determines whether or not a special game is currently being played, and determines whether the game ball has entered the big prize component 64 properly. If it determines that a special game is not being played, it executes a predetermined fraud detection process (for example, announcing the detection of fraud via the display screen D1, speaker unit 8, LED, etc.), and if it determines that a special game is being played and the game ball has entered the big prize component 64 properly, it increments the big prize opening ball number counter by 1 and ends the switch management process.

[First starting port passing process]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the first starting port passing process (step S520) in the main control circuit 100.

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

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

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

[Second starting port passing process]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the second start port passing process (step S530) in the main control circuit 100.

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

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

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

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

For example, when the normal game management phase is "00H" indicating the execution of the normal pattern change waiting process, the normal game lottery using the normal game lottery judgment table TB and the normal game pattern determination lottery using the normal game pattern change pattern determination table TB are executed on the condition that the normal game number (X3) in the normal game memory area is 1 or more, and the determined normal game pattern change time is set in the timer. Also, when the normal game management phase is "01H" indicating the execution of the normal game pattern change process, the stop mode of the normal game pattern is determined and the stop time is set according to the elapse of the normal game pattern change time set in the timer, and the normal game pattern change is stopped. Also, when the normal game management phase is "02H" indicating the execution of the normal game pattern stop process, the result of the normal game lottery is confirmed after the stop time has elapsed, and the timer is set to the pre-open time, which is the time until the opening and closing body 62a opens, on the condition that it is "hit". If it is "miss", it returns to the normal game pattern change waiting process (00H). In addition, when the normal game management phase is "03H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening pre-processing, the normal electric role opening opening switching process is executed on the condition that the above pre-opening time has elapsed. Here, the normal electric role opening opening switching process is a process of extracting the control data of the solenoid SOL1 according to the above-mentioned opening body operation table TB. In addition, when the normal game management phase is "04H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening control process, the solenoid SOL1 is energized according to the above-mentioned control data, the opening and closing body 62a is opened until the opening and closing number of times (upper limit number of times) of the opening and closing body specified in the opening body operation table TB is reached, and the opening and closing body 62a is closed based on the reaching of the upper limit number of times. In addition, when the normal game management phase is "05H" indicating the execution of the normal electric role opening closing valid process, the timer is set to the wait time from when the above-mentioned opening and closing body 62a is closed until the normal pattern change waiting process (00H) is executed again. In addition, when the normal symbol game management phase is "06H" which indicates the execution of the normal electric role winning port end wait process, the normal symbol game management phase is transitioned to the normal symbol change wait process (00H) based on the elapse of the above-mentioned wait time.
As described above, each regular game play management phase switches depending on the stage of the regular game play execution processing, and the main control circuit 100 progresses the regular game play by executing processing corresponding to each regular game play management phase.

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

(Step S530-9)
The CPU 100a determines whether or not an abnormal winning has occurred, and if it determines that an abnormal winning has occurred, executes a start port abnormal winning error process (for example, notifying the user that fraud has been detected via the display screen D1, speaker unit 8, LED, etc.), and terminates the second start port passing process.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S535-7)
The CPU 100a judges whether the number of reserved balls with the target special symbol (the number of reserved special 1 balls or the number of reserved special 2 balls) loaded in step S535-3 is equal to or greater than the upper limit of 4. If it is judged to be equal to or greater than the upper limit, the special symbol random number acquisition process is terminated. If it is judged to be equal to or less than the upper limit, the process proceeds to step S535-9.

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

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

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

(Step S540)
The CPU 100a executes an acquisition pre-determination process based on the various random numbers stored in the target storage unit in step S535-13. The acquisition pre-determination process will be described later.

(Step S535-15)
The CPU 100a loads the counter values of the special pattern 1 reserved ball count counter and the special pattern 2 reserved ball count counter.

(Step S535-17)
The CPU 100a sets the special symbol reservation command in the transmission buffer (stores it in the transmission buffer) based on the counter value loaded in the above step S535-15, and ends the special symbol random number acquisition process (step S535). Here, the special symbol 1 reservation command is set based on the counter value (special 1 reservation number) of the special symbol 1 reservation ball number counter, and the special symbol 2 reservation command is set based on the counter value (special 2 reservation number) of the special symbol 2 reservation ball number counter.

When a special symbol 1 reserve designation command or a special symbol 2 reserve designation command is sent to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 controls, for example, to increase the number of predetermined reserve display icons indicating the number of special 1 reserves and the number of special 2 reserves displayed in a portion of the display screen D2 described below, allowing the player to visually recognize the current number of special 1 reserves and special 2 reserves. In addition, by executing this process, the corresponding parts of the reserve display units of the first special symbol reserve display device 36A and the second special symbol reserve display device 36B, which are provided in multiple numbers corresponding to the upper limit number of special 1 reserves and special 2 reserves, are lit up by the process of step S400-5.

[Pre-determination process at acquisition time]
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the above-mentioned acquisition pre-determination process (step S540).

(Step S540-1)
Based on the special pattern identification value, the CPU 100a sets either the special pattern win/loss judgment table TB1 for special 1 corresponding to the special 1 reservation or the special pattern win/loss judgment table TB2 for special 2 corresponding to the special 2 reservation, and based on the table and the special pattern win/loss judgment random number obtained in the above step S535-13, executes a pre-special pattern win/loss lottery process and transfers processing.

(Step S540-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the result of the preliminary special drawing lottery is a "win". If the result of the judgment is a "win", the process proceeds to step S540-5, and if the result is not a "win" (if it is a "lose", the process proceeds to step S540-7.

(Step S540-5)
The CPU 100a loads the special pattern identification value, sets the special pattern type determination table TB1 or the special pattern type determination table TB2, and executes a pre-special pattern type determination process based on the table and the special pattern type determination random number obtained in the above step S535-13, and then transfers the processing.

(Step S540-7)
The CPU 100a loads a normal pattern probability state flag described below that identifies the game state, sets one of the variation pattern determination tables TB1 to TB4 depending on the game state, and executes a pre-special pattern variation pattern determination lottery process based on the table, the result of the pre-special pattern win/lose lottery determined in the above step S540-1, and the variation pattern determination random number obtained in the above step S535-13, and then transfers processing.

