JP7628938B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing games.

There are gaming machines (for example, see Patent Document 1) that have a microcomputer that can switch the register group used by a program depending on the type of program.

JP 2019-141675 A

In the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, there was room for improvement in switching the register groups.

The present invention was conceived in light of this situation, and its purpose is to provide an amusement machine with improved switching of register groups.

(A) a gaming machine capable of playing a game,
A game control means for controlling the progress of a game,
The game control means includes:
Executing a startup process based on the supply of power to the game control means;
After the start-up process is executed, a user program for controlling the game progress is executed;
using a first bank of registers when executing instructions according to a first program of the user programs;
a second bank of registers is used when executing instructions according to a second program called from a first program among the user programs;
A special read instruction can be executed that can specify an address from which data is read, with the value of a specific register as the upper address and a value specified for each instruction as the lower address;
When the special read instruction is executed in the first program, the value of a first specific register included in the first bank is set as a high-order address;
When the special read instruction is executed in the second program, the value of the second specific register included in the second bank is set as the upper address;
The first specified register and the second specified register store the same value,
The user program includes an initial setting process and a game control process that is executed after the initial setting process and controls a game,
In the startup process, a value is set in the first specific register;
In the initial setting process, a value is set in the first specific register;
The value set in the first specific register in the startup process and the value set in the first specific register in the initial setting process are the same value.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the card unit and the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the reels. 13 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the game state. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining combinations of winning roles that are read out as lottery target roles for each gaming state. This is a diagram to explain reel control when the push order role is won. A diagram showing the game start command that the main control unit sends to the performance control unit when the start switch is operated. 13 shows a game end command that the main control unit sends to the performance control unit at the time of the third stop. A diagram showing the types of commands that the main control board sends to the medal count control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining a gaming machine installation information command. A diagram showing details of gaming machine characteristics. A diagram showing the structure of a reel information command. A diagram showing details of the reel operation information. A diagram showing the structure of a favorable zone information command. A diagram showing details of advantageous area information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of an input command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a settlement command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a start command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a termination command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a dispensing pulse command. A diagram showing the structure of a jackpot command. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of a hall computer signal. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing details of setting information. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 2 command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of door information. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 3 command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main control state command. A diagram showing the configuration of a main control board error command. A diagram showing a list of main control board errors. A diagram showing the structure of a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. A diagram showing a list of commands from the medal count control board to the main control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a frame side information command. A diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board and the medal count control board. 13 is a diagram for explaining communication of a frame side information command. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing performed when the main control board receives a command. This is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board and the medal count control board from when the power is turned on. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication when the serial number is normal. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs. A figure showing an example of communication when an error occurs regarding a game medal. A figure showing an example of communication occurring before the transmission and reception of a gaming machine installation information command. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a timeout upon power-on. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a bet amount setting operation and a settlement operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet amount setting operation is performed before a response command is received after a bet amount setting operation. FIG. 13 shows an example in which a new payment operation is performed before a response command is received after a payment operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after a bet amount setting operation and before a response command is received. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet amount setting operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. 13 is a diagram illustrating a serial number error during a bet amount setting operation. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a serial number error during a settlement operation. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a process of checking frame side information. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating display control of the number of dispensed coins. A diagram showing a role ratio monitor. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the display of a role ratio monitor. A diagram to explain the initialization process of role ratio information. 3 is an address map of a memory area used by the main control unit. 2 is a diagram for explaining a register bank included in a CPU of a main control unit. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a startup process of a main control unit. 11 is a diagram for explaining an initial setting process performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing variables related to safety device processing. 13 is a diagram illustrating the area F initialization process performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the main processing performed by the main control board. 13 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the RT information output processing performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of safety device-related processing performed by the main control board. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the control content of the safety device processing performed by the main control board. A diagram showing commands transmitted from the main control board to the performance control board. 10 is a flowchart showing the control content of an error process performed by a main control unit. A diagram to explain command communication between the main control board and the performance control board. 13 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the addition process of the cumulative number of uses on the performance control side performed by the performance control unit. This is a diagram explaining the control contents of the addition process of the cumulative awarded number on the performance control side performed by the performance control unit. 13 is a diagram explaining the control content of the notification processing performed by the performance control unit before a safety device is activated. A diagram explaining the control contents of the game start waiting process performed by the main control board. 13 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the bet number setting operation acceptance process performed by the main control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the settlement operation reception process performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a card unit and a slot machine according to a second embodiment. This is a diagram to explain communication between the performance control unit, main control unit, medal count control unit, and CU control unit.

The following describes an embodiment of a slot machine, which is an example of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

Embodiment 1.
[Configuration of Slot Machine]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a card unit and a slot machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, each of the gaming islands (not shown) arranged in a game center (hall) is provided with a slot machine (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as S-machine) 2, and a card unit (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as CU) 3, which is an example of a gaming device, is installed in one-to-one correspondence with the S-machine 2 at a lateral position on a predetermined side of the S-machine 2. The card unit is also referred to as a "game medal lending device."

The S-machine 2 is a gaming machine in which the player does not pick up medals and insert them into an insertion slot, and medals are not paid out to the player. For this reason, gaming value is added directly to credits (gaming points that can be used in games (hereinafter also referred to as "gaming medals")) depending on the lending operation, etc. The added number of credits (number of gaming medals) is displayed on the credit display 11. Also, unlike conventional slot machines, the upper limit of the number that can be added as credits is not limited to "50", but may be set within the range of numbers that can be displayed on the credit display 11. Also, it is not necessary to set an upper limit. Below, the number of credits may be referred to as the number of gaming medals.

Not only does it not have a medal insertion port or payout port like conventional slot machines, but it also does not require a medal selector, hopper, or other device for controlling inserted medals. Slot machines like this, which do not require any medals at all, are called "controlled gaming machines" or "medalless slot machines."

Inside S-stand 2, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereafter also referred to as the left reel, center reel, and right reel) with multiple types of symbols arranged around the outer periphery are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction, and among the symbols arranged on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three consecutive symbols are arranged so that they can be seen through a transparent window 3W.

Each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is rotated by a corresponding reel motor 32L, 32C, and 32R, as shown in FIG. 2. This causes the symbols on each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R to be displayed in a continuously changing manner in the transparent window 3W. In addition, by stopping the rotation of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three consecutive symbols are derived and displayed in the transparent window 3W as a display result.

Reel LEDs 55, as shown in FIG. 2, are provided inside reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. Reel LEDs 55 illuminate reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, as shown in FIG. 1, from behind. Reel LEDs 55 are made up of 12 LEDs corresponding to the three consecutive symbols on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, and can illuminate each symbol independently.

A display area of the liquid crystal display 51 is located in front of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (on the player's side). The liquid crystal display 51 is designed so that each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R can be seen from the player's side through the transparent area corresponding to the transparent window 3W of the display area and the transparent window 3W.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of symbols on the reels. As shown in Figure 3, each reel has multiple identifiable symbols ("Character", "Black 7", "White 7", "BAR", "Replay", "Plum", "Cherry", "Watermelon", "Moon", and "Orange") arranged in a specific order.

Below the transparent window 3W, a gently sloping surface is formed, and the operation unit is formed to extend further forward from there. The top surface of the operation unit is provided with a MAXBET switch 6, a 1BET switch 20, a bet clear switch 21, a 1BET LED 14, a 2BET LED 15, a 3BET LED 16, a credit display 11, and a game support display 12, and the front side of the operation unit is provided with a start switch 7, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and a count button 10.

The credit display 11 is made up of a seven-segment LED display, and is controlled by the medal count control unit 171 shown in FIG. 2. The game support display 12 displays the number of medals paid out when a win occurs, operation information (navigation notification) corresponding to the operation mode, and the like. Hereinafter, the number of medals paid out displayed by the game support display 12 may be referred to as the "number of medals paid out." In other words, the game support display 12 displays the game value granted to the player according to the result of one game. The game support display 12 is made up of a seven-segment LED display, and is controlled by the main control unit 161.

The various operating means provided in the operating unit will now be described. The MAXBET switch 6 is a switch that is operated to set the maximum bet amount (in this embodiment, "3").

The 1BET LED 14 lights up to indicate that a bet has been set to 1. The 2BET LED 15 lights up to indicate that a bet has been set to 2. The 3BET LED 16 lights up to indicate that a bet has been set to 3.

The start switch 7 is a switch for starting the reels to spin after the bet amount has been set. The stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are switches for stopping the reels while they are spinning, with 8L corresponding to the left reel, 8C corresponding to the middle reel, and 8R corresponding to the right reel. The count button 10 is a switch that is operated to count the number of credits (number of game medals) and convert it into the number of medals held.

The door open detection switch 25 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the inside of the front door of the S-machine 2. The door open detection switch 25 detects the open state of the front door. Furthermore, a power supply box is provided inside the housing. The setting key switch 37 and the reset/setting switch 38 shown in FIG. 2 are provided on the front of the power supply box. The setting key switch 37 switches to a setting change state or a setting confirmation state. The reset/setting switch 38 normally functions as a reset switch for releasing an error state or a play stop state, and in the setting change state functions as a setting switch for changing the set value of the winning probability (ball payout rate) of the internal lottery.

In this embodiment, the first of the three reels 2L, 2C, and 2R to stop after they have started spinning is called the first stopped reel, and its stop is called the first stop. Similarly, the second reel to stop is called the second stopped reel, and its stop is called the second stop, and the third reel to stop is called the third stopped reel, and its stop is called the third stop, final stop, or all reels stop.

Next, the flow of the game on S-machine 2 will be explained. When playing a game on S-machine 2, first, a lending operation is performed on CU3 to secure credits (game medals). This lending operation corresponds to the two-step operation of "lend medal operation" and "manually inserting the lent medal into the insertion slot" in a conventional slot machine that uses a medal payout method.

When the MAX BET switch 6 is operated while credits are present, the bet amount is set to the maximum amount within the credit range, and the amount of credits is reduced by the additional amount. Once the bet amount is set, the pay line determined according to the bet amount and game status among the pay lines L1 to L5 becomes valid, and operation of the start switch 7 becomes valid, i.e., the game can be started.

Here, the winning lines are lines that are set to determine whether the combination of symbols displayed in the transparent window 3W of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R is a winning combination. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, five types of winning lines are defined: winning line L1 set across the symbols arranged in the middle row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L2 set across the symbols arranged in the upper row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L3 set across the symbols arranged in the lower row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L4 set across the symbols arranged in the upper row of reel 2L, the middle row of reel 2C, and the lower row of reel 2R, i.e., the symbols arranged downward to the right, and winning line L5 set across the symbols arranged in the lower row of reel 2L, the middle row of reel 2C, and the upper row of reel 2R, i.e., the symbols arranged upward to the right.

When the start switch 7 is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R will spin, and the symbols on each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R will change continuously. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reel 2L, 2C, and 2R will stop, and the display result will be derived and displayed in the transparent window 3W.

One game ends when all reels 2L, 2C, and 2R come to a stop, and a win occurs when a predetermined combination of symbols stops on any of the activated winning lines L1-L5 as the display result of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R. When a win occurs, the player is awarded a number of points determined according to the win. These points are added to the credits.

Credits can be counted and converted into owned medals by operating the count button 10. By converting them into owned medals, it becomes possible to record the owned medals on a card when the game ends.

In this embodiment, when the count button 10 is pressed once, all of the game balls currently owned by the player are counted, regardless of how long the button is pressed (whether it is pressed and held or not). However, this is not limited to the above, and the counting operation may be repeatedly performed according to how long the count button 10 is pressed (for example, a counting process of 50 coins is performed every time the count button is pressed for 0.3 seconds). Also, regardless of how long the button is pressed, a predetermined number (for example, 50 coins) of game balls may be counted into the medals held when the count button is pressed once.

A credit display segment 7S and speakers 53, 54 are provided at the top of the LCD display 51. The credit display segment 7S is made up of five 7-segment segments, and displays the number of credits held by the player. By providing the credit display segment 7S at the top of the S-machine 2, it is possible to display the number of credits stored in the S-machine 2 to players other than the player playing on the S-machine 2, or to store staff. The speakers 53, 54 emit sound effects that match the presentation.

[Card unit configuration]
The configuration of the CU 3 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. This CU 3 accepts visitor cards (also called general cards) with a prepaid function, which are gaming storage media issued to general players who are not registered as members, and member cards, which are gaming storage media issued to member players who are registered as members of the gaming facility. The visitor cards and member cards are composed of IC cards.

CU3, which accepts these cards, has the function of converting the gaming value owned by the player, which is specified by the information stored in the card (for example, the prepaid balance, the number of medals held, or the number of medals saved (also called "saved balls")), into the number of credits (number of gaming medals).

The front side of CU3 is provided with a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, a protrusion 305 formed to protrude forward from the front of the device, and a card insertion/ejection slot 309 for inserting a member card or visitor card. A member card or visitor card inserted into this card insertion/ejection slot 309 is received by a card reader/writer (not shown), and the information recorded on the card is read.

On the surface of the aforementioned protruding portion 305 facing the player, there is provided a display 312, a replay button 319 for executing a replay game using the membership card ID (also simply called the card ID or C-ID) recorded on the membership card when the membership card is accepted, and the number of medals (number of balls) specified by the membership card ID, and an IR photosensitive unit 320 that receives an infrared signal from a remote control (not shown) held by an attendant at the game center, converts it into an electronic signal, and outputs it.

The display 312 is capable of displaying the prepaid balance (also called the card balance or simply the balance) recorded on the inserted gaming recording medium (card), the number of medals held, the number of credits (number of gaming medals), and various other information, and its surface is made up of a transparent touch panel. It is configured so that various operations can be input by touching with a finger the various display items shown on the display section of the display 312.

