JP7580810B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines (commonly referred to as "pachinko machines") and slot machine gaming machines (commonly referred to as "pachislot machines").

Conventionally, there is known a gaming machine that draws a lottery to determine whether or not a jackpot will be awarded based on the entry of a gaming ball into a starting hole, and displays a moving image on a display device, which then freezes and freezes the image in a manner according to the result of the lottery. If the lottery results in a jackpot, the display device freezes and the jackpot image is displayed, creating a jackpot gaming state.

In addition, many gaming machines have been proposed that display symbols on a display device in a variable manner and stop the symbols in a manner that corresponds to the lottery result while also implementing effects that indicate the expectation of a win (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-220861 A

However, there is room for further improvement in this type of presentation. Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine that is able to prevent a decline in interest in gaming by incorporating improvements in the presentation.

A lottery information acquisition means for acquiring lottery information based on the establishment of a start condition;
A symbol variation execution means for executing a symbol variation based on the lottery information on a predetermined display means;
A performance control means capable of executing control related to the performance;
A gaming machine including a performance display means capable of displaying the performance, which is different from the predetermined display means,
The performance control means includes:
The first effect display and the second effect display can be displayed on the effect display means in any one of a plurality of display modes,
The first effect display and the second effect display can be displayed in front of any one of a plurality of backgrounds including a first background and a second background that suggests a more advantageous state than the first background;
When the first and second performance displays are displayed in a common manner in front of the first background during the pattern change and a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery based on the lottery information, there are a case where the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden and then redisplayed after a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery, and then the pattern change is terminated, and a case where the first and second performance displays are continued to be displayed until the pattern change is terminated after a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery,
When the first and second performance displays are displayed in a common manner in front of the second background during the pattern change and a loss is suggested as the result of the lottery, the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden and then redisplayed after the loss is suggested as the result of the lottery, and then the pattern change ends , but in a pattern change in which the second background is displayed, a dedicated image may be displayed when the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden, and when the dedicated image is displayed, a specific background different from the first and second backgrounds can be displayed when the first and second performance displays are redisplayed.

The present invention provides a gaming machine that can prevent a decline in gaming interest.

1 is a front view showing an example of a schematic external appearance of a pachinko machine. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control configuration of a pachinko machine. Figure 3(a) is a flowchart showing the control processing procedures performed by the main control MPU of the main control board when the power is turned on to the pachinko machine, and Figure 3(b) is a flowchart showing the processing procedures for timer interrupt control that is periodically performed by the main control MPU of the main control board. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure for special symbol process processing. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the first special pattern process processing. This is a flowchart showing the procedure for the jackpot control processing. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the normal symbol process. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for control performed by a peripheral control MPU mounted on a peripheral control board when power is applied to a pachinko machine. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a 16 ms steady process executed every 16 ms in the sub-main process. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a performance control process. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance when a valid operation period for an attack performance occurs (a period during which a specified operation on a specified operation part is detected, or which ends when a specified time has passed from the start of the period), and an operation to launch an attack is performed during the valid operation period. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance when a valid operation period for an attack performance occurs (a period during which a specified operation on a specified operation part is detected, or which ends when a specified time has passed from the start of the period), and an operation to launch an attack is performed during the valid operation period. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect when the operating unit is not operated. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect in which operation of the operation section has already begun at the start of the effective operation period. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect in which operation of the operation section has already begun at the start of the effective operation period. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance in which the rotation operation unit 302 is operated before the effective operation period in another example of the second performance pattern of the attack performance. FIG. 11A and 11B are schematic diagrams showing other configuration examples of the pressing operation unit and the rotating operation unit. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect that can be cancelled. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect that can be cancelled. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which a strong boss is encountered in an exploration quest presentation. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which a strong boss is encountered in an exploration quest presentation. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which a character discovers a weak boss that is a rare animal in a search quest presentation. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a search quest presentation. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which two selected characters are unable to discover a rare animal in a search quest presentation. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a search quest presentation. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a search quest presentation. This is another example of exploration quest presentation. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the final battle reach of the game "Daruma-san ga Koronda." FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the final battle reach of the game "Daruma-san ga Koronda." FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the chance game "Daruma-san ga koronda" ("Daruma-san ga koronda chance").

[1. Example of a Pachinko Machine Configuration]
1 is a front view showing an example of a schematic external appearance of a pachinko machine 1. The pachinko machine 1 is installed in an island facility (not shown) of a game hall. The pachinko machine 1 includes a game board 5 having a game area 5a that is visible from the player's side and into which the player can shoot game balls and into which the game balls can flow down.

The game area 5a includes a general winning opening 2001, a first starting opening 2002, a gate section 2003, a second starting opening 2004, and a large winning opening 2005. When a game ball enters the general winning opening 2001, a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 5 balls) are dispensed. When a game ball enters the first starting opening 2002, a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 4 balls) are dispensed and a first special lottery is executed. The first starting opening 2002 and the second starting opening 2004 are collectively referred to simply as the starting openings.

When a gaming ball passes through the gate section 2003, a regular lottery is held. If a winning ticket is selected in the regular lottery, an opening/closing member (not shown) provided in the second starting port 2004 opens for a predetermined time. A gaming ball can enter the second starting port 2004 only when the opening/closing member is open. When a gaming ball enters the second starting port 2004, a predetermined number of gaming balls (e.g., one) are paid out and a second special lottery, which is more advantageous to the player than the first special lottery, is held. The first special lottery and the second special lottery are collectively referred to as simply the special lottery.

In the play area 5a, multiple obstacle nails (not shown) are planted in a predetermined gauge arrangement at appropriate positions on the front. When the game ball hits the obstacle nails, the speed at which the game ball flows down is suppressed and various movements are imparted to the game ball, allowing the player to enjoy watching its movements. In addition to the obstacle nails, the play area 5a also has a windmill (not shown) at an appropriate position that rotates when the game ball hits it.

When a jackpot is won in the first or second special lottery, the game transitions to a jackpot game state, and the large prize opening 2005 opens. When a game ball enters the large prize opening 2005, a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 15 balls) are paid out. In the jackpot game state, the large prize opening 2005 is repeatedly opened and closed. In addition, the game area 5a is arranged to surround an area where game balls do not flow down, and in this area where game balls do not flow down, an effect display device 1600 capable of displaying a predetermined effect image is arranged.

The pachinko machine 1 is equipped with a pressing operation unit 303 and a rotation operation unit 302, which are each a presentation operation unit that can be operated by the player. The pressing operation unit 303 is an operation unit that can be pressed by the player. The rotation operation unit 302 is an annular operation unit that is arranged around the lower side of the pressing operation unit 303, and is an operation unit that can be rotated by the player. The rotation operation unit 302 can be rotatable in one direction (for example, only clockwise) or in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise). In addition, the rotation operation unit 302 is equipped with a detection unit that can detect operation by the player.

The pachinko machine 1 is equipped with a handle unit 500 that can be operated by a player to shoot game balls stored in an upper tray (not shown) into the game area 5a. The handle unit 500 includes a handle lever, a handle touch sensor, and a shot stop button. When the handle touch sensor detects contact with the player's palm, fingers, etc. and the handle rotates a predetermined amount or more, the game ball is shot out, and the more the handle is rotated, the stronger the game ball is shot out. Also, even if the handle touch sensor detects contact and the handle has rotated a predetermined amount or more, if the shot stop button is operated, the game ball will not be shot out.

Although not visible in FIG. 1, an outlet that penetrates from front to back is formed at the lowest point in the play area 5a (behind the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302). Game balls that flow down to the bottom end of the play area 5a are guided to the outlet and are discharged through the outlet to the rear of the play board 5.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of a pachinko machine. As shown in the figure, the main control configuration of the pachinko machine 1 is composed of a main control board 1310 and a peripheral control board 1510 attached to the game board 5, and a payout control board 63 attached to the main body frame, and each of them is responsible for controlling the game. The main control board 1310 controls the game operation (progress of the game). The peripheral control board 1510 is equipped with a peripheral control unit 1511 that controls various effects during the game based on commands from the main control board 1310, and a performance display control unit 1512 that controls the display of performance images on the performance display device 1600 based on commands from the peripheral control unit 1511. The payout control board 63 is equipped with a payout control unit 633a that controls the payout of game balls, and a launch control unit 633b that controls the launch of game balls by rotating the handle.

The main control board 1310 that controls the progress of the game is not shown in detail, but is equipped with a main control MPU, which is a microprocessor that has built-in ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands and RAM for temporarily storing data, a main control I/O port as an input/output device (I/O device), a main control input circuit to which detection signals from various detection switches are input, a main control solenoid drive circuit for driving various solenoids, and a RAM clear switch for completely erasing information stored in the RAM built into the main control MPU. In addition to its built-in ROM and RAM, the main control MPU also has built-in watchdog timers that monitor its operation (system) and functions for preventing fraud.

The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 receives detection signals from the first start port sensor 3052, which detects game balls received in the first start port 2002, the gate sensor 2801, which detects game balls that have passed through the gate section 2003, the second start port sensor 2401, which detects game balls received in the second start port 2004, the general prize port sensor 3051, which detects game balls received in the general prize port 2001, the large prize port sensor 2402, which detects game balls received in the large prize port 2005, the outlet sensor 3053, which detects game balls received in the outlet, and the magnetic sensor 2404, which detects unauthorized magnetism within the play area 5a, via the main control I/O port.

Based on these detection signals, the main control MPU outputs a control signal from the main control I/O port to the main control solenoid drive circuit, thereby outputting drive signals to the second start port solenoid 2415 and the attacca solenoid 2418, etc., and outputs drive signals from the main control I/O port to the status indicator, normal pattern indicator, normal hold indicator, first special pattern indicator, first special hold number indicator, second special pattern indicator, second special hold number indicator, round indicator, etc. of the function display unit 1400.

The main control MPU transmits various information related to the game (game information) and various commands related to payouts to the payout control board 63, and receives various commands related to the state of the pachinko machine 1 from the payout control board 63. Furthermore, the main control MPU transmits various commands related to the control of game presentations and various commands related to the state of the pachinko machine 1 to the peripheral control unit 1511 of the peripheral control board 1510 via the main control I/O port. When the main control MPU receives various commands related to the state of the pachinko machine 1 from the payout control board 63, it formats these various commands and transmits them to the peripheral control unit 1511.

The payout control board 63, which controls the payout of game balls, is equipped with a payout control unit 633a that performs various controls related to payout, a launch control unit 633b that controls launch using the launch solenoid 542 and ball delivery using the ball delivery solenoid 145, an error LED indicator (not shown) that displays the status of the pachinko machine 1, an error release switch (not shown) for releasing an error displayed on the error LED indicator, and a ball removal switch for discharging the game balls in the ball tank (not shown), tank rail (not shown), ball guidance unit (not shown), and payout device (not shown) to the outside of the pachinko machine 1 during maintenance and starting the ball removal operation.

The payout control unit 633a, which performs various controls related to payouts on the payout control board 63, is equipped with a payout control MPU, which is a microprocessor that has built-in ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands and RAM for temporarily storing data, a payout control I/O port as an I/O device, an external WDT (external watchdog timer) for monitoring whether the payout control MPU is operating normally, a payout motor drive circuit for outputting a drive signal to the payout motor 584 of the payout device, and a payout control input circuit to which detection signals from various detection switches related to payouts are input. In addition to the built-in ROM and RAM, the payout control MPU also has built-in functions for preventing fraud.

The payout control MPU of the payout control unit 633a receives various information related to the game (game information) and various commands related to payout from the main control board 1310 in a serial manner via the payout control I/O port, and receives the operation signal (detection signal) of the RAM clear switch from the main control board 1310 via the payout control I/O port. In addition, it also receives detection signals from the full tank detection sensor 154, the ball out detection sensor 574, and the payout detection sensor 591.

The detection signals from the ball out detection sensor 574 of the ball guidance unit and the dispensing detection sensor 591 of the dispensing device are input to the dispensing control input circuit and input to the dispensing control MPU via the dispensing control I/O port. In addition, the detection signal from the full tank detection sensor 154 is input to the dispensing control input circuit and input to the dispensing control MPU via the dispensing control I/O port.

The payout control MPU outputs a drive signal for driving the payout motor 584 to the payout motor 584 via the payout control I/O, outputs a signal for displaying the status of the pachinko machine 1 on the error LED indicator to the error LED indicator via the payout control I/O port, transmits commands for indicating the status of the pachinko machine 1 to the main control board 1310 in a serial manner via the payout control I/O port, and outputs the number of game balls actually paid out to an external terminal via the payout control I/O port. This external terminal is connected to a hall computer installed on the gaming hall side. This hall computer monitors the player's play by grasping the number of game balls paid out by the pachinko machine 1 and game information of the pachinko machine 1, etc.

The error LED display (not shown) is a segment display that shows the status of the pachinko machine 1 by displaying alphanumeric characters, figures, etc.

The launch control unit 633b controls launch by the launch solenoid 542 and ball delivery by the ball delivery solenoid 145. The launch control unit 633b controls the launch solenoid 542 and the ball delivery solenoid 145 so that 100 game balls B are launched per minute toward the game area 5a.

In the handle unit 500, the detection signals from the handle touch sensor 192, which detects whether the palm or fingers are touching the handle, and the shot stop button sensor 194, which detects whether the player wishes to forcibly stop shooting the game ball, are input to the launch control input circuit and then input to the launch timing control circuit. The handle rotation detection sensor 189 detects the rotation position of the handle. The strength with which the game ball is shot toward the play area 5a is electrically adjusted according to the detected rotation position.

The peripheral control board 1510 is equipped with a peripheral control unit 1511 that controls the performance based on commands from the main control board 1310, and a performance display control unit 1512 that controls the drawing of the performance display device 1600 based on control data from the peripheral control unit 1511.

The peripheral control unit 1511, which controls the performance on the peripheral control board 1510, is not shown in detail, but is equipped with a peripheral control MPU as a microprocessor, a peripheral control ROM that stores various processing programs and various commands, a sound source IC that produces high-quality sound, and a sound ROM that stores sound information such as music, voice, and sound effects referenced by this sound source IC.

The peripheral control MPU has multiple built-in parallel I/O ports, serial I/O ports, etc., and when it receives various commands from the main control board 1310, it transmits game board side light emission data from the serial I/O port for the lamp drive board to the decorative board 184, for outputting lighting signals, blinking signals, or gradation lighting signals to the color LEDs, etc., provided on the decorative board 184 such as the game board 5 and door frames, based on these various commands, and transmits drive data for outputting drive signals to the drive motors that operate the various presentation units to the drive motors of the game board 5 from the serial I/O port for the game board decoration drive board. It transmits control data (display commands) indicating the screen to be displayed on the performance display device 1600 from the serial I/O port for the display control unit to the performance display control unit 1512, and also outputs control signals (sound commands) to the sound source IC to extract sound information from the sound ROM.

In addition, detection signals from the pressure detection sensor 381 of the pressure operation unit 303 and the rotation detection sensor 347 of the rotation operation unit 302 are input to the peripheral control MPU. The peripheral control MPU also receives a signal (operation signal) from the performance display control unit 1512 indicating that the performance display control unit 1512 is operating normally, and monitors the operation of the performance display control unit 1512 based on this operation signal.

The sound source IC extracts sound information from the sound ROM based on control data (sound commands) from the peripheral control MPU, and controls the playback of music, sound effects, and other sounds that match various performances from speakers 354 installed on the door frame, main body frame, etc.

In addition to the built-in WDT (watchdog timer) built into the peripheral control MPU, the peripheral control unit 1511 also has an external WDT (watchdog timer) (not shown), and the peripheral control MPU uses the built-in WDT and the external WDT together to diagnose whether its own system is out of control.

The performance display control unit 1512 controls the drawing of the performance display device 1600. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the performance display control unit 1512 includes a display control MPU as a microprocessor, a display control ROM that stores various processing programs, various commands, and various data, a VDP (short for Video Display Processor) that controls the display of the performance display device 1600, an image ROM that stores various data for the screen displayed on the performance display device 1600, and an image RAM to which the various data stored in the image ROM is transferred and copied.

This display control MPU has built-in parallel I/O ports, serial I/O ports, etc., and controls the VDP based on control data (display commands) from the peripheral control unit 1511 to control the drawing of the performance display device 1600. When the display control MPU is operating normally, it outputs an operation signal to the peripheral control unit 1511 to inform the same. The display control MPU also receives an execution signal from the VDP, and performs interrupt processing when the output of this execution signal is stopped every 16 ms.

Next, an example of the control process executed by the main control board 1310 (particularly the main control MPU) will be described. Figure 3(a) is a flowchart showing the procedure of the control process executed by the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 when the power is turned on to the pachinko machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the main control board 1310 according to this embodiment first initializes the data stored in various registers and the RAM built into the main control MPU (hereinafter referred to as the main control built-in RAM) in step S1, provided that the RAM clear switch of the main control board 1310 has been operated. The RAM clear switch is provided on the rear side of the pachinko machine 1, and cannot be operated unless the main body frame 4 is opened. The RAM clear switch also outputs a clear signal to the main control board 1310 in response to operation before a predetermined period (e.g., one second) has elapsed since power was turned on, and if the main control MPU determines that a clear signal has been input when power is turned on, it executes an initialization process (step S1) to initialize the data stored in various registers and the main control built-in RAM.

Although not shown, in this example, when power to the pachinko machine 1 is cut off, a backup process is executed to save information indicating the progress of the game (for example, various flags, etc.) in the main control built-in RAM. Then, if the RAM clear switch is not operated when power is applied to the pachinko machine 1, the information saved in the main control built-in RAM in the backup process is referenced without executing the initialization process (step S1), and a recovery process is executed to restore the state according to that information. Also, if the RAM clear switch is operated when power is applied to the pachinko machine 1, an initialization process is executed without executing the recovery process, and the pachinko machine 1 is set to its initial state. Also, when the initialization process is executed, the game state is controlled to a non-time-saving state.

Next, in step S2, the random number is updated within a predetermined range. That is, the main control board 1310 according to this embodiment is provided with a random number counter that holds random numbers such as special random numbers (first special random number, second special random number) used in the lottery process for the display mode when the variable display of the special pattern stops, variable random numbers used in the lottery process for the predetermined time (variation time) required for controlling the variable display of the special pattern, reach random numbers used in the lottery process for whether or not to make a reach (whether or not to execute a performance) as a game performance executed by the performance display device 1600 in response to the variable display of the special pattern, pattern random numbers (first pattern random number, second pattern random number) used in the lottery process for determining the type of jackpot when it is determined that a jackpot has occurred based on the special random numbers, and random numbers (normal random numbers) used in the lottery process for the winning or losing of the winning that triggers the opening of the second starting hole 2004.

In this example, the reach random number is configured to be the same for the first special symbol and the second special symbol, that is, whether the start winning is made at the first start opening 2002 or the second start opening 2004, the reach random number is obtained from the same counter that updates the reach random number. However, the execution rate of the reach performance may be made different by obtaining the reach random number from a counter with a different range of random numbers that update the reach random number, or the execution rate of the reach performance may be made different by providing a reach judgment table that is compared with the obtained reach random number and is a first reach judgment table corresponding to the first special symbol, and a second reach judgment table that is corresponding to the second special symbol and has a judgment value different from that of the first reach judgment table.

In the process of step S2, only the random numbers that are not related to winning or losing (variable random numbers) are updated and the random number counter is operated. After the processes of steps S1 and S2 are performed in this manner, basically only the process of step S2 is repeated. However, in this embodiment, the following timer interrupt control is performed, for example, every 4 ms.

Figure 3 (b) is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for timer interrupt control that is periodically performed by the main control MPU of the main control board 1310.

As shown in FIG. 3(b), in this interrupt control, first, as the process of step S11, a register save process is performed. Next, as the process of step S12, detection signals are input from various sensors such as the gate sensor 2801, the first start port sensor 3052, the second start port sensor 2401, the first count sensor that detects the game ball B received in the large prize port 2005, the general prize port sensor 3001, various magnetic sensors, etc. Then, as the process of step S13, a random number update process is performed to update the value of the random number counter that generates the random number. Note that, in the process of step S13, the random numbers (special random numbers, normal random numbers) related to the display mode when the variable display of the special pattern and the normal pattern is stopped are updated, and the counter operation of the random number counter is performed.

After the random number has been updated in this way, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 executes special symbol process processing, including lottery processing related to the display mode when the variable display of the special symbol is stopped, as processing in step S14. Note that this special symbol process processing will be described later, but here, basically, the relevant processing is selectively executed based on the special symbol process flags (first special symbol process flag, second special symbol process flag) that indicate the progress of the game and are stored in the main control built-in RAM.

Then, in step S15, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 executes normal symbol process processing, which includes a lottery process for determining whether or not a winning combination will result in the opening of the second starting hole 2004. In this normal symbol process processing, the corresponding processing is basically selectively executed according to the normal symbol process flag, which indicates the progress of the game.

When the special symbol process (step S14) and normal symbol process (step S15) are performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 then performs step S16 to transmit the command set in a predetermined area of the main control's built-in RAM in the special symbol process to the peripheral control board 1510, etc. Then, in step S17, it performs step S17 to transmit the command set in a predetermined area of the main control's built-in RAM in the normal symbol process to, for example, the peripheral control board 1510, etc.

The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 then performs information output processing in step S18, which outputs data such as winning information to be supplied to the hall management computer.

Next, in step S19, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 executes a prize ball process that outputs a payout control command to the payout control board 63 so that prize balls corresponding to the signals are paid out to the player when the detection signals of the first start hole sensor 3052, the second start hole sensor 2401, the first count sensor, the second count sensor, the general winning hole sensor 3051, etc. are in the ON state. As a result, the payout control MPU mounted on the payout control board 63 outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 584, and pays out prize balls to the player. In this example, when game ball B enters the first start hole 2002 and the first start hole sensor 3052 turns on, "3 balls" are paid out to the player; when game ball B enters the second start hole 2004 and the second start hole sensor 2401 turns on, "1 ball" is paid out; when game ball B enters the big prize hole 2005 and the first count sensor turns on, "15 balls" are paid out; and when game ball B enters the general prize hole 2001 and the general prize hole sensor 3051 turns on, "8 balls" are paid out to the player.

The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 then executes a storage process in step S20 to check the increase or decrease in the number of reserved memories. Then, in step S21, it executes a test terminal process, which is a process of outputting a test signal so that the control status of the pachinko machine 1 can be confirmed outside the gaming machine. After that, it controls the drive of the actuator that operates at all times (step S22), restores the contents of the above register (step S23), and ends this control when the interrupt permission state is set (step S24).

In this embodiment, the game control process is started every 4 mS due to the above control. Note that, although in this embodiment, the game control process is executed by timer interrupt processing, the interrupt processing may, for example, only set a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred. In this case, however, the game control process is executed by main processing.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure for the special symbol process (step S14). Now, assuming that the random numbers used in the various lottery processes have been updated (step S13), as shown in Figure 4, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 first executes the start-up winning determination process (S31).

An example of the start winning determination process will be described. When the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 detects the entry of a game ball into the first start hole 2002, it obtains from the random number counter a first special random number for determining the result of the first special lottery, a reach random number for determining whether a reach will be executed, a first pattern random number, and a variable random number for determining a variable pattern. The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 updates the number of reserved first special random numbers in the main control built-in RAM, with a predetermined number (e.g., four) as the upper limit (in other words, if the number of reserved memories has already reached the upper limit, the update process is not performed).

The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 may also execute a performance pre-determination process to determine, based on the acquired first special random number, reach random number, first pattern random number, and variable random number, whether the display result of the first special pattern variable display is to be a jackpot, and if it is a jackpot, the type of jackpot, and if it is not a jackpot, whether to execute a reach display as a game display executed by the performance display device 1600, and the type of mode (type of variable pattern) of the game display to be executed, before starting the variable display corresponding to the start winning.

In this pre-judgment process, a pre-judgment table (not shown) is compared with the acquired first special random number, first pattern random number, reach random number, and variable random number to determine in advance pre-judgment information indicating whether or not a jackpot will occur, the type of jackpot if a jackpot will occur, whether or not a reach presentation will be executed as a game presentation executed by the presentation display device 1600 if a jackpot will not occur, the type of game presentation to be executed, etc. The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 transmits a command that corresponds this pre-judgment information to the peripheral control board 1510 before starting the variable display corresponding to the start winning, which corresponds to the first special random number of the reserved memory (i.e., which reserved first special random number the pre-judgment information corresponds to), so that the peripheral control MPU of the peripheral control board 1510 can execute the so-called pre-reading presentation corresponding to the start winning before the variable display corresponding to the start winning begins.

The process performed when the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 detects that a gaming ball has entered the second starting hole 2004 is similar to the process performed when a gaming ball has entered the first starting hole 2002, although the random numbers and tables used for the judgment are different, so a description of this process will be omitted.

Following the start determination process of step S31, the main control MPU determines whether or not a jackpot execution flag indicating that control is being performed for a jackpot game is set (step S32), and if the jackpot execution flag is set, executes a jackpot control process (step S36) to control the jackpot game. In the jackpot control process, when the result of the lottery process for the display mode when the variable display of the first special pattern or the second special pattern stops (the result of the hit determination and the content of the jackpot type) indicates, for example, a "15R jackpot", the jackpot winning hole 2005 is opened for a long time (for example, 28.5 seconds) or when it is detected that 10 game balls B have entered the jackpot winning hole 2005, and the opening and closing pattern is repeated 15 times to control to a 15R jackpot game.

In addition, in the jackpot control process, after controlling the opening of the jackpot opening 2005, a process for setting a time-saving flag is executed. The time-saving flag is a flag indicating that time-saving control (control executed in the time-saving state) is being executed, and is set when the jackpot game based on the time-saving controlled jackpot ends after the jackpot game ends, and is reset by the first special symbol stop process described later or the second special symbol stop process of the second special symbol process processing described later.

In addition, if the jackpot execution flag is not set, the main control MPU executes a first special pattern process including a lottery process for the display mode when the variable display of the first special pattern stops (step S34) on the condition that the value of the second special reserved number counter indicating the number of second special random numbers stored in the second special pattern reserved memory area is "0" (step S33), and executes a second special pattern process including a lottery process for the display mode when the variable display of the second special pattern stops (step S35) on the condition that the value of the second special reserved number counter indicating the number of second special random numbers stored in the second special pattern reserved memory area is not "0" (step S33).

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure for the first special symbol process (step S34). The first special symbol process executed in step S34 of the special symbol process and the second special symbol process executed in step S35 of the special symbol process are similar program modules, and only the random numbers and tables used for judgment are different. Therefore, only the first special symbol process executed in step S38 of the special symbol process will be described here. In the first special symbol process, on the condition that the interval timer described later has timed out (YES in step S85), one of the following five process processes is selectively executed according to the above-mentioned first special symbol process flag. Note that if the interval timer has not timed out (NO in step S85), the process ends without executing the following processes.