(Step S540-9)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a pre-determination command including information regarding the lottery result ('hit' or 'lose') in the pre-special chart win/lose lottery process of step S540-1 and information regarding the variation pattern number determined in the pre-special chart variation pattern determination process of step S540-7, and terminates the pre-determination process at the time of acquisition.

In this way, the acquisition time advance judgment process is a process that judges the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery corresponding to the newly stored start information and the variation pattern number in advance before the special pattern variation waiting process described later is executed, and transmits this information (advance acquisition information) to the performance control circuit 200 in advance. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the RAM 200c of the performance control circuit 200 is provided with advance acquisition information storage areas (first and second advance acquisition information storage areas) equipped with storage sections corresponding to the first storage section to the fourth storage section of the first special pattern reservation storage area and the first storage section to the fourth storage section of the second special pattern reservation storage area, respectively, and the information (advance acquisition information) included in the advance judgment command is stored in order in correspondence (linked) with the special 1 reservation stored in the first special pattern reservation storage area and the special 2 reservation stored in the second special pattern reservation storage area.
In addition, by the pre-judgment process at the time of acquisition, a pre-judgment command is sent to the performance control circuit 200, and the performance control circuit 200 may, based on the information contained in the pre-judgment command, display in advance on the display screens D1; D2 the result of the special pattern win/loss lottery and a predetermined performance (pre-reading performance) suggesting the change pattern before the special pattern change waiting process described below is executed based on the special 1 reserve or special 2 reserve for which the pre-judgment command was generated.

21 is a diagram illustrating the special game management phase. As described above, in this embodiment, various lottery processes (special game) regarding whether or not a special game can be played when a game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, and various lottery processes (normal game) regarding whether or not a normal game can be played when a game ball passes through the passing gate 68 proceed simultaneously in parallel.
The special chart game is executed step by step and repeatedly each time the game ball enters the first start winning component 60 or the second start winning component 62, and the main control circuit 100 manages each process related to the special chart game by the special chart game management phase.

As shown in FIG. 21, ROM 100b stores a plurality of special game control modules for controlling the execution of special game games, and each of these special game control modules is associated with a special game management phase. Specifically, when the special game management phase is "00H", a module for executing "special symbol change waiting process" is called, when the special game management phase is "01H", a module for executing "special symbol change during process" is called, when the special game management phase is "02H", a module for executing "special symbol stop after process" is called, when the special game management phase is "03H", a module for executing "large prize opening pre-process" is called, when the special game management phase is "04H", a module for executing "large prize opening control process" is called, when the special game management phase is "05H", a module for executing "large prize opening closing valid process" is called, when the special game management phase is "06H", a module for executing "large prize opening end wait process" is called.

[Special game management processing]
FIG. 22 is a flowchart explaining the special game management processing (step S600) in the main control circuit 100.

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S610-1)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special symbol 2 reserved ball counter, i.e., the special 2 reserved number, is "1" or more. If the result of the judgment is that the special 2 reserved number is "1" or more, the process proceeds to step S610-7, and if the result is that the special 2 reserved number is not "1" or more, the process proceeds to step S610-3.

(Step S610-3)
The CPU 100a judges whether the counter value of the special symbol 1 reserved ball counter, that is, the special 1 reserved number, is 1 or more. If it is judged that the special 1 reserved number is 1 or more, the process proceeds to step S610-7, and if it is judged that the special 1 reserved number is not 1 or more, the process proceeds to step S610-5.

(Step S610-5)
The CPU 100a executes a customer waiting setting process to set (store) the customer waiting command in the transmission buffer, and ends the special symbol change waiting process. When the customer waiting command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP based on the fact that a predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the customer waiting command, and displays a demo performance display on the display screen D1 indicating that the machine is in a customer waiting state.

(Step S610-7)
The CPU 100a subtracts "1" from the counter value of the target special pattern reserved ball count counter corresponding to the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved, sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a special 1 reserved subtraction designation command or a special 2 reserved subtraction designation command indicating that the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved has been subtracted by "1", and block-transfers the special 2 reserved stored in the first memory unit to the fourth memory unit of the second special pattern reserved memory area, or the special 1 reserved stored in the first memory unit to the fourth memory unit of the first special pattern reserved memory area, to the memory unit with the next smaller ordinal number.
Specifically, RAM 100c is provided with a 0th memory section to be processed, and if it is determined in the above step S610-1 that the number of special 2 reservations is "1" or more, the special 2 reservations stored in the 1st to 4th memory sections of the second special chart reservation memory area are transferred to the 0th to 3rd memory sections, and the 4th memory section is cleared.
Also, in the above step S610-3, if it is determined that the number of special 1 reservations is "1" or more, the special 1 reservations stored in the first memory section to the fourth memory section of the first special chart reservation memory area are transferred to the zeroth memory section to the third memory section, and the fourth memory section is cleared.
In addition, a game status confirmation command is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer) based on the information of the normal symbol probability status flag.

By transmitting the special 1 reserve reduction command or the special 2 reserve reduction command to the performance control circuit 200, information on the reduced special 1 reserve number or special 2 reserve number is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200. Based on the reception of the special 1 reserve reduction command or the special 2 reserve reduction command, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a command to the VDP to reduce the number of predetermined reserve display icons that has increased based on the above-mentioned special pattern 1 reserve designation command or special pattern 2 reserve designation command, and allows the player to visually recognize the reduced special 1 reserve number and special 2 reserve number on the display screen D2. In addition, by executing this process, the corresponding part of the reserve display unit of either the first special pattern reserve display device 36A or the second special pattern reserve display device 36B is turned off by the process of step S400-5. In addition, when the game status confirmation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, information on the current game status is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 each time the special pattern starts to change.