When the medal count button 324 is operated, a portion of the medal count recorded on the inserted card is withdrawn and converted into credits (number of game medals). When the replay button 319 is operated, if the inserted card stores the number of medals the player has acquired, a portion of the medal count is withdrawn and converted into credits, and the player can play on S-machine 2 based on the converted credits.

On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card and the number of medals held is not stored, and the saved medals are stored in the hall's management computer, etc., some of the saved medals are withdrawn and converted into credits, making it possible to play on the S machine 2. In other words, if both saved medals and saved medals are stored in association with the inserted card, the saved medals are withdrawn first. Note that a dedicated medal payout button for withdrawing saved medals may be provided in addition to the replay button 319, and the replay button 319 may be a dedicated button for withdrawing saved medals.

The "number of credits (number of game medals)" here is data that can be used to set the bet amount and can also be converted into the "number of medals held." The "number of credits" is generated in exchange for withdrawing the balance on a prepaid card, the number of medals held, or the number of medals saved.

The "number of medals held" is a numerical conversion of the number of credits (number of game medals) that a player owns as a result of playing a game on a gaming machine. This "number of medals held" is stored in a manner that allows it to be identified by the player's card. The number of medals held may also be managed by a management device for managing the number of medals held that is set up in the gaming facility.

"Number of saved medals (number of saved balls)" refers to the number of medals that have been deposited at the amusement facility. The number of medals that a player has won while playing is managed as the number of saved medals during the day, but from the day after they were won, it is managed as the "number of saved medals." In other words, the number of credits (number of game medals) that a player has won and counted at the amusement facility on the day is called "points," and the number of medals that a player has won and deposited at the amusement facility on the previous day or earlier is called the "number of saved medals." This "number of saved medals" is generally managed by a hall management computer or other management computer installed at the amusement facility.

If we use arrows to show the direction in which each of the above data items - "Balance," "Number of saved medals (number of saved balls)," "Number of medals held," and "Number of credits (number of game medals)" can be converted, it goes as follows: "Balance, number of saved medals, number of medals held" → "Number of credits" → "Number of medals held" → "Number of saved medals."

In this embodiment, the medal count data is not recorded directly on the member card, but is stored in a higher-level server such as a hall management computer in association with the member card number, so that the corresponding medal count can be searched for based on the member card number. On the other hand, the number of medals held is recorded directly on the card.

However, both may be stored in the upper server in association with the card number. In the case of a visitor card, the number of medals held is also recorded directly on the visitor card. However, the number of medals held may also be stored in the upper server in association with the card number. When storing in this upper server in association with the card number, data that can identify the time when it was stored in the upper server may be written to the card (member card, visitor card) and discharged. Also, the prepaid balance is written directly to the card (member card, visitor card) and discharged.

The number of medals held is stored on the card (membership card, visitor card) or in the upper server, for example, when the counting button 10 is operated to perform the counting process. However, instead of this, the number of medals held may be stored all at once when the card is returned.

Also, when a player finishes playing and returns the card from CU3, the medals stored in CU3 are temporarily stored in the hall server as saved balls, and when the player inserts the card back into the same or a different CU3 on the same day that the card is returned, only the medals for that day that were temporarily stored as saved balls are stored again in that CU3, and credits can be added within the range of the medals held, allowing play.

Bills inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 are taken in by a currency validator (not shown) and their authenticity and bill type are identified.

The front side of the CU3 is further provided with a loan button 321 and a card return button 322. The loan button 321 is a button operated to withdraw the balance recorded on the inserted card to obtain the number of credits. Specifically, the number of credits is added according to the balance withdrawn by operating the loan button 321. The card return button 322 is an operation button operated when the player ends the game, and is used to store in the inserted card the confirmed number of medals held at the end of the game (number of medals held when the card was inserted - number of medals converted to credits + number counted by counting operation) and to eject the card.

As explained above, with the S machine 2 according to this embodiment, the number of medals held, as specified by the card, is converted into the number of credits (number of game medals), and the number of credits can be used to set the bet amount. This makes it possible to provide a new slot machine (managed game machine) that does not use medals for play, without confusing players who are accustomed to conventional slot machines in which medals are loaned out, credits are secured by inserting the medals, and the bet amount is set using the credits.

[Internal configuration of card unit and slot machine]
2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine 1. The control circuits of the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 will be outlined with reference to FIG.

CU3 is provided with a CU control board 32, which is provided with a CU control unit 323 composed of a microcomputer and the like. This CU control unit 323 is the main control function unit of CU3, and is provided with a CPU as the control center, a ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, a RAM that functions as the CPU's work area, an input/output interface to maintain signal consistency with peripheral devices, and the like.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external output terminal (not shown) for communicating with the hall management computer and the hall server that performs security management. The CU 3 transmits the status of the CU 3 and the gaming machine status information received from the S-machine 2 to the outside, such as the hall management computer (hall computer) and the hall server that performs security management, via the external output terminal. The CU control unit 323 communicates with the medal count control board 17 of the S-machine 2 via the communication control IC 325. The communication control IC 325 and the medal count control board 17 are connected, for example, by an asynchronous serial communication port. The communication between the communication control IC 325 and the medal count control board 17 is performed via the connection terminal board 1000.

The communication between the CU control unit 323 and the medal count control board 17 is two-way for loan information (information about the operation to withdraw the balance stored in the inserted card and use it for playing on the S-machine 2) and loan response information (response information to the loan information), and other counting information (information about the counting process from credit to held medals) and gaming machine information is one-way communication from the medal count control board 17 to the CU control unit 323. Therefore, the S-machine 2 does not recognize whether or not the CU3 has received the counting information and gaming machine information. The CU3 is provided with a connection part (not shown) to the S-machine 2 side, and the S-machine 2 is provided with a connection part (not shown) to the CU3 side. These connections are composed of connectors, for example.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the medals held by the player while the player is playing. The display 312 displays an image corresponding to data such as the balance or number of medals held output from the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the touch panel on the surface of the display 312, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the loan button 321, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. Note that the loan button 321 is not limited to being provided on the CU 3, but may be provided on the S-stand 2 and input an operation signal to the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the card return button 322, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323.

The S-stand 2 is equipped with a main control board 16 that controls the progress of the game on the S-stand 2, a medal count control board 17 that controls the credits owned by the player, a presentation control board 15 that controls presentations according to the game status, and a power supply board 101. The power supply board 101 generates the power to drive the electrical components that make up the S-stand 2, and supplies it to each part.

The power supply board 101 is supplied with an external 100V AC power supply, and this 100V AC power supply generates the DC voltage required to drive the electrical components that make up the S-stand 2, which is then supplied to the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17, and the performance control board 15.

The medal count control board 17 is equipped with a microcomputer for payout control, which is the medal count control unit 171. The medal count control unit 171 is provided with a CPU 171a as the control center, a ROM 171b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 171a, a RAM 171c that functions as a work area for the CPU 171a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to a RAM clear switch 293 for erasing information stored in the RAM 171c, and a door open detection switch 25, and receives detection signals from these connected switches. In addition, the medal count control board 17 is connected to the count button 10, and receives a detection signal from the count button 10.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to the credit display 11 and the role ratio monitor 89, and the display is controlled by the medal count control unit 171. In addition, the medal count control board 17 is connected to a backup memory 294, which backs up the role ratio information that the medal count control board 17 displays on the role ratio monitor 89.

The role ratio monitor 89 normally displays a numerical value indicating the performance of the slot machine (hereinafter also referred to as "role ratio information"). The numerical values indicating the performance of the slot machine are, for example, the commanded role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the consecutive role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, the role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and the role etc. state ratio to the total cumulative payout number. Details of this information will be described later using FIG. 58.

The main control board 16 is equipped with a game control microcomputer that serves as the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 is provided with a CPU 161a as the control center, a ROM 161b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 161a, a RAM 161c that functions as a work area for the CPU 161a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

Reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R are connected to the main control board 16, and are driven under the control of the main control unit 161. A setting key switch 37, a reset/setting switch 38, and a start switch 7 are also connected to the main control board 16, and detection signals from these connected switches are input. A game support display 12 is also connected to the main control board 16, and the display is controlled by the main control unit 161.

The bet clear switch 21, 1BET switch 20, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, door open detection switch 25, and MAXBET switch 6 are also connected to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100, and the detection signals of these connected switches are input. The 1-3BET LEDs 14-16 are also connected to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100, and the display is controlled by the main control unit 161.

The performance control board 15 is equipped with a performance control microcomputer, which is the performance control unit 151. The performance control unit 151 is provided with a CPU 151a as a control center, a ROM 151b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 151a, a RAM 151c that functions as a work area for the CPU 151a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

The performance control board 15 is connected to a performance switch 56, and a detection signal from the performance switch 56 is input. In addition, the performance control board 15 is connected to performance devices such as a liquid crystal display 51, a performance effect LED 52, speakers 53 and 54, a reel LED 55, and a credit display segment 7S, and these performance devices are driven based on the control of the performance control unit 151.

In addition, a light intensity/volume adjustment board 111 is connected to the performance control board 15. Switches for adjusting the light intensity and volume are connected to the light intensity/volume adjustment board 111, and detection signals from these switches are input to the performance control board 15 via the light intensity/volume adjustment board 111.

The main control unit 161 transmits various commands to the performance control unit 151. Commands transmitted from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151 are sent in only one direction; no commands are transmitted from the performance control unit 151 to the main control unit 161. The performance control unit 151 receives commands transmitted from the main control unit 161 and performs various controls for producing the performance.

The medal count control unit 171 transmits various commands to the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 also transmits various commands to the medal count control unit 171. In other words, communication between the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161 is two-way communication. In addition, backup power is supplied to the main control board 16 from the medal count control board 17.

The medal count control unit 171 also stores credits in a predetermined area of the RAM 171c. Specifically, the number of credits is stored in a credit counter. The medal count control unit 171 updates the credits stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 171c during the credit addition process or credit subtraction process.

The set bet amount is stored in a specified area of the RAM 161c. Specifically, the set bet amount is stored as a BET counter. When the value stored in the BET counter is "3", the game can be started. Below, the value stored in the BET counter may be simply referred to as the "bet amount".

As explained above, medalless slot machines that do not require medals are equipped with a medal count control board 17. Functions related to the insertion and dispensing of medals in conventional slot machines are concentrated in the medal count control board 17. Furthermore, conventional slot machines that require medals must be equipped with devices related to the insertion and dispensing of medals, such as a medal selector and hopper, but medalless slot machines do not require such devices.

In addition, by configuring a medal-less slot machine as in this embodiment, it is possible to share parts with conventional slot machines. Specifically, since the function of updating credits (functions related to medal insertion and payout) is concentrated in the medal count control board 17, a conventional slot machine can be configured by replacing the medal count control board 17 of the medal-less slot machine. When configuring a conventional slot machine, it is sufficient to provide the medal count control board 17 with functions related to medal insertion and payout, and then connect devices related to medal insertion and payout such as a medal selector and hopper to the medal count control board 17. With this configuration, it is possible to have compatibility with conventional slot machines, and by sharing parts, it is possible to reduce costs in designing and manufacturing the slot machine.

When a detection signal is input from the start switch 7, the main control unit 161 drives the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R to rotate, and draws for winning combinations.

The type of winning combination is determined according to the game state, but can be broadly divided into special combinations that transition to a big bonus (BB) or regular bonus (RB), small combinations that pay out medals, and replay combinations that allow you to start the next game without having to set a bet amount.

The main control unit 161 draws winning combinations, spins the reels, and waits for the player to stop the reels. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, or 8R is operated, the main control unit 161 stops the rotation of the reel corresponding to that stop switch 8L, 8C, or 8R. The main control unit 161 stops the three symbols and executes a winning determination process to determine whether or not a win has been won. If a win has been determined, the player is awarded a number of credits according to the type of win. The main control unit 161 subtracts and displays the display on the credit display 11 according to the subtraction of the number of credits, and adds and displays the display on the credit display 11 according to the addition of the number of credits. A power-on switch 102 is connected to the power supply board 101, and a detection signal from the power-on switch 102 is input.

In this embodiment, a "game" refers to the period from when the start switch 7 is operated until the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop. When playing a game, the bet amount is set before the start switch 7 is operated, and medals are paid out and the game state is changed after the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop, so these incidental processes are also included in the "game" in a broad sense.

In addition, in this embodiment, the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is also referred to as the MAXBET operation, the operation of the start switch 7 as the start operation, the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R as the stop operation, the operation of the count button 10 as the count operation, the operation of the lend button 321 as the lending operation, and the operation of the card return button 322 as the return operation.

The S machine 2 is also configured so that the medal payout rate changes according to the set value. More specifically, the medal payout rate is changed by using the winning probability according to the set value in a lottery that affects the player's advantage, such as an internal lottery. The set values have six levels, from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest payout rate, and the payout rate decreasing as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. In other words, when the set value is set to 6, the player has the highest advantage, and the advantage decreases in stages as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

To change the set value, it is necessary to turn on the power of the S-unit 2 after turning on the setting key switch 37. When the power is turned on with the setting key switch 37 in the ON state, the set value read from the RAM 161c is displayed as the display value on the setting value display, and the system transitions to a setting change state in which the set value can be changed by operating the reset/setting switch 38. When the reset/setting switch 38 is operated in the setting change state, the display value shown on the setting value display is updated by one (when the switch is operated again from setting value 6, it returns to setting value 1). When the start switch 7 is operated, the display value is confirmed as the set value. When the setting key switch 37 is turned off, the confirmed display value (set value) is stored in the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161, and the system transitions to a state in which gameplay can proceed.

[state transition]
4 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the game state. As shown in FIG. 4, the states managed by the main control unit 161 include game states related to the payout rate.

Game play states include not inside, inside, and BB. Inside is a state in which play can proceed and the medal payout rate is guaranteed based on a pre-determined design value. Note that in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, most games are played by the player inside.