1. First special pattern normal processing (step S80) in which the first special random number stored in the main control built-in RAM is read and a lottery process is performed based on the first special random number to determine the display mode when the variable control of the first special pattern is stopped.

2. First special symbol stop pattern setting process (step S81) in which the display mode when the control of the first special symbol's fluctuation is stopped is determined based on the results of a lottery process for the display mode when the control of the first special symbol's fluctuation is stopped.

3. A first variation pattern setting process (step S82) in which a lottery process is performed for the variation mode of the first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device of the function display unit 1400 based on the variation random number and the variation mode of the performance display executed in response to the first special symbol on the performance display device 1600.
4. A first special symbol variation process (step S83) in which the first special symbol display of the function display unit 1400 waits until the variation display of the first special symbol is stopped.

5. A first special pattern stop process (step S84) that stops the display of the first special pattern so that the display mode of the first special pattern when the control of the first special pattern is stopped, determined based on the result of a lottery process, is displayed on the first special pattern display of the function display unit 1400.

The first special symbol process flag is manipulated in the processing of step S1 to indicate that the first special symbol normal processing (step S80) should be performed.

An example of the first special symbol normal processing (step S80) will be described. When the first special symbol process flag indicates that the first special symbol normal processing should be performed, if the counter value of the first special reserved number counter is 0 or more, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 reads out random numbers (e.g., first special random number, first symbol random number, reach random number, variable random number) from the main control built-in RAM, subtracts 1 from the first special reserved number counter, and shifts the random numbers (first special random number, first symbol random number, reach random number, variable random number) related to the display mode at the time when the variable display of the first special symbol is stopped, which are stored in each memory area of the first special symbol reserved memory area of the main control built-in RAM, in a first-in first-out manner. Furthermore, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 performs a winning judgment process, which is a lottery process for winning or losing the big win or small win, based on the first special random number of the first special symbol read out. After that, when the first special pattern process flag is updated so that the process transitions to the first special pattern stop pattern setting process (step S81), the first special pattern normal processing ends.

In the hit determination process described above, the hit determination table stored in the ROM with the main control is compared with the special random number (the first special random number read in the first special random number normal processing when the first special symbol normal processing is being performed, and the second special random number read in the second special symbol normal processing when the second special symbol normal processing is being performed) to determine whether or not a hit has been won, and the hit flag is set according to the result of the determination. If a hit has not been won, that is, if it is determined to be a miss, the reach determination table stored in the ROM with the main control is compared with the reach random number read (the reach random number read in the first special symbol normal processing when the first special symbol normal processing is being performed, and the reach random number read in the second special symbol normal processing when the second special symbol normal processing is being performed) to determine whether or not to execute a reach, and if so, what type of reach to execute, and the reach flag is set according to the result of the determination.

An example of the first special symbol stop symbol setting process (step S81) will be described. When the first special symbol process flag indicates that the first special symbol stop symbol setting process should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 first determines the result of the lottery process for the display mode when the variable display of the first special symbol stops, that is, the result of the hit determination process, and determines the stopped big hit symbol or miss symbol based on the determination result. The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 transmits a determination result notification command indicating the lottery result (indicating the type of big hit, small hit, reach miss, or miss (which may also indicate the mode of the stopped symbol of the first special symbol)) to the peripheral control board 1510, and updates the first special symbol process flag so that the process is transferred to the first variable pattern setting process (step S82).

An example of the first variation pattern setting process (step S82) will be described. When the first special symbol process flag indicates that the first variation pattern setting process should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 selects a variation pattern table (not shown) for a jackpot corresponding to the determined type of jackpot if the jackpot flag is set, selects a variation pattern table (not shown) for a reach if the reach flag is set, and selects a variation pattern table (not shown) for a miss if neither the jackpot flag nor the reach flag is set, i.e., a normal miss (a miss where the reach performance is not executed). Each variation pattern table is stored in the ROM built into the main control board.

Then, the selected variation pattern table is compared with the variation random number read in the first special symbol normal processing to determine the variation pattern to be executed, and a variation pattern command is sent to notify the peripheral control board 1510 of the start of the determined variation pattern, thereby starting the variation display of the first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display of the function display unit 1400. The main control MPU also sets the variation time set corresponding to the determined variation pattern in the variation timer. As a result, the variation display control of the first special symbol is performed on the first special symbol display of the function display unit 1400 for only the variation time determined in this manner, and the performance control is performed on the performance display device 1600 in synchronization with the variation display of the special symbol.

In addition, in the variation pattern table of this example, for example, the variation time corresponding to the first special random number is set to 13 to 60 seconds in the non-time-saving state and 4 to 60 seconds in the time-saving state, and similarly, the variation time corresponding to the second special random number is set to 13 to 60 seconds in the non-time-saving state and 2 to 60 seconds in the time-saving state.

When the variable display control of the first special symbol is started, it is determined whether the counter value of the time-saving count counter, which sets the number of times the time-saving state continues, is "0", and if this counter value is not "0", the time-saving count counter is counted down, and then it is further determined whether the counter value of the simultaneous time-saving count counter is "0". If the counter value is "0" as a result, a time-saving end flag is set, which indicates the end of the time-saving control.

If it is determined that the time-saving counter is not "0", this process ends when the first special pattern process flag is updated (step S155) so that the process transitions to the first special pattern change process (step S83).

An example of the first special symbol fluctuation process (step S83) will be described below. When the first special symbol process flag indicates that the first special symbol fluctuation process should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 subtracts 1 from a fluctuation timer in which a fluctuation time corresponding to the fluctuation pattern determined in the lottery process for the fluctuation pattern (step S82) is set. Then, when the fluctuation time timer reaches 0, that is, when it is determined that the lottery-selected fluctuation time has elapsed, the first special symbol process flag is updated so that the process is shifted to the first special symbol stop process (step S84).

An example of the first special symbol stop processing (step S84) will be described. When the first special symbol process flag indicates that the first special symbol stop processing should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 first performs display control to display the stop pattern determined in the first special symbol stop pattern setting processing on the first special symbol display of the functional display unit 1400, and transmits a stop display command to the peripheral control board 1510 to instruct the performance display device 1600 to derive and display the display result of the decorative pattern corresponding to the stop pattern of the first special symbol.

Next, when the time-saving end flag is set, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 resets the time-saving end flag and also resets the time-saving flag. This ends the time-saving control and starts control of the non-time-saving state when the special symbols (first special symbol, second special symbol) have been displayed in a predetermined number of times (e.g., 100 times).

In the time-saving state, in order to cause the game ball B to enter the second starting hole 2004, an instruction recommending a so-called right hit (hereinafter also referred to as a right hit instruction) is executed using the performance display device 1600 and the speaker 354, etc. As described above, when a predetermined number of special pattern changes are completed after the time-saving state begins, the time-saving state ends, and the game returns to the normal state (non-time-saving state). When the game returns to the normal state, the right hit instruction ends, and an instruction recommending a so-called left hit (hereinafter also referred to as a left hit instruction) is executed using the performance display device 1600 and the speaker 354, etc.

For example, if the number of time-saving cycles is 100 (i.e., the time-saving cycle ends when 100 special symbol variations have occurred since the time-saving cycle began), then, for example, by inserting game ball B into second starting hole 2004 during the 100th variation from the start of the time-saving cycle (i.e., the final variation of the time-saving cycle), a maximum of four second special symbol variations can be performed in the normal state after the time-saving cycle ends.

In other words, after the time-saving state ends, the second special symbol change (which can mainly be performed during the time-saving state) is executed, but since the state is still normal, a state occurs in which a left-hit command is executed, which is a different hitting method from that during the time-saving state.

When the jackpot variation of the second special pattern variation ends, the jackpot game begins, and in the jackpot game, the right-hit command is executed in the same way as during the time-saving state in order to make the game ball enter the big prize hole.

In the normal state after the time-saving feature has finished, if a player hits from the right, the player can enter a lottery that is different from the special lottery that is normally drawn when game ball B passes through gate 2003, but since the probability of winning in the normal lottery is extremely low (or zero), it is difficult for game ball B to enter second starting hole 2004, and there are fewer opportunities to enter the special lottery compared to when a player hits from the left, meaning the probability of winning a jackpot is lower. If a player hits from the right in a situation where a left-handed hit is required (specifically, for example, when a predetermined number of game balls pass through gate 2003 within a predetermined time), a left-handed hit warning effect is executed to warn the player to hit from the left. The left-handed hit warning effect does not appear in situations where a right-handed hit is required, such as during a time-saving feature or jackpot game.

The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 determines whether the jackpot flag is set, and when it determines that the jackpot flag is set, it sets a jackpot start command indicating that a jackpot game corresponding to the type of jackpot is to start, sets the waiting time until the jackpot game starts (the time during which a display indicating that the jackpot game is to start is displayed, etc.) in the interval timer, and further sets the jackpot in progress flag and the time-saving flag, and updates the first special symbol process flag so that the process is shifted to the initial value of the first special symbol normal processing. When it determines that the jackpot flag is not set, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 updates the first special symbol process flag so that the process is shifted to the initial value of the first special symbol normal processing without executing the above processing.

Figure 6 is a flow chart showing the procedure for the jackpot control process (step S40). In the jackpot control process, one of the following three processes is selectively executed depending on the jackpot process flag.

1. Pre-opening process for the big prize opening (step S91) in which the peripheral control board 1510 notifies the player that the big prize game will start based on the fact that the special symbols (first special symbol, second special symbol) have stopped changing and become big prize symbols, or the player waits until the next round starts.

2. Large prize opening 2005 is controlled to be open when the special pattern stops changing and becomes a large winning pattern, or when the next round starts, and the large prize opening 2005 is closed after being open for a long time (e.g., 28.5 seconds) or when the first or second count sensor detects that 10 game balls B have entered the large prize opening 2005 (step S92)

3. Post-opening process of the big win port (step S93) that waits until the peripheral control board 1510 notifies the player that the big win game has ended when all rounds are completed.

The jackpot process flag is operated in the processing of step S1 (see FIG. 3) to indicate that the pre-opening process (step S91) of the jackpot opening should be performed. In addition, in the processing during opening of the jackpot opening (step S92), at the start of a round in which the jackpot opening 2005 is controlled to be open, a jackpot round start command corresponding to the number of rounds is set, and at the end of a round in which the jackpot opening 2005 is controlled to be closed, a jackpot round end command corresponding to the number of rounds is set. The jackpot round start command and the jackpot round end command are commands sent to the peripheral control board 1510, and the jackpot game presentation corresponding to the number of rounds specified by the jackpot round start command and the jackpot round end command is executed by the presentation display device 1600, lamps/LEDs, speaker 354, etc.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the normal pattern process (step S15).

Now, in the process of step S801, if it is determined that the detection signal from the gate sensor 2801 is in the ON state and that game ball B has passed through the gate section 2003, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 performs gate section passing processing as the process of step S802, such as first obtaining the normal random number of the normal pattern from the random number counter and storing it in the normal pattern reserved memory area of the RAM.

Next, in the normal pattern process, one of the following five processes is selectively executed depending on the normal pattern process flag.

1. Normal pattern normal processing (step S803) in which the normal random number stored in the RAM of the main control MPU is read and a lottery process is performed based on the read normal random number to select the display mode when the variable control of the normal pattern is stopped.

2. A normal symbol variation pattern determination process (step S804) in which a lottery process is performed on the variation mode (variation time) of the normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device of the function display unit 1400 based on the normal symbol variation random number.
3. Ordinary symbol variation processing (step S805) that waits until the variable display of the ordinary symbol on the ordinary symbol display device of the function display unit 1400 is stopped.

4. A normal pattern stop process (step S806) that stops the display of the normal pattern so that the display mode when the normal pattern change control is stopped, determined based on the results of a lottery process for the display mode when the normal pattern change control is stopped, is displayed on the normal pattern display of the function display unit 1400.

5. When the result of the lottery process for the state when the normal symbol fluctuation control is stopped indicates a state that suggests a "normal symbol win", a process for controlling the reception of the game ball B into the second starting hole 2004 is executed (step S807)

The normal symbol process flag is manipulated in the processing of step S1 described above to indicate that the normal symbol normal processing (step S803) should be performed.

An example of the gate passage process (S802) will be described. If the detection signal from the gate sensor 2801 is in the ON state and it is determined that a game ball has passed through the gate 2003, the normal random number and the normal variable random number are obtained from the random number counter, and the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 updates the reserved memory of the normal random numbers in the main control built-in RAM with a predetermined number (e.g., 4) as the upper limit (in other words, if the number of reserved memories has already reached the upper limit, the update process is not performed). Then, the normal pattern process flag is updated so that the process is transferred to the normal pattern normal process (step S803).

An example of the normal pattern normal processing (S803) will be described. When the normal pattern process flag indicates that the normal pattern normal processing should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 judges whether there is a variable display control of the normal pattern in the reserved state based on the counter value of the counter of the normal reserved memory. As a result, if it is judged that there is a variable display control of the normal pattern in the reserved state, the random number stored in the first memory area of the random numbers (e.g., normal random number, normal pattern variable random number) related to the display mode of the normal pattern stored in the normal pattern reserved memory area of the RAM of the main control MPU is read from the same RAM. Then, the count of the normal reserved number counter is decremented by 1, and the random numbers (normal random number, normal pattern variable random number) related to the display mode when the variable display of the normal pattern is stopped, which are stored in each memory area of the normal reserved memory area of the RAM of the main control MPU, are shifted in a first-in first-out manner.

Then, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 compares the read normal random number with the normal winning judgment table stored in the main control built-in ROM, and judges whether it is a normal winning. If it judges it to be a normal winning, it sets a normal winning flag indicating that the fluctuation has won a normal winning, and determines the normal winning pattern as the pattern when the fluctuation control of the normal pattern stops (the stopping pattern of the normal pattern). On the other hand, if it judges it not to be a normal winning, it determines the normal losing pattern as the pattern when the fluctuation control of the normal pattern stops (the stopping pattern of the normal pattern).

After the lottery process for the normal symbols has been performed in this manner, a normal symbol determination result notification command corresponding to the lottery results (indicating either a normal symbol win or a loss) is sent to the peripheral control board 1510, and the normal symbol process flag is updated so that the process transitions to the normal symbol variation pattern determination process (step S804).

An example of the normal symbol variation pattern determination process (step S804) will be described. When the normal symbol process flag indicates that the normal symbol variation pattern determination process should be performed, if the time-saving flag is set, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 compares the normal symbol variation pattern determination table during time-saving stored in the main control built-in ROM with the normal random number read in the normal symbol normal process, and if the time-saving flag is set, compares the normal symbol variation pattern determination table during non-time-saving stored in the main control built-in ROM with the normal random number read in the normal symbol normal process to determine the normal symbol variation pattern (normal symbol variation pattern) to be executed. The main control MPU of the main control board 1310 sets a normal symbol variation pattern command that notifies the peripheral control board 1510 of the start of normal symbol variation in the determined normal symbol variation pattern, and starts the normal symbol variation display displayed on the normal symbol display of the function display unit 1400.

When the main control MPU determines the normal pattern change pattern, it sets the normal pattern change time corresponding to the determined normal pattern change pattern in the normal pattern change timer. This allows the performance control to be performed on the normal pattern display device of the function display unit 1400 (the change display of the normal pattern on the normal pattern display device) for only the normal pattern change time corresponding to the determined normal pattern change pattern.

In addition, in the normal symbol fluctuation pattern determination table during non-time-saving in this example, the normal symbol fluctuation time is set to, for example, 20 seconds. On the other hand, in the normal symbol fluctuation pattern determination table during time-saving in this example, the normal symbol fluctuation time is set to, for example, 0.8 seconds so that the normal symbol fluctuation time is shorter than in the normal symbol fluctuation pattern determination table during non-time-saving. The normal symbol fluctuation pattern determination table is stored in the ROM of the main control MPU.

In addition, when the normal pattern variable display control is started, this process ends when the normal pattern process flag is updated so that the process transitions to the normal pattern variable process (step S805).

An example of the normal symbol change process (step S805) will be described below. When the normal symbol process flag indicates that the normal symbol change process should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 subtracts 1 from the normal symbol change timer in which the normal symbol change time is set. Then, when the normal symbol change time timer is 0, that is, when it is determined that the normal symbol change time has elapsed, the normal symbol process flag is updated so that the process is shifted to the first special symbol stop process (step S806).

An example of the normal symbol stop processing (step S806) will be described below. When the normal symbol process flag indicates that the normal symbol stop processing should be performed, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 performs display control to display the normal symbol stop pattern determined in the normal normal symbol processing on the normal symbol display of the functional display unit 1400, and transmits a normal symbol stop display command to the peripheral control board 1510 to notify the derived display of the first special symbol stop pattern.

Next, when the normal winning flag is set, the opening pattern of the second starting hole 2004 according to the current game state is set using the opening pattern table for normal winning stored in the main control built-in ROM. Specifically, if the second starting hole 2004 is controlled to a non-time-saving state when it starts to open, when a lottery result indicating a normal winning is obtained by a lottery based on a normal random number, the opening hole solenoid 2514 that opens and closes the second starting hole 2004 is turned on to execute opening pattern A in which the second starting hole 2004 opens and closes in a short opening mode (for example, 0.05 seconds). As a result, when opening pattern A is executed as the opening pattern of the second starting hole 2004, the time for which the second starting hole 2004 opens is short, and it is difficult to enter a game ball when the second starting hole 2004 is in an open state. In other words, even if the second starting hole 2004 opens and closes in a non-time-saving state, almost no game balls enter the hole.

On the other hand, if the second starting hole 2004 is controlled to the time-saving state when it starts to open, when the lottery result based on the normal random number results in a normal winning lottery, the starting hole solenoid 2514 that opens and closes the second starting hole 2004 is turned on to execute opening pattern B in which the second starting hole 2004 opens and closes in a long opening mode (e.g., 1.5 seconds). As a result, when opening pattern B is executed as the opening pattern for the second starting hole 2004, the second starting hole 2004 opens for a long time, and the game ball can enter the hole when the second starting hole 2004 is in the open state.

When the opening pattern of the second starting hole 2004 is set, a normal winning start command is set to indicate that a normal winning game is to start, and the normal pattern process flag is updated so that the process is transferred to the normal electric role opening process. The normal winning start command is a command sent to the peripheral control board 1510, and the normal winning game presentation according to the type of normal winning indicated by the normal winning start command can be executed by the presentation display device 1600, lamps/LEDs, speaker 354, etc.

In addition, if the normal symbol hit flag is not set, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 updates the normal symbol process flag so that the process is shifted to the normal symbol normal processing, which is the initial value, without executing the above-mentioned processing.

An example of the normal electric feature opening process (step S807) will be described. If it is determined that the second starting port 2004 is in an open state, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 ends this process when it controls the second starting port 2004 to a closed state by turning off the starting port solenoid 2514 that opens and closes the second starting port 2004 if a predetermined time (the opening time of the second starting port 2004 in the set opening pattern) has elapsed since the second starting port 2004 was controlled to an open state.

In addition, if it is determined that the second starting port 2004 is in a closed state, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 ends this process when it is time to open the second starting port 2004 by turning on the starting port solenoid 2514 that opens and closes the second starting port 2004 and controlling the second starting port 2004 to an open state.

If it is not the time to open the second start hole 2004, the main control MPU of the main control board 1310 sets a normal win end command when the number of times the second start hole 2004 has been opened reaches a predetermined number (the number of times the second start hole 2004 has been opened in the set opening pattern). Then, this process ends when the normal symbol process flag is updated so that the process is transferred to the initial value of normal symbol normal processing. The normal win end command is sent to the peripheral control board 1510, and when the peripheral control board 1510 receives the normal win end command, it can end the performance of the normal symbol win game being executed by the performance display device 1600, lamps/LEDs, speaker 354, etc.

Next, we will explain the processing executed by the peripheral control MPU mounted on the peripheral control board 1510. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for the control performed by the peripheral control MPU mounted on the peripheral control board 1510 when the power is turned on to the pachinko machine 1.

When power supply to the pachinko machine 1 is started, the peripheral control MPU performs an initial setting process (step S501). This initial setting process includes processes such as clearing the RAM built into the peripheral control MPU mounted on the peripheral control board 1510. Note that interrupts are prohibited during this initial setting process, and are permitted after the initial setting process. When the initial setting process (step S501) ends, a loop process is started to monitor whether the 16 mS elapsed flag T has been set (step S502).

In this embodiment, the peripheral control MPU generates an interrupt every 2 ms and executes the 2 ms steady process. In the 2 ms steady process, the 16 ms progress monitoring counter is counted up (the 16 ms progress monitoring counter is incremented by 1), and when the value of the 16 ms progress monitoring counter reaches 8, i.e., when 16 ms have passed, the 16 ms progress flag T is set and the 16 ms progress monitoring counter is reset (to 0). In this way, the 16 ms progress flag T is set to "1" every 16 ms in the 2 ms steady process, and is normally set to "0". When the 16 ms progress flag is set in step S502 (the 16 ms progress flag T is "1"), the 16 ms progress flag is reset (step S503), and then the 16 ms steady process is executed (step S504).

In this 16 ms steady-state processing, processing is executed to control the performance display device 1600, lamps/LEDs, speaker 354, etc., based on commands received from the main control board 1310. When the 16 ms steady-state processing is completed, the process returns to step S502, and the above-mentioned steps S503 to S504 are repeated every time the 16 ms elapsed flag T is set, that is, every 16 ms. On the other hand, if the 16 ms elapsed flag T is not set in step S502 (the 16 ms elapsed flag T is "0"), loop processing is executed until the 16 ms elapsed flag T is set.

Figure 9 is a flow chart showing an example of 16 ms steady-state processing executed every 16 ms in the sub-main processing. In the 16 ms steady-state processing, the peripheral control MPU executes the processes of steps S601 to S606. In the command analysis process of step S601, the command received from the main control board 1310 is analyzed. In the performance control process of step S602, control processing related to the performance display device 1600 is executed based on the reception of the fluctuation pattern command transmitted by being set in the fluctuation pattern setting process (first fluctuation pattern setting process and second fluctuation pattern setting process).

In addition, in the sound control process of step S603, control processes related to the speaker 354 provided in the pachinko machine 1 are executed. In the lamp control process of step S604, control processes related to the lamps and LEDs provided in the pachinko machine 1 are executed. In the information output process of step S605, processes such as sending lamp and LED lighting signals to various decorative boards 184, 273, etc. are executed. In the random number update process of step S606, processes are executed to update the random numbers used for various settings in the performance control process (step S602).

The processing of steps S601 to S606 in the 16 ms steady-state processing is completed within 16 ms. Even if it takes more than 16 ms from the start of the 16 ms steady-state processing to the end of the 16 ms steady-state processing, the 16 ms steady-state processing is not executed from the beginning (from the command analysis processing of step S601) immediately after 16 ms have elapsed since the start of the 16 ms steady-state processing. In other words, if 16 ms have elapsed during the execution of the 16 ms steady-state processing, only the 16 ms elapsed flag is set, and the 16 ms steady-state processing is started when it is determined in step S502 after the end of the 16 ms steady-state processing that the 16 ms elapsed flag has been set.

In addition, in this embodiment, the random number update process (step S606) is executed in the 16 ms steady-state processing to update the various random numbers, but the timing for updating the various random numbers is not limited to this. For example, the various random numbers may be updated in either or both of the loop processing in the sub-main processing and the 16 ms steady-state processing.

Figure 10 is a flow chart showing an example of the presentation control process (step S602). In the presentation control process, the peripheral control MPU selectively executes one of the following five processes depending on the presentation process flag that indicates the progress of the game and is stored in the peripheral control MPU of the peripheral control board 1510.

1. After performing processing to control the performance display device 1600, LED, speaker 354, etc. based on the variation pattern command (first variation pattern command indicating the variation pattern of the first special pattern, second variation pattern command indicating the variation pattern of the second special pattern) that indicates the variation pattern of the special patterns (first special pattern, second special pattern) analyzed in the command analysis processing, a variation performance start processing (step S711) that changes the performance process flag to a value corresponding to the variation performance processing

2. A process during variable performance (step S712) that measures the time that has elapsed since control of the performance display device 1600, LEDs, speaker 354, etc. was started, and processes such as controlling the performance display device 1600, LEDs, speaker 354, etc. are performed according to the elapsed time, and the above-mentioned performance process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the variable end process according to the variable time corresponding to the variable pattern of the special pattern (first special pattern, second special pattern) has elapsed.

3. Processing to derive and display a predetermined display result based on receiving a stop display command instructing to stop the variable display of the special symbols (first special symbol, second special symbol), changing the above-mentioned performance process flag to a value corresponding to the variable performance start processing if it is a miss, changing it to a value corresponding to the big hit performance processing if it is a big hit, and changing it to a value corresponding to the small hit performance processing if it is a small hit (step S713)

4. A jackpot performance process (step S714) in which the performance display device 1600 is processed to execute display control during the jackpot game based on the reception of a jackpot start command that instructs the start of the jackpot game, and the performance process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the variable performance start process when the jackpot game ends.

By the above processing, the effect display device 1600 will display the decorative patterns in synchronization with the display of the special patterns (first special pattern, second special pattern) displayed by the special pattern display devices (first special pattern display device of the functional display unit 1400, second special pattern display device of the functional display unit 1400). If the special pattern does not change for a specified period of time, the effect display device 1600 will display a demo screen (a specified video including the characters and story that appear in the effect of the pachinko machine 1, an explanation of the effect, the model name, and the manufacturer name, etc.) indicating that the machine is waiting for customers.

[2. Attack Production]
11 and 12 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of an attack effect when an operation effective period of the attack effect (a period during which a predetermined operation on a predetermined operation unit is detected or a period that ends when a predetermined time has passed since the start of the period) occurs and an operation for launching an attack is performed during the operation effective period. The attack effect is an effect that is executed, for example, before the start of a reach effect during a fluctuation in which a reach effect is executed, or during a fluctuation in which a reach effect is not executed. The attack effect is an effect that is executed, for example, when a start winning is made at the first start port 2002 or the second start port 2004 and a jackpot flag is set, and when a reach flag is set, regardless of which fluctuation pattern is selected, and is an effect that is executed when a start winning is made at the first start port 2002 or the second start port 2004 and neither the jackpot flag nor the reach flag is set, when a predetermined fluctuation pattern is selected.