(Step S610-9)
The CPU 100a loads the reserved type and the special chart win/loss judgment random number transferred to the 0th memory unit, selects the corresponding special chart win/loss judgment table TB1 for special 1 or the special chart win/loss judgment table TB2 for special 2, performs the special chart win/loss lottery process, and stores data related to the lottery result ('win', 'lose') (special chart win/loss judgment data).

(Step S610-11)
The CPU 100a executes a special pattern type determination process for determining a special pattern type. Here, if the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery in the above step S610-9 is "winning", the reserved type and the special pattern type determination random number transferred to the 0th storage unit are loaded, and the special pattern type is extracted by selecting one of the corresponding special pattern type determination tables TB1 and TB2, and data (special pattern type data) related to the extracted special pattern type is stored. On the other hand, if the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery in step S610-9 is "losing", the special pattern type related to the special pattern X (losing pattern X) is extracted from the special pattern type determination table TB3, and the special pattern type data related to the special pattern X is stored.
After storing the special chart type data, a special chart type designation command corresponding to the special chart type data is set in the transmission buffer (stored in the transmission buffer). That is, by transmitting the special chart type designation command, information regarding the special chart type extracted each time the special chart type determination process is performed is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 side.

(Step S610-13)
The CPU 100a saves the special symbol stop symbol number corresponding to the special symbol type extracted in the above step S610-11. The first special symbol display device 35A and the second special symbol display device 35B are each composed of 7 segments, and each segment constituting the 7 segments is associated with a number (counter value). The special symbol stop symbol number determined here indicates the number (counter value) of the segment that will finally be lit up.

(Step S610-14)
The CPU 100a executes a special pattern variation pattern determination lottery to determine the variation pattern of the special pattern. Specifically, it loads a normal pattern probability state flag that identifies the game state, and refers to one of the variation pattern determination tables TB1 to TB4 illustrated in FIG. 7, and extracts and determines a variation pattern number corresponding to the variation pattern determination random number transferred to the 0th memory unit according to the result of the special pattern winning/losing lottery and the number of reserved memories. The CPU 100a sets a variation pattern command including the variation pattern number extracted and determined from one of the variation pattern determination tables TB and the variation time corresponding to the variation pattern number in the transmission buffer (stores it in the transmission buffer). By transmitting the variation pattern command to the performance control circuit 200 side, the performance control circuit 200 side determines the content of a more specific variation performance according to the variation pattern number, and transmits a command including information regarding the content of the determined variation performance to the VDP, thereby displaying various variation performances on the display screen D1 together with the variation display of the performance pattern S.

(Step S610-15)
The CPU 100a loads the fluctuation time corresponding to the fluctuation pattern number extracted in step S610-14, and sets it in the special pattern fluctuation timer.

(Step S610-17)
The CPU 100a judges whether the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery in the above step S610-9 is "winning" or not, and if it is "winning", loads the special symbol type data stored in the above step S610-11 and checks the type of the special symbol. Then, referring to the game state setting table TB shown in FIG. 9, it judges the game state to be set after the special game ends and the number of times of normal symbol high probability, and saves the judgment result in the normal symbol probability state reserve flag and the normal symbol high probability number cut reserve counter. Here, the game state set at the time of winning the special game is stored.

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

(Step S610-21)
The CPU 100a updates the special symbol game management phase to "01H" and ends the special symbol change waiting process. By executing the series of special symbol change waiting processes, the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B starts to display the special symbol change, and the display screen D1 or D2 starts to display the performance symbol S change in approximately synchronization with the special symbol change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S620-19)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a special symbol stop designation command indicating that the special symbol is stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display device 35A or the second special symbol display device 35B. When the special symbol stop designation command is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP, and stops and displays the changing performance symbol S on the display screen D1; D2 in approximately synchronization with the stopped display of the special symbol.

(Step S620-21)
The CPU 100a sets the special pattern change stop time (fixed time), which is the time for stopping the display of the special pattern, in the special game timer, and ends the special pattern change process.

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

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

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

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

(Step S630-7)
The CPU 100a executes the number of times cut management process. Here, the normal pattern probability state flag is loaded, and the current game state (normal pattern low probability, first normal pattern high probability, second normal pattern high probability, third normal pattern high probability) is confirmed. Then, when the game state is any of the normal pattern high probability, the counter value of the normal pattern high probability number of times cut counter is updated to a value obtained by subtracting "1" from the current counter value. Note that, when the counter value becomes "0" as a result of updating the normal pattern high probability number of times cut counter, the normal pattern probability state flag corresponding to the transition destination is set (see FIG. 9). Note that, when transitioning from the second normal pattern high probability to the third normal pattern high probability, the counter value of the normal pattern high probability number of times cut counter is newly set. As a result, in any of the normal pattern high probability game states, when the special pattern is confirmed a predetermined number of times without winning "win", the game state will transition from the normal pattern high probability to the normal pattern low probability. In addition, in the case where the game state is changed in step S630-7, the CPU 100a sets (stores) in the transmission buffer a game state change designation command for transmitting the game state after the change to the performance control circuit 200. This notifies the performance control circuit 200 that the game state has changed.

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

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

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

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

(Step S630-17)
The CPU 100a performs a process of setting the maximum number of times the special electric device operates. Specifically, the CPU 100a refers to the data set in step S630-15, and sets a predetermined number (counter value corresponding to the special picture type = number of rounds) as a counter value in the maximum number of times the special electric device operates.

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

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

(Step S630-21)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) an opening designation command for transmitting the start of a special game to the presentation control circuit 200. When the opening designation command is transmitted, the presentation control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP, and for example, prior to the start of a special game, a predetermined opening presentation notifying the player that a special game is about to start and a presentation during the special game are displayed on the display screens D1 and D2.

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

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

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

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

(Step S640-5)
The CPU 100a sets (stores in the transmission buffer) a command to specify the opening of the large prize opening (specifically, a command indicating the round to be executed (1R, 2R, ...)) to transmit the start of opening of the opening/closing body 65 (start of round play) to the performance control circuit 200. When the command to specify the opening of the large prize opening is transmitted to the performance control circuit 200, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP, and displays, for example, a display regarding the current number of rounds on the display screen D1. In addition, by transmitting information (commands) regarding the number of balls that have passed the large prize opening detection switch SW3 during special play or the number of balls that have been instructed to the payout control circuit 150 during special play to the performance control circuit 200, the number of balls that have entered the game or the number of prize balls can be displayed on the display screens D1; D2.