On the other hand, during the non-internal period, the player does not play, or if they do, the time spent playing is extremely short. During the non-internal period, if a BB is won and the BB does not win, the game state transitions to the internal period from the next game. In other words, during the internal period, the BB win is carried over.

In both non-internal and internal play, a game in which BB can be won (hereinafter also referred to as a "BB winning game") may be played. Specifically, in non-internal play, if the BB symbol combination can be derived in response to the operation of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in a game in which BB has been won, BB will be won. In this case, the game state will be controlled to BB from the next game. In other words, in non-internal play, the game in which BB has been won will be a BB winning game.

Inside, the BB win is carried over. Here, when the BB and the small role are won at the same time, the reel control is performed so that the symbol combination of the small role is preferentially derived. Furthermore, if the small role is a role with no misses, in a game in which the BB and the small role are won at the same time, the small role will always win regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, and the BB cannot win. Similarly, when the BB and the replay role are won at the same time, the replay role is controlled so that the symbol combination of the replay role is preferentially derived. Since the replay role is generally a role with no misses, in a game in which the BB and the replay role are won at the same time, the replay role will always win regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, and the BB cannot win. Therefore, during the internal process, only in games that result in a loss in the internal lottery (games that do not win any prizes), if the BB symbol combination can be derived by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, the BB will be won. In this case, the game state will be controlled to BB from the next game. In other words, during the internal process, games that result in a loss in the internal lottery become games in which the BB can be won.

During a BB, the BB game is played for a specified number of games (for example, 60G), but since the payout rate during a BB is approximately 101%, the net increase in number of coins hardly increases at all. Therefore, for the player, a BB is merely a state in which a specified number of games (for example, 60G) is played. When the BB ends, the game state transitions back to non-internal.

The internal states include normal zones and advantageous zones. Normal zones are states in which navigation is not executed, and are non-notification states in which navigation information cannot be notified. Advantageous zones are states in which navigation can be executed, and are notification states in which navigation information can be notified. In this embodiment, among the advantageous zones, navigation is not executed in the normal advantageous zone, but navigation can be executed in both the AT state and the ending state. Note that navigation may also be executed in the normal advantageous zone, but in the AT state and the ending state, the probability of executing navigation to make the main role win when the push order role is won is higher than in the normal advantageous zone. In this way, in the AT state in advantageous zones such as the AT state and the ending state, navigation is performed with a higher probability than in the advantageous zone or the normal advantageous zone.

In the normal zone, when the lottery for transition to the advantageous zone is won (winning the advantageous zone), the state is controlled to the advantageous zone. Note that in this embodiment, the condition for winning the advantageous zone is the winning of most of the roles that can be won during normal play, so the duration of play during normal play is approximately 1G. Note that the condition for winning the advantageous zone may be met when any of the roles that can be won during normal play is won.

During the normal period, navigation is not performed in the game in which the push order role is won, so the net increase in the number of coins a player can win per game will be 0 or a negative number, taking into account the number of medals used to set the bet amount. Note that the net increase in the number of coins per game is the number of medals paid out per game minus the number of medals used to set the bet amount per game. In this embodiment, the normal payout rate is set to 40%. Thus, normally, the payout rate is 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

The advantageous zone includes the normal advantageous zone, the AT state, and the ending state. In the normal advantageous zone, navigation is not executed in the game in which the push order role is won, so the net increase in the number of coins that the player can win per game will be 0 or negative, taking into account the number of medals used to set the bet amount. In this embodiment, the payout rate in the normal advantageous zone is set to 40%. Thus, in the normal advantageous zone, the payout rate is 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

In this embodiment, the player's advantage increases when certain symbols (watermelon, strong cherry) are won. Specifically, when a strong cherry is won in the AT state, an additional game in the AT state is confirmed.

In the normal advantageous zone, processing such as lotteries related to control to the AT state is carried out. In the normal advantageous zone, the main control unit 161, for example, carries out a lottery to acquire points. The points updated by the lottery to acquire points are managed by the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 has an internal point counter (not shown) for counting points. In addition, when the value of the point counter reaches a specified value, the main control unit 161 executes an AT lottery. Note that the main control unit 161 may execute an AT lottery based on the fact that a specific symbol (watermelon, strong cherry) has been won without using points.

In the favorable zone, the ending state is controlled when the total number of medals generated by winning during the favorable zone, which is updated based on the progress of the game, reaches a predetermined ED transition number. The ED transition number is updated during the favorable zone, but is not updated during the normal zone or BB. The ending state is a state in which it is determined that control to the favorable zone will continue until the total value of the net increase in number of medals reaches the upper limit number (e.g., 2400 medals) or the number of games played during the favorable zone reaches the upper limit number of games (e.g., 1500G). The ED transition number is set when the normal zone is switched to the favorable zone. The ED transition number may be determined by lottery or may be determined in advance. The ED transition number is managed by the main control unit 161. That is, the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161 stores the ED transition number. The main control unit 161 cumulatively counts the ED transition number and ends the favorable zone according to the counting process.

When the limiter condition is met in the favorable zone, the favorable zone is switched to the normal zone. Specifically, when the number of sheets in the favorable zone (the number of sheets with a net increase during the favorable zone) reaches 2400 sheets, the favorable zone ends and the zone is switched to the normal zone. The number of sheets in the favorable zone is counted by a favorable zone number counter stored in RAM 161c. In other words, when the number of sheets in the favorable zone reaches the upper limit, it is said that the "limiter condition" is met. Alternatively, in the favorable zone, when the total number of games played (number of favorable zone Gs), which is updated based on the progress of the game, reaches a predetermined upper limit G (for example, 1500 G), the favorable zone ends and the zone is switched to the normal zone. The number of sheets in the favorable zone is counted by a net increase counter stored in RAM 161c.

When the game is controlled from the favorable zone to the normal zone, the total number of games played and the net increase in coins counted in the favorable zone, as well as the points that can be earned during play, are initialized. The number of Gs in the favorable zone and the net increase in coins during the favorable zone are updated not only during the favorable zone but also during BBs, and are not updated in the normal zone.

If the setting is changed during the advantageous zone, it will be controlled to the normal zone. At this time, the total number of games played and the net increase in coins counted during the advantageous zone, as well as the points that can be acquired during play, are also reset. In this embodiment, the S machine 2 changes the medal payout rate according to the setting value. In more detail, the medal payout rate is changed by varying the probability of winning in a specified lottery, such as a point acquisition lottery, according to the setting value (for example, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6). A staff member at the gaming facility can change this setting value by changing the setting.

In this way, the conditions for transitioning from the advantageous zone to the normal zone include limiter conditions and optional ending conditions that are met based on the progress of the game, as well as a condition for a setting change.

In addition, in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, an upper limit of the number of games is set in the normal advantageous zone. When the upper limit of the number of games set in advance is reached in the normal advantageous zone, an AT right is granted to forcibly transition to the AT state regardless of the reached points. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is, for example, 1280 games. The upper limit of the number of games is called the "ceiling". The main control unit 161 has a lottery counter in the RAM 161c to determine whether the ceiling has been reached. That is, the main control unit 161 stores the number of games played in the normal advantageous zone in the lottery counter in the RAM 161c. The main control unit 161 adds the value of the lottery counter each time a game is played in the normal advantageous zone. For example, if the upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is set to 700 games, when the value of the lottery counter reaches 700, the main control unit 161 grants the AT right. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is not limited to 700 games, and may be, for example, 1280 games.

[Winning Role]
5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the types of winning combinations, winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes. The name column of each of the winning combinations in Fig. 5 to 8 shows the name of the winning combination, and the combination of the patterns that will win the winning combination is shown in the pattern combination column. The award column also shows the value (number of medals paid out, replay award, etc.) that will be awarded when the winning combination is won.

As shown in FIG. 5, the replay roles include lip 1 to lip 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the special role includes BB. As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the minor roles include plum 1 to 6, watermelon, and 1-coin role 1 to 33. Plum 1 to 6 are main roles that can be won when the push order role is won, and when they are won, 9 medals are paid out, which is more than the number of medals used in the bet (3 medals). Plum 1 to 6 are collectively referred to as "plum roles." 1-coin roles 1 to 33 are sub roles that can be won when the push order role is won, and when they are won, 1 medal is paid out, which is less than the number of medals used in the bet (3 medals). 1-coin roles 1 to 33 are collectively referred to as "1-coin roles."

As shown in FIG. 7, among the symbol combinations that will result in a 1-coin winning combination 22, when "Character-Character-Black 7" is derived on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three character symbols are arranged in a row on the reels. Specifically, character symbols are derived on the bottom row of the left reel 2L, the middle row of the middle reel 2C, and the top row of the right reel 2R, and the character symbols are arranged in a row going up to the right. The arrangement of character symbols in a row is also referred to as "character alignment."

As shown in FIG. 8, among the symbol combinations that will result in a 1-coin winning combination 23, when "Chara-Chara-Plum" or "Chara-Plum-Plum" is derived on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three 7 symbols are arranged in a row on the reels. Specifically, when a 7 symbol is derived on the top row of the left reel 2L, the top row of the middle reel 2C, and the top row of the right reel 2R, three 7 symbols are arranged in a row on the top row. Note that the arrangement of 7 symbols in a row is also referred to as "7-match."

[Role to be selected]
9 is a diagram for explaining the combination of winning roles read out as the lottery target roles for each game state. The role number column in FIG. 9 shows the role number determined for each lottery target role, the flag category column shows the flag category assigned to each type of lottery target role, the lottery target role column shows the name, the game state column shows that the lottery target role is a lottery target role with a circle for each game state, and the advantageous zone winning column shows whether or not the advantageous zone has been won. Also, the winning role combination column in FIG. 9 shows the combination of winning roles included in each lottery target role.

As shown in FIG. 9, BB is provided as a special role that can be selected. The roles that can be selected for the replay role are normal lip, 7-match lip, 7-mismatch lip, character match lip, and character mismatch lip. The roles that can be selected for the minor role are common plum, 213-choice role A-D, 231-choice role A-D, 312-choice role A-D, 321-choice role A-D, watermelon, 7-match 1, 1, 2, character match 1, weak cherry, strong cherry, and chance eye A, B. The minor roles in BB are BB medium small role and BB medium 1. The 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D are roles that can execute navigation when won, and are therefore types of push order roles. The 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D are collectively referred to as "push order bells." Additionally, 7-matching 1-1 and 2-1 are collectively referred to as "7-matching 1-1."

When not inside the draw, all roles except for BB small/medium and 1 BB can be won, but when inside the draw, the BB win has already been carried over, so BB, BB small/medium and 1 BB cannot be won.

Each role is assigned a common flag category for non-internal, internal, and BB. Also, while role numbers are determined for each role to be drawn, flag categories are assigned for each type of role to be drawn. For this reason, the number of flag categories is smaller than the number of role numbers. Also, the point acquisition lottery in the normal advantageous zone and the bonus lottery in the advantageous zone (hereinafter collectively referred to as "lotteries related to AT control") are both conducted based on the flag category. For this reason, the processing burden can be reduced compared to conducting lotteries related to the control of these AT states based on role numbers.

In this embodiment, flag categories are also assigned to misses and BBs, and BBs are assigned FC1, the same as other roles such as regular replies. Common plums are assigned FC4, the same as watermelons.

[Reel control of push order role]
10 is a diagram for explaining reel control when the push order role is won. As described above, in this embodiment, in a game in which the push order role is won in an advantageous zone, navigation is executed and the correct procedure is notified to the player. The player can win a winning role (main role) that is advantageous to the player by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the correct procedure according to the navigation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in a game in which any of the 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D is won, the main role of plum is won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the correct sequence, while the secondary role of 1 coin is won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the incorrect sequence. Note that if the secondary role of 1 coin is not won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the incorrect sequence, no win may occur.

The "normal procedure" is not set as the "correct procedure", while the "irregular procedure" can be set as the "correct procedure". In other words, in a game in which a player wins any of the 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D, as long as the player operates the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the normal procedure, the main role of the plum cannot be won. This may be a factor that induces the player to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the irregular procedure, but in this embodiment, if the player operates the stop switches in the irregular procedure in a game in which navigation is not executed, a penalty that is disadvantageous to the player is imposed on the player. Therefore, the player is encouraged to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the normal procedure in a game in which navigation is not executed.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing game start commands that the main control unit 161 sends to the performance control unit 151 when the start switch 7 is operated. When the start switch 7 is operated (start operation), the main control unit 161 executes an internal lottery process, and sends a group of commands including predetermined information to the performance control unit 151 depending on the result of the internal lottery process. Hereinafter, the group of commands No. 1 to No. 13 shown in Figure 11 will be simply referred to as "game start commands". The main control unit 161 sends each command in the order of No. 1 to No. 13 as a game start command. Each command is assigned a serial number as a "setting serial number" with the same number as the number. Each command stores various information managed by the main control unit 161.

For example, the command No. 2 "instruction number" stores information related to navigation. That is, the command No. 2 stores information that can identify the order in which to press the start switch 7 in a game in which the start switch 7 is operated. Specifically, the command "instruction number" stores information that indicates the order in which to press the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. When the performance control unit 151 receives the command No. 2 "instruction number", it executes a navigation performance on the liquid crystal display 51 based on the operation procedure that can be identified from the command "instruction number". The performance control unit 151 also causes the speaker 53 to output a sound that notifies the player of the operation procedure based on the operation procedure that can be identified from the command "instruction number".