In an attack performance, an effective operation period occurs, and when a predetermined operation is performed on a predetermined operation unit during the effective operation period, an ally character (a white character in the figure) launches an attack of either a punch or a kick against an enemy character (a character with diagonal lines in the figure). If the attack hits the enemy character, the performance progresses to a reach performance, and if the enemy character avoids the attack, the performance does not progress to a reach performance, and the decorative pattern stops with a miss combination and the ongoing variation ends. Note that, for example, when a variation pattern in which a reach is executed is selected, the allocation in which an ally character executes a punch performance in an attack performance is smaller than the allocation in which an ally character executes a kick performance (for example, the allocation in which a punch is executed is 1/3 of the allocation in which a kick is executed), and when a variation pattern in which a reach is not executed is selected, the allocation in which an ally character executes a punch performance in an attack performance is larger than the allocation in which an ally character executes a kick performance (for example, the allocation in which a punch is executed is 3 times the allocation in which a kick is executed).

The first performance pattern performed when an attack performance is being performed encourages the operation of the pressing operation unit 303 (e.g., pressing (a so-called single press)), and the second performance pattern performed when an attack performance is being performed encourages the continuous operation of the rotation operation unit 302 (e.g., continuing a rotation by a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time or more, which is an operation different from pressing (a so-called single press) which is the operation of the pressing operation unit 303).

In this example, the rotation operation unit 302 can be rotated clockwise up to 360 degrees (for example, when it is rotated clockwise 360 degrees, a stopper is activated to prevent it from rotating further clockwise), and one step of rotation clockwise rotates it 10 degrees, so it can be rotated up to 36 steps. The rotation detection sensor 347 provided in the rotation operation unit 302 detects the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 (how many steps it has been rotated). The range of clockwise rotation from the initial position of the rotation operation unit 302 does not have to be the above-mentioned 360 degrees, and may be any value between 45 degrees and 360 degrees, for example.

Note that in the diagram, the effects branch into the upper and lower sections, but the effects before the branching are common to both the first and second effect patterns, the effects written in the upper section after the branching are the effects of the first effect pattern, and the effects written in the lower section after the branching are the effects of the second effect pattern.

In the first presentation pattern, an effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs. When the pressing detection sensor 381 provided in the pressing operation unit 303 changes from an off state to an on state during the effective operation period, the operation period ends, and as a post-operation presentation corresponding to the operation, a reach suggestion presentation in which the ally character attacks the enemy character (a presentation in which the rate at which a reach is executed differs depending on whether a punch or kick appears) and a presentation in which the attack hits the enemy character or is avoided by the enemy character are executed.

In the second effect pattern, an effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 occurs. During this effective operation period, when the rotation detection sensor 347 provided on the rotation operation unit 302 detects a right rotation of a predetermined amount or more (hereinafter, five steps or more) from the initial position, an effect in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura is executed as an in-operation effect corresponding to that operation. This in-operation effect in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura continues to be executed as long as a right rotation of five steps or more of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302.

Furthermore, in the second presentation pattern, if the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate right for 3 seconds for 5 steps or more during the operation valid period of the rotation operation unit 302, the operation valid period ends, and as post-operation presentations, a reach suggestion presentation in which the ally character attacks the enemy character (presentation in which the expectation of the reach being executed differs depending on whether a punch or kick appears) and a presentation in which the attack hits the enemy character or is avoided by the enemy character are executed. In the first presentation pattern, if the pressing detection sensor 381 changes from an off state to an on state during the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303, the operation valid period ends, and in the second presentation pattern, if the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate right for 3 seconds during the operation valid period of the rotation operation unit 302, the operation valid period ends. In other words, the operation for ending the operation valid period is different between the first presentation pattern and the second presentation pattern. In the second presentation pattern, the conditions for the end of the valid operation period and the execution of the post-operation presentation may be that the operation of the rotation operation unit 302 continues continuously for a predetermined time during the valid operation period regardless of the amount of rotation, that the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated by 5 steps or more during the valid operation period or is operated for a predetermined time in total regardless of the amount of rotation, or that the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 reaches a predetermined step (for example, the maximum amount of rotation of 36 steps) during the valid operation period, etc.

The effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 in the first presentation pattern and the effective operation period of the rotating operation unit 302 in the second presentation pattern are both 10 seconds. The effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 in the first presentation pattern may be longer or shorter than the effective operation period of the rotating operation unit 302 in the second presentation pattern. However, since the operation required for the operation to cause the post-operation performance in the second presentation pattern (continuing the right rotation of the rotating operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds during the effective operation period of the rotating operation unit 302) is longer than the operation to cause the post-operation performance in the first presentation pattern (changing the pressing detection sensor 381 from the off state to the on state during the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303), it is desirable that the effective operation period of the rotating operation unit 302 in the second presentation pattern is longer than the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 in the first presentation pattern.

11(A) shows a state in which all the decorative symbols have changed and an attack performance has started. In FIG. 11(A), a message is displayed on the performance display device 1600 indicating that if the punch of the friendly character hits the enemy character, it is a chance. The decorative symbols are multiple rows of symbols that are displayed on the performance display device 1600 and indicate the result of a special lottery. The decorative symbols are, for example, three rows of left decorative symbols, middle decorative symbols, and right decorative symbols. The three rows of decorative symbols start to change when the special symbol change starts, and then, for example, the left decorative symbols, right decorative symbols, and middle decorative symbols are stopped and displayed in that order. When all the decorative symbol rows are finally stopped and displayed, the result of the special lottery is shown to the player by the combination of the decorative symbols that are stopped and displayed. When the attack of the friendly character hits the enemy character in the attack performance, the decorative symbols form a reach after the attack performance ends, and the reach performance is executed. A state in which a decorative pattern reach has been formed is a state in which all decorative patterns in multiple rows (e.g., three rows of left, middle, and right decorative patterns) except for one decorative pattern (e.g., the middle decorative pattern) are stopped in the same display mode (e.g., the left and right decorative patterns are the same pattern) (however, this is a so-called temporary stop state in which they appear to be stopped even though they are slightly shaking up and down), and the one decorative pattern is fluctuating.

In FIG. 11(A), the effective operation period for the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 has not started (the player does not know whether a first presentation pattern will be executed in which the pressing operation unit 303 is required to be operated during the effective operation period, as in the presentation from FIG. 11(C) onwards, or a second presentation pattern will be executed in which the rotating operation unit 302 is required to be rotated during the effective operation period, as in the presentation from FIG. 11(C') onwards), and the player has not yet operated the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302.

In FIG. 11(B), an ally character and an enemy character are displayed on the performance display device 1600, and a line suggesting that the ally character will soon attack is also displayed on the performance display device 1600. In FIG. 11(B), the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302 has not yet started, and the player has not yet operated the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302. In addition, the player does not know whether the first or second performance pattern will be executed.

After FIG. 11(B), if it is determined that the first presentation pattern is to be executed, the presentation will transition to FIG. 11(C) or later, and if it is determined that the second presentation pattern is to be executed, the presentation will transition to FIG. 11(C') or later. First, the case where the presentation transitions to FIG. 11(C) (where it is determined that the first presentation pattern is to be executed) will be described. Following FIG. 11(B), in FIG. 11(C), the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 starts, and a gauge 1603 indicating the remaining time of the operation valid period and a display encouraging the operation of the pressing operation unit 303 (an image imitating the pressing operation unit 303 and a message saying "Press!") are displayed on the presentation display device 1600. Note that in FIG. 11(C), the player has not yet operated the pressing operation unit 303.

In FIG. 12(D), the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 is progressing, and the remaining time of the effective operation period indicated by the gauge 1603 is decreasing, but the player has not yet operated the pressing operation unit 303.

Figure 12 (E) shows the state where the player operates the pressing operation unit 303 during the valid operation period (the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed in by a height tmax from the initial position of the pressing operation unit 303 before Figure 12 (D), and a press is detected), and the post-operation performance has started. Specifically, a reach suggestion performance is being performed in which the ally character throws a punch (which has a lower chance of being reached than a kick) at the enemy character, and it has not yet been notified whether the punch will hit the enemy character.

Figure 12 (F) is a continuation of the post-operation performance, in which the enemy character steps back to avoid the punch of the ally character, and it is announced that the performance will not progress to a reach performance, and the post-operation performance ends. In the post-operation performance, a sound corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance (for example, a different sound depending on whether the ally character's attack is a punch or a kick, and a different sound depending on whether the ally character's attack hits or not) is output from speaker 354, and a lamp lights up in a mode corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance (for example, a different light emission mode depending on whether the ally character's attack is a punch or a kick, and a different light emission mode depending on whether the ally character's attack hits or not).

When the first presentation pattern is being executed in a variation in which a reach is being executed, the reach suggestion presentation in FIG. 12(E) (a presentation in which an ally character throws a punch or kick) is followed by a presentation in FIG. 12(F) in which the ally character's attack hits the enemy character (a presentation informing the player that the performance will progress to a reach presentation), ending the post-operation presentation, which then progresses to a reach presentation. In the post-operation presentation of the first presentation pattern in a variation in which a reach is being executed, a sound corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation presentation (which may be the same sound as when the performance does not progress to a reach or a different sound) is output from speaker 354, and a lamp is illuminated in a mode corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation presentation (which may be the same illumination mode as when the performance does not progress to a reach or a different illumination mode).

Following the performance in Figure 12 (F), the decorative patterns stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss (a combination in which the display mode of at least one of the left decorative pattern, center decorative pattern, and right decorative pattern is different from the display mode of the remaining decorative patterns), and the ongoing special pattern variation ends (not shown).

Next, we will explain the case where the effect of FIG. 11(C') (where it has been decided that the second effect pattern will be executed) is transitioned to. Following FIG. 11(B), in FIG. 11(C'), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 starts, and a gauge 1603 indicating the remaining time of the effective operation period and a display encouraging the operation of the rotation operation unit 302 (an image imitating the rotation operation unit 302 and the message "Spin!") are displayed on the effect display device 1600. Note that in FIG. 11(C'), the player has not yet operated the rotation operation unit 302.

In FIG. 12(D'), the operation valid period of the rotation operation unit 302 progresses and the remaining time of the operation valid period indicated by the gauge 1603 decreases. Furthermore, because the player has rotated the rotation operation unit 302 to the right five steps or more, an in-operation performance is executed in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura, a sound corresponding to the aura is output from the speaker 354, and a lamp lights up in the color of the aura. Note that the display mode of the aura, such as the color and size, suggests an attack (punch or kick) to be performed by the ally character, thereby suggesting the likelihood of a reach being executed before the post-operation performance.

In FIG. 12(E'), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 ends when the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate right for 3 seconds for 5 steps or more during the effective operation period, and the post-operation performance begins. Specifically, a reach suggestion performance is performed in which the ally character throws a punch at the enemy character (which has a lower expectation of a reach being executed than a kick), and it has not yet been notified whether the punch will hit the enemy character. FIG. 12(F') is a continuation of the post-operation performance, in which the enemy character steps back to avoid the ally character's punch, and it is notified that the performance will not progress to a reach performance, and the post-operation performance ends. Following the performance in FIG. 12(F'), the decorative symbols stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the special symbol variation that is being performed ends (not shown).

Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attack effect when the operation unit is not operated. First, an example in which it has been decided that the first effect pattern will be executed will be described. Following Figure 11 (C), in Figure 13 (D2), similar to Figure 12 (D), the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 progresses and the remaining time of the operation valid period indicated by the gauge 1603 decreases, but the player does not operate the pressing operation unit 303.

In FIG. 13(E2), the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 has progressed further, and the remaining time of the operation valid period indicated by the gauge 1603 has further decreased. Also, in FIG. 13(E2), the player has not operated the pressing operation unit 303, and the same display as FIG. 13(D2) is being performed, except for the display of the remaining time of the operation valid period indicated by the gauge 1603. In FIG. 13(F2), even though the entire operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 has elapsed and the operation valid period has ended, the pressing operation unit 303 has not been operated, and the attack effect has ended without a post-operation effect being performed. Following the effect in FIG. 13(F2), the decorative symbols stop in a combination indicating that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the ongoing special symbol variation ends (not shown).

Next, an example will be described in which it has been decided that the second presentation pattern will be executed. Following FIG. 11(C), in FIG. 13(D'2), similar to FIG. 12(D'), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has progressed and the remaining time of the effective operation period indicated by the gauge 1603 has decreased. In FIG. 13(D'2), the player has not operated the rotation operation unit 302 (has not rotated to the right five or more steps), so the presentation during operation in which an ally character is surrounded by an aura has not been executed.

In FIG. 13 (E'2), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has progressed further, and the remaining time of the effective operation period indicated by the gauge 1603 has further decreased. In FIG. 13 (E'2), the player has not yet started operating the rotation operation unit 302 (right rotation of 5 steps or more has not continued for 3 seconds), so the same display as in FIG. 13 (D'2) is shown, except for the display of the remaining time of the effective operation period of the gauge 1603, and no in-operation performance is executed.

Figure 13 (F'2) shows a state in which the condition that the rotation operation unit 302 rotates right for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 is not met, and the effective operation period ends when the entire effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has elapsed, and the attack effect ends without a post-operation effect being performed. Following the effect of Figure 13 (F'2), the decorative symbols stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the special symbol variation being performed ends (not shown). Note that when the rotation operation unit 302 rotates right for 5 steps or more during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, an effect in which an ally character is surrounded by an aura is performed as an in-operation effect, but unless the rotation operation unit 302 rotates right for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds by the end of the effective operation period, the post-operation effect will not be executed.

In addition, if the effective operation period ends without any operation being performed during the first and second attack effect patterns to execute a post-operation effect, after the effective operation period ends, an effect similar to the post-operation effect (i.e., an ally character attack is launched, and then an effect in which an ally character notifies the player whether or not the attack will progress to a reach effect depending on whether or not the attack hits) may be executed, and then an effect in which the decorative patterns stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, or a reach effect may be executed.

Figures 14 and 15 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a performance in which the operation of the operation part has started at the start of the operation effective period of the attack performance. Figure 14 (A) is the same as Figure 11 (A). First, an example of a transition to Figure 14 (B3) (where it has been decided that the first performance pattern will be executed) will be explained. Following Figure 14 (A), in Figure 14 (B3), a performance similar to that in Figure 11 (B) is being performed, and the player is already operating the pressing operation part 303 (the pressing operation part 303 has been pressed down by a height tmax from the initial position of the pressing operation part 303 in Figure 12 (A), and a pressing operation has been detected). In Figure 14 (B3), the pressing operation part 303 has been operated and is in an on state, but the operation effective period has not started, so the post-operation performance is not being executed.

In FIG. 14 (C3), the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 has started. In FIG. 14 (C3), the player is still operating (pressing) the pressing operation unit 303 from FIG. 14 (B3). In other words, the pressing detection sensor 381 of the pressing operation unit 303 is in the ON state before the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs, and has not changed from the OFF state to the ON state since the operation valid period started. In this case (i.e., even if the pressing operation unit 303 is in the operated state at the start of the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303, if there is no change from the non-operated state to the operated state during the operation valid period), the post-operation performance does not occur. In addition, if the pressing operation unit 303 is operated at the same time as the operation valid period starts in FIG. 14 (C3) (i.e., the pressing detection sensor 381 of the pressing operation unit 303 is in the ON state just at the start of the operation valid period), the same performance as that in FIG. 14 (C3) and after is performed.

In FIG. 15 (D3), the player continues to operate the pressing operation unit 303 (keeps it pressed) from FIG. 14 (B3). In this way, when the pressing operation unit 303 is in a state of being operated at the start of the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 and the operation of the pressing operation unit 303 continues thereafter, the pressing detection sensor 381 equipped to the pressing operation unit 303 does not change from the OFF state to the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303, so the post-operation performance is not executed even though the pressing operation unit 303 is being operated. Therefore, no sound corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance is output from the speaker 354, and the lamp is not illuminated in the light-emitting mode corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance. In FIG. 15 (D3), the same performance as in FIG. 12 (D) is performed. In addition, if the pachinko machine 1 is equipped with a lamp that is illuminated when the pressing operation unit 303 is being operated (pressure detection sensor 381 is on), the lamp is illuminated when the pressing operation unit 303 is being operated at the start of the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303, and is also illuminated when the pressing operation unit 303 is being operated at the start of the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 and the operation of the pressing operation unit 303 is continuing.

In FIG. 15 (E3), the player continues to operate the press operation unit 303 (keeps it pressed) from FIG. 14 (B3). The press detection sensor 381 equipped to the press operation unit 303 does not change from the off state to the on state during the effective operation period of the press operation unit 303, so the post-operation performance is not executed. Therefore, no sound corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance is output from the speaker 354, and the lamp is not illuminated in the light-emitting mode corresponding to the display mode of the post-operation performance. In FIG. 15 (E3), the effective operation period of the press operation unit 303 has progressed further, and the remaining time indicated by the gauge 1603 has further decreased.

In FIG. 15 (F3), the entire valid operation period has elapsed. Also, in FIG. 15 (F3), the player is still operating (keeps pressed) the press operation unit 303 from FIG. 14 (B3), and the press detection sensor 381 equipped to the press operation unit 303 has not changed from the OFF state to the ON state during the valid operation period of the press operation unit 303, so no post-operation performance is performed. Following the performance in FIG. 15 (F3), the decorative patterns stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the ongoing special pattern variation ends (not shown).

14 (B3), the same effects are performed for both the first and second presentation patterns, so the player does not know which presentation pattern is being executed. If it is determined that the first presentation pattern is to be executed, and the pressing operation unit 303 is operated before the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs and the pressing detection sensor 381 is in an on state at the start of the operation effective period, if the post-operation presentation is executed, the reach suggestion presentation (the presentation in which the ally character throws a punch or kick) is suddenly executed at the same time as the operation effective period begins, which will extremely surprise the player. Therefore, when it is determined that the first presentation pattern is to be executed, even if the pressing operation unit 303 is operated before the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs and the pressing detection sensor 381 is in an on state at the start of the operation effective period, the post-operation presentation is not executed. In addition, if it has been determined that the first presentation pattern will be executed, and the pressing operation unit 303 has been operated before the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs and the pressing detection sensor 381 is in the on state at the start of the effective operation period, the post-operation presentation will not be executed if the operation is continued, and even if the operation is stopped (i.e., even if the pressing detection sensor 381 changes from the on state to the off state), the post-operation presentation will not be executed.

If the pressing operation unit 303 is in an operating state before the valid operation period occurs, if the operation is stopped during the valid operation period and the pressing operation unit 303 is operated again (i.e., if the pressing detection sensor 381 changes from an on state to an off state and then changes from the off state to an on state), the post-operation performance will be executed.

Next, an example of a transition to FIG. 14(B'3) (where it has been decided that the second presentation pattern will be executed) will be described. Following FIG. 14(A), in FIG. 14(B'3), a presentation similar to that in FIG. 11(B) is being performed, and the player has already rotated the rotation operation unit 302 five or more steps to the right. In FIG. 14(B'3), the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated five or more steps to the right, but the effective operation period for the rotation operation unit 302 has not yet begun, so the presentation during operation is not being executed.

In FIG. 14(C'3), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has started. In FIG. 14(C'3), the player is still operating the rotation operation unit 302 (rotating it to the right for 5 steps or more) from FIG. 14(B'3). In other words, the right rotation of 5 steps or more of the rotation operation unit 302 was detected before the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 occurred, and the rotation detection sensor 347 is still detecting the rotation of 5 steps or more at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302. As long as the right rotation of 5 steps or more of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 (i.e., there is no need for the rotation detection sensor 347 of the rotation operation unit 302 to change from the off state), an operation-in-progress performance in which an ally character is surrounded by an aura similar to that of FIG. 12(D') appears. Therefore, in FIG. 14(C'3), a right rotation of five or more steps of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, and therefore the in-operation effect appears from the start of the effective operation period. Note that if the rotation operation unit 302 has not been operated before the start of the effective operation period of FIG. 14(B'3), if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by five or more steps from the start of the effective operation period in FIG. 14(C'3), the in-operation effect will start at the point at which the right rotation of five or more steps of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected.

In FIG. 15 (D'3), continuing from FIG. 14 (B'3), the rotation operation unit 302 is still being operated (rotated to the right for more than five steps), but since the rotation operation unit 302 has not been rotated to the right for more than five steps for three seconds during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 (three seconds have not yet elapsed since the start of the effective operation period), the during operation performance continues but the post-operation performance is not performed, and the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 progresses further, causing the remaining time indicated by the gauge 1603 to decrease.

In FIG. 15 (E'3), continuing from FIG. 14 (B'3), the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate to the right for 3 seconds for 5 steps or more during the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302, and the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302 ends, and the post-operation performance begins. Specifically, a reach suggestion performance is being performed in which the ally character throws a punch at the enemy character (which has a lower expectation of a reach being executed than a kick), and it has not yet been notified whether the punch will hit the enemy character. FIG. 15 (F'3) is a continuation of the post-operation performance, in which the enemy character steps back to avoid the punch of the ally character, and it is notified that the performance will not progress to a reach performance, and the post-operation performance ends. Following the performance of FIG. 15 (F'3), the decorative symbols stop with a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the special symbol variation being performed ends (not shown).

In the second presentation pattern, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right for 5 steps or more before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 and the effective operation period starts, the during-operation presentation in which the ally character is wrapped in an aura is executed. Therefore, even if a player who gets extremely nervous when seeing the reach suggestion presentation rotates the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 5 steps or more before the start of the effective operation period and the effective operation period starts, if the rotation operation unit 302 is stopped to the right for 5 steps or more before continuing to rotate the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds during the effective operation period (by rotating the rotation operation unit 302 by less than 5 steps, or by not rotating it at all), the reach suggestion presentation does not have to be seen. Note that in the second presentation pattern, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right for 5 steps or more before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 and the effective operation period starts, the during-operation presentation in which the ally character is wrapped in an aura does not have to be executed. In the second presentation pattern, if the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated five or more steps to the right before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 and the effective operation period begins, even if the during operation presentation in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura is not executed, if the rotation operation unit 302 is stopped from rotating five or more steps to the right before continuing for three seconds during the effective operation period (by rotating the rotation operation unit 302 by an amount less than five steps, or by not rotating it at all), the reach suggestion presentation will not be seen.

In the second presentation pattern, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by 5 steps or more at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 and the rotation is stopped before the post-operation presentation appears, and the rotation operation unit 302 is restarted to rotate to the right by 5 steps or more during the effective operation period, but the rotation operation unit 302 cannot continue to rotate to the right by 5 steps or more for 3 seconds by the end of the effective operation period, the post-operation presentation is not performed as shown in FIG. 15 (F3). In other words, in the second presentation pattern, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by 5 steps or more at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 and the rotation is stopped before the post-operation presentation appears, the reach suggestion presentation cannot be made to appear unless the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by 5 steps or more by 3 seconds before the end of the effective operation period.

In the above example, the attack effect is a pre-reach effect that indicates whether it will develop into a reach effect, but it may also be possible to execute an attack effect as a reach effect. Also, when an attack effect that is a pre-reach effect that indicates whether it will develop into a reach effect is executed and it is announced that it will develop into a reach effect, it may be possible to execute an attack effect as a reach effect in the same change (i.e., in the reach effect that will develop into).

In the attack performance as a reach performance, the ally character launches either a punch or a kick attack, and if the ally character's attack hits the enemy character, a jackpot is announced, and if the ally character's attack is avoided by the enemy character, a miss is announced. Note that, for example, the allocation for determining that an ally character will execute a performance in which they will throw a punch in an attack performance in a jackpot fluctuation (a fluctuation in which the jackpot flag is set) is smaller than the allocation for determining that they will execute a performance in which they will throw a kick (for example, the allocation for throwing a punch is 1/3 of the allocation for throwing a kick), and the allocation for determining that an ally character will execute a performance in which they will throw a punch in an attack performance in a fluctuation that is not a jackpot fluctuation is larger than the allocation for determining that they will execute a performance in which they will throw a kick (for example, the allocation for throwing a punch is 3 times the allocation for throwing a kick).

When the pressure detection sensor 381 changes from the off state to the on state during the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303, the first pattern of the attack performance as a reach performance is executed as a post-operation performance in which the friendly character attacks the enemy character (the rate at which a jackpot is notified varies depending on whether a punch or kick appears) and the attack hits the enemy character or is avoided by the enemy character. Note that the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 in the first pattern of the attack performance as a reach performance may be the same length as or different from the effective operation period in the first performance pattern of the attack performance (performances in Figures 11 (A) to 12 (F)), which is the performance before the reach that indicates whether it will develop into a reach performance.

In the second pattern of attack effects as reach effects, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by 5 steps or more during the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302, an effect in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura is executed as an in-operation effect. The operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302 in the second pattern of attack effects as reach effects is the second attack effect pattern (which may be the same length as or different from the operation effective period in the effects of Figures 11 (A) to 12 (F')) that is a pre-reach effect that indicates whether it will develop into a reach effect. In the second pattern of attack effects as reach effects, when the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate to the right by 5 steps or more for 3 seconds during the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302, an effect in which the ally character attacks the enemy character (the rate at which a jackpot is notified varies depending on whether a punch or kick appears) and an effect in which the attack hits the enemy character or is avoided by the enemy character are executed as post-operation effects.

In the first presentation pattern of the attack presentation as a reach presentation, even if the pressing operation unit 303 is kept pressed before the start of the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 as shown in Figs. 14(B3) to (C3) and the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed at the start of the effective operation period (because the pressing detection sensor 381 provided in the pressing operation unit 303 does not change from the off state to the on state during the effective operation period), the post-operation presentation is not executed at the start of the effective operation period. However, since whether or not the jackpot notified by the attack presentation as a reach presentation has been won is important information for the player, it is desirable that at least a part of the post-operation presentation (for example, both the presentation of the punch or kick in Fig. 12(E) (presentation suggesting the expectation of a jackpot) and the presentation of the presentation of the jackpot in Fig. 12(F) that notifies whether or not the jackpot has been won, or only the presentation of Fig. 12(F)) be performed when the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 ends because a predetermined time has passed since the start of the effective operation period.

In addition, since whether or not a jackpot has been won is important information for the player, in the second presentation pattern of the attack presentation as a reach presentation, when the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 ends because a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the effective operation period, it is desirable to perform at least a part of the post-operation presentation (for example, both the presentation of throwing a punch or kick (presentation suggesting the expectation of a jackpot) in FIG. 12(E) and the presentation of notifying whether or not a jackpot has been won in FIG. 12(F), or only the presentation in FIG. 12(F)). For example, even if the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated to the right for 5 steps or more at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, but the right rotation is stopped and the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more is resumed during the effective operation period, but the duration of the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more is less than 3 seconds by the end of the effective operation period, it is desirable to perform at least a part of the post-operation presentation when the effective operation period ends.