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

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

[Big prize opening/closing switching process]
FIG. 27 is a flowchart explaining the special prize opening/closing switching process in the main control circuit 100.

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

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

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

(Step S641-7)
The CPU 100a saves the timer value based on the timer data extracted in step S641-3 in the special game timer. The timer value saved in the special game timer here is the maximum opening time of the opening/closing body 65 (the big prize opening) once.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S660-13)
The CPU 100a sets an ending designation command indicating the start of the ending in the transmission buffer (stores it in the transmission buffer) and ends the special prize opening closing validity process. By transmitting the ending designation command, the performance control circuit 200 transmits a predetermined command to the VDP and displays a predetermined ending performance on the display screen D1; D2 to inform the player that the special game has ended.

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

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

(Step S670-3)
The CPU 100a executes a game state setting process for setting the game state after the special game ends. Specifically, the CPU 100a loads the preliminary normal symbol probability state flag saved in the above step S610-17 to save data related to the game state.
In addition, the CPU 100a loads the reserve counter for the number of times that a regular pattern has a high probability of winning that was saved in step S610-17, and saves the number of times that a regular pattern has a high probability of winning that corresponds to the special pattern type in the reserve counter for the number of times that a regular pattern has a high probability of winning.

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

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

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

The above describes the main control processing by the main control circuit 100, but on the performance control circuit 200 side, based on receiving a variation pattern command sent from the main control circuit 100 in particular, a variation display determination process is executed to start the variation display of the performance pattern S, and together with the variation display of the performance pattern S, various variation displays such as advance notice displays and reach displays are displayed according to the type of variation pattern command. In addition, based on receiving a pre-determination command, the performance control circuit 200 displays a predetermined look-ahead display in addition to the above-mentioned variation display. Below, the contents of the performance pattern S, the variation display, and the look-ahead display displayed on the display screens D1 and D2 will be explained, and the main processing of the performance control circuit 200 will be explained.

[About the design]
First, an example of the performance pattern S that changes in response to the change display of the special pattern will be outlined. FIG. 31(a) is a front view showing the display screen D1; D2 of the main display device 80. As shown in the figure, the display screens D1; D2 are usually close to each other in the vertical direction, and a background image outside the figure that represents, for example, a specific streetscape is displayed across the display screens D1; D2. In addition, the performance pattern S that changes in synchronization with the change display of the special pattern described above is displayed in the change areas AL, AC, AR of the display screen D1 located at the top. The performance pattern S is displayed (scrolled) in the vertical direction, for example, in each change area AL, AC, AR.

As shown in FIG. 31(b), the effect pattern S is composed of an image (effect pattern "1" to effect pattern "8") that combines consecutive numbers from 1 to 8 with a predetermined character corresponding to each number. Note that the effect pattern "8" and the effect pattern "1" are set as consecutive patterns. Also, each number in the effect pattern S is colored according to the type of number. For example, the effect patterns "3" and "7" are colored red, the effect patterns "1" and "5" are colored green, and the remaining effect patterns "2", "4", "6", and "8" are colored blue.
The display screen D2 is also provided with a hold display icon display area EI. The hold display icon display area EI is divided in the left-right direction into a first icon display area EIA in which hold display icons indicating the number of special 1 holds are arranged, and a second icon display area EIB in which hold display icons indicating the number of special 2 holds are arranged. Up to four hold display icons P can be displayed in each area to correspond to the number of special 1 holds and special 2 holds, and the hold display icons P are arranged so that the number of hold display icons P increases from right to left in the first icon display area EIA and from left to right in the second icon display area EIB as the number of start information (special 1 holds, special 2 holds) increases.
In addition, in the center of the reserved display icon display area EI, a variable target icon display area EIC is displayed as a rectangular area, which represents the reserved display icon P corresponding to the special 1 reserved or special 2 reserved that is the target of the special drawing (variation). In the illustrated example, three reserved display icons P are displayed in the first icon display area EIA, and one reserved display icon P is displayed in the second icon display area EIB, which indicates that three unconsumed reserved special 1s and one reserved special 2 are stored. Also, as shown by the arrow, when a special drawing based on the start information (special 1 reserved) corresponding to the reserved display icon P displayed in the first icon display area EIA is executed, the reserved display icon P (the reserved display icon located at the rightmost position) is displayed to move to the variable target icon display area EIC, and the display of the variation of the performance pattern S is started approximately in synchronization with the timing of the movement display. Also, each subsequent reserved display icon P is displayed to move toward the variable target icon display area EIC, which indicates that one reserved display icon P has been reduced (consumed). By displaying such movement, the player can recognize whether the change in the performance pattern S each time it changes is based on special 1 reservation or special 2 reservation.

Figure 32 is a diagram showing the basic flow from when the performance pattern S starts to change to when it is stopped when the game state is a normal low probability. As shown in Figure 32 (a), when the display of the performance pattern S starts to change on the display screen D1, the performance pattern S is scrolled downward with a predetermined time difference in the order of the change areas AL, AR, and AC. Then, as shown in Figure 32 (b), after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the change display of the performance pattern S, the performance pattern S of each change area AL, AC, and AR changes at high speed, making it difficult to visually recognize the contents of the performance pattern S (number display, character). Next, at the end of the change time, for example, the performance pattern S of the change area AL is stopped first, and then the performance pattern S is stopped in the order of the change areas AR and AC. Then, as shown in FIG. 32(c), in response to the performance control circuit 200 finally receiving the special chart stop designation command set in step S620-19 in FIG. 24, the performance pattern S related to the variable area AC is stopped and all the performance patterns S are stopped and displayed in an arrangement that indicates the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery described above. For example, if the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery described above is a "hit", the performance patterns S consisting of the same numbers and characters (in the illustrated example, "performance pattern 7") are stopped and displayed in an arrangement in all the variable areas AL:AC:AR as shown in FIG. 31(a), thereby informing the player that the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery is a "hit". On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit/miss lottery is a "miss", the performance patterns S other than the above combination (in the illustrated example, "performance pattern 7", "performance pattern 5", and "performance pattern 8") are stopped and displayed in an arrangement, as shown in FIG. 32(c), thereby informing the player that the special chart hit/miss lottery is a "miss". In addition, from the time when the effect symbol S starts to change until it stops changing, various change effects such as advance notice effects, reach effects, and pre-reading effects are displayed by still images and videos of characters, etc., displayed on the display screens D1 and D2, adding excitement to the game until the effect symbol S stops being displayed.