For example, the command "small role type" of No. 3 stores information that can specify whether the role won by the internal lottery is a small role, a replay role, or a special role. In addition, the command "section state" of No. 6 stores information that can specify which of the internal states shown in FIG. 4 the game in which the start switch 7 is operated is in. Specifically, the command "section state" of No. 6 stores information indicating whether the currently controlled state is a normal section, an advantageous section, and further whether the advantageous section is a normal advantageous section, an AT state, or an ending state. The performance control unit 151 can specify which section state the game in which the start switch 7 is operated is in based on receiving the command "section state" of No. 6. In addition, the command "ball output state" of No. 4 can also store information that can specify the game state of the game in which the start switch 7 is operated. The command "ART precursor G number" of No. 9 stores the number of games in the AT continuous performance. In the game start command, command No. 10 "Points" stores the number of points acquired in the previous game. In addition, command No. 11 "Winning Number" stores information that can identify the winning combination number of the winning combination selected by internal lottery.

When the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command, it stores information indicating that a medal has been bet in the command No. 12 "insert medal". When information indicating that a medal has been bet is stored in the command No. 12 "insert medal", the performance control unit 151 can determine that the game start command has been received.

Figure 12 shows game end commands sent by the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151 at the third stop. The main control unit 161 sends the command group No. 1 to No. 13 to the performance control unit 151 in the order of No. 1 to No. 13 not only when the start switch 7 is operated, but also at the third stop of the stop switch. Hereinafter, the command group No. 1 to No. 13 shown in Figure 12 will be simply referred to as "game end commands". Note that, among the commands sent at the third stop, command No. 11 is different from command No. 11 sent when the start switch 7 is operated. No. 11 is a command that stores information about winning. In other words, at the third stop, the main control unit 161 sends information about winning, not information about the winning number.

In the command "points" of No. 10 in the game end command, the number of points acquired in the point acquisition lottery process at the third stop, which will be described later, is stored. In addition, when the main control unit 161 transmits a game end command, it stores information indicating that the reel is stopped in the command "stop reel" of No. 13. When information indicating that the reel is stopped is stored in the command "stop reel" of No. 13, the performance control unit 151 can determine that the game end command has been received. That is, the performance control unit 151 determines whether the received command group is a game start command or a game end command based on the command "insert medal" of No. 12 and the command "stop reel" of No. 13. When the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command, it does not need to transmit the command "stop reel" of No. 13, and when it transmits a game end command, it does not need to transmit the command "insert medal" of No. 12.

[Transmission and reception between the main control board and the medal count control board]
The following describes the manner of transmission and reception between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In this embodiment, communication is performed between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 using commands. The main control board 16 transmits a predetermined command to the medal count control board 17 every time an event occurs. Events include when the start switch 7 is pressed, when the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed, when all reels are stopped, and the like.

When the specified command sent from the main control board 16 is a command that requires a predetermined response, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the main control board 16. For example, when the power is turned on while the S-machine 2 is installed in the game center and electrically connected, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command including the main chip ID (main control chip ID) to the medal count control board 17. Even when the power is turned on thereafter, the main control board 16 sends gaming machine installation information including the main chip ID (main control chip ID) to the medal count control board 17. In other words, when the power is turned on for the S-machine 2, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command that can identify the main chip ID, which is unique information held by the main control board 16, to the medal count control board 17.

Both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 assign a "serial number" to the command before sending it. In addition, both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 store the received "serial number." By assigning a "serial number" to the command, the S-stand 2 prevents a person who is trying to obtain medals fraudulently (hereinafter referred to as an illegal person) from manipulating the S-stand 2 fraudulently. An illegal operation refers to, for example, an operation in which the command transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation in which an illegal person controls the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. An illegal person performs illegal operations, for example, by connecting a device that performs illegal operations (hereinafter referred to as an illegal device) to the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17.

The initial value and the additional value of the "serial number" are determined by the medal count control board 17 and the main control board 16, respectively. The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the "serial number" based on the gaming machine installation information command received from the main control board 16. The main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command includes a 4-byte chip-specific number register. A chip-specific hexadecimal value is stored in each byte of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 calculates a total value by adding the hexadecimal values stored in each byte of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 converts the value indicated by the lowest 2 bytes of the calculated total value into a decimal number and determines the value as the initial value for the "serial number".

For example, if the total value is "189h" (the "h" indicates that "189" is a hexadecimal number), the initial value for the serial number will be the decimal representation of "89h". In other words, the initial value for the "serial number" will be "137".

Furthermore, the medal count control board 17 divides the initial value by a predetermined number. If the predetermined number is, for example, "5", the remainder calculated as a result of the division will be one of four types: "0", "1", "2", "3", and "4". The medal count control board 17 predetermines and stores an additional value corresponding to the four types of remainder. For example, the medal count control board 17 stores "7" corresponding to "0", "11" corresponding to "1", "13" corresponding to "2", "19" corresponding to "3", and "23" corresponding to "4". After dividing the initial value by a predetermined number, the medal count control board 17 sets the value stored corresponding to the remainder of the division result as the additional value.

As an example, when the initial value "137" is divided by 5, the remainder is "2". As described above, the medal count control board 17 stores "13" in correspondence with the remainder "2" of the division. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 determines the additional value in the serial number as "13". In this way, based on the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command, the medal count control board 17 generates an initial value and additional value for the serial number to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal. The main control board 16 also performs a similar calculation to generate the initial value and additional value. As a result, the same initial value and additional value are stored in both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

As described above, in this embodiment, the occurrence of an event causes the main control board 16 to send a specified command to the medal count control board 17. The main control board 16 assigns a serial number to the specified command. For example, we will explain an example in which a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17, and after both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 have determined the initial value and the additional value for the serial number, a specified event A occurs.

When a specific event A occurs, the main control board 16 transmits command A to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the main control board 16 assigns an initial serial number to the command A that is transmitted for the first time after transmitting the gaming machine installation command. In other words, the main control board 16 assigns the serial number "137" to the command A and transmits it.

The medal count control board 17 stores "137" as the initial value, and since the serial number assigned to the first command A received after receiving the gaming machine installation command is "137", it is determined that communication is normal.

Next, when a new event B occurs, the main control board 16 transmits command B to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the main control board 16 transmits command B with a value obtained by adding an additional value to the value of the previously transmitted serial number. In other words, the main control board 16 transmits command B with the value "150", which is the previously transmitted value of "137" plus the additional value "13". Before receiving command B, the medal count control board 17 calculates in advance that the serial number to be assigned to the next command to be transmitted will be "150". The medal count control board 17 determines that communication with the main control board 16 is normal because the serial number assigned to the received command B is "150", which matches the serial number calculated in advance.

In other words, each time the main control board 16 sends a command, it assigns a serial number that is the result of adding an additional value to the previously sent serial number. The medal count control board 17 also stores the initial value and the additional value, so it can calculate in advance the value of the serial number to be assigned to the next command it receives, and can determine whether the serial number is normal each time it receives a command. If the serial number assigned to the received command does not match the calculated serial number value, the medal count control board 17 determines that a communication abnormality has occurred between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

If the value obtained by adding the additional value to the previously transmitted serial number exceeds 255, the main control board 16 will transmit the serial number minus 255. If the main control board 16 receives a response command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an error has occurred, it will not add the additional value to the serial number of the command to be transmitted after the response command, but will transmit the same serial number again.

[Commands sent from the main control board to the medal count control board]
13 is a diagram showing the types of commands that the main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17. In this embodiment, the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command, a role information command, an advantageous zone information command, an input command, a settlement command, an end command, a start command, a payout pulse command, a big win command, a gaming machine fraud 1 command, a gaming machine fraud 2 command, a gaming machine fraud 3 command, a main control status command, a main control board error command, and a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command to the medal count control board 17, as shown in the command name column in FIG. 13. In addition, the number column shows the command number that is preset for each command. Furthermore, the message length column shows the message length, i.e., the byte length, of each command.

The two-way column indicates whether or not the medal count control board 17 needs to send a response command after the main control board 16 sends a command. For example, when the medal count control board 17 receives a start command from the main control board 16, it does not send a response command in response to the start command. In other words, the main control board 16 controls the reel drums, etc., without waiting to receive a response command from the medal count control board 17.

On the other hand, when the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command, a settlement command, or an end command from the main control board 16, it transmits a response command to the main control board 16 in response to receiving these commands. The insertion command, settlement command, and end command are commands that directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, after transmitting the insertion command, settlement command, or end command, the main control board 16 performs the next control on the condition that it has received a response command from the medal count control board 17. Below, the commands transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 are explained using Figures 14 to 35.

Figure 14 is a diagram explaining the gaming machine installation information command. As shown in Figure 14, the gaming machine installation information command is a command having a length of 22 bytes. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine installation information command. The second byte transmits the serial number. The gaming machine installation information command is a command that is transmitted after the power is turned on and before the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number, so the serial number is fixed to the value "0". The third to sixth bytes store values indicating the command number, gaming machine characteristics, gaming machine type, and identification code, respectively. The seventh to tenth bytes store the values of the first to fourth bytes of the unique number register of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number using the values of the main chip ID in the seventh to tenth bytes.

Bytes 11 to 13 store the manufacturer code. Bytes 14 to 21 store the product code. Byte 22 stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in bytes 1 to 21.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing details of the gaming machine characteristics. The following describes details of the gaming machine characteristics indicated in the 4th byte of the gaming installation information command. The gaming machine characteristics are 1 byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with an RB (regular bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with an RB, bit 0 will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with an RB, bit 0 will be "0".

The first bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with BB (Big Bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with BB, the first bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with BB, the first bit will be "0". The second bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with CT (Challenge Time). If S machine 2 is equipped with CT, the second bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with CT, the second bit will be "0". The third bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with CB (Challenge Bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with CB, the third bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with CB, the third bit will be "0".

The fourth bit indicates whether S-stand 2 is equipped with SB (single bonus). If S-stand 2 is equipped with SB, the fourth bit will be "1", and if S-stand 2 is not equipped with SB, the fourth bit will be "0". The fifth bit indicates whether S-stand 2 is equipped with an instruction function. If S-stand 2 is equipped with an instruction function, the fifth bit will be "1", and if S-stand 2 is not equipped with an instruction function, the fifth bit will be "0". The sixth bit indicates the instruction type of S-stand 2. If the instruction type of S-stand 2 is 7P type, the sixth bit will be "1", and if the instruction type of S-stand 2 is 7U type, the sixth bit will be "0". The seventh bit is unused and "0" is stored.

Figure 16 shows the structure of the reel information command. The reel information command is a command for the medal count control board 17 to update the gaming machine performance information and the reel ratio monitor information. The reel information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 after the end command is sent.

The reel information command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the reel information command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the reel information command is "1".

The fourth byte stores reel operation information. The reel operation information stores information indicating whether or not a bonus has been won. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing details of the reel operation information. The reel operation information is data stored in the 4th byte of the reel information command. The reel operation information is composed of 1 byte of data from the 0th to 7th bits. The 0th bit stores "Type 1" information indicating whether the RB is in operation. The 1st bit stores "Type 1 consecutive" information indicating whether the BB is in operation. The 2nd bit stores "Type 2" information indicating whether the CT is in operation. The 3rd bit stores "Type 2 consecutive" information indicating whether the CB is in operation. The 5th bit stores "Normal reel" information indicating whether the SB is in operation. The 4th, 6th, and 7th bits are not used and store "0".

Figure 18 shows the configuration of the advantageous zone information command. The advantageous zone information command is a command that the medal count control board 17 uses to update the gaming machine performance information and the role ratio monitor information. The advantageous zone information command is sent after the end command is sent.

The advantageous zone information command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the reel information command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the advantageous zone information command is "2".

The fourth byte stores advantageous zone information. The advantageous zone information is data transmitted regarding replay and instruction information in the advantageous zone. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information transmitted in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 19 shows details of advantageous zone information. The advantageous zone information is data stored in the fourth byte of the advantageous zone information command, and is data that indicates information about the game that was played before the advantageous zone information command was sent.

The advantageous zone information is composed of one byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 stores information indicating whether or not the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent was in an advantageous zone. If it was in an advantageous zone, bit 0 stores "1". Bit 1 stores information indicating whether or not instruction information was present in the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent. If instruction information was present, bit 1 stores "1". Bit 4 stores information indicating whether or not a replay symbol combination was displayed in the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent. If a replay symbol combination was displayed, bit 4 stores "1". Bits 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are not used and store "0".

Figure 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of an insert command. The insert command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the 1BET switch 20 is pressed or when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 sends the insert command to the medal count control board 17 when it receives a bet number setting operation for setting the bet number for starting one game. Also, referring to Figure 13, since the insert command is a bidirectional command, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command in response to the insert command to the main control board 16 when it receives the insert command. The insert command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the insert command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the insert command is "3".

The fourth byte stores the number of medals inserted. When the 1BET switch 20 is pressed with the bet number being 0, 1, or 2, the number of medals inserted is 1. When the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 0, the number of medals inserted is 3, when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 1, the number of medals inserted is 2, and when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 2, the number of medals inserted is 1. When the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed and an insert command is sent during the replay operation state, no data is stored in the number of medals inserted. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not an error has occurred in the information sent in the first to fourth bytes. The "replay operation state" refers to the state after the replay role has won.

Figure 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of a settlement command. The settlement command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 sends the settlement command to the medal count control board 17 when it accepts a settlement operation to cancel the bet number for starting one game. Also, referring to Figure 13, since the settlement command is a bidirectional command, when the medal count control board 17 receives the settlement command, it sends a response command in response to the settlement command to the main control board 16. The settlement command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the settlement command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the settlement command is "4".

The fourth byte stores the number of settled medals. If the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed when the bet number is one, the number of settled medals will be one when the bet number is two, the number of settled medals will be two when the bet number is two, and the number of settled medals will be three when the bet number is three. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 22 is a diagram showing the configuration of the start command. The start command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the start switch 7 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 transmits the start command to the medal count control board 17 when starting a game. The start command is transmitted even when the start switch 7 is pressed in the replay operation state. The start command is a command that does not directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, when the medal count control board 17 receives the start command, it does not transmit a response command to the start command to the main control board 16, but performs control according to the start command. The control according to the start command corresponds to, for example, a process of controlling to a state of waiting for the end of the game or a preparation process for receiving the end command. After transmitting the start command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17. The next control is, for example, a control to drive the reels.