In addition, in the second performance pattern of the attack performance, an operation may be prompted to another operation unit instead of the rotation operation unit 302. This other operation unit is, for example, an operation unit capable of a rotation operation, other than the rotation operation unit 302. This other operation unit may also be an operation unit capable of an operation different from a rotation operation (i.e., an operation different from a rotation operation is prompted). In addition, the operation unit prompted to be operated in the first and second performance patterns of the attack performance may be the same operation unit or different operation units.

For example, in the second presentation pattern of the attack presentation, the player may be prompted to operate the pressing operation unit 303 (i.e., the same operation unit as the operation prompted in the first presentation pattern) instead of the rotation operation unit 302 (the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 occurs instead of the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302), in which case, in the second presentation pattern of the attack presentation, the player is prompted to operate the pressing operation unit 303 by long pressing or repeated taps (successive operations on the pressing operation unit 303) instead of rotating the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds or more.

In the second attack performance pattern, when the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be pressed for a long time instead of rotating the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds, if the pressing detection sensor 381 is in the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 (regardless of the change of the pressing detection sensor 381 from the OFF state to the ON state), an effect in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura is executed as an effect during operation. In other words, in the second attack performance pattern, when the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be pressed for a long time instead of rotating the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds, the pressing detection sensor 381 being in the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 corresponds to the rotation operation unit 302 being rotated to the right for 5 steps or more during the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302 when the rotation operation unit 302 is prompted to be rotated in the second attack performance pattern.

In addition, in the case where a long press of the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds in the second attack performance pattern, if the pressing operation unit 303 continues to be pressed for a predetermined time during the operation valid period (if the pressing detection sensor 381 continues to be in the on state for a predetermined time), the post-operation performance appears. In other words, in the case where a long press of the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds in the second attack performance pattern, the pressing detection sensor 381 continuing to be in the on state for a predetermined time during the operation valid period of the pressing operation unit 303 corresponds to the rotation operation unit 302 continuing to rotate right for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds during the operation valid period of the rotation operation unit 302 when the rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is prompted in the second attack performance pattern.

In the second attack performance pattern, when the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be repeatedly hit instead of rotating the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds or more, an effect in which the ally character is surrounded by an aura is executed as an effect during operation when the pressing detection sensor 381 changes from the OFF state to the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303. In other words, in the second attack performance pattern, when the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be repeatedly hit instead of rotating the rotation operation unit 302 to the right for 3 seconds or more, the change of the pressing detection sensor 381 from the OFF state to the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 corresponds to the rotation operation unit 302 being rotated to the right for 5 steps or more during the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302 when the rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is prompted in the second attack performance pattern. However, in the case where the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be repeatedly hit instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds in the second attack performance pattern, if the pressing detection sensor 381 is in the on state at the start of the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303, a performance in which the ally character is covered with an aura is executed as an in-operation performance. Note that the in-operation performance in which the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be repeatedly hit in the second attack performance pattern is erased when a predetermined time has elapsed since the pressing detection sensor 381 became in the on state. However, when the in-operation performance in which the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be repeatedly hit instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds is being executed in the second attack performance pattern, if the pressing detection sensor 381 changes to the off state and then changes to the on state again, the in-operation performance is started again. In other words, if the pressure detection sensor 381 turns off and then turns on again before a predetermined time has elapsed since the in-operation performance began, the in-operation performance will continue without ending.

In addition, in the second attack performance pattern, instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds, if the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be pressed a predetermined number of times during the effective operation period (if the pressing detection sensor 381 is turned on a predetermined number of times), the post-operation performance appears. In other words, in the second attack performance pattern, instead of continuing the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds, if the pressing operation unit 303 is prompted to be pressed a predetermined number of times during the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303, the pressing detection sensor 381 being turned on a predetermined number of times during the effective operation period of the pressing operation unit 303 corresponds to the rotation operation unit 302 continuing to rotate 5 steps or more to the right for 3 seconds during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 when the rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is prompted in the second attack performance pattern.

Note that a second attack performance pattern may be performed after a first attack performance pattern is performed in the same variation. For example, a first attack performance pattern is performed as a pre-reach performance indicating whether it will develop into a reach performance, and after the first performance pattern, a second attack performance pattern is executed as a reach performance in the same variation.

In addition, the first attack performance pattern may be performed after the second attack performance pattern is performed in the same variation. For example, the second attack performance pattern is performed as a pre-reach performance indicating whether it will develop into a reach performance, and after the second performance pattern, the first attack performance pattern is executed as a reach performance in the same variation.

Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a presentation in which operation of the rotation operation unit 302 has begun at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 in the second presentation pattern of the attack presentation. In the second presentation pattern of the attack presentation in Figure 16, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated five or more steps to the right at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, a penalty is incurred in which operation of the rotation operation unit 302 is invalidated for a predetermined time (hereinafter, eight seconds) from the start of the effective operation period.

Figure 16 (A) is similar to Figure 11 (A). Following Figure 16 (A), in Figure 16 (B'4), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has not started, and a message ("Don't turn until the gauge appears!!") is displayed on the performance display device 1600 to urge the player not to operate the rotation operation unit 302 before the effective operation period starts.

In FIG. 16 (C'4), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has not yet started, and the same effect as in FIG. 11 (B) is being performed, but the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated five or more steps to the right. FIG. 16 (D'4) shows the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 having started. Because the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated five or more steps to the right at the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, a penalty has occurred in which operation of the rotation operation unit 302 is invalid for eight seconds from the start of the effective operation period. In FIG. 16 (D'4), a message indicating that the penalty has occurred ("Rotation is invalid for eight seconds because it was rotated before the gauge appeared") is displayed on the effect display device 1600, superimposed on the effect display of FIG. 13 (D'2).

In addition, in FIG. 16 (D'4), due to a penalty that invalidates the operation, the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by 5 steps or more, but the effect of the ally character being surrounded by an aura as part of the effect during the operation is not performed, and the duration of the 5 steps or more right rotation is not counted as a condition for causing the effect after the operation to appear.

In FIG. 16 (E'4), 8 seconds have passed since the start of the valid operation period (i.e., since the penalty started), so the penalty is released and operation of the rotation operation unit 302 is now valid. Note that the valid operation period for the rotation operation unit 302 continues to progress even while the penalty is occurring, so the initial 10-second valid operation period has only 2 seconds remaining when the penalty is released in FIG. 16 (E'4).

Therefore, when a penalty occurs, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated five or more steps to the right from the time the penalty is released until the end of the effective operation period, the post-operation effect cannot be made to appear (because there are two seconds remaining in the effective operation period when the penalty is released, and the condition for making the post-operation effect appear is that the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated five or more steps to the right for three seconds during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302). Note that if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated five or more steps to the right during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 after the penalty is released, the effect of an ally character being surrounded by an aura will be executed as an during-operation effect.

In FIG. 16 (E'4), the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 has elapsed, and therefore the effective operation period has ended, and the attack effect ends without a post-operation effect being performed. Following the effect in FIG. 16 (E'4), the decorative symbols stop in a combination that indicates that the result of the special lottery is a miss, and the ongoing special symbol variation ends (not shown).

In the above example, the penalty time is set to 8 seconds from the start of the valid operation period, but the penalty time may be set to 7 seconds or less from the start of the valid operation period so that the reach suggestion effect can appear even if operation of the rotation operation unit 302 is started after the penalty has ended.

Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the configuration of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302. The rotation operation unit 302 in this example can be rotated clockwise from the initial position within a range of up to 360 degrees (for example, when it is rotated clockwise 360 degrees, a stopper is activated to prevent further clockwise rotation), and one step of clockwise rotation results in a 10 degree rotation, allowing a maximum of 36 steps of rotation, which is similar to the rotation operation unit 302 in Figures 11 to 16. The rotation operation unit 302 is also similar to the rotation operation unit 302 in Figures 11 to 16 in that it is equipped with a sensor that can detect the amount of rotation (how many steps it has been rotated).

The rotating operation unit 302 in this example further includes a specific detection unit (not shown) capable of detecting a specific operation. The specific operation detected by the specific detection unit may be, for example, a touch by the player, or a pressing or rotation by the player. The specific detection unit may be provided so as to cover the entire rotating operation unit 302 (i.e., if the specific operation is a touch, the specific detection unit will come into contact with the rotating operation unit 302 when the rotating operation unit 302 is operated), or may be provided so as to cover a part of the rotating operation unit 302 (i.e., if the specific operation is a touch, the rotating operation unit 302 can be operated without touching the specific detection unit). The pachinko machine 1 also includes a movable body 310 that is attached to the game board 5, for example, and that is shaped like a chicken character and is located outside the game area 5a (it may be located above, below, to the right, or to the left of the game area 5a).

In FIG. 17(a), the rotation operation unit 302 is in the initial position, that is, the amount of rotation is zero. At this time, the pressing operation unit 303 is in the initial position (the initial position in this example is the lowest position, and in the initial position, a part of the pressing operation unit 303 is hidden by the rotation operation unit 302 (i.e., the part is not visible to the player because of the rotation operation unit 302), and a part of the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes from the rotation operation unit 302), and cannot be pressed. Note that when the pressing operation unit 303 is in the initial position, the entire pressing operation unit 303 may be hidden by the rotation operation unit 302 (i.e., the entire pressing operation unit 303 is not visible to the player because of the rotation operation unit 302). Also, in FIG. 17(a), the movable body 310 is not moving.

In FIG. 17(b), the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r1 steps from the initial position. When the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise from the initial position, the pressing operation unit 303 starts to protrude, and when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated to r1 steps, the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes t1 from the initial position (i.e., the area of the pressing operation unit 303 that is not visible due to the rotating operation unit 302 is reduced compared to the state in FIG. 17(a)). Note that if the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes from the initial position (i.e., as long as the rotating operation unit 302 has only rotated clockwise from the initial position, regardless of whether a specific operation has been performed on the specific detection unit), the pressing operation unit 303 can be pressed. In this way, the pressing operation unit 303 can be operated only when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise, allowing the player to enjoy complex operations.

When the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r1 steps or more, if the specific detection unit provided on the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, the movable body 310 performs a periodic operation (here, a swinging operation from side to side). In FIG. 17(b), the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r1 steps, and the specific detection unit provided on the rotation operation unit 302 detects the specific operation, so the movable body 310 swings left and right, with a swing width of w1. If the specific detection unit does not detect the specific operation, the movable body 310 will not move even if the rotation operation unit 302 rotates by r1 steps or more. In addition, as described above, the specific detection unit may be arranged to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the rotation operation unit 302. In this case, for example, if the specific operation detected by the specific detection unit is contact, the player will inevitably come into contact with the specific detection unit when he rotates the rotation operation unit 302, and therefore the movable body 310 will move when the player rotates the rotation operation unit 302 by r1 steps or more.

When the specific detection unit provided in the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, the greater the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, the greater the range of movement of the movable body 310. Also, if the specific detection unit provided in the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, the operation of the movable body 310 may start at the point when rotation begins, even if the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is less than r1 steps.

In Figure 17(c), the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated clockwise r2 (>r1) steps from the initial position (i.e., in Figure 17(b), the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated clockwise r2-r1 steps from the state in which it has been rotated clockwise r1 step from the initial position), and the player is performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit provided on the rotation operation unit 302. When the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated r2 steps, the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes a maximum protrusion amount tmax (>t1) from the initial position (i.e., the area of the pressing operation unit 303 that is invisible due to the rotation operation unit 302 is reduced compared to the state in Figure 17(b)). Furthermore, in FIG. 17(c), the rotary operation unit 302 is rotated by r2 (> r1) steps, and the specific detection unit provided in the rotary operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, so the movable body 310 swings left and right, and the swing width is w2 (> w1).

Note that within the range of 0 to r2 steps of the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, the larger the amount of rotation, the greater the amount of protrusion of the pressing operation unit 303; however, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by more than r2 steps, the amount of protrusion of the pressing operation unit 303 remains tmax. On the other hand, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by an amount greater than r2 steps, the swing width of the movable body 310 continues to increase until the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by the maximum rotation amount rmax. When the rotation operation unit 302 is rotating right by the maximum rotation amount rmax, the movable body 310 swings left and right by the maximum swing width wmax.

In FIG. 17(d), the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise (r2<) r3 (< maximum rotation amount rmax) steps from the initial position (i.e., in FIG. 17(c), the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise r2 steps from the initial position, and then rotated clockwise r3-r2 steps), and the player is performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit provided on the rotating operation unit 302. Even if the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise up to r3 steps (which is r2 steps or more), the pressing operation unit 303 remains in a state of protruding by tmax, which is the maximum protrusion amount, from the initial position. Also, when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated r3 (>r2) steps and the specific detection unit provided on the rotating operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, the movable body 310 swings left and right, and the swing width is (maximum swing width wmax>) w3 (>w2).

In FIG. 17(e), the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise (r3<) r4 (< maximum rotation amount rmax) steps from the initial position (i.e., in FIG. 17(d), the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise r3 steps from the initial position, and then rotated clockwise r4-r3 steps), and the player is performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit provided on the rotating operation unit 302. Even if the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated up to r4 steps (which is r2 steps or more), the pressing operation unit 303 remains in a state of protruding by tmax, which is the maximum protrusion amount, from the initial position. Also, when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise r4 (>r3) steps, if the specific detection unit provided on the rotating operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, the movable body 310 swings left and right, and the swing width is (maximum swing width wmax>) w4 (>w3).

Note that even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotating to the right, the movable body 310 does not move when the specific detection unit does not detect a specific operation, but when a specific operation is performed on the specific detection unit while the rotation operation unit 302 is maintained in its right rotation, the movable body 310 suddenly moves with a width corresponding to the amount of rotation. Specifically, for example, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotating to the right by r4 steps, the movable body 310 does not move when the specific detection unit does not detect a specific operation, but when a specific operation is performed on the specific detection unit while the rotation operation unit 302 is maintained in its right rotation by r4 steps, the movable body 310 suddenly swings with a swing width w4.

In FIG. 17(f), the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r4 steps from the initial position, the player is performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit provided on the rotation operation unit 302, and the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position. When the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position, the operation of the movable body 310 stops regardless of the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, and even if the specific detection unit detects a specific operation. Note that when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise from the initial position, the player is performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit provided on the rotation operation unit 302, and the pressing operation unit 303 is stopped from the state where the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position, the movable body 310 operates according to the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302. In addition, the drive member for swinging the movable body 310 left and right operates with a strength that corresponds to the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, and when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position while the movable body 310 is operating, for example, when the movable body 310 returns to the initial position, stoppers are activated on the left and right of the movable body 310, thereby stopping the operation of the movable body 310.

In addition, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise from the initial position, a specific operation is being performed on the specific detection unit, and the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position, the operation of the movable body 310 is stopped by configuring the detection of the specific operation by the specific detection unit to be invalidated by the operation of the pressing operation unit 303, or by configuring the detection of the specific operation to be blocked from input (i.e., the specific operation on the specific detection unit is invalidated when the pressing operation unit 303 is being operated).In addition, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated while pressing the pressing operation unit 303, the pressing operation unit 303 will not protrude as long as the pressure on the pressing operation unit 303 is maintained.

In the illustrated example, the volume of the rotation operation unit 302 is drawn smaller than the volume of the pressing operation unit 303, but the volume of the protruding portion when the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes to tmax may be smaller than the volume of the rotation operation unit 302.

In addition, when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise from the initial position by r1 steps or more, and the specific detection unit provided in the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation and the movable body 310 operates periodically, it is desirable that the operation mode of the movable body 310 changes, such as the operation speed of the movable body 310 becoming faster or the operation range becoming wider, as the number of steps by which the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise increases. In the example of FIG. 17, an example is described in which the operation range of the movable body 310 becomes larger as the number of steps by which the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise increases, but although the operation range and operation period of the movable body 310 are the same, the speed at which the movable body 310 starts moving from the initial position and moves to the maximum operation range may be increased. Specifically, for example, when the movable body 310 operates, the movable body 310 repeats a series of operations in which it moves from the initial position to the right, returns to the initial position, stops at the initial position, moves from the initial position to the left, and returns to the initial position. At this time, for example, the movable body 310 moves from the initial position to the maximum operating range on the right side taking time t1-kr (where t1 and k are positive constants, r is the number of steps by which the rotation operating unit 302 is rotated to the right, and t1 and k are determined so that t1-kr>0 even when r is the maximum value), returns from the maximum operating range on the right side to the initial position taking time t2 (a positive constant), stops at the initial position for time t3+2kr (where t3 is a positive constant), moves from the initial position to the maximum operating range on the left side taking time t1-kr, and returns from the maximum operating range on the right side to the initial position taking time t2 (a positive constant). As a result, the greater the amount of rotation of the rotary operation unit 302, the smaller the value of the time t1-kr, and therefore the greater the speed at which the movable body 310 moves from the initial position to the maximum operating range on the right and left sides, but the operating range of the series of operations and the time required for the series of operations, i.e., the operating cycle of the series of operations (t1-kr)+t2+(t3+2kr)+(t1-kr)+t2=2t1+2t2+t3, can be kept constant regardless of the amount of rotation of the rotary operation unit 302. Note that, as the number of steps in which the rotary operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise increases, the operating range and operating cycle of the movable body 310 are the same, but the speed at which the movable body 310 moves from the initial position to the maximum operating range increases. In this case, when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed to the initial position while the movable body 310 is performing a periodic operation, the periodic operation of the movable body 310 is stopped regardless of the speed of the movable body 310.

In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303 does not protrude to the maximum protrusion amount tmax, pulling the pressing operation unit 303 (i.e., performing an operation on the pressing operation unit 303 to apply a force in the opposite direction to the direction of the force applied to the pressing operation unit 303 when pressing) can cause the pressing operation unit 303 to protrude to the maximum protrusion amount tmax, and at this time the rotation operation unit 302 can be rotated clockwise according to the protrusion amount of the pressing operation unit 303. In other words, when the pressing operation unit 303 does not protrude to the maximum protrusion amount tmax in response to the operation of the rotation operation unit 302, pulling the pressing operation unit 303 to the maximum protrusion amount tmax without operating the rotation operation unit 302 can cause the rotation operation unit 302 to rotate to r2 steps even without the player operating the rotation operation unit 302. Furthermore, by pulling the pressing operation unit 303 to perform a specific operation on the specific detection unit, the state shown in FIG. 17(c) can be achieved without the player operating the rotating operation unit 302, and the periodic movement of the movable body 310 can begin.

17(b), the movable body 310 can start to operate even if the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is less than the minimum amount of rotation (r2 steps) for making the pressing operation unit 303 reach the maximum protrusion amount tmax. However, the movable body 310 may not operate until the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 reaches a predetermined amount of rotation (e.g., r3 steps) that is greater than the r2 steps, which is the minimum amount of rotation for making the pressing operation unit 303 reach the maximum protrusion amount tmax. In other words, the movable body 310 may not operate even if the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes to the maximum protrusion amount tmax. In addition, if the movable body 310 can start operating for the first time when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated beyond the state in which the pressing operation unit 303 first protrudes to the maximum protrusion amount tmax (for example, when the pressing operation unit 303 is rotated r3 steps, which is greater than the r2 steps that are the rotation amount of the rotating operation unit 302 for the pressing operation unit 303 to first protrude to the maximum protrusion amount tmax), the movable body 310 will not operate even if the specific detection unit provided in the rotating operation unit 302 detects a specific operation after the pressing operation unit 303 is pulled to the maximum protrusion amount tmax.

In the example of FIG. 17, the protruding pressing operation unit 303 is described as protruding upward from the top surface of the rotation operation unit 302, but the protruding pressing operation unit 303 may be provided so as to protrude from a part of the side surface of the rotation operation unit 302 in the outward direction of the side surface. The protruding pressing operation unit 303 may be attached to the rotation operation unit 302, or the protruding pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302 may be integrated. In addition, when the protruding pressing operation unit 303 is provided so as to protrude from a part of the side surface of the rotation operation unit 302 in the outward direction of the side surface, it is desirable that the surface area exposed to the outside of the rotation operation unit 302 when the pressing operation unit 303 is in the initial position is about 1/30 to 1/5 of the surface area of the side surface of the rotation operation unit 302.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a cancelable attack effect. Note that canceling an attack effect means that the attack effect is stopped and another effect is performed instead, or that the effect is not performed at all. A cancelable effect is an effect that can be determined in both a variation pattern in which a reach is executed and a variation pattern in which a reach is not executed. Note that in FIG. 19, the effects are branched into an upper section and a lower section according to the operation on the operation unit. In the example of FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, the pachinko machine 1 is equipped with the pressing operation unit 303, the rotation operation unit 304, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17, as well as a specific detection unit.

A cancelable attack effect is cancelled if a right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 (i.e. the attack effect is stopped and ends at that point. For example, if it is cancelled before a reach suggestion effect in which an ally character launches a punch or kick attack, the reach suggestion effect will not be performed, and no effect will be performed to notify whether the attack will develop into a reach depending on whether it hits). Note that in a cancelable attack effect, if force is applied so that the press operation unit 303 does not protrude (i.e. the press operation unit 303 is not moved from its initial position), the attack effect will not be cancelled even if the rotation operation unit 302 detects a right rotation. If the detection of rotation operations by the rotation operation unit 302 is configured to be invalidated by the operation of the pressing operation unit 303, or if the detection of specific operations is blocked for input, even if the pressing operation unit 303 does not have a sensor for detecting pressure, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right while the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed (i.e., with the pressing operation unit 303 not protruding), the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is invalidated, and the attack effect is not canceled.

Note that a cancelable attack effect is always within the valid operation period of the rotation control unit 302, and the attack effect can be cancelled by operating the rotation control unit 302 at any time from the start of the attack effect (from the time a message similar to that in FIG. 11(A) is displayed) to the end of the attack effect (until the effect in which the attack hits or is avoided by the enemy character similar to that in FIG. 12(F) and FIG. 12(F') ends). Also, if a predetermined time has passed since the start of a cancelable attack effect without the attack effect being cancelled, a reach suggestion effect is displayed in which the ally character launches an attack (punch or kick) at the enemy character, and an effect is displayed in which the enemy character is about to avoid the ally character's attack or the attack is about to hit the enemy character.

In Fig. 18(A), the same effect as in Fig. 11(A) is being performed. In Fig. 18(A), the rotation operation unit 302 is not being operated, so the pressing operation unit 303 is in the initial position and does not protrude, so the pressing operation unit 303 cannot be pressed, the movable body 310 is not moving, and the attack effect continues without being canceled.

In FIG. 18(B), a message indicating that the attack effect will be cancelled when the rotation operation unit 302 is operated ("Spin if you don't want to see the effect!") is displayed on the effect display device 1600. In FIG. 18(B), the rotation operation unit 302 is not operated, so the pressing operation unit 303 is not protruding from the initial position and cannot be pressed, the movable body 310 is not moving, and the attack effect continues without being cancelled. Note that if a cancelable attack effect has started even before the message in FIG. 18(B) is displayed (for example, even at the timing of FIG. 18(A)), the attack effect can be cancelled. Note that the effect in FIG. 18(B), which displays a message indicating the operation to cancel the attack effect, does not have to be performed.

In FIG. 18(C), the same effect as in FIG. 11(B) is being performed, but since the entire attack effect is during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, the gauge 1603 indicating the remaining time of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302 is not displayed. In FIG. 18(C), since the rotation operation unit 302 is not being operated, the pressing operation unit 303 is not protruding from the initial position and cannot be pressed, the movable body 310 is not operating, and the attack effect continues without being canceled.

First, an example of transition to FIG. 19(D) (an example of canceling an attack effect) will be described. FIG. 19(D) shows a state in which the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r1 step in the state of FIG. 18(C), and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. However, in FIG. 19(D), the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated. At this time, the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is detected without detecting the pressing of the pressing operation unit 303, so the attack effect is canceled (ended). In FIG. 19(D), the attack effect is canceled and only the changing decorative pattern is displayed on the effect display device 1600, but when the attack effect is canceled, the stopped decorative pattern and an image that is not displayed in a cancelable attack effect (for example, an image different from either the ally character or the enemy character displayed in a cancelable attack effect) may be displayed. In addition, in FIG. 19(D), the rotation operation unit 302 has been rotated clockwise by r1 steps, causing the pressing operation unit 303 to protrude to t1, and the specific detection unit has detected a specific operation, causing the movable body 310 to move with a width of w1. In this way, when the conditions for canceling the attack effect are met, the movable body 310 is moving, so even if the attack effect is canceled, the player's interest in the game will not decrease as long as he or she watches the movement of the movable body 310.

As described above, when a cancelable attack effect is being performed, the attack effect may be canceled simply by detecting a specific operation on the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302. In this case, the attack effect can be canceled without the pressing operation unit 303a protruding, and without operating the movable body 310, and the attack effect is always canceled in order to operate the movable body 310 (because the conditions for operating the movable body 310 include the specific detection unit detecting a specific operation) (i.e., the movable body 310 cannot be operated when a cancelable attack effect is being performed). Also, in a cancelable attack effect, there may be a timing when the attack effect is not canceled even if a specific operation is detected on the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302.

In FIG. 19(E), the attack effect is canceled, but the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r3 steps, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. Some players may feel bored if nothing is displayed on the effect display device 1600 after the attack effect is canceled, so an effect in which an ally character swings a punch is displayed on the effect display device 1600, provided that the amount of clockwise rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is within a predetermined range (here, r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps) and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. In FIG. 19(E), the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r3 (>r2) steps, so the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes to tmax, and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, so the movable body 310 operates with a width w3. When this ally character is practicing a punch, the color of the fist may indicate the likelihood of a jackpot in the ongoing variation (for example, when an ally character is punching with a white fist, the likelihood of a jackpot in the ongoing variation is lower than when the ally character is punching with a red fist). Note that instead of the effect of an ally character practicing a punch, an attack effect as described in Figures 11 to 16 may be executed, or an effect different from the cancelable attack effect (an effect in which a display different from the ally character or enemy character displayed in the attack effect is displayed) may be executed.

The performance of an ally character practicing a punch may be executed immediately when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, or may not be executed immediately after the detection of these operations, such as when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation and a predetermined time has elapsed since the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects the specific operation. Also, the performance of an ally character practicing a punch may be executed with a predetermined probability when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation (i.e., it does not necessarily have to be executed even if these operations are detected).

In addition, after a cancelable attack effect is cancelled, the next special pattern change may start and an effect in which an ally character practices a punch may be performed, provided that the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. In addition, in the special change that starts next after a cancelable attack effect is cancelled, an effect may be performed in which an ally character makes a fighting pose but does not practice a punch (an example of an effect that suggests that an effect in which an ally character practices a punch will be performed in the next special pattern change), provided that the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, and further an effect in which an ally character practices a punch may be performed in the next special pattern change.