Figure 33 is a diagram showing an example of a variable presentation when the gaming state is one of the first regular symbol high probability to third regular symbol high probability. As described above, the main variable presentation when the gaming state is a regular symbol low probability is a mode in which the presentation symbol S, which starts to vary in response to the variation of the special symbol, stops once in response to the special symbol stopping. In contrast, when the gaming state is a regular symbol high probability, the mode changes to one that includes a pseudo-variation in which the presentation symbol S stops (temporarily stops) multiple times in response to one variation of the special symbol.

As shown in FIG. 33(a), when the game state is the first regular symbol high probability, 16 pseudo fluctuations are executed during one fluctuation (start → stop) of the special symbol, and at the end of the 16th, the performance symbol S stops (main stop) in approximately synchronization with the stopping of the special symbol. Also, 2.5 seconds is mainly selected as the fluctuation time per pseudo fluctuation. More specifically, the performance symbol S is displayed fluctuating for 2 seconds and then temporarily stops, and the temporarily stopped state is maintained for 0.5 seconds before it starts fluctuating again (pseudo fluctuation).

Also, as shown in FIG. 33(b), when the game state is the second normal symbol high probability, five pseudo-fluctuations are executed during one fluctuation of the special symbol, and at the end of the fifth one, the performance symbol S stops (main stop) in approximately synchronization with the stopping of the special symbol. Also, the fluctuation time per pseudo-fluctuation is mainly selected to be one second. More specifically, the performance symbol S is displayed fluctuating for 0.5 seconds and then comes to a temporary stop, and after the temporary stop state is maintained for 0.5 seconds, it starts fluctuating again (pseudo-fluctuation).

Also, as shown in FIG. 33(c), when the game state is the third normal pattern high probability, five pseudo-fluctuations are executed during one fluctuation of the special pattern, and at the end of the fifth, the performance pattern S stops (main stop) in approximately synchronization with the stop of the special pattern. Also, the fluctuation time per pseudo-fluctuation is mainly selected to be 2.5 seconds. More specifically, the performance pattern S is displayed fluctuating for 2 seconds and reaches a temporary stop, and after the temporary stop state is maintained for 0.5 seconds, the fluctuation (pseudo-fluctuation) starts again. Note that in each example shown in the figure, examples are shown in which the fluctuation time of the special pattern is 40 seconds, 5 seconds, and 12.5 seconds, specifically, examples in which the fluctuation time per pseudo-fluctuation is the same (uniform), but for example, when "11H" (44.5 seconds) shown in FIG. 7 is selected, the fluctuation time for one pseudo-fluctuation out of 16 pseudo-fluctuations is set to "7 seconds". Also, if "12H" (49.5 seconds) is selected, the time for one pseudo fluctuation will be set to "12 seconds" as well.

In this way, when the game state is a high probability of any normal symbol, a variation effect is executed that mainly includes pseudo variations accompanied by multiple stops (temporary stops) of the performance symbol S during one variation of the special symbol. In this example, the number of pseudo variations is set to be different depending on the difference in the game state. For example, when the game state is a high probability of the first normal symbol, it is possible to make the performance symbol S appear to vary up to 96 times (16 pseudo variations x 6 special symbol variations) during the six variations of the special symbol that end the first high probability of the first normal symbol, making it possible to make the player see the relatively short state of the first high probability of the first normal symbol as if a lottery (such as a special symbol win/lose lottery) was repeatedly executed over a long period of time. On the other hand, for the second high probability of the second and third high probability of the normal symbol, which continue longer than the first high probability of the first normal symbol, the number of pseudo variations is set to 5, so that the configuration places importance on the exhilaration (instant consecutive) when the result of the special symbol win/lose lottery is "win".

[About the pre-reading performance]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 34, an example of the look-ahead performance in the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The look-ahead performance is a performance that is executed based on the execution of the acquisition pre-determination process of the above-mentioned step S540 shown in FIG. 19, and the performance control circuit 200 receiving a pre-determination command, and during the fluctuation of the start information (special 1 reservation or special 2 reservation) that triggered the generation of the pre-determination command or the performance pattern S corresponding to the start information stored prior to the start information, it is a performance that suggests a sense of expectation for a jackpot for the start information that triggered the generation of the pre-determination command. Hereinafter, an example of the look-ahead performance in the case where the characteristic game state in this example is the first normal pattern high probability and the second normal pattern high probability will be described.

[Example of pre-reading performance]
FIG. 34 shows the flow of each start information and corresponding change performance (pre-reading performance) when the player continuously hits the right hand in the first normal pattern high probability, and new start information is stored in the second memory section of the second special pattern reserved memory area during the change of the special pattern (performance pattern S) corresponding to the start information in the 0th memory section. As described above, in the first normal pattern high probability, 16 pseudo changes are made for one change of the special pattern. Then, when a pre-determination command corresponding to the start information stored in the second memory section is received, if it is decided to execute the pre-reading performance, the pre-reading performance is executed in the change performance corresponding to the start information stored in the second memory section.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 34(a), among 16 pseudo fluctuations, the combination of the effect symbols S that is temporarily stopped at the end of the 6th pseudo fluctuation is temporarily stopped by a chance symbol, and thereafter, the temporary stop by the chance symbol is repeated continuously until the end of the 15th pseudo fluctuation. Here, the chance symbol is, for example, a combination in which all the effect symbols S are the same color, such as "3", "7", "7" (red), "1", "5", "5" (green), "2", "4", "6" (blue). In addition, it may be a combination that is a so-called wordplay, such as "3", "1", "5", "1", "7", "5". Then, at the end of the 16th pseudo fluctuation, it is stopped for real in a combination that indicates a "win" (for example, "3", "3", "3").