The start command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the start command. The second byte stores a sequence number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the start command is "6".

The fourth byte stores the number of input pulses (1 to 3) to be sent to the hall computer. Even in the replay operation state, the specified number of input pulses is sent. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of the end command. The end command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when all the reels have stopped, that is, when the third stop is reached. In other words, the main control board 16 sends the end command to the medal count control board 17 when one game ends. The end command includes the number of medals to be paid out, which is determined according to the combination of the derived symbols. When medals are paid out to the player, the number of credits increases. Therefore, the end command is a command that directly affects the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, when the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it sends a response command to the main control board 16. After sending the end command, the main control board 16 performs the next control on the condition that the response command is received. The next control corresponds to the update process of the data displayed on the game support display 12, etc.

In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it sends a response command in response to the end command to the main control board 16, and performs control according to the end command. The control according to the end command is, for example, control to add the number of medals paid out to the number of credits.

The termination command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the termination command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the termination command is "5".

The fourth byte stores the number of medals paid out. The maximum number of medals paid out is 15. If a replay symbol combination is derived, or if there are no medals paid out, a "0" is stored in the fourth byte. In other words, the end command is a command that can specify the game value that is awarded to a player according to the result of a game when the game ends. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 24 shows the configuration of the payout pulse command. The payout pulse command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when all reels have stopped, i.e., when the third stop has been reached. The payout pulse command is a pulse signal for sending the number of medals awarded to the player in response to winning to a hall computer (not shown) connected to the medal count control board 17. After receiving the payout pulse command, the medal count control board 17 sends a payout pulse signal to the hall computer (not shown). This allows the hall computer to store the number of medals paid out at S-machine 2. The payout pulse command is sent to the medal count control board 17 even when the replay operation is in progress. After sending the payout pulse command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17.

The payout pulse command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the payout pulse command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the payout pulse command is "7".

The fourth byte stores the number of payout pulses to be sent to the hall computer. The maximum number of payout pulses is 15. If a replay symbol combination is derived, or if there are no medals to be paid out, a "0" is stored in the fourth byte. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of a jackpot command. The jackpot command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 at the start and end of a jackpot. The jackpot command is also sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the machine is in a hot start state when the power is turned on. This allows the hall computer signal to be restored in S-machine 2 without having to back up the hall computer signal.

The jackpot command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the jackpot command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the jackpot command is "8".

The fourth byte stores the hall computer signal. The hall computer signal is a signal for notifying the hall computer of the jackpot information for S-machine 2. The jackpot type, such as RB, BB, or AT, is stored. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 26 is a diagram showing the details of the hall computer signal. The hall computer signal is data stored in the fourth byte of the jackpot command. The hall computer signal is composed of one byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is RB. Bit 1 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is BB. Bit 2 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is AT. Bits 3 to 7 are not used and store "0".

Figure 27 shows the configuration of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The gaming machine fraud 1 command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when a setting change or setting confirmation is started or ended.

The gaming machine fraud 1 command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine fraud 1 command is "9."

The fourth byte stores the setting information. The setting information is information when the settings are changed or confirmed, and information indicating whether any fraud was detected at that time. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 28 is a diagram showing details of the setting information. The setting information is data stored in the 4th byte of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The setting information is composed of 1 byte of data from the 0th to 7th bits. The 0th bit stores data indicating whether or not the setting is being changed. The 1st bit stores data indicating whether or not the setting is being confirmed. The 2nd to 4th bits store data indicating whether or not a manufacturer-defined fraud has been detected. The 6th and 7th bits are unused and store "0".

Figure 29 is a diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 2 command. The gaming machine fraud 2 command is an unused command in S machine 2. In S machine 2, the door open detection switch 25 is connected to the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not need to send door information to the medal count control board 17. Therefore, "0" is stored in the fourth byte.

Figure 30 shows the details of the door information. Since the medal count control board 17 detects whether the door is open or closed, all bits contained in the door information are not used and "0" is stored.

Figure 31 shows the configuration of the gaming machine fraud 3 command. The gaming machine fraud 3 command is an unused command in S-machine 2. The gaming machine fraud 3 command is an expansion command, and will be used in the future when it becomes necessary to send a new command from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17.

Figure 32 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main control status command. A main control status command is a command that indicates the status of the main control board 16. The main control status command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 at a predetermined timing. By receiving the main control status command, the medal count control board 17 can obtain the status of the main control board 16 or the S-stand 2.

The main control status command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control status command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control status command is "12". The fourth byte stores the gaming machine status signal. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 33 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main control board error command. The main control board error command is a command that indicates the type of error that has occurred on the main control board 16. The main control board error command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when an error occurs on the main control board 16 and when the error that has occurred is resolved.

The main control board error command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control status command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control board error command is "13". The fourth byte stores an error number. The error number is a number indicating the type of error that has occurred in the main control board 16. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not an error has occurred in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 34 is a diagram showing a list of main control board errors. The error numbers shown in Figure 34 are the error numbers stored in the fourth byte of the main control board error command. E6 is an error number indicating a reel rotation error. The main control board 16 determines that a reel rotation error has occurred if it is unable to detect input from the origin sensor three consecutive times. When a reel rotation error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E6". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 transmits a main control board error command.

E7 is an error number indicating a medal count overflow error. The main control board 16 determines that a medal count overflow error has occurred when the medal count exceeds 16,383. When a medal count overflow error occurs, the main control board 16 sends the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E7". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 sends the main control board error command.

E8 is an error number indicating a backup error. When the main control board 16 checks the RAM after power is turned on and finds that the value does not match the RAM value backed up before the power was cut off, it determines that a backup error has occurred. When a backup error occurs, the main control board 16 sends the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E8". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when the power to S-unit 2 is turned off and the settings are changed again. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 sends the main control board error command.

E9 is an error number indicating a communication abnormality error. If the main control board 16 does not receive a response command before 40 ms has elapsed since sending a command requiring a response command to the medal count control board 17, it determines that a communication abnormality error has occurred. When a communication abnormality error occurs, the main control board 16 sends the fourth byte value of the main control board error command as "E9". When an error release switch (not shown) is pressed, the main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 sends a main control board error command.

Figure 35 shows the structure of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. Gaming machine performance information is information intended to compile performance information. Gaming machine performance information is used to output results calculated based on play.

The gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is composed of 28 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is "14". Gaming machine performance information may be stored in bytes 4 to 27. In this embodiment, "0" is stored in the preliminary area. The 28th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information sent in bytes 1 to 27.

Figure 36 shows a list of commands sent from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16. The medal count control board 17 sends two types of commands to the main control board 16.

A response command is a command for responding to a command received from the main control board 16. For example, when the medal count control board 17 receives an end command, it sends a response command because the end command affects the number of credits. In other words, a response command is a bidirectional command, as it responds in response to receiving it. A command number between 3 and 5 can be set for the response command. The message length of the response command is 4 bytes.

The frame side information command is a command that transmits system information including connection information between the medal count control board 17 and the CU3. The medal count control board 17 transmits the frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 0.3 seconds. The specified period during which the frame side information command is transmitted may be other periods than 0.3 seconds. The main control board 16 does not respond even when it receives a frame side information command. Therefore, the frame side information command is a command that continues to be transmitted unidirectionally from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16, and does not have bidirectionality. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h", and the message length is 4 bytes.

Figure 37 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command. A response command is composed of 4 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the response command. The second byte stores a value indicating the command number. The command number in the response command stores the command number of the received command to which the response is made. When sending a response command to an input command, the medal count control board 17 stores "3" as the command number. When sending a response command to a settlement command, the medal count control board 17 stores "4" as the command number. When sending a response command to a termination command, the medal count control board 17 stores "5" as the command number.

The third byte stores information indicating the result of receiving the response command. The third byte includes a data area of 1 to 4 bits. If the 0th bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "received OK". "Received OK" indicates that the received command received by the medal count control board 17 is normal. In the following, a response command in which the 0th bit in the data area of the third byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating received OK". In other words, the response command is a command that notifies the main control board 16 that the received command has been received normally. The received command is a command sent from the main control board 16 that is the target of the response command. If the 1st bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "serial number mismatch". "Serial number mismatch" indicates that the received command received by the medal count control board 17 is not normal. In the following, a response command in which the 1st bit in the data area of the third byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating serial number mismatch". In other words, the response command indicates that the serial number of the received command that was the subject of the response did not match the serial number calculated by the medal count control board 17.

If the second bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates that there is an "insufficient number of game medals". When the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command as a received command and is requested to subtract credits, but there is an insufficient number of credits, a response command with "1" stored in the second bit is sent.

If the third bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "game medal count overflow". When the medal count control board 17 receives a settlement command as a received command and the number of credits (game medal count) is at the upper limit, a response command with "1" stored in the third bit is sent. The fourth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through third bytes.

Figure 38 shows the structure of a frame side information command. As mentioned above, the frame side information command is sent from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16 every 0.3 seconds.

The frame side information command is composed of 4 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the frame side information command. The second byte stores the command number. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h". The third byte stores information indicating the system status of the medal count control board 17. The system status of the medal count control board 17 includes information on whether the count button has been pressed and whether the CU 3 and medal count control board 17 are normally connected. The fourth byte stores a checksum to determine whether an error has occurred in the information sent in the first to third bytes.

[Communication between the main control board and the medal count control board]
Fig. 39 is a diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. Serial communication is adopted for communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. As shown in Fig. 39, the main control board 16 transmits an input command in response to a bet number setting operation. The bet number setting operation includes pressing the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6.

When the medal count control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16, it uses a counter to measure the elapsed time. If reception of the command is not completed within 10 ms from when the command was received from the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of Figure 39, the medal count control board 17 completes reception of the insertion command before 10 ms has elapsed since receiving the command, so no timeout error occurs.

The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command. When the main control board 16 receives a command from the medal count control board 17, it uses a counter to measure the elapsed time. If reception of the command is not completed within 2.24 ms from when the command was received from the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 39, reception of the response command is completed before 2.24 ms has elapsed since it was received by the main control board 16, so no timeout error occurs.

In addition, when the main control board 16 transmits a command that requires a response command from the medal count control board 17, such as a deposit command, the main control board 16 uses a counter to measure the elapsed time from the bet number setting operation that triggered the transmission of the deposit command.

If the reception of the response command from the medal count control board 17 is not completed within 40 ms from the occurrence of an event such as a bet number setting operation, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 39, the reception of the response command is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the bet number setting operation, so a timeout error does not occur.

After receiving the response command to the input command, the main control board 16 starts control corresponding to the bet amount setting operation. In other words, the main control board 16 subtracts the number of credits displayed on the credit display 11.

Then, the start switch 7 of S-machine 2 is pressed by the player. In response to the start switch 7 being pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command to the medal count control board 17. As mentioned above, the start command is a command that does not require a response command from the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not send a response command.

Finally, when the player performs the third stop operation, all the reels stop. Based on the fact that all the reels have stopped, the main control board 16 sends an end command to the medal count control board 17. In this example, even though the end command requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 does not send the response command. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not receive a response command until 40 ms has elapsed since all the reels stopped, and determines that a timeout error has occurred.

Figure 40 is a diagram for explaining the communication of frame side information commands. As shown in Figure 40, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 300 ms. If a period of more than 2.24 ms has passed since the start of reception of the frame side information command until the reception is completed, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred.

Figure 41 is a flowchart showing the processing performed when the main control board 16 receives a command. As shown in Figure 36, the medal count control board 17 transmits two types of commands to the main control board 16: a response command or a frame side information command.

Referring to FIG. 41, the main control board 16 receives a command from the medal count control board 17 (step S10). The main control board 16 judges whether the received command is a frame side information command (step S11). If the received command is a frame side information command (YES in step S11), the main control board 16 checks whether the frame side information command contains error information (step S12). The error information is information indicating whether the CU 3 is normally connected to the S-stand 2. If the frame side information command contains error information (YES in step S12), the main control board 16 transmits the error information to the performance control board 15 and ends the process. This allows the performance control board 15 to display on the liquid crystal display 51 that an error has occurred in which the CU 3 is not connected to the S-stand 2. If the frame side information command does not contain error information (NO in step S12), the process ends.

If the received command is not a frame side information command (NO in step S11), that is, if the received command is a response command, the main control board 16 executes processing according to the response command and ends the processing.

Figure 42 is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 after the power is turned on. When the power-on switch 102 is pressed and the power is turned on to the main control board 16, the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command. After that, when the bet number setting operation is performed, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command. Since the insertion command requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the insertion command. For example, if there is a surplus of game medals, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), if the serial numbers do not match, the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial number mismatch), and if the number of game medals is insufficient, the 2nd bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (insufficient number of game medals).

Then, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal count control board 17 based on the settlement operation being performed. The settlement operation is an operation indicating that the bet number clear switch 21 has been pressed. This executes a process of returning the bet number to the credit number. Since the settlement command is a command that requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the settlement command. For example, if there is a surplus of game medals, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), if the serial numbers do not match, the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial number mismatch), and if the game medal number overflows, the 3rd bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (game medal number overflow).

In FIG. 42, the bet number is set again, and communication is performed based on the bet number setting operation. Next, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command to the medal count control board 17. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 performs control to progress the game, such as control to drive the reels, without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17. When the medal count control board 17 receives the start command from the main control board 16, it controls the game to wait for the end of the game as a control in response to the start command. Since the start command is a command that does not require a response command, the medal count control board 17 does not send a response command.