In FIG. 19(F), after the attack effect is canceled, the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r4 steps, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. In FIG. 19(F), the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r4 (>r2) steps, so the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes to tmax, and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, so the movable body 310 operates at a width w4. When the rotation amount of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation, a message is displayed on the effect display device 1600. This message may be displayed so that it appears to the player as if it is coming from the chicken of the movable body 310. The message "You're shaking too much and you're going to get dizzy. Stop it, fall..." in FIG. 19(F) is a message that encourages the player to reduce the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302. The player can enjoy the message even more when he sees it. If the player follows the message to reduce the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, the amount of movement of the movable body 310 will be reduced, and the load on the movable body 310 can be reduced. The message may be, for example, a message that encourages the player to reduce the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, such as "You're shaking too much and you're going to get dizzy. Reduce the amount of rotation...", or the message may also suggest to what extent the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 should be reduced (for example, to less than r4 steps). The message is not displayed when the conditions that the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation are not met.

Note that if the conditions for displaying the message in FIG. 19(F) are met while the display in FIG. 19(E) is continuing, the message in FIG. 19(F) may be displayed superimposed on the display in FIG. 19(E). However, in order to make the message in FIG. 19(F) easier for the player to recognize and to quickly reduce the load on the movable body 310, when the display in FIG. 19(E) and the message in FIG. 19(F) are displayed superimposed, it is desirable that in the area where the display in FIG. 19(E) and the message in FIG. 19(F) are displayed superimposed, the message in FIG. 19(F) has a higher display priority (i.e., the message in FIG. 19(F) is displayed closer to the viewer than the display in FIG. 19(E)).

Note that the message in FIG. 19(F) is a message conveying that the amount of movement of the movable body 310 is too large, and therefore it is desirable for it to be displayed immediately when the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects the specific operation; however, it may be displayed a predetermined time after the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects the specific operation (i.e., it does not have to be displayed immediately), or it may be displayed with a predetermined probability when the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects the specific operation (i.e., it does not necessarily have to be displayed even if these operations are detected).

19(E) and 19(F), an effect was described in which an ally character practices a punch only when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, and a message is displayed encouraging the player to reduce the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation. In addition to this effect, a message encouraging the player to increase the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302, such as "If you turn it more, a kick practice effect will occur!", may be displayed only when the amount of right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, and an effect in which an ally character practices a kick may be displayed when the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation.

The effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) ends when a predetermined time has elapsed since the effect started. The message in FIG. 19(F) is erased when a predetermined time has elapsed since the message started to be displayed. If the pressing operation unit 303 is operated when the display of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) or the message in FIG. 19(F) is displayed, the movement of the movable body 310 stops, but the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) and the display of the message in FIG. 19(F) do not end until the predetermined time has elapsed. In other words, the movement of the movable body 310 stops even when the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) or the message in FIG. 19(F) is displayed.

The predetermined time from the start to the end of the performance in which the ally character practices a punch in FIG. 19(E) and the predetermined time from the display to the disappearance of the message in FIG. 19(F) may be the same as or different from the predetermined time. Furthermore, the predetermined time from the start to the end of the performance in which the ally character practices a punch in FIG. 19(E) may be a time determined from a plurality of times. Each of the plurality of times may be different from the predetermined time from the display to the disappearance of the message in FIG. 19(F), or some of the plurality of times may be the same as the predetermined time for displaying the message in FIG. 19(F).

19(E) ends after a predetermined time has elapsed, but if the conditions for executing the performance of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) are satisfied again after the performance ends, the performance of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) may be executed again. If the conditions for executing the performance of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) are satisfied again while the performance of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) is being executed, the count of the predetermined time may be cleared and the count may be reset and restarted when the conditions are satisfied again (i.e., the time for which the performance of the ally character practicing a punch is executed may be extended), or the count of the predetermined time may be continued without being cleared (i.e., the time for which the performance of the ally character practicing a punch is executed may not be extended). Similarly, the message in FIG. 19(F) is erased after a predetermined time has elapsed, but if the conditions for displaying the message in FIG. 19(F) are met again after the message in FIG. 19(F) has been erased, the message in FIG. 19(F) may be displayed again. Also, if the conditions for displaying the message in FIG. 19(F) are met again while the message in FIG. 19(F) is being displayed, the count of the predetermined time may be cleared and the predetermined time may be reset and counting resumed when the conditions are met again (i.e., the display time of the message may be extended), or the count may continue without clearing the predetermined time (i.e., the display time of the message may not be extended).

It is desirable that the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) and the effect of the message in FIG. 19(F) being displayed cannot be cancelled (i.e., cannot be stopped by the player's operation). When the message in FIG. 19(F) is displayed, if the condition for starting the display of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) is met, the message in FIG. 19(F) may be erased (i.e., the display of the message in FIG. 19(F) may be cancelled on the condition that the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more but less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation). The fact that the condition for starting the display of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) is met means that the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 has become less than r4 steps, and it is considered that the player has reduced the amount of rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 in accordance with the message in FIG. 19(F).

An example of a transition from FIG. 18(C) to FIG. 19(D') (an example in which the attack effect is not cancelled) is described. FIG. 19(D') shows a state in which, in the state of FIG. 18(C), a force is applied to the pressing operation unit 303 so that the pressing operation unit 303 does not protrude, while the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated clockwise by r1 steps, and the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 detects a specific operation. In a cancelable attack effect, even if the rotation operation unit 302 rotates clockwise, by not protruding the pressing operation unit 303 (i.e. preventing the pressing operation unit 303 from moving from its initial position), the attack effect continues without being cancelled, and the same effect as FIG. 12(E) is performed, and the movable body 310 is not moved.

If the pressing operation unit 303 does not protrude in this way, the attack effect will not be canceled even if the rotation operation unit 302 is operated (even if the operation necessary for cancellation is performed), so a player who does not want to accidentally cancel an attack effect can simply not protrude the pressing operation unit 303 during a cancelable attack effect.

In FIG. 19(E'), the rotation operation unit 302 remains rotated clockwise by r1 steps, and no force is being applied to the pressing operation unit 303, so the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes to t1. In other words, because the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes and only the rotation operation unit 302 is rotating clockwise, the same effect as in FIG. 12(F) is not performed, and the attack effect is canceled, as in FIG. 19(D), and the movable body 310 also moves with a width of w1.

19(D) and 19(E'), when an attack effect is cancelled, a special sound may be output from the speaker 354, or a special image may be displayed on the effect display device 1600. The output of the special sound and/or the display of the special image may be performed in place of a cancelable attack effect. For example, a special sound may be output from the speaker 354 or a special image may be displayed on the effect display device 1600 simply by performing a specific operation on the specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 during the operation valid period of the rotation operation unit 302. In this case, it is possible for the special sound to be output or the special image to be displayed even though the movable body 310 is not moving. This allows the player to concentrate on the special sound or special image without being distracted by the movement of the movable body 310.

Following the effect of FIG. 19(E'), if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated r3 steps or more but less than r4 steps and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, the effect of FIG. 19(E) can be executed, and if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated r4 steps or more and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, the effect of FIG. 19(F) can be executed.

In the cancelable attack effects of Figs. 18 and 19, not only is it possible to prevent the reach suggestion effect from appearing like the attack effect of Fig. 13, but it is also possible to cancel the effects before the reach suggestion effect (such as the display of the message explaining the cancelable attack effect in Figs. 18(A) and 18(B), or the display of the ally character and enemy character in Fig. 19(C) before the ally character starts attacking), so that players who tend to become tense when watching attack effects can calmly proceed with the game by canceling the effects before the reach suggestion effect. Also, in the cancelable attack effects of Figs. 18 and 19, the effect can be canceled even after the reach suggestion effect has started, so that the player can cancel the effect even at a timing after the reach suggestion effect has started when the player has a hunch that the reach suggestion effect will not suggest that the effect will be executed.

In addition, it is desirable that the operation unit for canceling an attack effect be limited to a portion of the operation units of the pachinko machine 1 (for example, the only operation unit for canceling an attack effect is the rotation operation unit 302). If an attack effect could be canceled by operating any operation unit of the pachinko machine 1 during an attack effect, there is a risk that a player who did not intend to cancel the attack effect would unintentionally cancel it. However, in order to make it easy to cancel an attack effect, it may be possible to make it possible to cancel an attack effect by operating any operation unit of the pachinko machine 1.

The cancelable attack effects in Figures 18 and 19 may appear in the normal state, the time-saving state, and the probability-varying state, but it is preferable that they not appear during a jackpot game. This is because if a player accidentally cancels an effect midway during a jackpot game, the player's sense of elation at winning the jackpot will be diminished. Note that not all effects that cause an effective period of the rotation operation unit 302 are cancelled by the rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 during that effective period, or by a specific operation on a specific detection unit of the rotation operation unit 302 during that effective period (i.e., there are some effects that cannot be cancelled among the effects that cause an effective period of operation of the rotation operation unit 302).

In addition, since some players do not want to see any attack effects at all because they increase the tension too much, for example, if the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 is maintained (a state in which an operation to cancel a cancelable attack effect is being performed) when a cancelable attack effect is not being performed (this may be before a cancelable attack effect starts or after a cancelable attack effect is canceled), the cancelable attack effect itself may not appear. Since the operation to cancel a cancelable attack effect (whether the operation is the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 or the specific detection unit detecting a specific operation) is included in the conditions for operating the movable body 310, a cancelable attack effect is not executed when the movable body 310 is operating (the operation of the movable body 310 and a cancelable attack effect are not executed simultaneously). However, a player who rotates the rotation control unit 302 to the right while not protruding the pressing control unit 303 when a cancelable attack effect is not being performed is considered to be a player who intends to see a cancelable attack effect, so it is desirable that a cancelable attack effect be able to appear if the pressing control unit 303 is not protruding even if the rotation control unit 302 is maintained in the right direction when a cancelable attack effect is not being performed.

As described above, when the pressing operation unit 303 is pulled from its initial position, the rotating operation unit 302 rotates to the right according to the amount of protrusion of the pressing operation unit 303 without directly operating the rotating operation unit 302. Therefore, if the condition for canceling the attack effect is the detection of a specific operation by the specific detection unit, the specific operation is contact, and the specific detection unit is attached to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the rotating operation unit 302, when the pressing operation unit 303 is pulled without operating the rotating operation unit 302 and without the specific detection unit detecting the specific operation, the rotating operation unit 302 rotates to the right, but the specific detection unit attached to the rotating operation unit 302 does not detect the specific operation (contact), so even though the rotating operation unit 302 rotates to the right and the pressing operation unit 303 protrudes, the attack effect can be continued without being canceled.

In addition, the cancelable attack effects in Figures 18 and 19 may be performed when the game is not in progress (when neither winning games, including big win games and small win games, nor special pattern changes are being executed). In a cancelable attack effect performed when the game is not in progress, for example, a fortune-telling effect (not showing the results of a special lottery) is performed. A cancelable attack effect performed when the game is not in progress is started, for example, when a predetermined time has passed since the game entered a state where the game is not in progress, without detecting the rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 (i.e., without performing an operation to cancel the cancelable attack effect). If the rotation operation unit 302 is operated during a cancelable attack effect performed when the game is not in progress, the attack effect is canceled. When a predetermined operation unit other than the rotation operation unit 302 (operation unit for canceling a cancelable attack effect) is operated during a cancelable attack effect performed when a game is not in progress, an effect in which an ally character launches an attack (punch or kick) at an enemy character and an effect in which the enemy character avoids the ally character's attack or the attack hits the enemy character (for example, according to a predetermined distribution, it is determined whether the enemy character avoids the ally character's attack or the attack hits the enemy character) are performed, and if the enemy character avoids the ally character's attack, a "bad luck" is announced as the fortune-telling result, and if the ally character's attack hits the enemy character, a "good luck" is announced as the fortune-telling result. Note that, in a cancelable attack effect performed when a game is not in progress, the condition for executing the effect in which an ally character launches an attack (punch or kick) at an enemy character and the effect in which the enemy character avoids the ally character's attack or the attack hits the enemy character may be that a predetermined time has passed since the start of the attack effect without being canceled. In addition, when a cancelable attack effect is being performed while the game is not progressing, if the pressing operation unit 303 is not protruded so that the attack effect is not canceled, the game progress may remain stopped as long as the operation is maintained.

For players who have cancelled a cancelable attack effect but still want to see it, the cancelable attack effect may be executed again after a predetermined time has elapsed since the attack effect was cancelled (or after the attack effect has ended without being cancelled) unless the rotation control unit 302 is rotated right (unless the same operation as that for cancelling the attack effect is performed). During this predetermined time, the stopped decorative pattern and an image that is not displayed in a cancelable attack effect (for example, an image different from either an ally character or an enemy character that is displayed in a cancelable attack effect) may be displayed. Even if the rotation control unit 302 is rotated right after cancelling an attack effect, the cancelable attack effect may be displayed again with a predetermined probability after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cancellation.

For example, when an operation is performed on the rotation operation unit 302 that allows the effects of Figures 19(E) and 19(F), which are the effects after canceling an attack effect (rotation of r3 steps or more and detection of a specific operation by the specific detection unit), the player may be given a privilege such as making it easier to achieve a starting win or being able to receive a favorable special lottery. Also, for example, the effect in which an ally character practices a punch in Figure 19(E) and the effect in which a message is displayed in Figure 19(F) may be effects that are performed under specified conditions. The state in which the game ball B is being launched is an example of the predetermined condition, and the strength with which the game ball B is launched determines whether the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) is executed or the message in FIG. 19(F) is displayed (for example, the strength with which the game ball B is launched must be within a first predetermined range in order to execute the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E), and the strength with which the game ball B is launched must be within a second predetermined range (the minimum value of the second predetermined range is equal to or greater than the maximum value of the first predetermined range) in order to display the message in FIG. 19(F). In addition, the effect of the ally character practicing a punch in FIG. 19(E) and the effect with the message in FIG. 19(F) may be executed not only after a cancelable attack effect is canceled, but also if the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are met.

In addition, instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in Figures 11 to 16, the pressing operation unit 303 shown in Figure 17, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 may be applied.

In the case where the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 having a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, in the first performance pattern of the attack performance, when the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303 starts in FIG. 11 (C) and FIG. 14 (C3), and the pressing detection sensor 381 changes from the OFF state to the ON state during the operation effective period, the post-operation performance is executed. However, when the rotating operation unit 302 is not rotated to the right, the pressing operation unit 303 does not protrude. Therefore, in order to perform the post-operation performance in the first performance pattern of the attack performance, it is necessary to rotate the rotating operation unit 302 to the right to make the pressing operation unit 303 protrude and turn the pressing detection sensor 381 to the OFF state, and then operate the pressing operation unit 303 to turn the pressing detection sensor 381 to the ON state during the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303.

In the case where the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, in the second performance pattern of the attack performance, when the operation effective period of the rotating operation unit 302 occurs in FIG. 11 (C'), FIG. 14 (C'3), and FIG. 16 (D'4), and the right rotation of the rotating operation unit 302 of a predetermined amount or more (hereinafter, r1 step or more at which the movable body 310 can start moving) is detected during the operation effective period, the operation in progress performance is executed. Also, when the right rotation of the rotating operation unit 302 of a predetermined amount or more (hereinafter, r1 step or more at which the movable body 310 can start moving) is continuously detected for a predetermined time (hereinafter, 3 seconds) during the operation effective period of the rotating operation unit 302, the post-operation performance is executed. However, in FIG. 16, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by a predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) after the start of the attack effect (the start of the display of the message in FIG. 16(A)) and before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, a penalty of a predetermined time is initiated from the start of the effective operation period in FIG. 16(D'4), and until the predetermined time has elapsed, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by the predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more), the during-operation effect is not executed, and it is not counted toward the duration of the right rotation of the predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) that is a condition for causing the post-operation effect to appear.

When the pressing operation unit 303, the rotation operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, in the second performance pattern of the attack performance, a performance during operation may be executed on the condition that a right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 of a predetermined amount or more (hereinafter, r1 steps or more at which the operation of the movable body 310 can start) is detected during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation. In this case, when the performance during operation is being performed in the second performance pattern, the condition for the movable body 310 to operate is also satisfied, so the movable body 310 operates. However, in Fig. 16, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by a predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) after the start of the attack performance (start of displaying the message in Fig. 16(A)) and before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, a penalty of a predetermined time is started from the start of the effective operation period, and until the predetermined time has elapsed, even if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by a predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) and the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, the movable body 310 will operate but the during-operation performance will not be executed. Also, in the second performance pattern of the attack performance, a post-operation performance may be executed on the condition that, during the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, the detection of the right rotation of the rotation operation unit 302 by a predetermined amount or more (hereinafter, r1 steps or more at which the operation of the movable body 310 can start) and the detection of the specific operation by the specific detection unit are detected continuously at the same time for a predetermined time (hereinafter, 3 seconds). However, in FIG. 16, if the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated to the right by a predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) after the start of the attack effect (the start of the display of the message in FIG. 16(A)) and before the start of the effective operation period of the rotation operation unit 302, a penalty of a predetermined time is initiated from the start of the effective operation period in FIG. 16(D'4), and until the predetermined time has elapsed, it is not counted in the duration of the detection of the right rotation of a predetermined amount or more (r1 steps or more) and the detection of the specific operation by the specific detection unit, which are conditions for causing the post-operation effect to appear.

In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303, the rotation operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, the minimum rotation amount of the rotation operation unit 302 required for the during-operation performance to be performed in the second performance pattern of the attack performance and the rotation amount required for the attack performance to be canceled in the cancelable attack performance in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 may be the same or different. In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303, the rotation operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotation operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, the minimum rotation amount of the rotation operation unit 302 required for the after-operation performance to be performed in the second performance pattern of the attack performance and the rotation amount required for the attack performance to be canceled in the cancelable attack performance in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 may be the same or different. It should be noted that the cancelable attack effects in Figures 18 and 19 may be performed when the game is not in progress (when neither a winning game, including a big win game and a small win game, nor a special pattern change is being performed), but it is preferable that the attack effects in Figures 11 to 16 are performed only when a special pattern change is being performed.

In the case where the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, it is desirable that a specific operation is required to execute the attacking performance of FIG. 11 to FIG. 16 for a player who does not want to see the attacking performance. Specifically, for example, in order to execute the attacking performance of FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, the rotating operation unit 302 must be rotated right by r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps, the specific detection unit must detect the specific operation, and the pressing operation unit 303 must not be operated (protruding from the initial position). On the other hand, the cancelable attacking performance of FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 can be canceled at any time even by a player who does not want to see the attacking performance, so it may be possible for it to appear regardless of the amount of rotation of the rotating operation unit 302.

In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 having a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are used instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, the condition for executing the first performance pattern of the attack performance and the condition for executing the second performance pattern of the attack performance may be different. For example, the first performance pattern of the attack performance may be executed on the condition that the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps, the specific detection unit detects the specific operation, and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated (i.e., the movable body 310 operates with a width of w3 or more and less than w4), and the second performance pattern of the attack performance may be executed on the condition that the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r4 steps or more, the specific detection unit detects the specific operation, and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated (i.e., the movable body 310 operates with a width of w4 or more and wmax or less).

In this case, the shortest time required for the second pattern of the attack performance (the time required for the performance of FIG. 12(E') and FIG. 12(F') to end after the performance of FIG. 11(A) starts and the rotation operation unit 302 continues to rotate right for 5 steps or more for 3 seconds from the start of the operation effective period of the rotation operation unit 302) is shorter than the shortest time required for the first pattern of the attack performance (the time required for the performance of FIG. 12(E') and FIG. 12(F') to end after the performance of FIG. 11(A) starts and the pressing operation unit 303 is changed from the OFF state to the ON state at the start of the operation effective period of the pressing operation unit 303). In other words, the shortest time required for the performance performed when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r4 steps or more and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated is shorter than the shortest time required for the performance performed when the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated.

In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302, the expectation of a reach effect being executed is higher (i.e., the probability that an attack by an ally character will hit an enemy character is higher) when the first attack effect pattern is executed than when the second attack effect pattern is executed. In other words, the expectation of a reach effect being executed is higher in the effect that is executed when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more but less than r4 steps and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated than in the effect that is executed when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r4 steps or more and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated.

In addition, when the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are applied instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, the expectation of a jackpot is higher when the second attack performance pattern (e.g., the performance in FIG. 11(A) to FIG. 12(F')) is executed than when the first attack performance pattern (e.g., the performance in FIG. 11(A) to FIG. 12(F)) is executed. In other words, the expectation of a jackpot is higher when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r4 steps or more and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated than when the rotating operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more and less than r4 steps and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated.

11 to 16, even if the pressing operation unit 303, the rotating operation unit 302 equipped with a specific detection unit, and the movable body 310 shown in FIG. 17 are used instead of the pressing operation unit 303 and the rotating operation unit 302 in FIG. 11 to 16, the attack presentation in FIG. 11 to 16 is an presentation that cannot be cancelled (i.e., cannot be stopped by the player's operation). In addition, after the rotation operation unit 302 is operated in the cancelable attack presentation in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 to cancel the cancelable attack presentation, the first presentation pattern of the attack presentation may be executed under the condition that the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r3 steps or more but less than r4 steps, the specific detection unit detects the specific operation, and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated (protruding from the initial position). In addition, after the rotation operation unit 302 is operated in the cancelable attack performance of Figures 18 and 19 to cancel the cancelable attack performance, the second performance pattern of the attack performance may be executed under the conditions that the rotation operation unit 302 is rotated right by r4 steps or more, the specific detection unit detects a specific operation, and the pressing operation unit 303 is not operated.

[3. Exploration Quest Production]
Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the first special symbol variation and the second special symbol variation are collectively referred to simply as "variation". The search quest performance will be explained. The search quest performance is, for example, a performance that starts after the variation start time and before the decorative symbol forms a reach, ends before the decorative symbol forms a reach, or continues after the decorative symbol forms a reach.

In the exploration quest presentation, two characters are selected from multiple types of characters (here, "hunters" or "villagers"), and the two selected characters search for and defeat rare animals. If the two selected characters discover a rare animal, attack it, and defeat it, a big win is announced. Also, if the two characters fail to discover a rare animal in the exploration quest presentation, a loss is announced.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, if two characters discover a rare animal and are attacked by the rare animal, an endurance presentation is executed. In the endurance presentation, if the two characters can withstand the attack from the rare animal, a jackpot is announced, and if they cannot, a loss is announced.

In addition, when the endurance performance of the exploration quest performance is successful and a jackpot is announced, a reward performance (for example, a message that is only displayed when the endurance performance is successful is displayed) should always be executed, or a special benefit that is advantageous to the player (for example, a transition to a jackpot game state with the greatest number of rounds) should always be granted.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, there are strong bosses and weak bosses as rare beasts that the two characters can discover, and the probability of winning is higher when a weak boss is discovered than when a strong boss is discovered.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, if two different characters are selected, the two different characters may not be able to find the rare animal and a loss may be announced (i.e., two different characters may be selected only if a loss has been selected). In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, if the background at the start of the exploration quest presentation is the same, it is desirable that the probability of a jackpot (the rate of a jackpot) is higher when two hunters are selected than when two villagers are selected.

Figures 20 and 21 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a presentation in which a strong boss is encountered during an exploration quest presentation. Figures 20 and 21 explain the exploration quest presentation that is executed in a normal gameplay state in which there is no time-saving state and no chance of a bonus.

Figure 20 (A) shows the state where the change has started, and a display indicating that the exploration quest display has started is displayed on the display device 1600. Also, in Figure 20 (A), a pending display corresponding to a pending change and a pending display corresponding to a change being executed (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as simply pending displays) are displayed on the display device 1600.

The first background hatched with vertical lines is displayed as the background image on the effect display device 1600. The first background is a background image that can only be displayed in normal game mode, and is the background with the lowest chance of winning a jackpot. When the exploration quest effect in FIG. 20(A) starts, BGM1 is output from the speaker 354. BGM1 is BGM that can only be output in normal game mode, and is the BGM with the lowest chance of winning a jackpot.

Figure 20(B) shows the state in which Hunter 1601 has been selected as the first character. Hunter 1601 is a white character in the figure, and is holding a sword as a weapon. When the first character is selected, the first background and the hold display are displayed on the performance display device 1600, as in Figure 20(A), and BGM1 continues to be output from speaker 354. Also, in Figure 20(B), a line is displayed on the performance display device 1600 indicating that Hunter 1601, the first character, is looking for a partner character to search for rare animals together.

In FIG. 20(C), in addition to the first hunter 1601, another hunter 1601 is displayed as a second character on the performance display device 1600. Both hunters 1601 are holding swords, and when the second hunter 1601 is displayed (when the same character is displayed as the first and second hunters), an effect selected from a number of effects (in the example shown in the figure, a star, and the probability of a jackpot differs depending on the type of effect) is displayed on the weapon (here, the sword) he is holding. Note that the swords held by the first hunter 1601 and the second hunter 1601 may have different designs. Also, in FIG. 20(C), decorative patterns form a reach.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, the expectation of a jackpot is higher if the first and second characters are both Hunters 1601 than if they are both Villagers. However, when Background 1 is displayed as the background image and BGM 1 is output at the start of the exploration quest presentation as shown in FIG. 20, it is desirable that a jackpot is not guaranteed even if the first and second characters are both Hunters 1601 (in other words, it is desirable that the first and second characters can both become Hunters 1601 even in the case of a miss).

In addition, in FIG. 20(C), when a second hunter 1601 is displayed in addition to the first hunter 1601, the BGM output from the speaker 354 is changed to BGM2. Furthermore, when a second hunter 1601 is displayed in addition to the first hunter 1601 (when the same character is displayed as the first and second hunters), a special sound may be output in an output mode selected from a plurality of output modes. Note that the probability of hitting a jackpot differs depending on the output mode of the special sound (e.g., the length of time it is output). This change in BGM and output of a special sound can make the player understand that the displayed character is about to begin searching for rare animals in earnest.

It is desirable that the special sounds described above be output only when two of the same characters (two hunters 1601 or two villagers) are displayed on the performance display device 1600 (i.e., it is desirable that they are not output when one hunter 1601 and one villager are displayed).

In Figure 20(D), the two hunters 1601 hide their weapons (i.e. the swords that were displayed up until Figure 20(C) are no longer displayed) and the scene shifts to a full-scale search for rare animals. However, to allow the player to recognize that the characters have not changed between Figure 20(C) and Figure 20(D), the display mode of the two hunters 1601 themselves has not changed (i.e. the hunters 1601 themselves are displayed in the same way in Figure 20(C) and Figure 20(D)).