In this way, the look-ahead performance is a performance that expresses the expectation of a future "win" in the pseudo fluctuation before the result of the special chart win/lose lottery is displayed, and by repeatedly executing such a look-ahead performance by pseudo fluctuation of a short cycle, the expectation of a "win" can be continuously and consecutively seen, and the interest of the game is improved. More specifically, in this example, among the 16 pseudo fluctuations, the consecutive look-ahead performance is executed for the pseudo fluctuations of 10 times before the fluctuation that becomes a win (the 16th pseudo fluctuation). In the illustrated example, the start information stored in the second storage unit is a "win", but it may be a "miss", and in this case, it can be said that the look-ahead performance that was expressed in advance was a so-called "fake", and the interest of the game is improved.
Also, the color of the chance eye (in this example, "blue", "green", and "red") may be correlated with the expectation of a "win"("blue" → "green" → "red"). For example, when the start information is a "win", the first several provisional stops are displayed as "blue" chance eyes, and then the color of the chance eye changes (promotes) to "green" and "red", thereby enabling a performance that gradually increases the expectation of a "win". Also, for example, the first chance eye may be "red", which has the highest expectation, and thereafter the chance eye of that color may be displayed continuously. Also, when the start information is a "lose", a pattern may be set in which the continuous stops of the chance eyes are interrupted before the provisional change that results in a real stop.

Figure 34 (b) shows the flow of each start information and corresponding change performance (pre-reading performance) when the player continuously hits the right hand in the third normal pattern high probability, and new start information is stored in the second memory section of the second special pattern reserved memory area during the change of the special pattern (performance pattern S) corresponding to the start information in the 0th memory section. As mentioned above, in the third normal pattern high probability, five pseudo changes are made for one change of the special pattern. Then, when a pre-determination command corresponding to the start information stored in the second memory section is received, if it is decided to execute the pre-reading performance, the pre-reading performance is executed across the change performance corresponding to the start information stored in the second memory section, and the change performance corresponding to the start information stored in the first memory section that was stored prior to the start information stored in the second memory section.

In detail, during the total of 10 pseudo fluctuations resulting from the two fluctuations of the special pattern, the combination of performance patterns S that is provisionally stopped at the end of the third pseudo fluctuation is provisionally stopped by a chance symbol, and thereafter the provisional stop by the chance symbol is continuously repeated until the end of the ninth pseudo fluctuation. Then, at the end of the 10th pseudo fluctuation, the game is stopped at a combination that indicates a "win" (for example, "7", "7", "7"). In this way, when the game state is the 3rd normal symbol high probability, a continuous look-ahead performance is executed for the 9 pseudo fluctuations prior to the fluctuation that results in a win across two fluctuations of the special symbol (the 10th pseudo fluctuation). In other words, when the game state is the 1st normal symbol high probability and when the game state is the 3rd normal symbol high probability, the number of pseudo fluctuations that are the target of the look-ahead performance (total start intention) is set to be different, and the range of fluctuation of the target special symbol (one special symbol fluctuation is targeted for the 1st normal symbol high probability, and two special symbol fluctuations are targeted for the 3rd normal symbol high probability) is set to be different. On the other hand, in either game state, the look-ahead performance is continuously and continuously displayed in response to the pseudo fluctuations, so that it is possible to effectively impart a sense of expectation for a "win" for the final pseudo fluctuation.

Next, an example of the look-ahead performance when the game state is the second normal high probability will be described. As mentioned above, the five pseudo fluctuations when the game state is the second normal high probability are set to have the shortest cycle per pseudo fluctuation, and instead of the chance eye at the time of the temporary stop in each of the above-mentioned game states, a look-ahead performance with a specific effect is expressed. In detail, as shown in FIG. 34(c), during the five pseudo fluctuations, a specific effect is generated in response to the temporary stop of the performance pattern S at the end of the first pseudo fluctuation, and thereafter, the temporary stop accompanied by the effect is repeated continuously until the end of the fourth pseudo fluctuation. Here, examples of the specific effect include adding an image representing, for example, a flame or lightning around the temporarily stopped performance pattern S, generating a stop sound different from the usual, or emphasizing the temporary stop by flashing an LED lamp. In this way, by changing the mode of the look-ahead performance to a different mode depending on the game state, it is possible to prevent the game from becoming monotonous, and to improve the interest of the game in the normal high probability where the expectation of "hit" increases.

The above describes examples of pre-reading effects according to each game state, but the current state can be seen by the player by setting a unique (dedicated) background image etc. according to each game state. Also, in this example, the number of pseudo fluctuations per fluctuation is different depending on the game state, but the generated notices, reach effects, etc. can be selected as common effects.
Below, assuming the existence of such variable effects and pre-reading effects, the main processing of the effect control circuit 200 that realizes these effects will be explained.

[CPU Initialization Processing of the Performance Control Circuit 200]
FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the sub-CPU initialization process (step S1000) of the performance control circuit 200.

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

(Step S1000-3)
Next, the CPU 200a performs a process of updating the performance determination random numbers (in this example, the variable performance pattern determination random numbers, the pre-reading performance determination random numbers, etc.) related to the determination of the performance, and thereafter repeats the process of step S1000-3 until the interrupt processing is performed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Step S1100-7)
The CPU 200a transmits and outputs commands (internal commands) and various data and signals set in the transmission buffer of the RAM 200c to a VDP for display control of the above images on the display screens D1 and D2, a voice synthesis LSI for voice control, a control board for controlling the lighting of LEDs, etc.

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

[Pre-determination command reception process]
Fig. 37 is a flow chart for explaining the pre-determination command receiving process (step S1220) executed when a pre-determination command is received, in the command analysis process of step S1200 of Fig. 36. As described above, the pre-determination command is set in the main control circuit 100 in step S540-9 of Fig. 20, and then transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 by the sub-command transmitting process of step S100-39 (see Fig. 13).