When all reels have stopped, the main control board 16 sends an end command to the medal count control board 17. When the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it sends a response command to the main control board 16. For example, if the end command is normal, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), and if the serial numbers do not match, it sets the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial numbers do not match). Next, the main control board 16 sends the role information command, advantageous zone command, and payout pulse command to the medal count control board 17 in that order.

In this way, when the main control board 16 starts a game, it sends a start command and executes the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17, since this does not affect the number of credits, and when ending a game, it sends an end command and executes the next control on the condition that it has received a response command sent from the medal count control board 17, since this may affect the number of credits. In this way, by improving the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 can progress through the game while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

[Example of processing for serial numbers]
As described above, the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 communicate using serial numbers. That is, the medal count control board 17 executes a process to check whether the serial numbers match in order to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal. An example of the process for the serial numbers will be explained below with reference to Figures 43 to 45. Figure 43 is a diagram showing an example of communication when the serial number is normal.

When the power is turned on, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17. As explained above, the serial number assigned to the gaming machine installation information command is "0". The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number based on the main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command. In the example of FIG. 43, the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" and the additional value to be "13". Using a similar calculation method, the main control board 16 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" and the additional value to be "13" based on the main chip ID.

After the gaming machine installation information command is sent, the bet number is set, and the main control board 16 sends a deposit command. This deposit command is the first command sent to the medal count control board 17 after the gaming machine installation information command is sent. Therefore, the main control board 16 assigns the initial value "137" as a serial number to this deposit command and sends it. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command to this deposit command. At this time, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating that the medal count control board 17 has received the command, because the communication was normal. In other words, when the medal count control board 17 determines that the deposit command sent from the main control board 16 is normal by checking whether the serial numbers match, it responds to the deposit command by sending a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the deposit command is normal.

Next, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command. At this time, the main control board 16 adds an additional value of "13" to the previously sent serial number value of "137" and sends it. In other words, the main control board 16 sends the start command with a serial number of "150".

When the medal count control board 17 receives an input command with a serial number of "137", it calculates that the serial number of the next command to be received will be "150" based on the added value. When the medal count control board 17 receives a start command, it executes a process to check whether the serial number value calculated before reception matches the serial number value assigned to the start command actually received. Because the serial numbers match, the medal count control board 17 determines that communication is normal.

Figure 44 is a diagram showing an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs. The process up until the main control board 16 receives a response command corresponding to the bet number setting operation is the same as in Figure 42, so the explanation will not be repeated. As described above, when the medal count control board 17 receives the insertion command, it calculates that the serial number assigned to the next command to be received is "150".

In the example of FIG. 44, after the bet number setting operation, an illegal operation is performed. As described above, an illegal operation refers to, for example, an operation in which the command transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation in which a fraudster controls the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. In FIG. 44, the main control board 16 is controlled by a fraudster, so that the main control board 16 transmits an end command even though all the reels have not stopped. That is, in FIG. 44, an illegal operation is performed with the aim of making the medal count control board 17 execute a payout process even though no winning has occurred. However, since the fraudster cannot obtain the initial value and the added value of the serial number determined based on the main chip ID of the main control board 16, and further the number of times the command has been transmitted and received, he cannot know the value of the serial number to be assigned to the next command. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 44, the fraudster sends the end command with the serial number "78", but the medal count control board 17 determines that a serial number mismatch error has occurred because the calculated serial number "150" does not match the actually received serial number "78", and sends a response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match to the main control board 16. That is, when the medal count control board 17 determines that the end command sent from the main control board 16 is not normal by the process of checking whether the serial numbers match, it responds to the end command by sending a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the end command is not normal. The main control board 16, which receives the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match, does not execute the payout control that is performed after the end command. This makes it possible to prevent fraudulent operations.

Illegal operations include not only those that cause the main control board 16 to send an end command even though no winning has occurred, as shown in Figure 44, but also the following types of illegal operations.

For example, one possible fraudulent operation would be to have the main control board 16 send a bet cancellation command even though the bet amount set in the BET counter of RAM 161c in the main control board 16 is 0. This would allow the fraudster to increase the number of credits stored in the medal count control board 17 even though no bet amount has been set.

Another possible fraudulent operation would be altering the response command sent by the medal count control board 17 in response to the insertion command sent by the main control board 16. For example, a fraudster could make the medal count control board 17 send a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16 even though the number of credits is "0". This would allow the fraudster to set the bet amount even though the number of credits is "0".

Thus, possible types of fraudulent operations include forging commands sent by the main control board 16, and forging commands sent by the medal count control board 17. In the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, the use of a "serial number" makes it possible to prevent all of the fraudulent operations described above.

Next, a start command with the serial number "150" attached is sent to the medal count control board 17. The serial number "150" attached to the start command matches the serial number calculated in advance by the medal count control board 17. Because they match, the medal count control board 17 determines that the serial number mismatch error has been resolved, and sends a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16. In this way, S-stand 2 can easily determine that the medal count control board 17 has resolved the serial number mismatch error.

As shown in Figures 43 and 44, when the medal count control board 17 receives a command sent from the main control board 16, it uses the initial value of the serial number and the additional value to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal or not. In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives a command that requires a response, it sends a response command, and further, the response command is provided with information indicating whether the communication is normal or not, so that the main control board 16 can proceed with the game while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 44, if the serial numbers do not match, it is possible to determine that tampering may have occurred, thereby increasing security regarding communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

Figure 45 is a diagram showing an example of communication when an error related to game medals occurs. The processing up until the medal count control board 17 receives the start command is the same as in Figure 42, so the explanation will not be repeated. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 sends an end command with the serial number "163" attached based on the fact that all reels have stopped. At this time, the end command is attached with the number of medals to be paid out, but since the number of credits is the upper limit, an error related to game medals occurs. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating a game medal count overflow to the main control board 16. As a result, the main control board 16 does not execute the processing related to payout.

Then, the number of credits is subtracted based on the operation of the counting button 10, etc., and the medal count control board 17 is in a state where it can accept the payment of medals. In other words, the error related to the game medals is resolved. After that, the main control board 16 again sends an end command with the serial number "163" to the medal count control board 17. In response, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating that the medals have been received, since no error related to the game medals has occurred.

[Communication before transmission/reception of gaming machine installation information command]
46 is a diagram showing an example of communication occurring before the transmission and reception of the gaming machine installation information command. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17 after the power is turned on.

In the example of FIG. 46, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17 after power is turned on and before transmitting the gaming machine installation information command. If the medal count control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16 before receiving the gaming machine installation information command, it discards the command regardless of the type of command or the assigned serial number. In other words, the medal count control board 17 does not execute processing in response to commands other than the gaming machine installation information command from the main control board 16 until it receives at least the gaming machine installation information command.

As a result, the medal count control board 17 does not communicate with the main control board 16 when communication with the main control board 16 has not been established based on the gaming machine installation information command, thereby improving security regarding communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In other words, it is possible to prevent unauthorized operations that are performed before the gaming machine installation information command is received.

In the example of FIG. 46, after the end command is discarded, when the power is turned on, a gaming machine installation information command A is sent to the medal count control board 17. The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value in the serial number based on receiving the gaming machine installation information command A.

Next, in FIG. 46, the medal count control board 17 receives gaming machine installation information command B from the main control board 16. At this time, since the medal count control board 17 has already received gaming machine installation information command A, it does not update the initial value and the additional value of the serial number based on gaming machine installation information command B. In other words, even if the gaming machine installation information command is sent again from the main control board 16 after receiving the gaming machine installation information command, the medal count control board 17 does not execute processing according to the gaming machine installation information command.

This allows the medal count control board 17 to prevent, for example, impersonation of the main control board 16 by an unauthorized board other than the main control board 16 connected to the medal count control board 17. In other words, it is possible to prevent the initial value and the additional value of the serial number from being illegally rewritten.

[Power-on timeout]
47 is a diagram showing an example of a timeout when the power is turned on. The main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command when the power is turned on. The main control board 16 measures the elapsed time from when the power is turned on using a counter.

If the main control board 16 does not complete transmission of the gaming machine installation information command by the time 5000 ms has elapsed since the main control board 16 was powered on, the main control board 16 determines that an error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In other words, the medal count control board 17 controls to an abnormal state when it is unable to receive the gaming machine installation information command within 5000 ms after S-stand 2 is powered on. In the example of FIG. 47, since the gaming machine installation information command has not been transmitted by the time 5000 ms has elapsed since the main control board 16 was powered on, the medal count control board 17 determines that a communication error has occurred. The medal count control board 17 displays the fact that a communication error has occurred on the display 312 of CU3.

As a result, if communication cannot be established with the medal count control board 17 based on the gaming machine installation information command after the power to S-unit 2 is turned on, the medal count control board 17 can notify the outside that there is a communication abnormality.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to the CU control board 32. Even if a communication error occurs in the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17 can communicate with the CU control board 32.

The communication error that occurred in the main control board 16 is resolved by turning the power back on, the gaming machine installation information command being sent successfully within 5000 ms from when the main control board 16 was powered on, and the medal count control board 17 sending a response command indicating receipt OK.

[About bet setting and settlement operations]
48 is a diagram for explaining the bet number setting operation and the settlement operation. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal number control board 17 based on the bet number setting operation in which the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed. In addition, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal number control board 17 based on the settlement operation in which the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed.

As shown in FIG. 48, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal count control board 17 based on the bet number setting operation being performed. The insertion command is a command that includes the number of inserted medals. The medal count control board 17 reads the number of inserted medals included in the received insertion command and performs the bet number setting process. Specifically, it subtracts the number of inserted medals from the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17 and adds the number of inserted medals to the bet number. For example, if the number of bets before the bet number setting process is performed is 0 and the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed as the bet number setting operation, the medal count control board 17 subtracts 3 from the number of credits and adds 3 to the bet number. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the insertion command.

Then, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal count control board 17 based on the settlement operation being performed. The settlement command is a command that includes the settlement medal count. The medal count control board 17 reads the settlement medal count included in the received settlement command and performs a bet number cancellation process. Specifically, it subtracts the settlement medal count from the bet number managed by the medal count control board 17 and adds the settlement medal count to the credit number. For example, if the bet number before the bet number cancellation process is executed is three coins and the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed, the medal count control board 17 subtracts three coins from the bet number and adds three coins to the credit number. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the settlement command.

Here, the medal count control board 17 transmits a common response command to the insertion command and the settlement command. That is, the medal count control board 17 transmits a common response command to the main control board 16 when it receives an insertion command and when it receives a settlement command. Specifically, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 when it receives an insertion command and when it receives a settlement command. Here, when the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command, it does not execute the process of adding the number of credits (number of game medals), so game medal number overflow cannot occur. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not store "1" in the third bit of the third byte of the response command to the insertion command and transmit it.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 receives a settlement command, it does not execute the process of subtracting the number of credits, so a shortage of game medals cannot occur. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not store "1" in the second bit of the third byte of the response command to the input command and transmit it.

In this way, the medal count control board 17 notifies the main control board 16 of a medal shortage or medal overflow by differently using the data stored in the third byte when an insertion command is received and when a settlement command is received. This allows the medal count control board 17 to use a common response command when a bet number setting operation is performed and when a bet number cancellation operation is performed, thereby reducing the processing burden.

Figure 49 shows an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a bet number setting operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 49, the main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on bet number setting operation A. The main control board 16 controls the deposit command so that it is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the start of transmission, so as to prevent a timeout error. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 49, after accepting bet number setting operation A and before receiving a response command to the input command based on bet number setting operation A, a new bet number setting operation B is performed. The main control board 16 does not accept bet number setting operation B. In other words, after sending an input command to the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new bet number setting operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to bet number setting operation A has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 50 shows an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 50, the main control board 16 sends a settlement command based on settlement operation A. The main control board 16 controls the transmission of the settlement command so that it is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the start of transmission, so as to prevent a timeout error. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command in response to receiving the settlement command.

In the example of FIG. 50, after settlement operation A is accepted, a new settlement operation B is performed before a response command to the input command based on settlement operation A is received. The main control board 16 does not accept settlement operation B. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends a settlement command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new settlement operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to settlement operation A has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 51 shows an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after the bet amount setting operation and before the response command is received. As shown in Figure 51, the main control board 16 transmits a deposit command based on the bet amount setting operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 51, after the bet number setting operation is accepted, a new settlement operation is performed before the response command to the input command based on the bet number setting operation is received. The main control board 16 does not accept this settlement operation. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends an input command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new settlement operation from being accepted in a situation where the processing in response to the bet number setting operation has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 52 shows an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 52, the main control board 16 transmits a deposit command based on the settlement operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 52, after a settlement operation is accepted, a new bet number setting operation is performed before a response command to the settlement command based on the settlement operation is received. The main control board 16 does not accept the bet number setting operation. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends a settlement command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new bet number setting operation from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to the settlement operation has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

[Bet setting operation and serial number]
53 is a diagram for explaining a serial number error in a bet number setting operation. As shown in FIG. 53, the medal number control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" based on receiving a gaming machine installation information command.

After that, a bet number setting operation is performed on S-machine 2. The main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on the bet number setting operation. The deposit command is assigned the serial number "78". In other words, the serial number assigned to the deposit command does not match the initial serial number value. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the serial numbers do not match. The main control board 16 does not accept new bet number setting operations from the time it receives the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match. In other words, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating that there is an abnormality, it does not resume accepting bet number setting operations.

Figure 54 is a diagram explaining a serial number error during a settlement operation. As shown in Figure 54, the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" based on receiving the gaming machine installation information command.

After that, the bet number is set on S-machine 2. The main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on the bet number setting operation. The deposit command is assigned the serial number "137". In other words, the serial number assigned to the deposit command matches the initial serial number value. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16. Based on receiving the response command indicating receipt OK, the main control board 16 accepts the bet number setting operation and performs the following control.