In this way, each character (hunter 1601 and villager) has a display mode in which they hold a weapon and a display mode in which they do not hold a weapon, and when multiple characters are displayed at the same time, they are displayed in the same display mode (i.e., when multiple characters are displayed at the same time, all of the multiple characters are holding weapons, or none of the multiple characters are holding weapons).

In addition, in FIG. 20(D), the background displayed on the performance display device 1600 changes to a second background hatched with dots. While the second background is displayed on the performance display device 1600, the weapon held by the character is not displayed, and the pending display corresponding to the pending change is not displayed (only the pending display corresponding to the change being executed is displayed). By hiding the pending display corresponding to the pending change in this way, the player can concentrate on the performance of searching for the rare animal.

When the background displayed on the performance display device 1600 is the second background, not only the pending display corresponding to the pending change but also the pending display corresponding to the change being executed may be hidden. Also, in FIG. 20(D), the BGM output from the speaker 354 changes to BGM3.

It is desirable that the display size of the character when the second background is displayed on the performance display device 1600 is smaller than the display size of the character when the first background before FIG. 20(C) is displayed. This is because there is a possibility of encountering a rare animal when the second background is displayed, and this draws the player's attention to the display of the rare animal rather than the character.

Also, as between FIG. 20(C) and FIG. 20(D), when a character changes from holding a weapon to not holding a weapon, the character (and the weapon) may go through a state in which it is not visible (for example, the character may not be displayed on the performance display device 1600, or a predetermined movable body provided on the pachinko machine 1 may move to a position overlapping the display area of the character on the performance display device 1600, making it invisible). When a character changes from holding a weapon to not holding a weapon, the character may be temporarily hidden, thereby reducing the tension felt by the player. Also, it is desirable to make the background invisible (for example, a single-color background) at the time when the character is temporarily hidden.

Fig. 20(E) shows the state where the hunter 1601 has found a rare animal. In Fig. 20(E), two unarmed hunters 1601 and a rare animal, a strong boss 1610 with a crest and beak, are displayed on the performance display device 1600. In addition, BGM3 is output from the speaker 354. Note that instead of suddenly displaying the rare animal, for example, a valid operation period for a specific operation unit (e.g., the pressing operation unit 303) may be generated, and the rare animal (either the strong boss 1610 or the weak boss) may be displayed when either the specific operation unit has been operated during the valid operation period or the valid operation period has ended.

In FIG. 20(F), two hunters 1601 are being attacked by a strong boss 1610. After the two characters are attacked by a rare animal, the game transitions to an endurance performance. In FIG. 20(F), BGM 3 is being output from speaker 354.

When a character without a weapon is displayed and a certain effect (for example, an effect in which a character encounters a rare animal and engages in a battle) is being performed, for example, a dropped weapon (i.e., an object that was displayed together with the character when the first background was displayed) may be displayed. This allows the player to feel a sense of anticipation that the character will make use of the weapon. It is desirable that the probability of a jackpot is higher when a dropped weapon is displayed than when it is not displayed.

Figure 21 (G) shows the state when the endurance performance has started. In Figure 21 (G), the performance shows two hunters 1601 (characters attacked by rare animals) using their weapons to maintain their balance so as not to fall. Furthermore, a cut-in occurs of a character other than the two hunters 1601 (i.e., a villager 1602 who is not selected), and a performance is executed in which the cut-in villager 1602 goes to the rescue of the two hunters 1601 who are about to fall.

It is desirable that the two hunters 1601 (characters attacked by rare animals) who are about to fall and the cut-in character perform dynamic effects. Specifically, for example, by having the two hunters 1601 who are about to fall repeatedly stagger from side to side, the player can easily recognize that the two hunters 1601 have not yet fallen. Also, for example, by having the cut-in character repeatedly stomp his feet, the player can hope that the cut-in character will come to the rescue of the two hunters 1601 and succeed in the endurance effect. Also, the length of time that this dynamic effect is performed may suggest whether the endurance effect will be successful (for example, the dynamic effect is performed for a longer period of time if the endurance effect is successful than if it fails).

In addition, in FIG. 21(G), the character displayed in the cut-in is holding a weapon just like the hunter 1601 (the weapon held by the villager 1602 is a metal club). In this way, in addition to the hunter 1601 who is about to fall during the endurance performance, the villager 1602 is displayed as a helper character, and by the fact that the displayed character is holding a weapon again, the player is given a sense of hope that the hunter 1601 will not fall but will get up.

In addition, in FIG. 21(G), background music is not output from the speaker 354 in order to draw the player's attention to whether the hunter 1601 will fall. In FIG. 21(G), a special background music may be output when a character attacked by a rare animal uses a weapon to maintain balance so as not to fall, and when a cut-in of a character that was not selected occurs.

In addition, in FIG. 21(G), the background displayed on the performance display device 1600 reverts to the first background so as not to make the player overly hopeful that the hunter 1601 will not be defeated. Furthermore, in FIG. 21(G), pending displays corresponding to changes being made and pending displays corresponding to changes that are on hold are displayed on the performance display device 1600. In other words, the character displayed when the first background is displayed is holding a weapon, and all pending displays are displayed when the first background is displayed.

To indicate to the player that the endurance performance will begin, two hunters 1601 (characters attacked by rare animals) carrying weapons and a villager 1602 (helper character) carrying a weapon may be displayed after FIG. 20(F) and before FIG. 21(G). Then, for example, the endurance performance of FIG. 21(G) begins a predetermined time later (e.g., 3 seconds) after the display of the two hunters 1601 (characters attacked by rare animals) carrying weapons and the villager 1602 (helper character) begins.

In FIG. 21(G), in order to make the player hopeful that the arrival of the help character will lead to success in the endurance performance, it is desirable for the display size of the help character to be larger than the display size of the two hunters 1601, who are the first and second characters.

When the same character as the character attacked by the rare animal comes to the rescue in the endurance performance, the expectation of a jackpot is higher than when a different character comes to the rescue. For this reason, a different character is always displayed in the cut-in in FIG. 21(G), and a message suggesting that the same character will come to the rescue is displayed in FIG. 21(H), described below, to give the player a sense of excitement. When the same character as the character attacked by the rare animal comes to the rescue in the endurance performance, a jackpot is confirmed, and when a different character comes to the rescue, a loss is confirmed.

Also, as between FIG. 20(F) and FIG. 21(G), when a character changes from not holding a weapon to holding a weapon, the character (and weapon) may go through a state in which it is not visible (for example, the character may not be displayed on the performance display device 1600, or a predetermined movable body provided on the pachinko machine 1 may move to a position overlapping the display area of the character on the performance display device 1600, making it invisible). When a character changes from not holding a weapon to holding a weapon, the player's sense of tension can be alleviated by temporarily hiding the character. Also, it is desirable to make the background invisible (for example, a single-color background) at the time when the character is temporarily hidden.

Following FIG. 21(G), the display transitions to FIG. 21(H) or FIG. 21(J). In FIG. 21(H), a message saying "I'll get there first!" (a message suggesting that a character other than the help character displayed in FIG. 21(G), i.e., a hunter 1601, will come to the rescue) is displayed on the performance display device 1600. Note that in FIG. 21(H), the first background is displayed as the background image of the performance display device 1600, but in order to give the player a sense of anticipation by the fact that a character other than the help character displayed in FIG. 21(G) will come to the rescue, a background different from the first background (for example, a background dedicated to displaying the message) may be displayed.

In addition, in FIG. 21(H), BGM4 (i.e., BGM different from BGM1-3) is output from speaker 354 to give the player a sense of excitement that hunter 1601 is coming to the player's rescue. In addition, in FIG. 21(H), the first background continues to be displayed on the performance display device 1600, but a special background different from the first and second backgrounds may be displayed to give the player a sense of excitement. In addition, in FIG. 21(H), all pending displays are hidden to draw the player's attention to the above-mentioned message (if the conditions for additional pending changes are met while the pending displays are hidden, the changes are additionally pending but the pending displays remain hidden).

In FIG. 21(I), two hunters 1601 have not fallen because a new hunter 1601 has come to their aid, i.e., the durability presentation has been successful, and the decorative symbols have stopped in a winning combination. In FIG. 21(I), three hunters 1601 (three identical characters) are displayed, including the two hunters 1601 attacked by the rare animal and the one hunter 1601 who has come to their aid, and all of the hunters 1601 are holding weapons (swords). To keep the player excited, BGM4 continues to be output from the speaker 354. It is advisable to display a display indicating that the game has been controlled (transitioned) to the winning game state (an example of an advantageous state) at the timing when the game state is controlled to the winning game state (an example of an advantageous state) after the display of FIG. 21(I).

In FIG. 21(J), which transitions from FIG. 21(G), the two hunters 1601 have fallen despite the villager 1602 coming to their aid, meaning that the endurance performance has failed, and the decorative symbols stop in a losing combination. In FIG. 21(J), two hunters are displayed who have been attacked by a rare animal and fallen, along with one villager 1602 who has come to their aid (i.e., two of the same characters and one different character), with both characters holding weapons (the hunter 1601 has a sword, and the villager 1602 has a metal club). In FIG. 21(J), background music is not being output from the speaker 354 so as not to stimulate a sense of disappointment in the player.

The time from when the state of FIG. 21(G) begins until the state of FIG. 21(J) is reached and the change ends is within a predetermined time (e.g., within 3 seconds), and the time from when the state of FIG. 21(G) begins until the state of FIG. 21(I) is reached and the change ends, via the state of FIG. 21(H), is longer than the predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds). As a result, the time from when the endurance performance begins to when the change ends is longer when the endurance performance is successful compared to when it is unsuccessful, allowing the player to enjoy the successful endurance performance for longer.

The expected probability of a jackpot in the variation may also be indicated by the length of time from when the character holding the weapon in FIG. 21(G) is displayed again until the transition to the next presentation (FIG. 21(H) or FIG. 21(J)). For example, if the time from when the character holding the weapon in FIG. 21(G) is displayed again until the presentation changes to that in FIG. 21(H) is 5 seconds, and the time from when the character holding the weapon in FIG. 21(G) is displayed again until the presentation changes to that in FIG. 21(J) is 3 seconds, then if the presentation does not change even after 3 seconds or more have passed since the character holding the weapon in FIG. 21(G) was displayed again, this indicates that the endurance presentation was successful (i.e., this indicates that a jackpot has been announced).

It is also desirable that the rate at which a failed endurance performance occurs is higher than the rate at which a successful endurance performance occurs. If the rate at which a successful endurance performance occurs were high, players would be less likely to appreciate the reward performance that is executed when the endurance performance is successful, or the advantageous benefits that are given to the player.

21(I) and 21(J), the display size of the help character may be larger than the display size of the two hunters 1601, the first and second characters, to make it easier for the player to recognize whether the hunter 1601 or the villager 1602 has appeared as the help character, or the display size of all the characters may be the same to make it easier for the player to recognize all the displayed characters. After the display size of the help character is displayed larger than the display size of the two hunters 1601, the first and second characters, all the characters may be displayed at the same size (the display size of the first and second characters may be matched to the display size of the help character, the display size of the first and second characters may be matched to the display size of the help character, or the display size of all the characters may be matched to a size different from the size in which the first and second characters were displayed and the size in which the help character was displayed).

It is also desirable that the display size of the characters when it is determined that the endurance performance in FIG. 21(I) and FIG. 21(H) has been successful or unsuccessful be larger than the display size of the characters at the start of the endurance performance in FIG. 21(G). This is to allow the player to recognize which character's endurance performance has been successful or unsuccessful.

For example, a zone effect related to a search quest effect may be executable. For example, when a rare animal discovery confirmation zone effect is executed, the character will always be able to find a rare animal, suggesting a higher chance of winning compared to when the rare animal discovery confirmation zone effect is not executed. This rare animal discovery confirmation zone effect may be executed when the search quest effect is executed (however, it may start from a timing before the rare animal is discovered), or may be executed as a look-ahead effect from a change before the search quest effect is executed. The zone display indicating that a rare animal discovery confirmation zone effect is being executed has a higher display priority than the background display (i.e., the zone display is displayed in the foreground in an overlapping display area of the zone display and the background display), but a lower display priority than the character or weapon (i.e., the character or weapon is displayed in the foreground in an overlapping display area of the zone display and the character or weapon).

In addition, after a character holding a weapon is displayed when the first background is displayed as in Figures 20(B) to 20(C), it is desirable that the rate at which the situation does not change (as in the presentation explained in Figure 24 below) is higher than the rate at which the situation changes to one in which a character not holding a weapon is displayed as in Figure 20(D) and subsequent images. This can heighten the player's sense of anticipation when the situation changes to one in which a character not holding a weapon is displayed.

In addition, when the transition from FIG. 20(C) to FIG. 20(D) occurs when the display changes from one in which a character is holding a weapon to one in which a character is not holding a weapon, it is desirable to change from the one in which a character is holding a weapon to the one in which a character is not holding a weapon without a period in between in which no character is displayed. This makes it easier for the player to notice the change in whether or not a character has a weapon, as a character not holding a weapon suddenly changes to one holding a weapon, which makes it easier to build anticipation.

On the other hand, when the transition occurs from a situation in which a character is not holding a weapon to a situation in which a character is holding a weapon, such as when transitioning from Figure 20 (F) to Figure 21 (G), it is desirable to change from a situation in which a character is not holding a weapon to a situation in which a character is holding a weapon, with a period in between in which the character itself (including the weapon) is not displayed.

Incidentally, even when the transition is from FIG. 20(C) to FIG. 20(D) where a character holding a weapon is displayed to a character not holding a weapon, it may be possible to change from a character holding a weapon to a character not holding a weapon after a period in which the character itself (including the weapon) is not displayed.

Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which a character discovers a rare animal, a weak boss, in a search quest presentation. Figure 22 (E2), which transitions from Figure 20 (D), shows the state in which a hunter 1601 has discovered a rare animal. In Figure 22 (E2), two unarmed hunters 1601 and a rare animal, a weak boss 1611, which does not have a crest or beak, are displayed on the presentation display device 1600. It is assumed that the character has a higher chance of winning when he discovers the weak boss 1611 than when he discovers the strong boss 1610. Also, in Figure 22 (E2), a second background is displayed as the background on the presentation display device 1600, and BGM3 continues to be output from the speaker 354.

In FIG. 22 (F2), in addition to two unarmed hunters 1601 (characters from FIG. 22 (E2)), one unarmed helper character hunter 1601 also joins the battle, making a total of three characters launching a preemptive attack on the weak boss 1611. When a character launches a preemptive attack on a rare animal, the durability effect is not executed. Also, when a character launches a preemptive attack on a rare animal, it is preferable that the expectation of a jackpot is higher than when the durability effect is executed. Note that the one helper character without a weapon is displayed in an area overlapping with the weak boss 1611, but the display priority of the helper character is higher (i.e., the helper character is displayed closer to the weak boss 1611).

When a hunter 1601 is selected as the first and second characters, the character is more likely to launch a preemptive attack on a rare animal (i.e., the character is less likely to be attacked by a rare animal) than when a villager 1602 is selected. Also, when a weak boss 1611 is selected as the rare animal, the character is more likely to launch a preemptive attack on a rare animal (i.e., the character is less likely to be attacked by a rare animal) than when a strong boss 1610 is selected as the rare animal.

In FIG. 22 (G2), an effect is performed in which three characters, two hunters 1601 and one helper hunter 1601, have defeated the weak boss 1611, and the decorative symbols stop in a winning combination. Also, in FIG. 22 (G2), the second background is displayed as the background on the effect display device 1600, and BGM3 continues to be output from the speaker 354. Note that after FIG. 22 (G2), an effect may be performed in which the hunter 1601 not holding a weapon changes to the hunter 1601 holding a weapon.

At the timing when the game state is controlled to the jackpot game state after FIG. 22 (G2), a display may be displayed indicating that the game state has been controlled (transitioned) to the jackpot game state (one example of an advantageous state). This allows the player to feel a sense of elation all at once by the display indicating that the game state has been controlled to the jackpot game state. A display indicating that the game state will be controlled (transitioned) to the jackpot game state (one example of an advantageous state) may be displayed before the game state is controlled to the jackpot game state (specifically, for example, at the start of the fluctuation in which the search quest performance is executed, or at the time when the special random number corresponding to the fluctuation in which the search quest performance is executed is reserved). This allows the player to be notified of the jackpot at an early stage, giving the player a sense of surprise.

In FIG. 22 (F2), if a character different from the first and second characters (here, villager 1602) is selected as the helper character, the expectation of a jackpot is lower than if the same character was selected (or a miss may be confirmed). In FIG. 22 (F2), if the same character as the first and second characters is selected as the helper character, a jackpot may be confirmed (i.e., a transition to FIG. 22 (H2) may not be made).

In FIG. 22 (H2), a presentation is given showing that a total of three characters, two hunters 1601 and one helper hunter 1601, have escaped to the weak boss 1611, and furthermore, the background image displayed on the presentation display device 1600 returns to the first background, and no background music is output from the speaker 354.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, various background images such as the first background, the second background, and the third background described below can be displayed on the presentation display device 1600, so the transparency of the character and image may be changed to allow the player to enjoy the background images.

Figure 23 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a search quest presentation. In the search quest presentation of Figure 23, BGM 3, which was output when the character encountered a rare animal in the search quest presentations of Figures 20 to 22, is output from speaker 354 when the change starts (BGM 3 can suggest that a rare animal will be encountered, i.e. BGM 3 functions as a precursor presentation for an encounter with a rare animal), and the background displayed on presentation display device 1600 is a third background hatched with horizontal straight lines.

In the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23 (an exploration quest presentation in which BGM 3 is output at the start of the change and the background is the third background), it is desirable that the character always encounters a rare animal (or that the rate of encountering a rare animal is higher than in the exploration quest presentations in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22).

As a result, when the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23 begins, a player who hears BGM 3 (which is output when a rare animal is encountered in the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 21-FIG. 22) can get a sense of anticipation that the character will encounter a rare animal.

Figure 23 (A3) is similar to Figure 20 (A) except that the third background is displayed as the background image on the performance display device 1600 and BGM3 is output from the speaker 354.

In FIG. 23 (B3), the third background is displayed as the background image on the performance display device 1600, and BGM3 is output from the speaker 354. Furthermore, in FIG. 23 (B3), the character Hunter 1601 is hiding his weapon (i.e., the weapon is not displayed) while searching for his companions.

As mentioned above, in the presentations of Figures 20 and 22, when the character encounters a rare animal, the weapon is hidden, so by having the hunter 1601 hide the weapon in advance in Figure 23 (B3), the player can get a sense of anticipation that the character will encounter a rare animal. Note that the character displayed in the exploration quest presentation of Figure 23 does not always carry a weapon.

Figure 23 (C3) is similar to Figure 20 (C), except that the third background is displayed as the background image on the performance display device 1600, BGM 5 is output from the speaker 354, and the character is hiding his weapon. In other words, in Figure 23 (C3), when a second hunter 1601 is displayed in addition to the first hunter 1601 (when the same character is displayed as the first and second hunters), the same special sound as in Figure 20 (C) may be output. Note that BGM 3 may continue to be output in place of BGM 5 even after Figure 23 (C3).

23(D3) to 23(F3) are similar to Fig. 22(E2) to 22(G2), except that the third background is displayed as the background image on the performance display device 1600, and BGM5 is output from the speaker. Note that in the exploration performance in which the first background was displayed at the start of the variation, when a second character identical to the first character is additionally displayed in Fig. 20(C3), BGM2, which is not output at other times, is output from speaker 354, but when a second character identical to the first character is additionally displayed in Fig. 23(C3), BGM5, which is also output from Fig. 23(D3) onwards, is output from speaker 354. In FIG. 23 (C3), BGM2 (BGM output when two of the same characters begin to be displayed in an exploration quest presentation that begins with the display of the first background) may be output, or dedicated BGM for when two of the same characters begin to be displayed in an exploration quest presentation that begins with the output of BGM3 may be output.

Note that BGM3 may be output from speaker 354 throughout the entire exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23. In other words, in the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23, the BGM may change and BGM3 may continue to be output, so the length of time BGM3 is output is indefinite. For example, if the length of time BGM3 is output is indefinite, and the longer BGM3 is output, the higher the chance of a jackpot, the player can wait with tension for when BGM3 will end. On the other hand, in FIG. 20, BGM3 is output when the two characters are actively searching for and battling rare animals, so the length of time BGM3 is output is constant.

In the exploration quest presentation of FIG. 23, i.e., in which the third background is displayed as the background image on the presentation display device 1600 and BGM3 is output from the speaker 354 from the start of the variation, in order not to spoil the player's sense of expectation heightened by the third background and BGM3, it may be arranged so that a jackpot is confirmed when two hunters 1601 (who give a stronger sense of expectation than the villagers 1602) search for a rare animal.

In addition, when the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23 is executed, the player's sense of expectation is heightened by the third background and BGM 3 that has been output since the start of the fluctuation, so it is desirable that the rate of winning the jackpot is higher than when the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22 is executed (the exploration quest presentation in which the first background is displayed as the background image on the presentation display device 1600 and BGM 1 is output from the speaker 354).

Note that in the exploration quest presentation in which the third background of FIG. 23 is displayed, when a specific presentation (for example, a presentation after an encounter with a rare animal or a presentation in which two or more of the same characters are displayed) is not being performed, the BGM output from the speaker 354 can be interrupted (the BGM simply stops or changes to another BGM) by operating a specific operation unit (for example, the pressing operation unit 303), and the BGM can be output again when the specific operation unit is operated again. Note that, in order to draw the player's attention to the fact that the BGM will be interrupted by the operation, no operation sound is output in association with the operation to interrupt the BGM. On the other hand, in the exploration quest presentation in which the third background is not displayed, as in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22, the BGM output from the speaker 354 is not interrupted even if a specific operation unit (for example, the pressing operation unit 303) is operated.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation in which the third background of FIG. 23 is displayed, when a specific presentation (for example, a presentation after an encounter with a rare animal or a presentation in which two or more of the same characters are displayed) is not being performed, an icon display whose appearance can be changed in response to the operation of a specific operation unit (for example, the pressing operation unit 303) may be displayed on the presentation display device 1600. Therefore, when the specific operation unit is operated when the specific presentation is not being performed, the output of the BGM output from the speaker is interrupted and the appearance of the icon display changes. Then, when the specific operation unit is operated again, the BGM is output again and the appearance of the icon display can be changed again (it may return to the original appearance or may change to a different appearance). On the other hand, in the exploration quest presentation in which the third background is not displayed, such as in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22, the icon display is not displayed on the presentation display device 1600 regardless of the operation of the specific operation unit. The icon display may include information related to the BGM being output from the speaker 354.

The exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23 is preferably executed in a game state that is advantageous to the player in a time-saving state or a special probability state (for example, a game state in which the probability of hitting a jackpot is higher than in the game state in which the exploration quest presentation in which the first background is displayed is executed) in order to heighten the player's sense of anticipation with the third background and BGM3, whereas the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 20 to FIG. 22 is preferably executed in a normal game state that is neither a time-saving state nor a special probability state.

Figure 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a presentation in which two selected characters are unable to find a rare animal during an exploration quest presentation. Figure 24 (A4) is similar to Figure 20 (A). Figure 24 (B4) is similar to Figure 20 (B), except that a villager 1602 holding a weapon (iron club) is selected as the first character.

In FIG. 24(C4), in addition to the first villager 1602, a hunter 1601 is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a second character, with the villager 1602 holding a metal club and the hunter 1601 holding a sword. In FIG. 20(C), when the same character as the first character is displayed as the second character, a predetermined effect is displayed on the weapon he is holding. However, if the first character and the second character are different, the player will not encounter a rare animal and will ultimately be notified of a miss, so the predetermined effect is not displayed in order to avoid unnecessarily increasing the player's expectations. Also, in FIG. 24(C4), the decorative pattern forms a reach. Also, in FIG. 24(C4), in order to avoid unnecessarily increasing the player's expectations, the background music output from the speaker 354 remains BGM1, and no special sounds are output.

In Fig. 24 (D4), unlike Fig. 20 (D), there is no effect of hiding the weapons to avoid being noticed by the rare animal (i.e., the weapons remain displayed), and the two characters search for the rare animal. This suggests to the player that the two characters will not encounter the rare animal.

In addition, in FIG. 24 (D4), in order to avoid unnecessarily increasing the player's expectations, the background image displayed on the performance display device 1600 remains as the first background, all pending displays remain displayed, and the BGM output from the speaker 354 remains as BGM1.

In FIG. 24 (E4), when it appears that two characters have discovered a rare animal, it turns out that it is actually the other villager 1602 who has discovered it (i.e., the rare animal is not discovered), and the decorative patterns stop in a losing combination. Also, in FIG. 24 (E4), the background image displayed on the performance display device 1600 remains the first background, and BGM is not being output from the speaker 354.

Note that in FIG. 24, an effect in which two different characters are selected and a rare animal cannot be encountered is described, but an effect in which a rare animal cannot be encountered may also be executed even if the same two characters are selected. That is, for example, the effects of FIG. 20(A) to FIG. 20(C) may be executed, followed by the effects of FIG. 24(D4) and FIG. 24(E4) (wherein the first and second characters in FIG. 24(D4) and FIG. 24(E4) are hunters 1601, as in FIG. 20(C), and the third character is a villager 1602 different from the first and second characters).

In addition, instead of transitioning from FIG. 24(C4) to FIG. 24(D4), the first and second characters selected may be temporarily hidden, and the first and second characters may be reselected. This character reselection may be repeated multiple times. Also, it is desirable that the more times the character reselection is performed, the higher the chance of winning. In the character reselection, the same combination of characters as the first and second characters selected immediately before may be selected, or a different combination of characters may be selected. For example, if reselection is repeated in which the first and second characters are both hunters, the special sound described in FIG. 20(C) is output each time the second hunter 1601 is displayed in addition to the first hunter 1601, that is, the special sound can be output multiple times with one change.

Also, instead of transitioning to FIG. 20(D) or FIG. 20(D4) after the first and second characters are selected as in FIG. 20(C) or FIG. 24(C4), a specified character that is neither a hunter 1601 nor a villager 1602 may be displayed as the third character, and then the first and second characters may be reselected.

Figures 25 and 26 are explanatory diagrams showing another example of a search quest presentation. In the search quest presentation of Figures 25 and 256, similar to the search quest presentation of Figure 23, from the start of the fluctuation, the third background is displayed as a background image on the presentation display device 1600, and BGM3 is output from the speaker 354. Also, in the search quest presentation of Figures 25 and 26, an endurance presentation is performed.