(Step S1220-1)
When the pre-determination command is received, the CPU 200a analyzes the received pre-determination command.

(Step S1220-3)
The CPU 200a stores the pre-acquired information, such as information relating to the lottery result in the above-mentioned pre-special chart win/lose lottery process included in the pre-judgment command, and information relating to the variation pattern number determined in the pre-special chart variation pattern determination process, in the above-mentioned pre-acquired information storage area and transfers the processing.

(Step S1220-5)
The CPU 200a acquires the look-ahead performance determination random number (0 to 249) updated in step S1000-3 above, and proceeds with the process.

(Step S1220-7)
The CPU 200a determines whether the pre-reading performance execution planned flag, which indicates that a pre-reading performance is scheduled to be executed, is off, and if it is off, it transfers processing to step S1220-9, and if it is not off, it terminates the pre-determination command reception processing.

(Step S1220-9)
The CPU 200a judges whether the pre-reading performance execution condition is satisfied, and if it is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S1220-11, and if it is not satisfied, the pre-determination command reception process is terminated. Here, the pre-reading performance execution condition is wide-ranging, but for example, if the special symbol is not changed when the pre-determination command is received, the condition is judged to be unsatisfied. Also, for example, in the case of a third normal symbol high probability that expresses the pre-reading performance across two changes of the special symbol, if the number of memories of the unconsumed start information at the time of receiving the pre-determination command is not 1 or more, the condition is judged to be unsatisfied. Furthermore, even if the number of memories of the unconsumed start information is 1 or more, if the result of the special symbol hit/miss lottery corresponding to the preceding start information is "hit", the condition is not satisfied.

(Step S1220-11)
The CPU 200a performs a lottery process for executing a look-ahead performance and transfers the process. Here, the look-ahead performance execution lottery process is a process for determining whether or not to execute the look-ahead performance, and the contents of the look-ahead performance when the look-ahead performance is executed, and these elements refer to the look-ahead performance execution decision table TB outside the figure, which is set by subdividing the information related to the variation pattern number included in the pre-acquired information and the lottery result in the pre-special drawing win/loss lottery process, and the look-ahead performance type decision table TB, and the contents corresponding to the look-ahead performance decision random number acquired when the pre-judgment command is received are determined. As described above, in this example, as an example of the look-ahead performance, the mode (color) of the chance eye that stops corresponding to the end of the pseudo variation and the type of effect are determined. In addition, each element determined in the look-ahead performance execution lottery is stored as look-ahead performance information in a predetermined storage area so as to correspond to the pre-acquired information.

(Step S1220-13)
The CPU 200a determines whether the pre-reading performance has been "executed" through the pre-reading performance execution lottery process of step S1220-11, and if it has been "executed", it transfers processing to step S1220-15, and if it has not been "executed" (if it has not been executed), it terminates the pre-determination command reception processing.

(Step S1220-15)
Based on the determination in step S1220-13 that the pre-reading performance is "to be executed," the CPU 200a turns on the pre-reading performance execution planned flag and terminates the pre-determination command reception process.

[Variation pattern command reception processing]
Fig. 38 is a flow chart for explaining the variation pattern command receiving process (step S1230) executed when a variation pattern command is received in the command analysis process of step S1200 of Fig. 36. As described above, the variation pattern command is set in the main control circuit 100 in step S610-14 of Fig. 23, and then transmitted to the performance control circuit 200 by the sub-command transmission process of step S100-39 (see Fig. 13).

(Step S1230-1)
When the variation pattern command is received, the CPU 200a analyzes the received variation pattern command.

(Step S1230-3)
The CPU 200a shifts the pre-acquired information stored in the pre-acquired information storage area to a storage section with a smaller order. Specifically, the RAM 200c is provided with a 0th storage section to be processed, and the pre-acquired information stored in the 1st storage section is transferred to the 0th storage section, and the pre-acquired information stored in the 2nd storage section to the 4th storage section is transferred to the 1st storage section to the 3rd storage section, respectively. In addition, the CPU 200a loads the elements (contents) of the pre-reading performance that are stored when the execution of the pre-reading performance is determined in the above-mentioned pre-reading performance execution lottery process (step S1220-11).

(Step S1230-5)
The CPU 200a obtains the variable performance pattern determination random number (0 to 249) updated in step S1000-3 above, and refers to the variable performance pattern determination table TB corresponding to the variable performance pattern number, determines a specific variable performance from the variable performance pattern table, and transfers processing.

39(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams showing an example of the variable presentation pattern determination table TB. As shown in the figure, the variable presentation pattern determination table TB is subdivided for each variable pattern number determined by the main control circuit 100. Here, as an example of the variable presentation pattern determination table TB, a variable presentation pattern determination table TBA corresponding to the variable pattern number "01H" that can be determined by the main control circuit 100 when the game state is a normal low probability, and a variable presentation pattern determination table TBB corresponding to the variable pattern number "11H" that can be determined by the main control circuit 100 when the game state is a first normal high probability are shown. The variable pattern numbers "01H" and "11H" are variable patterns with a variable time of "11 seconds" and "44.5 seconds", respectively. In the variable presentation pattern determination table TB of each figure, a plurality of variable presentation numbers are specified for the range of the variable pattern determination random number from 0 to 249.
As shown in the remarks column, for each variable performance number, the presence or absence and type of advance notice performance and the presence or absence and type of reach performance that are displayed with the change of the performance pattern S are specified in detail, and the pattern of the variable performance (advance notice performance and reach performance) that is developed on the display screen D1; D2 will differ depending on the difference in the variable performance number. In particular, as shown in Figure 39 (b), the variable performance pattern determination table TBB corresponding to the variable pattern number "11H" specifies that there will be 16 pseudo-changes, and specifies multiple variable performance patterns with different positions of the 7-second pseudo-change, so that even if it is the same pseudo-change, a change with a different pattern can be selected.