Next, in FIG. 54, a settlement operation is performed. The main control board 16 sends a settlement command based on the settlement operation. The settlement command is assigned the serial number "78". In other words, the serial number assigned to the settlement command does not match the serial number calculated by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating a serial number mismatch to the main control board 16. Based on receiving the response command indicating a serial number mismatch, the main control board 16 does not accept a new settlement operation. In other words, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating an abnormality, it does not resume accepting settlement operations.

Referring to Figures 53 and 54, the main control board 16 can prevent a new bet number setting operation or a bet number cancellation operation from being accepted when processing corresponding to the bet number setting operation or settlement operation has not been confirmed on the medal number control board 17.

[Frame side information confirmation process]
55 is a diagram explaining the confirmation process of the frame side information. As described above, the medal count control board 17 transmits a frame side information command to the main control board 16 at regular intervals. The system information contained in the frame side information command includes information indicating the connection status indicating whether the medal count control board 17 and the CU control board 32 are normally connected.

In the example of Figure 55, the connection between the medal count control board 17 and the CU control board 32 is disconnected. After the connection is disconnected, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command indicating a connection abnormality to the main control board 16. After the main control board 16 receives the frame side information command indicating a connection abnormality, the start switch 7 is pressed. At this time, the main control board 16 does not send a start command.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 55, even after the main control board 16 receives a frame side information command indicating a connection abnormality, if a bet number setting operation and a settlement operation are performed, the main control board 16 sends a deposit command and a settlement command. That is, when the main control board 16 receives a bet number setting operation to set the bet number for starting one game, it sends a deposit command to the medal number control board 17 regardless of whether the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU3 is normal or not. Also, when the main control board 16 receives a settlement operation to cancel the bet number for starting one game, it sends a settlement command to the medal number control board 17 regardless of whether the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU3 is normal or not. Furthermore, the main control board 16 sends a start command after the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU control board 32 is restored and the main control board 16 receives a frame side information command indicating a normal connection. That is, at the start of a game, the main control board 16 checks the connection status between the medal count control board 17 and the CU 3 based on the frame side information command, and starts the game if the connection between the medal count control board 17 and the CU 3 is normal. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17. The next control is, for example, drive control of the reels to start the game.

As a result, the main control board 16 starts a game on the condition that the connection between the medal count control board 17 and CU3 is normal, so the game can proceed while checking the status of the medal count control board 17. Furthermore, since the main control board 16 does not affect the game value when starting a game, after sending the start command, it can execute the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17.

In addition, the main control board 16 can send a deposit command in response to the bet number setting operation and a settlement command in response to the settlement operation, regardless of whether the connection between the medal count control board 17 and the CU3 is normal or not.

[Display of payout quantity]
FIG. 56 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the payout number. After all reels are stopped, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17. The end command shown in FIG. 56 is a command involving at least one or more payout medals. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command based on receiving the end command. In addition, the medal count control board 17 adds the number of credits and updates the credit display 11 according to the number of payout medals indicated by the end command. After receiving the response command, the main control board 16 displays the number of payout medals on the game auxiliary display 12. That is, after transmitting the end command, the main control board 16 causes the game auxiliary display 12 to display the number of payout medals on the condition that the response command is received. This allows the main control board 16 to display the number of payout medals on the game auxiliary display 12 while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

After transmitting the response command, the main control board 16 transmits a role information command, a favorable zone command, and a payout pulse command. In other words, after transmitting the end command, the main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17 a role information command and a favorable zone command that can identify whether or not the special role is being controlled to a winning state, on the condition that the main control board 16 has received the response command. This allows the main control board 16 to inform the medal count control board 17 of whether or not it is being controlled to a favorable zone, etc., while checking the status of the medal count control board 17, and therefore allows the medal count control board 17 to output the proportion of the payout number awarded in the favorable zone, etc., while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

[About the Yakubi Monitor]
FIG. 57 is a diagram showing the role ratio monitor 89. In FIG. 57, the role ratio monitor 89 when turned off is shown. As shown in FIG. 57, the role ratio monitor 89 is composed of five role ratio information displays 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e that can turn on/off the first segment A, the second segment B, the third segment C, the fourth segment D, the fifth segment E, the sixth segment F, the seventh segment G, and the eighth segment DP, respectively, and the medal count control board 17 is a display that can display various information by turning on or off the first to eighth segments A to DP by setting display data for each of the role ratio information displays 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e.

Figure 58 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the role ratio monitor 89. The medal count control board 17 causes the role ratio monitor 89 to display, in the order of (1) to (6), (1) the instructed role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, (2) the consecutive role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, (3) the role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, (4) the consecutive role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, (5) the role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and (6) the role etc. status ratio to the total cumulative payout number. Hereinafter, the information shown in (1) to (6) may be referred to as the display contents.

The payout ratio of the special role (BB) is the ratio of the payout number of the special role (RB) to the payout number of the specified period. The consecutive role ratio is the ratio of the payout number of the special role (RB) to the payout number of the specified period. The payout ratio of the special role including the instruction is the ratio of the payout number of the special role to the payout number of the specified period when the payout number at the time of the instruction (navigation) is included in the payout number of the special role. In other words, it is the ratio of the cumulative number of the medals paid out when the navigation notification is performed and the number of medals paid out in BB or RB to the total cumulative payout number of medals. The ratio of the special role etc. state is the ratio of the number of times of the game when the special role (BB, RB, CB, and SB) is won to the number of times of the game in the specified period. In other words, the role ratio monitor 89 outputs the ratio of the number of medals paid out when the special role is won to the total number of medals paid out. The display content shown on the role ratio monitor 89 is calculated by the medal count control board 17.

When the medal count control unit 171 switches and displays the display contents in the display order (1) to (6) shown in FIG. 58 and described above at predetermined intervals, even if the game progresses and these values can be updated to new values within a period until each display has completed a cycle, it restricts the updating to new values and cycles through the display using the original values.

In detail, if the game progresses and these values can be updated to new values within a period until the display is completed, new values are calculated and stored in the RAM 171c, but the new values are not set in the output buffer for displaying the display contents on the role ratio monitor 89, and the original values are set, so that the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is completed using the original values set in the output buffer, and when the display is completed, a new value is set in the output buffer, and the new values are then displayed. Also, if the values can be updated to new values within a period until the display is completed, the calculation for obtaining new values is restricted, the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is completed, and when the display is completed, a calculation for obtaining new values is performed, and then the new values are used to display the display on the role ratio monitor 89. In this way, it is possible to prevent values calculated at different times from being mixed together during the period until the display contents on the role ratio monitor 89 are completed.

In addition, if the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games and the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number exceed a prescribed ratio (for example, 60%), the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio in a different display mode from the normal mode (for example, if the normal mode is always on, the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 flash).In addition, if the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games and the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number exceed a prescribed ratio (for example, 70%), the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio in a different display mode from the normal mode (for example, if the normal mode is always on, the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 flash).

In this way, when the consecutive feature payout ratio or feature payout ratio exceeds a prescribed ratio, it is displayed in a different way than usual, to warn that there is a possibility that the game is being controlled to a highly gambling state.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio and payout ratio of the past 6000 games on the role ratio monitor 89, if the total number of games played since the power was turned on has not reached 6000 games, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal display mode, for example, by blinking all the digits on the role ratio monitor 89, so that it can be recognized that the tally has not reached 6000 games. That is, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, the medal count control board 17 blinks all the digits on the role ratio monitor 89 when the period in which 6000 games are consumed has not elapsed since the start of accumulation of the data used in the process. Note that, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, the medal count control board 17 may blink some of the digits on the role ratio monitor 89 when the period in which 6000 games are consumed has not elapsed since the start of accumulation of the data used in the process. This makes it possible to recognize the possibility that there is a bias in the displayed ratios and rates, and the medal count control board 17 can notify the outside that there may be a lack of data when displaying the continuous feature payout ratio and feature payout ratio on the feature ratio monitor 89.

In addition, the medal count control board 17 may display "00" in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 when 6000 games have not been reached, and may display the ratio or rate to be displayed in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 after 6000 games have been reached. In other words, it is preferable to configure the display mode of the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 to be different from the display mode after 6000 games when 6000 games have not been reached. By configuring in this way, when 6000 games have not been reached, it is possible to recognize that the tally of the consecutive role payout ratio, etc., specified by the display of the highest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 (for example, "1C") has not reached 6000 games, and it is possible to recognize that there is a bias in the displayed ratio or rate. In addition, by configuring the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 to display "00" when 6000 games have not been reached, data will always be displayed in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 when 6000 games have not been reached. For example, if no data is displayed in one of the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89, an abnormality in the role ratio monitor 89 can be recognized.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive feature payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number on the feature ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (e.g., 175,000 games) at which the consecutive feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the feature ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the consecutive feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine has not been reached and that there may be a bias in the displayed rate and ratio.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the payout ratio of the reel to the total cumulative payout number on the reel ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (e.g., 175,000 games) at which the payout ratio of the reel converges to the design value of the slot machine, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the reel ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the payout ratio of the reel converges to the design value of the slot machine has not been reached and that there may be a bias in the displayed rate and ratio.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the instruction-based feature payout ratio relative to the total cumulative payout number on the role ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (for example, 175,000 games) at which the instruction-based feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the instruction-based feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine has not been reached, and it is possible to recognize that there may be a bias in the displayed rate and ratio.

The medal count control board 17 also determines whether the data used to calculate the consecutive feature payout ratio and feature payout ratio for the past 6000 games is normal, and if it is determined to be abnormal (for example, if the stored value is in a certain data format (such as 01 repetition)), it initializes the data determined to be abnormal and the data related to that data, and causes the feature ratio monitor 89 to display (for example, "FFFF") that an abnormality has been detected, thereby notifying the user that the calculation of this data is not normal.

When initializing data determined to be abnormal and data related to that data, for example, if either the consecutive feature payout ratio or the feature payout ratio over the past 6,000 games is determined to be abnormal, all of the data related to this may be initialized, or only a portion of the data may be initialized.

In addition, the data used to calculate the continuous feature payout ratio, feature payout ratio, and command-included feature payout ratio for the past 6000 games or total cumulative payout coins may be judged as normal, and if an abnormality is judged, a notification to that effect may be issued, and then the data may be initialized by performing a specified operation (for example, operating switches such as start switch 7, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and setting key switch 37 in a specified sequence).

In addition, when an abnormality is detected, the notification may be given by having the role ratio monitor 89 display an abnormality (for example, "FFFF") as described above, or, when an abnormality is detected, a command that can identify the abnormality may be sent to the performance control unit 151, and the performance control unit 151 may notify the user of the abnormality using the LCD display 51 or the like.

In this embodiment, during the period from when the power is turned on until the power supply is stopped, the commanded payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games, the payout ratio of the past 6000 games, the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, the payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, and the ratio of the status of the game etc. to the total cumulative payout number are switched and displayed every predetermined period, but they may be displayed only when the open state of the front door 1b is detected, or only when the operation of a predetermined operation switch (for example, the reset/setting switch 38) is detected, or when not playing a game, or when the settings are changed or confirmed, or only for a predetermined period after the power is turned on. Also, instead of automatically switching every predetermined period, the display contents may be switched every time a predetermined operation is performed.

In addition, in this embodiment, the role ratio monitor 89 is used to notify the user that an abnormality has been detected in the data used to calculate the display content of the role ratio monitor 89, or that there is a period of time in which there is insufficient data to calculate the display content. However, a command that can identify this fact may be sent to the performance control unit 151, so that the information can be confirmed on the LCD display 51 or performance device controlled by the performance control unit 151.

In addition, in this embodiment, the instructed payout ratio of the device to the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the consecutive payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, the payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, and the device status ratio for the total cumulative payout number are displayed on the device ratio monitor 89. In addition to these displays, the device ratio monitor 89 may also display information that allows the user to recognize when the RAM 171c has been initialized due to a setting change, or when a break has been detected in the wiring (such as the wiring for the backup power supply) installed on the S-stand 2.

In particular, when settings are changed during a bonus, during an advantageous period, or while a bonus is being carried over, and the bonus or advantageous period is forcibly ended, or a carried-over bonus is cleared, or when a game is played more than the specified number of times while a bonus is being carried over, or when an operation is performed intentionally to end an advantageous period, i.e., when a game state that is relatively advantageous to the player is intentionally shifted to an unfavorable game state, or when it is detected that the combination ratio monitor 89 is not properly connected due to a disconnection or the like, a notification to that effect is issued in an identifiable manner. In this way, it is possible to recognize the possibility that an unauthorized operation has been performed so that correct information such as the combination payout ratio, consecutive combination payout ratio, and combination payout ratio with instructions is not displayed.

In addition, in a configuration in which the total cumulative data is initialized to avoid overflow of the total cumulative number of games played or the total cumulative number of payouts, it is preferable to notify the user of this in a manner that is identifiable and different from the case in which there is a possibility of fraudulent operation so that correct information is not displayed as the aforementioned feature payout ratio, continuous feature payout ratio, and instruction-included feature payout ratio. In this way, the user can be made aware that the total cumulative number of games played or the total cumulative number of payouts has been initialized by the process to avoid overflow, separately from initialization due to fraudulent operation to prevent correct information from being displayed as the feature payout ratio, etc.

As mentioned above, if there is a possibility of fraudulent operation so that correct information such as the payout ratio of reels, consecutive reels, or instructed reels payout ratio is not displayed, this is detected and the history of the detection is recorded on the medal count control board 17 side, and without announcing the detection, a specified operation is then performed, so that the history can be confirmed on a display provided on the medal count control board 17 side (e.g., the payout ratio monitor 89, etc.), a display provided on the performance control unit 151 side (e.g., the liquid crystal display 51, etc.), or an external display of the S-stand 2 (e.g., the display 312, etc.).