Figures 25 (A5) to 25 (D5) are similar to Figures 23 (A3) to 23 (D3), except that villager 1602 is selected as the first and second characters, respectively.

Figure 25 (E5) shows a state in which two villagers 1602 are being attacked by a weak boss 1611. The performance display device 1600 continues to display the third background as the background image, and only the pending display corresponding to the ongoing change is displayed, and BGM5 is output from the speaker 354.

In FIG. 25 (F5), an endurance performance is being performed. In FIG. 25 (F5), the performance display device 1600 continues to display the third background as the background image, all pending displays are displayed, and BGM is not being output from the speaker 354. Also, in the endurance performance when the performance display device 1600 displays the third background, the characters (the two villagers 1602 who are characters attacked by rare animals, and the hunter 1601 (different from the villagers 1602) who is a cut-in character) do not carry weapons. This is because the player's expectations have already been raised by the third background, and by not allowing the characters to carry weapons, the player's expectations are not made excessive.

In FIG. 26 (G5), a display (message saying "Looks like we won't make it in time...") indicating that the jackpot has not been won (failure in the endurance performance) is displayed on the performance display device 1600. Also, a fourth background hatched in a grid pattern is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a background image. The fourth background is a background image dedicated to when the message is displayed. Also, all pending displays are displayed on the performance display device 1600, but to make it easier for the player to recognize the message and the fourth background, the pending display corresponding to the ongoing change may be hidden, or both the pending display corresponding to the ongoing change and the pending change may be hidden. Also, BGM 6 is output from the speaker 354. BGM 6 is dedicated to when the message is displayed.

In FIG. 26 (G5), by displaying a message indicating that the jackpot has not been won, and further displaying the fourth background, which is a dedicated background image, and outputting the dedicated BGM, BGM6, the player is made to realize that he or she has not won the jackpot before the exploration quest presentation has completely ended, thereby preventing the player from becoming suddenly disappointed.

However, it is desirable that the effect of FIG. 26 (G5) can be executed only when the third background is displayed from the start of the exploration quest effect, and when the characters selected as the first and second characters are not the hunters 1601 with the highest expectation of a jackpot (i.e., one of the characters is a villager 1602). In an exploration quest effect starting from the first background with a low expectation of a jackpot as in FIG. 21, the player is prepared for no jackpot to occur in the first place, so he or she will not be suddenly disappointed even if the effect of FIG. 26 (G5) is not executed and a loss is notified. In addition, in an exploration quest effect starting from the third background with a high expectation of a jackpot, if two hunters 1601 with a high expectation of a jackpot are selected as the first and second characters, a jackpot is already confirmed, so the effect of FIG. 26 (G5) is not executed.

In FIG. 26 (H5), the durability performance has failed, and the decorative symbols have stopped in a losing combination. The performance display device 1600 displays the first background as a background image, and all pending displays are displayed. Note that in FIG. 26 (H5), instead of the first background, a fifth background may be displayed, which can be displayed only after the fourth background of FIG. 26 (G5) is displayed. Note that the fifth background can be displayed continuously even in the next and subsequent variations, and can be displayed, for example, from the time the fifth background is displayed until a predetermined number of variations have been completed. Both the two villagers 1602 and the one helper character, the hunter 1601, are carrying weapons. Also, no background music is output from the speaker 354. In addition, when the fifth background is displayed from when it is displayed until the predetermined number of changes is completed, it is preferable that BGM (dedicated BGM different from any of BGM1 to BGM6) can be output from speaker 354 at least when the predetermined number of changes are being performed (a switch to another BGM may be performed during the predetermined number of changes, and the switched BGM may be returned to the dedicated BGM during the predetermined number of changes).

Note that if an exploration quest presentation is performed in the variation following the variation that ended in Figure 26 (H5), the exploration quest presentation will start from the presentation in Figure 20. In other words, the exploration presentation for the next variation starts with the first background displayed, and the first and second characters selected are holding weapons. Therefore, in Figure 26 (H5), the first background is displayed in advance and the characters are shown holding weapons in preparation for the exploration quest presentation that may be performed in the next variation.

In addition, in the exploration quest performance, if the background image and BGM at the start of the exploration quest performance are the same, the probability of winning is higher if a hunter 1601 is selected as both the first and second characters than if a villager 1602 is selected as both the first and second characters.

However, it is desirable that the probability of winning is higher when a villager 1602 is selected as both the first and second characters in a search quest presentation that begins with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output (for example, the search quest presentation in Figures 25 and 26), than when a hunter 1601 is selected as both the first and second characters in a search quest presentation that begins with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output (for example, the search quest presentation in Figures 20 and 21).

When the third background is displayed and BGM3 is output to start the exploration quest presentation, if a miss is announced, the presentation of FIG. 26 (G5) may be omitted. If the presentation of FIG. 26 (G5) is omitted, it is advisable to return to the presentation of FIG. 25 (A5) again, following FIG. 26 (H5). In this case, in FIG. 25 (F5) and FIG. 26 (H5), BGM may not be output, or BGM3 may be output. Also, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output, if the character encounters a rare animal (FIG. 23 (D3) to FIG. 23 (F3), FIG. 25 (D5) to FIG. 25 (E5)), a background different from the third background (for example, the second background or a dedicated background) may be displayed.

21, 22, and 23, an example in which a jackpot is announced after two identical characters encounter a rare animal has been described, but a jackpot may also be announced when two identical characters are selected but do not encounter a rare animal. Specifically, for example, a jackpot may be announced by the presentation of FIG. 21(I) following FIG. 20(C). Also, a jackpot may be announced by the presentation of FIG. 21(I) (where the background image is the third background) following FIG. 23(C3). This can give the player a sense of surprise. However, it is desirable that the jackpot is more likely to be expected when two identical characters encounter a rare animal than when two identical characters are selected but do not encounter a rare animal.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, even if a hunter 1601 is selected as both the first and second characters (for example, the exploration quest presentation in Figures 20 and 21), or even if a villager 1602 is selected as both the first and second characters, a loss may be announced (i.e., these presentations may be selected whether a jackpot or a loss is selected).

On the other hand, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM 3 being output, if a hunter 1601 is selected as both the first and second characters (e.g., the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 23), a jackpot is confirmed (i.e., the presentation can only be selected if a jackpot is selected), but if a villager 1602 is selected as both the first and second characters, a miss may be announced (i.e., the presentation can be selected whether a jackpot is selected or a miss is selected).

In addition, for example, in an exploration quest presentation that starts with the display of the third background and the output of BGM3, it is desirable that the minimum time of the advantageous state (jackpot play) controlled when the villager 1602 is selected as both the first and second characters and a jackpot is announced is shorter than the minimum time of the advantageous state (jackpot play) controlled when the hunter 1601 is selected as both the first and second characters and a jackpot is announced.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output, a jackpot may also be announced when a different combination of characters (a combination of a hunter 1601 and a villager 1602) is selected as the first and second characters. Specifically, for example, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output, after the different character combination is selected, a jackpot is announced without encountering a rare animal (for example, the presentation of FIG. 21(I) is executed). This allows the player's emotions to fluctuate greatly, with expectations rising when the third background is displayed and BGM3 is output, expectations falling when a different character combination is selected, and a sense of elation rising sharply when a jackpot is announced without discovering a rare animal.

On the other hand, in the exploration quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, if a combination of different characters is selected as the first and second characters, it is preferable that a jackpot is not announced (for example, as in the exploration quest presentation in FIG. 24) (i.e., a combination of different characters is selected as the first and second characters only if a miss is selected, and when a jackpot is announced, the same characters are always selected as the first and second characters).

In addition, in an exploration quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, after different characters are selected as the first and second characters (for example, as in FIG. 24 (C4)), the second character may be reselected to be the same character as the first character (for example, a transition to FIG. 20 (C) may occur).

In addition, for example, in a search quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, a presentation may be executed in which a total of four characters, two hunters 1601 and two villagers 1602, gather (for example, at the timing of FIG. 20(C)) to go in search of a rare animal and defeat it. For example, it is desirable that the likelihood of a jackpot increases in the following order: when two villagers 1602 gather < when a total of four characters, two hunters 1601 and two villagers 1602, gather < when two hunters 1601 gather.

In addition, in such an effect where multiple characters (three or more characters) gather, other characters other than the hunter 1601 and the villager 1602 may also be displayed. Even in this case, the expectation of a jackpot is higher when an effect in which only two hunters 1601 are displayed is executed than when an effect in which multiple characters including the hunter 1601 gather is executed. However, the expectation may be higher only when all characters are gathered in an effect in which multiple characters (three or more characters) gather (when all types of characters are gathered) than when an effect in which only two hunters 1601 are displayed.

It is desirable that the time during which a jackpot is announced in a search quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM 3 being output is shorter than the time during which a jackpot is announced in a search quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM 1 being output. In a search quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM 1 being output, the player's expectations are not high at the start of the search quest presentation, and by performing the variation presentation over a long period of time, the player's expectations can be gradually increased. On the other hand, in a search quest presentation that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM 3 being output, the player's expectations are already high from the start of the search quest presentation, so the short variation time can maintain the player's expectations and reduce fatigue.

For the same reason, it is desirable that the time period over which a miss is notified in an exploration quest presentation that begins with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output be shorter than the time period over which a miss is notified in an exploration quest presentation that begins with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output.

In addition, it is desirable that the shortest change time for a jackpot to be notified in a search quest presentation that starts with the third background displayed and BGM3 output is shorter than the shortest change time for a jackpot to be notified in a search quest presentation that starts with the first background displayed and BGM1 output. Also, regardless of whether a jackpot is notified, it is desirable that the shortest change time for a search quest presentation that starts with the third background displayed and BGM3 output is shorter than the shortest change time for a search quest presentation that starts with the first background displayed and BGM1 output. As a result, in a search quest presentation that starts with the first background displayed and BGM1 output, various presentation patterns can be realized over time, regardless of whether a jackpot is notified, and the player's expectations, which are not high at the start of the search quest presentation, can be gradually increased.

In addition, a maximum of three characters can be displayed simultaneously in the exploration quest presentation, and a jackpot may be determined when a predetermined combination of three characters is displayed simultaneously. For example, the predetermined combination may be three hunters 1601 or three villagers 1602.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, after the two characters who fought the rare animal and the helper character become the above-mentioned predetermined combination of characters and a jackpot is announced, a character change presentation may be executed in which these characters change to other characters. For example, in FIG. 21 (I), if the rare animal is defeated by three villagers 1602 holding weapons instead of three hunters 1601 holding weapons, a character change presentation may be executed in which all three villagers 1602 holding weapons change to hunters 1601 holding weapons at the same time. However, since the player feels more excited when the hunters 1601 are displayed rather than when the villagers 1602 are displayed, it is preferable not to perform a presentation in which all three hunters 1601 holding weapons change to villagers 1602 holding weapons at the same time when the three hunters 1601 holding weapons are displayed and a jackpot is announced.

Similarly, in FIG. 22 (G2), if three unarmed villagers 1602, rather than three unarmed hunters 1601, defeat a rare animal, a character change effect may be performed in which all three unarmed villagers 1602 simultaneously change into unarmed hunters 1601. However, because the player feels more excited when the hunters 1601 are displayed than when the villagers 1602 are displayed, it is preferable not to perform an effect in which all of these characters simultaneously change into three unarmed villagers 1602 when the three unarmed hunters 1601 are displayed and a jackpot is announced.

In order to give the player a sense of exhilaration through the character change presentation, it is desirable that the character change presentation be executed only when a predetermined advantageous state (such as a jackpot that transitions to a time-saving state) is achieved. In addition, in the character change presentation, the presence or absence of weapons of the characters may change, for example, by changing the three unarmed villagers 1602 into hunters 1601 holding weapons, or the three weapon-holding villagers 1602 into hunters 1601 holding weapons.

When the three villagers 1602 change into the three hunters 1601 in the character change presentation, a special presentation movie or the like may be displayed to give the player a sense of elation. Also, in order to enhance the sense of elation given to the player when the character change presentation appears, it is preferable that the rate at which the character change presentation appears when a jackpot is announced in the exploration quest presentation is lower than the rate at which the character change presentation does not appear.

In addition, in the character change presentation, when the three villagers 1602 holding weapons change to the three hunters 1601 holding weapons, the special presentation movie displayed and the benefits given to the player may be different from those when the three villagers 1602 unarmed change to the three hunters 1601 unarmed. For example, in the character change presentation, when the three villagers 1602 unarmed change to the three hunters 1601 unarmed, a more luxurious special presentation movie (for example, the presentation movie is displayed for a longer time, the number of characters displayed in the presentation movie is greater, or the volume of the sound output simultaneously with the presentation movie is greater, etc.) may be displayed, or a more advantageous benefit (for example, the number of rounds of the jackpot game that starts immediately afterwards, etc.) may be given to the player.

In FIG. 21(G) and FIG. 25(F5), at the start of the endurance performance, the two characters attacked by the rare animal and the cut-in character are displayed simultaneously, but at the start of the endurance performance, in order to ensure that the player knows who the cut-in character is, first only the cut-in character is displayed (without changing the background image from when the rare animal attacked), and then, as in FIG. 21(G) and FIG. 25(F5), the two characters attacked by the rare animal and the cut-in character may be displayed.

In the exploration quest performance that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output, two villagers 1602 without weapons are attacked by a weak boss 1611, and the two villagers 1602 without weapons are made invisible by the fourth background in FIG. 26 (G5), and the two villagers 1602 redisplayed in FIG. 26 (H5) are holding weapons. However, in the exploration quest performance that starts with the third background being displayed and BGM3 being output, if two hunters 1601 without weapons find a rare animal, it is desirable that the fourth background in FIG. 26 (G5) is not displayed, and the two hunters 1601 without weapons in FIG. 26 (H5) do not change to hunters 1601 holding weapons. This is because when the two hunters 1601 encounter a rare animal, the probability of a big win is high and the player's expectations are rising, so the fourth background including the display indicating that the big win has not been won is not to dampen the player's expectations.

In addition, in an exploration quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, as in the examples of Figures 20 and 21, it is possible to execute a presentation in which two unarmed hunters 1601 fight a rare animal and then pick up their weapons again, or a presentation in which two unarmed villagers 1602 fight a rare animal and then pick up their weapons again. However, since the expectation of a jackpot is not high to begin with in an exploration quest presentation that starts with the first background being displayed and BGM1 being output, when there is a change in the presence or absence of weapons, it is desirable not to display the fourth background, which would further reduce the player's sense of expectation, as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 27 is another example of a search quest presentation. In the search quest presentation of Figure 27, a predetermined operation is prompted on the pressing operation unit 303 during a battle between a character and a rare animal, and when the predetermined operation is performed on the pressing operation unit 303, a presentation is executed in which the character attacks the rare animal, or the character is attacked by the rare animal. Figure 27(E) is a presentation transitioning from Figure 20(D), and a presentation similar to that of Figure 20(E) is performed. From Figure 27(E), it is possible to transition to Figure 27(F6), Figure 27(F7), or Figure 27(F8).

In FIG. 27 (F6), similar to FIG. 27 (E), two unweaponed hunters 1601, a strong boss 1610, a first background as a background image, and a hold display corresponding to the ongoing change are displayed on the performance display device 1600, and BGM3 is output from the speaker 354. Furthermore, in FIG. 27 (F6), a first button image (an image consisting of an image of a button labeled "PUSH" and an image of an arrow) instructing the pressing operation unit 303 to be pressed (a so-called single press) is displayed in the center of the performance display device 1600, and an instruction sound ("Press!") instructing the pressing operation unit 303 to be pressed (i.e. indicating the instruction content of the first button image) is output from the speaker 354.

To make it easier for the player to recognize that he or she is instructing an operation on the pressing operation unit 303, the display priority of the first button image is higher than the display priority of other images such as characters and rare animals. Note that the display of the first button image and the output of an instruction sound indicating the instruction of the first button image may be executed when a predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, when a predetermined operation (for example, a long press that is different from a simple press) is performed on the pressing operation unit 303).

In FIG. 27 (F6), when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed according to the instruction shown by the first button image, the first button image is erased and the display transitions to FIG. 27 (F). In FIG. 27 (F), the same effect as in FIG. 20 (F) is performed, and then the display transitions to the endurance effect in FIG. 21 (G) (i.e., an effect in which a character holding a weapon is displayed).

In FIG. 27 (F6), if the pressing operation unit 303 is not pressed in accordance with the instruction indicated by the first button image, the display transitions to FIG. 27 (F7). FIG. 27 (F7) shows a performance during a specific period in which performance images such as images of characters and rare animals are not displayed, and the first button image continues to be displayed on the performance display device 1600, and the instruction sound instructing the pressing of the pressing operation unit 303 indicated by the first button image continues to be output from the speaker 354, but in order to make it easier for the player to recognize the pressing instruction of the pressing operation unit 303, the images of the characters and rare animals are erased from the performance display device 1600 and the output of the BGM is stopped. In this way, during a specific period in which performance images such as images of characters and rare animals are not displayed, the player can increase his or her sense of expectation that the character will be able to defeat the rare animal by operating the pressing operation unit 303. In addition, in FIG. 27 (F7), instead of stopping the output of the BGM, the volume of the BGM may be reduced (for example, below the volume at the start of the exploration quest presentation).

27(F7), the background image may be changed to a single color image in a predetermined color to make the first button image easier to recognize. In addition, in FIG. 27(F7), all hold displays may also be erased from the performance display device 1600. In addition, in FIG. 27(F7), it is preferable that no performance sound other than the instruction sound indicating the instruction content of the first button image is output from the speaker 354. Examples of the performance sound other than the instruction sound indicating the instruction content of the first button image include, for example, the voices of the two characters or rare animals, and the performance sound related to the two characters, such as sound effects in a battle with the two characters or rare animals. The performance sound related to the two characters includes, for example, the performance sound accompanying the actions of the two characters, the performance sound output in FIG. 20(B) and FIG. 20(C), etc. when the character is determined, and the performance sound output when the same two characters are selected in FIG. 20(C), etc. Also, as described above, a transition from FIG. 27(E) to FIG. 27(F7) may be made without passing through FIG. 27(F6).

In FIG. 27 (F7), when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed according to the instructions indicated by the first button image, the specific period ends and the display transitions to FIG. 27 (F). In other words, in this case, the character not holding a weapon is hidden, and the next time the character is displayed again, it will not be holding a weapon.

In FIG. 27 (F7), if the pressing operation unit 303 is not pressed in accordance with the instructions indicated by the first button image, the specific period ends and a transition is made to FIG. 27 (F8). Note that in FIG. 27 (F7), if the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed in accordance with the instructions indicated by the first button image, the specific period may end after the first button image is erased, or the first button image may be erased after the specific period ends.

In FIG. 27(F7), if the instruction contents indicated by the first button image are not followed and the pressing operation unit 303 is not pressed (even if a predetermined time has passed since the first button image was displayed), the specific period may end and transition to FIG. 27(F) may occur. Also, if the instruction contents indicated by the first button image are not followed and the pressing operation unit 303 is not pressed (even if a predetermined time has passed since the first button image was displayed), the player is not interested in the presentation in which the character attacks the rare animal and the character is attacked by the rare animal, so after FIG. 27(F7), the specific period may end and FIG. 27(F) may be omitted and transition to the endurance presentation of FIG. 21(G) may occur. In other words, in this case, the character without a weapon is hidden, and the next time the character is redisplayed, it will be in a state of holding a weapon.

In addition, for example, the first button image may be able to be displayed even during a durability performance (a situation in which three characters are displayed) (either continuing from FIG. 27 (F7) or from after the start of the durability performance). In this case, for example, when a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the durability performance, the first button image is hidden, and when a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed since the first button image was erased, the images of the three characters are also hidden. Note that after the three characters are also erased, a predetermined movie is displayed on the performance display device 1600, but for example, when operation of a predetermined operation unit (e.g., pressing operation unit 303) is detected, the predetermined movie is ended.

When the specified movie is being displayed, it is desirable that no sound is output from speaker 354 in order to maintain the sense of tension given to the player by the endurance performance. The three characters may be hidden and the specified movie may be displayed, provided that a specified time (5 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the endurance performance. The time from when the three characters are displayed until they are hidden during the endurance performance is longer than the time until the first button image is erased. In the above example, the specified movie is displayed after the three characters are hidden, but the three characters may be hidden by displaying the specified movie.

Figure 27 (F8) shows a performance during a specific period when performance images such as images of characters and rare animals are not displayed, and a second button image (an image consisting of an image of a button labeled "long press" and an image of an arrow) instructing a long press of the pressing operation unit 303 (an operation different from a single press) is displayed in the upper left corner of the performance display device 1600 (a position different from the position (center) where the first button image is displayed).

In FIG. 27 (F8), in order to make it easier for the player to recognize the long press instruction of the pressing operation unit 303 indicated by the second button image, the images of the character and rare animal are not displayed on the effect display device 1600, and the BGM is not output. Also, unlike when the first button image is displayed, when the second button image is displayed, the instruction sound indicating the instruction content of the second button image is not output. In this way, during a specific period when the effect images such as the images of the character and rare animal are not displayed, the output of the BGM is stopped, so that the player can increase the expectation that the character may be able to defeat the rare animal by pressing the pressing operation unit 303 for a long time. Also, since the instruction sound indicating the instruction content of the second button image is not output, a sense of tension is given to the player, and the instruction effect by the second button image can be treated as a hidden effect. Note that in FIG. 27 (F8), instead of stopping the output of the BGM, the volume of the BGM may be suppressed (for example, lower than the volume at the start of the exploration quest effect).

The display size of the second button image is smaller than the display size of the first button image. In addition, in FIG. 27 (F8), it is desirable that not only the BGM and the instruction sounds indicating the instructions of the second button image, but also other sound effects (for example, the voices of characters and rare animals, and sound effects in battles with characters and rare animals) are not output from speaker 354.

In FIG. 27 (F8), when a predetermined time has passed since the second button image was displayed, or when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed and held (for example, pressed for 3 seconds or more), the specific period ends and the display transitions to FIG. 27 (F). In other words, in this case, the character without a weapon is hidden, and the next time the character is displayed again, he or she will not be holding a weapon.

In addition, in FIG. 27 (F8), when a predetermined time has passed since the second button image was displayed, or when the pressing operation unit 303 is pressed and held (for example, pressed for 3 seconds or more), the specific period ends, and FIG. 27 (F) may be omitted and a transition to the endurance presentation of FIG. 21 (G) may occur. In other words, in this case, the character without a weapon is hidden, and the next time the character is displayed again, it will be holding a weapon.

As shown in FIG. 27 (F8), after the second button image is displayed during a specific period in which the two characters and the rare animal are not displayed, when the specific period ends and the two characters and the rare animal are redisplayed, the first button image may be displayed in place of the second button image (or the second button image may be redisplayed and then erased). In this way, when the display is changed from the second button image to the first button image, a specific presentation image may always be displayed.

The second button image has a smaller display size than the first button image, is displayed in a corner of the display area of the performance display device 1600, and does not output a sound indicating the instruction of the second button image. Therefore, the second button image is less noticeable than the first button image. Therefore, the second button image may remain displayed even before the transition to FIG. 27 (F8) (for example, from the start of the change in which the exploration quest performance is executed or from the time when the character encounters a rare animal, etc.).

For example, when the second button image is continuously displayed from the start of a change that executes a search quest performance, a sound indicating the instruction content of the second button image may be output at the start of the change or before the change starts (for example, a predetermined number of seconds before).

In FIG. 27 (F8), a command sound may be output to indicate the command content of the second button image, but it is preferable that the rate at which a command sound is not output to indicate the command content of the second button image is higher than the rate at which a command sound is output to indicate the command content of the second button image in FIG. 27 (F8).

In FIG. 27 (F8), if an operation other than a long press (e.g., repeated taps, etc.) is performed on the pressing operation unit 303, an instruction sound may be additionally output indicating the instruction content of the second button image so that the player can recognize the operation content.

In FIG. 27 (F6), a second button image may be displayed instead of the first button image. In this case, although BGM3 is output from speaker 354, a sound indicating the instruction of the second button image is not output. The second button image may be displayable only in an exploration quest presentation that starts when the third background is displayed and BGM3 is output. The display priority of the second button image is higher than the display priority of other images such as characters and rare animals, and may be higher or lower than the display priority of the first button image.

In addition, to heighten the player's sense of anticipation, during the specific periods in FIG. 27 (F7) and FIG. 27 (F8), a sound exclusive to the specific period may be output from speaker 354, and at this time, a special effect image that is different from the first button image and the second button image and is displayed only during the specific period may be displayed.

In addition, in Fig. 27 (F6), Fig. 27 (F7), and Fig. 27 (F8), when the pressing operation unit 303 is operated according to the instructions on the first button image or the second button image, the first button image or the second button image may not be hidden until a predetermined time has passed since the operation (i.e., they may not be hidden at the timing when the operation is detected) so that the player can confirm what instructions were displayed.

For example, the pachinko machine 1 may have a movable body at a predetermined position. For example, when the two characters and the rare animal are hidden, such as when transitioning from FIG. 27 (F6) to FIG. 27 (F7), the movable body may start moving from a standby position (initial position) and move to a position where the two characters and the rare animal overlap with the display area of the first button image while the two characters and the rare animal are not displayed. Also, for example, when transitioning from FIG. 27 (E) to FIG. 27 (F8), the movable body may start moving from a standby position and move to a position where the two characters and the rare animal overlap with the display area of the second button image while the two characters and the rare animal are not displayed. Furthermore, since the display size of the second button image is smaller than the display size of the first button image, and if the position of the movable body overlaps with the display position of the second button image, it will be difficult for the player to visually recognize the instructions of the second button image. Therefore, the operating position of the movable body may include a position that overlaps with the display area of the first button image, but may not include a position that overlaps with the display area of the second button image.

It is preferable that the standby position of the movable body does not overlap with the display area of the first button image or the display area of the second button image. Also, for example, the movable body may overlap with the display area of the first button image or the display area of the second button image at the maximum operating position of the movable body, or the movable body may overlap with the display area of the first button image or the display area of the second button image only while moving to the maximum operating position of the movable body without overlapping with the display area of the first button image or the display area of the second button image at the maximum operating position of the movable body. Also, there may be a timing when the movable body completely covers the first button image or the second button image, or at least a part of the first button image or the second button image may be visible no matter what position the movable body is in.

For example, when two characters and the first button image are displayed as in FIG. 27 (F6), the output state (e.g. the length of time it is output) of a predetermined effect sound (e.g. an effect sound accompanying the actions of the two characters) may be changed by operating a predetermined operation unit (e.g. pressing operation unit 303); however, it is preferable that the output state of the instruction sound indicating the instruction content of the first button image or the second button image does not change (i.e. the output state does not change even if the predetermined operation unit is operated) in order to ensure that the player is aware of the instruction content.