(Step S1230-11)
The CPU 200a sets in the transmission buffer (stores in the transmission buffer) a performance execution command including the look-ahead performance information loaded in the above step S1230-3 and the variable performance information for executing the specific variable performance determined in the above step S1230-5, and transfers the process. By transmitting the performance execution command as an internal command to the VDP, the VDP starts image display control for displaying the look-ahead performance and the variable performance.

(Step S1230-13)
The CPU 200a sets data in a time table that specifies the timing and duration of display of images corresponding to the look-ahead performance and the variable performance, and the timing of the stopped display of the performance pattern S (temporary stop, actual stop), and then transfers the processing.

(Step S1230-15)
The CPU 200a resets the variable time measuring timer to measure the execution time of the look-ahead performance and the variable performance, and ends the variable pattern command receiving process. Note that the counter value of the variable time measuring timer reset here is incremented every time a timer interruption process is performed in the time schedule management process of step S1300, thereby measuring the execution time of the look-ahead performance and the variable performance, and a predetermined control process is performed at each period specified in the time table.

[Time schedule management process]
40 is a flow chart explaining the time schedule management process (step S1300). As described above, the CPU 200a sets the performance execution command in the transmission buffer, and the command is transmitted as an internal command to the VDP that controls the display screen D1; D2 in step S1100-7, so that the display of the performance pattern S starts to change on the display screen D1; D2. The time schedule management process manages the time of various performances that are expressed during the execution of the variable performance.

(Step S1300-1)
First, the CPU 200a increments the counter value of the variable time timer to update the execution time of the variable performance. As described above, the counter value of the variable time timer is reset every time in step S1230-15.

(Step S1400)
The CPU 200a refers to the time table, sets various internal commands in the transmission buffer according to the current execution time of the variable performance, and controls the main display device 80 so that a specified performance is performed at a specified time on the display screen D1; D2, and then terminates the time schedule management process.

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

For example, in the above example, the look-ahead performance using chance eyes and the look-ahead performance using a specified effect are distinguished depending on the game state, but in a specific game state, these modes may be combined to express the look-ahead performance using chance eyes and effects. On the other hand, in a specific game state, chance eyes and effects may not be combined within the same pseudo-variation. In addition, when selecting the same type of look-ahead performance, the selection rate may be made different depending on the game state. In addition, the expectation level (reliability) may be made different depending on the timing at which the look-ahead performance starts (from which pseudo-variation it starts). In addition, the number of pseudo-variations is greater in the normal high probability state than in the normal low probability state, but the relationship may be reversed.

In the above embodiment, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol random number acquisition process (step S535) in Fig. 19 constitutes the start information storage means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the acquisition time advance judgment process (step S540) in Fig. 20 constitutes the (acquisition time) advance judgment means.
Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol type determination lottery process (step S610-11) of Fig. 23 constitutes the winning type determination means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol win/lose lottery process (step S610-9) of Fig. 23 constitutes the winning/lose lottery means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the special symbol variation pattern determination lottery process (step S610-14) of Fig. 23 constitutes the special symbol variation means (variation pattern determination means). Also, the CPU 100a that executes the processes of Figs. 26 to 29 constitutes the special game execution means. Also, the CPU 100a that executes the number of times cut management process (step S630-7) of Fig. 25 and the game state setting process (step S670-3) of Fig. 30 constitutes the game state setting means. In addition, the presentation control circuit which executes control processing related to the variable presentation and the pre-reading presentation constitutes a presentation control means, and more specifically, the CPU 200a which executes the pre-determination command receiving processing of Figure 37 constitutes a pre-reading presentation pattern determination means, and the CPU 200a which executes the variable pattern command receiving processing of Figure 38 constitutes a variable presentation (pseudo-variation) pattern determination means.

1 Pachinko machine, 9 Operation mechanism, 9A Push button, 30 Game board,
35A first special symbol display device, 35B second special symbol display device,
60 First start winning parts, 62 Second start winning parts, 64 Big winning parts,
68 Passage gate, 69a First outlet, 69b Second outlet,
80 Main display device, 100 Main control circuit, 100a Main CPU,
100b main ROM, 100c main RAM, 150 payout control circuit,
200: performance control circuit, 200a: sub CPU, 200b: sub ROM,
200c Sub RAM, D1; D2 Display screen

Claims (1)

A winning/losing lottery means for performing a winning/losing lottery regarding the possibility of executing a special game advantageous to a player based on start information acquired in response to the entry of a game ball into a start component arranged on a game board;
A symbol variation means for varying a predetermined symbol for a predetermined time in response to the winning/losing lottery and for notifying the result of the winning/losing lottery by a stopping state after the predetermined time has elapsed;
A performance control means for varying a predetermined performance pattern based on the variation of the predetermined pattern and for notifying the result of the winning/losing lottery based on the stopping state after the variation;
a special game execution means for enabling the special game to be executed based on the result of the winning/losing lottery being a result that allows the execution of the special game;
A game state setting means for shifting a game state before and after the special game to a different game state based on the execution of the special game;
A gaming machine comprising:
The performance control means is capable of executing pseudo-variations including a provisional stop of the performance pattern until the fluctuation of the predetermined pattern is stopped, and the number of such pseudo-variations varies depending on the game state,
the game state setting means, when the game state after the special game is a specific game state, is capable of setting the specific game state to another game state in response to a predetermined number of times of variable display of the predetermined pattern;
The effect control means is capable of displaying a predetermined suggestive effect in the other game state at the time of temporary or actual stop of the effect pattern which occurs across multiple variable displays of the predetermined pattern, and by displaying the predetermined suggestive effect at the time of temporary or actual stop of the effect pattern which corresponds to the predetermined pattern which is displayed variable first, and at the time of temporary stop of the effect pattern which corresponds to the predetermined pattern which is displayed variable later, the gaming machine is capable of executing a pre-reading effect which gradually suggests the possibility that the effect pattern which will execute the special game will be stopped at the time of the actual stop of the effect pattern which corresponds to the predetermined pattern which is displayed variable later .

Images