For example, as shown in FIG. 27 (F6), when two characters and a first button image are displayed, the aforementioned character reselection can be performed, and the probability of winning is higher when character reselection is performed than when character reselection is not performed. When two different characters and a first button image are displayed, a character reselection effect may be performed, and this reselection effect can change two different characters into two identical characters. On the other hand, when two characters and a first button image are displayed, it is preferable that the aforementioned character reselection is not performed. Also, the rate at which the character reselection effect is performed is higher when two identical characters and a first button image are displayed as shown in FIG. 27 (F6) than when one hunter 1601, one villager 1602, and a first button image are displayed.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation during a jackpot fluctuation, if the situation passes through a state in which two characters and a first button image are displayed together as in FIG. 27 (F6), it is desirable that the jackpot be announced after the same two characters are displayed in that situation. On the other hand, in the exploration quest presentation during a jackpot fluctuation, if the situation passes through a state in which two characters and a second button image are displayed together, it may be possible to execute both a presentation in which the same two characters are displayed in that situation and then a jackpot is announced, and a presentation in which a jackpot is announced without the same two characters being displayed in that situation.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the shortest time that both characters are displayed when the effect in which the first button image and two characters are displayed together as in FIG. 27 (F6) is executed is longer than the shortest time that both characters are displayed together when the second button image and two characters are displayed together.

In addition, in the exploration quest presentation, there are cases where each character is displayed holding a weapon and cases where each character is displayed not holding a weapon, but if the character is the same, the display of that character will be common between the display mode of that character holding a weapon and the display mode of that character not holding a weapon (i.e., that character is a common part of these).

For example, when the same character is displayed in a display mode holding a weapon and in a display mode not holding a weapon, the characters that are common parts may be displayed in exactly the same display mode, or may be displayed in different display modes as long as the player can recognize that they are the same character (for example, the pose of the Hunter 1601 part may be different, the clothes worn may be different, and the movement mode may be different between the Hunter 1601 holding a weapon and the Hunter 1601 not holding a weapon, etc.).

[4. Daruma-san ga koronda performance]
The Daruma-san ga koronda performance will be explained below. The Daruma-san ga koronda performance can be executed before the decorative symbols form a reach state, and can also be executed as a reach effect after the decorative symbols form a reach state. Hereinafter, the Daruma-san ga koronda performance executed before the decorative symbols form a reach state is also called "Daruma-san ga koronda chance," and the Daruma-san ga koronda performance as a reach effect is also called "Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach."

In the "Daruma-san ga Koronda" performance, the image displayed on the performance display device 1600 is an image seen from the perspective of the Oni. In other words, the "Daruma-san ga Koronda" performance is a performance in which the player simulates the experience of "Daruma-san ga Koronda" by imagining that he or she is the Oni.

In the "Daruma-san ga koronda" performance, if all non-Oni characters move when the line "Daruma-san ga koronda!" is not being output from speaker 354, the Oni wins (i.e. the player wins), and if the Oni is touched by any non-Oni character when the line is being output, the Oni loses (i.e. the player loses).

In the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, if the Oni wins, the game progresses to the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, and if the Oni loses, a miss is announced. Also, in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, if the Oni wins, a jackpot is announced, and if the Oni loses, a miss is announced. Note that in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, it may be possible to announce a jackpot when the Oni wins, but it is desirable that the rate at which a jackpot is announced when the Oni wins in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance is much lower than the rate at which the game progresses to the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach.

Figures 28 and 29 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach. Figure 28 (A) shows the state in which the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach has started. In Figure 28 (A), decorative patterns form a reach state, and a title image indicating that the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach has started is displayed on the performance display device 1600. Note that decorative patterns do not have to be displayed from the start of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach (from Figure 28 (A)) until the result of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, described below, is displayed and the non-Oni characters are hidden (until Figure 28 (F)).

In addition, in FIG. 28(A), a forest background (an image of five trees growing) is displayed on the effect display device 1600 as a background image. This forest background is a dedicated background image that can only be displayed in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach in order to heighten the player's sense of anticipation, and when the forest background is displayed, it is desirable that the rate of winning is higher than when the ocean background described below is displayed. In the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, the hold display is hidden until the transition to FIG. 29(E) described below is made to allow the player to focus on the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach effect.

In FIG. 28(B), the phrase "Daruma-san..." is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and while the phrase is being displayed and output, two non-Demon characters 1604 (facing forward and in the same display mode in white) displayed on the performance display device 1600 are moving (for example, moving forward). Also in FIG. 28(B), a forest background is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a background image. When two non-Demon characters 1604 in the same display mode are selected, a predetermined effect may be displayed on the performance display device 1600 so as to overlap the two non-Demon characters 1604 in order to heighten the player's sense of anticipation.

In the example of FIG. 28, the display of the two non-Demon characters 1604 (in the same display mode, in white, facing forward) starts from FIG. 28(B), but the two non-Demon characters 1604 (in the same display mode, in white, facing forward) may also be displayed from FIG. 28(A), i.e., at the start of the final battle reach of Daruma-san ga Koronda.

When two non-Oni characters with different display modes are selected, the two non-Oni characters with different display modes may remain displayed, and Daruma-san ga koronda may not be performed (i.e., the performance from FIG. 28(C) onwards may not be executed), and the Daruma-san ga koronda chance and the variation may end. In other words, the result of the lottery (a loss) is indicated by displaying the two non-Oni characters with different display modes.

In FIG. 28(C), the line "I fell!" is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and the movement of the two non-Demon characters 1604 has stopped by the time the output of the line has finished. Because the two non-Demon characters 1604 have moved forward, the display size of the two non-Demon characters is larger in FIG. 28(C) than in FIG. 28(B). Also, in FIG. 28(C), a forest background is displayed as a background image on the performance display device 1600.

In FIG. 28(D), the line "Daruma-san..." is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354. Also, in FIG. 28(D), the background and two non-Demon characters 1604 are hidden on the performance display device 1600 (a single-color image (for example, a solid black display) may be displayed as the background image). In this way, by hiding the non-Demon characters 1604, the player cannot tell how far the non-Demon characters 1604 have advanced, creating a sense of tension. Note that in FIG. 28(D), the line "Daruma-san..." may also be hidden.

In addition, in FIG. 28(D), in order to heighten the player's sense of anticipation, the two non-Demon characters 1604 may be hidden, for example, by displaying a special image (for example, by covering the two non-Demon characters 1604 with a special image). Note that this special image may be a dedicated image that can only be displayed in the Final Battle Reach of Daruma-san ga Koronda.

Note that in FIG. 28(D) (i.e., in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach where a forest background is displayed), the two non-Demon characters 1604 are hidden for a predetermined time, but this predetermined time may be longer or shorter than the predetermined time during which the two non-Demon characters are hidden in FIG. 30(C) described below (i.e., in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance when the ocean background is displayed), which will be described later.

In FIG. 28(E), the line "I fell!" is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and by the time the output of the line is finished, the two non-Demon characters 1604 have made the action of touching the Oni. In other words, the Oni has been notified that he has lost, and the decorative patterns have stopped in a losing combination. Note that only one of the non-Demon characters 1604 may make the action of touching the Oni. Because the two non-Demon characters 1604 are moving forward, the display size of the two non-Demon characters 1604 is larger in FIG. 28(E) than in FIG. 28(C). Also, in FIG. 28(E), a forest background is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a background image.

In FIG. 28(E), an effect may be executed that prompts a predetermined operation (e.g., pressing) on a predetermined operation unit (e.g., pressing operation unit 303). When the predetermined operation is performed on the predetermined operation unit during the operation valid period of the predetermined operation unit according to the effect, the two non-demon characters 1604 are hidden (e.g., transitioning to the effect of FIG. 28(F)).

In FIG. 28(F), the background and two non-Demon characters 1604 are hidden on the performance display device 1600 (a single color image (e.g., solid black) may be displayed as the background image). In this way, by hiding the background image and the two non-Demon characters 1604, the player's disappointment caused by the loss notification in FIG. 28(E) can be calmed.

Note that in FIG. 28(F) (i.e., when the background and two non-Demon characters are hidden after a loss is announced in the Daruma-san ga koronda Final Battle Reach where a forest background is displayed), a dedicated image may be displayed. This dedicated image is, for example, an image that is displayed before the background changes (from the forest background in FIG. 28(E) to the ocean background in FIG. 30(G) described below). Note that it is desirable that the time during which the dedicated image is displayed (i.e., the time during which the background and two non-Demon characters are hidden) is longer than the time during which the background and two non-Demon characters are hidden in FIG. 28(D) and the time during which the background and two non-Demon characters are hidden in FIG. 30(C) described below.

When the start condition is met (game ball B enters the first start port 2002 when the reserved memory number of the first special random number has not reached the upper limit, and game ball B enters the second start port 2004 when the reserved memory number of the second special random number has not reached the upper limit), a sound effect is output in principle to indicate that the start condition has been met. However, in FIG. 28(F) (that is, when the two non-demon characters 1604 are temporarily hidden after a loss is announced in the final battle reach of Daruma-san ga koronda), in order to calm the player's disappointment, it is desirable not to output the sound effect that is output when the start condition is met. In this case, the player can recognize that the start condition has been met by visually checking the reserved display after the timing when the reserved display is redisplayed.

On the other hand, as in FIG. 28(D) and FIG. 30(C) described later, when the two non-Demon characters 1604 are temporarily hidden before it is announced whether the change is a jackpot or a miss, it is desirable that the sound effect be output when the start condition is met. Note that, even when the two non-Demon characters 1604 are temporarily hidden as in FIG. 28(D) and FIG. 30(C) described later, in order to allow the player to concentrate on the Daruma-san ga Koronda presentation, if the start condition is met, the sound effect that is output when the start condition is met may not be output.

In addition, in FIG. 28(E), when a jackpot is announced (i.e., when the two non-Demon characters 1604 act while the line "I fell!" is being output and an effect in which the Oni wins is executed), in order to maintain the player's sense of excitement, it is desirable that the effect in FIG. 28(F) (i.e., an effect in which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are not displayed) is not executed, and the effect proceeds with the two non-Demon characters 1604 displayed.

In FIG. 29(G), the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed on the effect display device 1600. The two non-Demon characters 1604 are stopped in a different state from that displayed in FIG. 28(E) (i.e., they change from reaching out to touch the Demon to lowering their hands). The two non-Demon characters 1604 in the same white color as in FIG. 28(E) are redisplayed in a different display state (i.e., a different state from when the result of the Daruma-san ga koronda reach was announced), so that the player can be sure to recognize the result of the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach while also being sure to recognize that the effect is progressing. Note that it is desirable that the display size of the two non-Demon characters 1604 displayed in FIG. 29(G) is larger than the display size of the two non-Demon characters 1604 displayed in FIG. 29(E) (the display size before they were temporarily hidden).

In addition, in FIG. 29(G), the background image displayed on the effect display device 1600 changes to an ocean background (image of waves), and a hold display is displayed. A background image (ocean background) different from the background image (forest background) previously displayed in FIG. 28(E) is displayed, and the hold display is displayed, so that the player can be sure that the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach has ended. As will be described in detail later, this ocean background is the background image displayed in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance. In FIG. 29(G), when a predetermined time has passed since the two non-demon characters 1604, the ocean background, and the hold display are redisplayed, the change ends. In FIG. 29(G), the effect sound may be prevented from being output in order to calm the disappointment of the player who has been notified of a loss in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach.

In FIG. 29(G), the timing at which the pending display is redisplayed is the same as the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed, or within a predetermined time of the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed (for example, 0.5 seconds before or 0.5 seconds after the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed).

In FIG. 28(E), the result of the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach is announced when the line "Daruma-san ga koronda!" is output for the second time, but in FIG. 28(C), the result of the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach may be announced when the line "Daruma-san ga koronda!" is output for the first time. That is, in FIG. 28(C), two non-Demon characters 1604 may touch the Oni (announcement of the Oni's loss) while the line is being output, or one of the non-Demon characters 1604 may act (announcement of the Oni's win) when the output of the line in FIG. 28(C) is finished. In this case, the effects in FIG. 28(D) and FIG. 28(E) are omitted (and the effect in FIG. 28(F) may also be omitted).

When the above-mentioned dedicated image is displayed in FIG. 28(F), a dedicated background may be displayed in FIG. 29(G) instead of the ocean background. When this dedicated background is displayed, it may continue to be displayed until a predetermined condition is met (for example, until a predetermined number of changes are completed after the dedicated background is displayed) in order to leave the player with an afterglow of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, and the ocean background may be displayed after the predetermined condition is met. When the dedicated background is displayed, the non-oni characters displayed may also be dedicated non-oni characters. By displaying dedicated non-oni characters corresponding to the dedicated background, it is possible to provide a unified presentation, making it easier for players who want to see limited presentations to continue playing.

In FIG. 29(G), an effect may be executed to prompt a player to perform a specified operation (e.g., a long press) on a specified operation unit (e.g., the pressing operation unit 303) at the same time as the display of the dedicated background starts or after a specified time has elapsed. In addition, it is desirable that the effect prompting the player to perform a specified operation on the specified operation unit is executed for a specified time, and is not interrupted even when the specified operation on the specified operation unit is executed, in order to ensure that the player performs the specified operation.

28 and 29 illustrate an example in which a loss is announced in the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach, but instead of FIG. 28(F), for example, a special announcement effect may be made indicating that the non-Oni character 1604 was actually moving while the line "I fell!" is being output and before touching the Oni (i.e., an announcement that the Oni has won and a jackpot has been won) instead. In this case, in FIG. 29(G), the two non-Oni characters 1604 are displayed on the effect display device 1600 along with a line indicating that they have lost to the Oni, and the decorative symbols stop in a jackpot combination.

Figure 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance. Figure 30(A) shows the state in which the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance has started. The Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance starts, for example, at the same time as the start of the fluctuation. In Figure 30(A), the decorative pattern does not form a reach state, and a title image indicating that the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance has started is displayed on the performance display device 1600.

In addition, in FIG. 30(A), an ocean background is displayed on the effect display device 1600 as a background image. Because a jackpot is never announced during the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance (or the rate at which a jackpot is announced is extremely low), it is desirable that the ocean background is not a dedicated background image (i.e., a background image that can be displayed during other effects) in order to avoid creating excessive expectations in the player. Also, during the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, a hold display is displayed in order to avoid creating excessive expectations in the player and to keep them aware of future fluctuations.

In addition, in FIG. 30(A), a white non-oni character 1604 facing forward and a non-oni character 1605 facing left and hatched with diagonal lines are displayed on the performance display device 1600. In FIG. 30(A), the two non-oni characters participating in Daruma-san ni koronda have not been determined, and the combination of the two non-oni characters displayed in FIG. 30(A) may change over time. In addition, in FIG. 30(A) (that is, until the two non-oni characters participating in Daruma-san ni koronda are determined), the two non-oni characters may be displayed in a transparent state (for example, a transparency selected from a transparency rate greater than 0% and less than 100%) to allow the player to recognize that the two non-oni characters displayed are not the characters determined to participate in Daruma-san ni koronda. If the two non-oni characters are in a transparent state, the background of the sea displayed behind the two non-oni characters 1604 becomes visible.

In FIG. 30(B), two non-oni characters 1604 who will participate in Daruma-san ga koronda have been determined. The combination of two non-oni characters who will participate in Daruma-san ga koronda is determined from two non-oni characters 1604, two non-oni characters 1605, or one non-oni character 1604 and one non-oni character 1605. Also, in FIG. 30(B), an ocean background is displayed as a background image on the performance display device 1600, and a hold display is also displayed on the performance display device 1600.

In FIG. 30(C), the line "Daruma-san..." is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and the two non-demon characters 1604 are hidden. Also in FIG. 30(C), an ocean background is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a background image, and a hold display is also displayed on the performance display device 1600. Note that also in FIG. 30(C), the two non-demon characters 1604 may be displayed in a transparent state (for example, a transparency selected from a transparency rate greater than 0% and less than 100%). If the two non-demon characters 1604 are in a transparent state, the ocean background displayed behind the two non-demon characters 1604 becomes visible.

In FIG. 30(C), in order to heighten the player's sense of anticipation, the two non-Demon characters 1604 may be hidden (for example, by covering the two non-Demon characters 1604 with the specific image) by displaying, for example, a specific image (an image indicating that the two non-Demon characters 1604 in action will be displayed again). Note that this specific image may be an image that can be displayed at times other than when Daruma-san ga koronda Chance occurs.

After FIG. 30(C), the display transitions to FIG. 30(D) or FIG. 30(F). In FIG. 30(D), the line "I fell!" is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and by the time the output of the line ends, the two non-Demon characters 1604 have made the motion of touching the Oni. In other words, the Oni has lost. Note that only one of the non-Demon characters 1604 may make the motion of touching the Oni. As the two non-Demon characters 1604 are moving forward, the display size of the two non-Demon characters 1604 is larger in FIG. 30(D) than in FIG. 30(B). Also, in FIG. 30(D), the background of the sea is displayed as a background image on the performance display device 1600, and a hold display is displayed on the performance display device 1600.

In FIG. 30(D), the timing at which the pending display is redisplayed is the same as the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed, or within a predetermined time of the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed (for example, 0.5 seconds before or 0.5 seconds after the timing at which the two non-Demon characters 1604 are redisplayed).

In FIG. 30(E), the two non-Oni characters 1604 are stopped in the same manner as they were in FIG. 30(D) (i.e., with their hands outstretched to touch the Oni). By displaying the two non-Oni characters 1604 in the same display manner as FIG. 30(D) (i.e., the same manner as when the result of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance is announced), the player can be sure to recognize the result of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance. Note that in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, a jackpot is never announced (or the rate at which a jackpot is announced is extremely low), and the player is only disappointed when a loss is announced. Therefore, after the presentation in FIG. 30(D), the presentation in FIG. 30(E) is executed without inserting the presentation in FIG. 28(F) to reduce the player's disappointment.

Following FIG. 30(C), in FIG. 30(F), the line "I fell!" is displayed on the performance display device 1600 and output from the speaker 354, and while the line is being output, the two non-Demon characters do not touch the Oni, and after the line is output, the two non-Demon characters 1604 move. In other words, the Oni has won. It is also possible for only one of the non-Demon characters 1604 to have moved. Because the two non-Demon characters 1604 have moved forward, the display size of the two non-Demon characters 1604 is larger in FIG. 30(F) than in FIG. 30(B). Also, in FIG. 30(F), the background of the sea is displayed on the performance display device 1600 as a background image, and a hold display is displayed on the performance display device 1600.

When the Oni wins during the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance as shown in FIG. 30(F), the game progresses to the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 (i.e., transitions to FIG. 28(A)). Note that in FIG. 30(D) and FIG. 30(F), the non-oni character that is redisplayed may have changed to a non-oni character different from the non-oni character 1604 displayed in FIG. 30(B) (for example, the probability of winning a jackpot may differ depending on the non-oni character selected, and the non-oni character may change to one with a higher probability of winning a jackpot than that in FIG. 30(B)).

In addition, in both the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach (a Daruma-san ga Koronda presentation in which a forest background is displayed) and the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance (a Daruma-san ga Koronda presentation in which only the ocean background is displayed), if different non-oni characters are selected as the two non-oni characters, a jackpot may not be announced (i.e., two different non-oni characters are selected only when a miss is announced).

In the above example, two non-demon characters are displayed in the chance of Daruma-san ga koronda and the final battle reach, but three or more non-demon characters may be displayed. Specifically, for example, in FIG. 28(F) of the final battle reach of Daruma-san ga koronda, a character with a different display mode from the two non-demon characters 1604 is additionally displayed as a third non-demon character, and the third non-demon character also performs an action of touching the demon. In FIG. 28(F), the third non-demon character is also hidden like the two non-demon characters 1604, and in FIG. 29(G), the third non-demon character is also redisplayed like the two non-demon characters 1604. In FIG. 29(G), after the three non-demon characters are redisplayed, a performance may be executed in which the third non-demon character changes to a non-demon character 1604 with the same display mode as the two non-demon characters 1604.

For example, in FIG. 30(D) of Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, a character with a different display mode from the two non-Oni characters 1604 is additionally displayed as a third non-Oni character, and the third non-Oni character also performs an action of touching the Oni. In FIG. 30(E), the third non-Oni character remains displayed in the same way as the two non-Oni characters 1604.

In the above example, in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, either a miss is announced or the game progresses to the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach is selected, but for example, if a special background (hereinafter, a desert background) is displayed instead of the ocean background in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance, the game may always progress to the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach. In other words, the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance has a higher chance of hitting the jackpot when a desert background is displayed than when an ocean background is displayed, which can increase the player's expectations. In the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach that has progressed from the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance in which a desert background is displayed, after a miss is announced, the desert background is redisplayed instead of the ocean background in FIG. 29(G).

In addition, in Fig. 30(C) of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance that starts with a desert background displayed, the two non-oni characters 1604 are hidden for a predetermined time, but it is desirable that this predetermined time be longer than the time during which the two non-oni characters 1604 are hidden in Fig. 30(C) of the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance that starts with an ocean background displayed. As described above, the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance that starts with a special background displayed will always develop into the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach, so by hiding the two non-oni characters 1604 for a long time, it is possible to further heighten the player's sense of expectation and tension.

As mentioned above, in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach where a forest background is displayed, when the background and the two non-Demon characters 1604 are hidden after a miss is announced (presentation in FIG. 28(F)), a dedicated image may be displayed, but in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance where the two non-Demon characters 1604 are hidden, the dedicated image may not be displayed even if the ocean background or the desert background is displayed.

As described above, it is preferable that no sound effects are output in FIG. 29(G) in the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach developed from the Daruma-san ga koronda chance where the ocean background is displayed (a state where the ocean background is redisplayed after the forest background is hidden when a loss is reported). On the other hand, it is preferable that sound effects are output in FIG. 29(G) in the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach developed from the Daruma-san ga koronda chance where the desert background is displayed (a state where the desert background is redisplayed after the forest background is hidden when a loss is reported). In the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach developed from the Daruma-san ga koronda chance where the desert background is displayed, the desert background is redisplayed even after a loss is reported, so that the player recognizes that, unlike the case of the ocean background, he is still staying in the desert background, that is, that the probability of a jackpot is still high, and this creates a sense of expectation for the next game, and the configuration that allows sound effects to be output makes it possible to heighten the player's sense of expectation and tension for a jackpot through both sight and hearing.

In the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach that develops from the Daruma-san ga koronda chance where a desert background is displayed, as shown in FIG. 29(G) (a state in which a miss is announced and the forest background is hidden and then the desert background is redisplayed), it is also possible to prevent the sound effects from being output. This can calm the player's disappointment when a miss is announced even though the game has developed from a desert background, which has a high probability of winning.

As mentioned above, a dedicated image may be displayed in FIG. 28(F) in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach that has developed from the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance where an ocean background is displayed (when a loss is announced and the forest background and the two non-Oni characters are hidden). On the other hand, in FIG. 28(F) in the Daruma-san ga Koronda Final Battle Reach that has developed from the Daruma-san ga Koronda Chance where a desert background is displayed (when a loss is announced and the forest background and the two non-Oni characters are hidden), the dedicated image may or may not be displayed.

In addition, in the Daruma-san ga koronda chance and the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach, the decorative symbols are displayed on the performance display device 1600, but during the special symbol variation in which the Daruma-san ga koronda chance and the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach are executed, all decorative symbols are always varying (i.e., all decorative symbols are not visible), and all decorative symbols may be stopped (i.e., all decorative symbols are visible) when the special symbol variation stops. This allows the player to not realize that a reach is in progress even if he or she sees the decorative symbols, but to realize that a reach is in progress because the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach is being executed, so that the player's attention can be focused on the Daruma-san ga koronda performance rather than the decorative symbols. Also, in the Daruma-san ga koronda performance, for example, even if a performance with a high failure rate is executed, all decorative symbols are varying until the special symbol variation ends, so that the player's sense of expectation can be suppressed from decreasing until all decorative symbols stop.

In FIG. 30(C) for the chance where Daruma-san ga koronda is played, the two non-demon characters 1604 are hidden, but when the ocean background is displayed, the player can recognize that the probability of winning is low, and there is no need to make the player feel tense by not making the player aware of how far the non-demon characters 1604 have progressed, so the two non-demon characters 1604 may not be hidden. On the other hand, in the chance where the desert background is displayed, the player can recognize from the desert background that it is certain that the game will develop into the Daruma-san ga koronda final battle reach, so it is desirable to make the two non-demon characters 1604 hidden in FIG. 30(C) in order to make the player feel tense by not making the player aware of how far the non-demon characters 1604 have progressed. This allows the game to proceed smoothly when the two non-demon characters 1604 are not hidden, and makes it possible to make the player feel tense when they are hidden.

The above is one form of the pachinko machine 1 of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to gaming machines other than slot machines, such as pachinko machines and gaming machines that combine pachinko machines and slot machines.

The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such specific configurations, and includes various modifications and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the appended claims.

1 Pachinko machine, 302 Rotation operation unit, 303 Press operation unit, 310 Movable body, 347 Rotation detection sensor, 354 Speaker, 381 Press detection sensor, 1310 Main control board, 1510 Peripheral control board, 1600 Performance display device

Claims (1)

A lottery information acquisition means for acquiring lottery information based on the establishment of a start condition;
A symbol variation execution means for executing a symbol variation based on the lottery information on a predetermined display means;
A performance control means capable of executing control related to the performance;
A gaming machine including a performance display means capable of displaying the performance, which is different from the predetermined display means,
The performance control means includes:
The first effect display and the second effect display can be displayed on the effect display means in any one of a plurality of display modes,
The first effect display and the second effect display can be displayed in front of any one of a plurality of backgrounds including a first background and a second background that suggests a more advantageous state than the first background;
When the first and second performance displays are displayed in a common manner in front of the first background during the pattern change and a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery based on the lottery information, there are a case where the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden and then redisplayed after a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery, and then the pattern change is terminated, and a case where the first and second performance displays are continued to be displayed until the pattern change is terminated after a loss is suggested as a result of the lottery,
When the first and second performance displays are displayed in a common manner in front of the second background during the pattern change and a loss is suggested as the result of the lottery, the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden and then redisplayed after the loss is suggested as the result of the lottery, and then the pattern change ends , but in a pattern change in which the second background is displayed, a dedicated image may be displayed when the first and second performance displays are temporarily hidden, and when the dedicated image is displayed, a specific background different from the first and second backgrounds can be displayed when the first and second performance displays are redisplayed.

Images