It may also be possible to confirm on a display or presentation device controlled by the presentation control unit 151 that the settings have been changed, that a disconnection has been detected, that a connection failure has occurred in the role ratio monitor 89 and the correct information may not be displayed as the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc., and that as described above, the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc. may have been improperly operated so that the correct information is not displayed. In addition, the presentation control unit 151 may record a history of detections of possible improper operations so that the correct information is not displayed as the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc., by changing the settings during a bonus, during a favorable zone, or while a bonus is being carried over, forcing the bonus or favorable zone to end, or clearing the carried-over bonus, and the like, and this history may be confirmed by a specified operation.

The ratio displays may be displayed not only on the winning ratio monitor 89 but also on the credit display 11. The credit display 11 is a display that displays information according to the progress of the game, and since the ratio display cannot be displayed all the time, it is preferable to display the ratio display when a predetermined operation is performed by a game store employee or the like when no game is being played, and to switch to the original display content that was displayed before the ratio display was displayed and end the ratio display when any of the following is detected while the credit display 11 is displaying the ratio display: closing of the front door 1b, operation of setting the number of bets on the S-machine 2, occurrence of an error, operation of the setting key switch 37, operation of the number of bets clear switch 21, or interruption of the power supply to the S-machine 2.

[Initialization process of role ratio information]
59 is a diagram for explaining the initialization process of the role ratio information. As shown in FIG. 59, after the power is turned on, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command A to the medal count control board 17. After that, the game is repeated, and the main control board 16 transmits the advantageous zone command and the payout pulse command to the medal count control board 17.

The medal count control board 17 executes a backup process to store the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 based on receiving a payout pulse command. The role ratio information is data used to calculate the data to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, and is included in the role information command, the advantageous zone command, and the payout pulse command. The medal count control board 17 may store the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 each time it receives a command including the role ratio information.

In the example of FIG. 59, after the backup process is executed, an illegal operation is performed on the main control board 16. As described above, the "illegal operation" refers to an operation in which the command exchanged between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation to illegally control the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 44, due to the illegal operation, the main control board 16 is controlled by an illegally connected device, and the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command B to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the medal count control board 17 again executes backup initialization to initialize the role ratio information stored in the backup memory 294 based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command. In other words, the medal count control board 17 initializes the data used to display the role ratio monitor 89 when the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command is different from the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command received last time.

As a result, the medal count control board 17 initializes the data used to display the role ratio information if the main control board 16 is not legitimate based on the main chip ID possessed by the main control board 16, thereby ensuring that the correct role ratio corresponding to each slot machine is output.

[Regarding gaming programs and non-gaming programs]
The main control unit 161 of the S-unit 2 in this embodiment executes a game program and a non-game program. A game program is a program in which instructions related to the progress of a game, such as an internal lottery process, are written. A non-game program is a program in which instructions that are not directly related to the progress of a game, such as data output processing to a winning combination monitor, are written. If data is unintentionally mixed between a game program and a non-game program, a malfunction may occur. For example, if data in a non-game RAM area is rewritten despite the fact that data in the game RAM area should be rewritten by an instruction from a game program, this may result in a malfunction of the program. In order to prevent such malfunctions, the main control unit 161 distinguishes between a game program and a non-game program, executes the program, and progresses the game.

The areas in which non-game programs and game programs are stored are described below with reference to Figure 60. Figure 60 is an address map of the memory area used by the main control unit 161. As shown in Figure 60, the memory area used by the main control unit 161 includes a memory area (0000H to EFFFH) allocated to ROM 161b and a memory area (F000H to FFFFH) allocated to RAM 161c.

The memory area of ROM 161b consists of a program/data area where programs and fixed data are stored, an unused area where access is prohibited, and other areas. The other areas include a ROM comment area where any data such as the program title and version can be set, a vector table area where the upper addresses of the subroutines of the CALLV instruction and the top address of the timer interrupt process (main) are set, a HW parameter area where parameters for setting the internal functions of the main control unit 161 in hardware terms are set, and an unused area where access is prohibited.

The memory area of RAM 161c consists of a usable area (F000H to F400H) that can be used as a work area, and other areas (F401H to FFFFH). The other areas include an internal function register area (FE00H to FEACH) that stores registers for controlling each function mounted in the main control unit 161. Each function mounted in the main control unit 161 includes, for example, the function of the serial communication circuit described below. In other words, the internal function register area of RAM 161c includes a storage area for setting the functions of the serial communication circuit.

The program/data areas in ROM 161b include a game program area in which game programs related to the progress of the game are stored, a game data area in which game data used by the game programs is stored, unused area 1, a non-game program area in which non-game programs not related to the progress of the game are stored, a non-game data area in which non-game data used by the non-game programs is stored, and unused area 2.

The progression of a game refers to the progression of a series of processes that make up the game. In the case of a slot machine, this refers to the progression of the stages: setting the bet amount so that the game can begin, starting the game and spinning the reels, stopping the reels to derive a display result, and awarding value such as medals according to the display result.

Note that in the above, "before" or "after" a storage area refers to the relationship between the address values assigned to the storage areas, with the smaller address being the front and the larger address being the back. Therefore, a storage area allocated behind a certain storage area corresponds to a storage area with a larger address value than that storage area, and a storage area allocated ahead of a certain storage area corresponds to a storage area with a smaller address value than that storage area.

RAM 161c includes a game RAM area used by game programs as a work area, an unused area 3, a stack area to which game programs save data, a non-game RAM area used by non-game programs as a work area, an unused area 4, and a stack area to which non-game programs save data.

The game RAM area is made up of areas A to D. Areas A to D are referred to as the areas to be fully initialized, areas B to D are referred to as the areas to be initialized when a setting change ends, areas C to D are referred to as the areas to be initialized when a bonus (BB) ends, and area D is referred to as the area to be initialized when each game ends. The areas to be fully initialized are areas that are initialized by performing a specified operation when a RAM error occurs. The areas to be initialized when a setting change ends are areas that are initialized when a setting change ends. The areas to be initialized when a bonus ends are areas that are initialized when a bonus ends. The areas to be initialized when each game ends are areas that are initialized every time a game ends.

In the following, the game program area, game data area, and game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the game area, and the non-game program area, non-game data area, and non-game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the non-game area.

The non-game RAM area is made up of areas E and F. Area E is called the area to be initialized at the end of each game, and area F is called the area to be initialized when the power is turned on. The area to be initialized at the end of each game in the non-game RAM area (area E) is an area that is initialized every time a game ends, like the area to be initialized at the end of each game in the game RAM area (area D). The area to be initialized at the time of power turning on (area F) is an area that is initialized when the power is turned back on after the power to S-machine 2 is cut off. Area F stores various variables for counting the difference number used in the safety device processing described below. Area E stores a play stop flag used in the safety device processing described below.

[Instructions used by the program]

The programs executed by the main control unit 161 include a main routine that manages the progress of the entire program, and subroutines that are called while other programs are being executed.

The LD instruction is included as an instruction to the main control unit 161 to read data stored in the program/data area. The LD instruction is an instruction to read one byte of data stored at an address specified in the main routine or subroutine into a specified register. The main control unit 161 reads the data stored at the address specified by the LD instruction, and stores the read data in the register specified by the LD instruction.

The LD instruction includes a normal LD instruction and a special LD instruction, the LDQ instruction. The normal LD instruction is an instruction that specifies both an upper address and a lower address, and reads data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c using the specified upper address and lower address. In contrast, the LDQ instruction is an instruction that specifies only the lower address, and reads data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c using the upper address and the specified lower address that are preset in a special register (Q register) in the internal function register area of RAM 161c described above, and stores the read data in the specified register. This makes it possible to store specified data in a specified register with a smaller amount of data than the normal LD instruction.

When reading data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c in a main routine or subroutine, it is possible to use the LDQ command, which is a special LD command, to specify only the lower part of the address and read the data from the specific area, rather than specifying all the addresses (upper and lower parts) that indicate the specific area. By using the LDQ command, it is possible to read a smaller amount of data compared to a normal LD command that specifies both the upper and lower addresses to read data, and it is possible to reduce the amount of program waste required to specify addresses when reading data.

Furthermore, among the game data stored in the game RAM area of RAM 161c, particularly frequently used game data is stored in an area of the game RAM area whose top address is a specific value, and this specific value is set as the upper address of the game data in a special register (Q register). When the main control unit 161 reads the game data, it is possible to read the game data using a smaller amount of data compared to a normal LD command that reads data by specifying both the upper and lower addresses, thereby reducing the waste of programs for specifying addresses when reading this game data.

The main control unit 161 can change the value set in the special register (Q register) in the main routine or subroutine, and as described below, when setting the built-in register in the initial setting process performed at startup, a specific value indicating the top address of game data that is used frequently by the game program is set in the special register (Q register). In this embodiment, the special register (Q register) includes two registers, the first Q register and the second Q register, but below, the first Q register and the second Q register are collectively referred to simply as the "special register (Q register)". For example, "F0" is stored in the special register (Q register). As a result, when the game program is being executed, a specific value indicating the top address of game data that is used frequently by the game program is set in the special register (Q register), and the game program can read out the frequently used game data using the LDQ command.

The upper address used when reading with the LDQ instruction as a special LD instruction may be set in a specified memory area other than a special register (e.g., the Q register), such as a vector table area. A part of the address is specified using a value stored in a specified memory area such as the vector table area, and the remaining part of the address is specified by the program, so that the storage address of the data can be specified. In this case, the waste of the program for specifying the address when reading data can be reduced. In addition, even if a special LD instruction is used, for example, an identification value with a data amount smaller than the address is assigned to each of the multiple areas constituting the vector table area, and the storage address of the data stored in each of these multiple areas is set and an identification value is specified, the waste of the program for specifying the address when reading data can be reduced.

The main control unit 161 also includes a CALL instruction (call instruction) as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute a program stored in the program/data area. The CALL instruction is an instruction for calling and executing a subroutine stored at a specified address in a main routine or subroutine. When calling a subroutine with a CALL instruction, the main control unit 161 stores the address of the caller in the stack area, and calls and executes the subroutine stored at the specified address. Then, when the subroutine ends, a RET instruction (return instruction) is used to return to the address of the caller stored in the stack area, i.e., the main routine or subroutine program that executed the CALL instruction.

Furthermore, a CALLEX instruction is included as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute a program stored in the program/data area. The CALLEX instruction not only calls a subroutine stored at an address specified in the main routine or subroutine, but also switches register banks. Figure 61 is a diagram for explaining the register banks included in the CPU 161a of the main control unit 161. As shown in Figure 61, the CPU 161a has a first register bank R1 and a second register bank R2.

The first register bank R1 includes ten registers: a first Q register, a first U register, a first A register, a first B register, a first C register, a first D register, a first E register, a first F register, a first H register, and a first L register. Similarly, the second register bank R2 includes ten registers: a second Q register, a second U register, a second A register, a second B register, a second C register, a second D register, a second E register, a second F register, a second H register, and a second L register.

In this embodiment, the main control unit 161 uses the first register bank R1 when executing instructions according to a program written in the game program area, and uses the second register bank R2 when executing instructions according to a program written in the non-game program area. In other words, the main control unit 161 does not use the second register bank R2 when executing instructions according to a program written in the game program area, and does not use the first register bank R1 when executing instructions according to a program written in the non-game program area. This prevents data from being unintentionally mixed between game programs and non-game programs in the S-machine 2 in this embodiment, which would cause malfunctions. In the following, the program written in the game program area is simply referred to as the "game program", and the program written in the non-game program area is simply referred to as the "non-game program".

That is, when the main control unit 161 is executing a game program as a main routine, it uses the first register bank R1, but when a non-game program is called as a subroutine by a CALLEX command, it switches from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2. More specifically, when the main control unit 161 calls a non-game program area as a subroutine by a CALLEX command, it stores the address of the caller in the stack area, calls and executes the subroutine stored at the specified address. Then, at the end of the subroutine, it returns to the address of the caller stored in the stack area, i.e., the game program that executed the CALLEX command, by a RETEX command (return command), and switches from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. As a result, in the S unit 2 in this embodiment, different register banks can be used when a game program is being executed and when a non-game program is being executed, and it is possible to prevent the processing contents in the game program area and the processing contents in the non-game program area from being mixed on the register.

[Q register setting]
62 is a flow chart showing the start-up process of the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 is realized as a control computer such as a microcomputer. In the main control unit 161, a start-up process is executed to set, for example, the hardware functions of the microcomputer before the user program is executed. The user program is a program for controlling the progress of the game, is a program stored in the ROM 161b, and means a program designed by a gaming machine manufacturer or the like. On the other hand, the start-up process is a process provided in the main control unit 161 itself, and is executed automatically when the main control unit 161 is started.

The main control unit 161 executes the startup process of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 62, also based on the supply of power to the main control unit 161. In FIG. 62, as an example of a setting process related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161, initial values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register (step Sj1). After executing step Sj1, although not shown, the main control unit 161 may perform a setting process related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161. The setting process related to the hardware functions may, for example, set the functions of a serial communication circuit.

In step Sj1 of this embodiment, the initial value of the first Q register is, for example, "F0", and the initial value of the second Q register is, for example, "F3". This allows the main control unit 161 to reduce waste of programs for specifying addresses when calling a game RAM area that is frequently referenced and written to when executing a game program. Similarly, the main control unit 161 can reduce waste of programs for specifying addresses when calling a non-game RAM area that is frequently referenced and written to when executing a non-game program. This allows the main control unit 161 of this embodiment to reduce the program capacity when executing instructions in both game programs and non-game programs.

In step Sj1, the main control unit 161 sets initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register, and then executes the user program (step Sj2). The user program includes an initial setting process described later in FIG. 63 and a main process described later in FIG. 66. In this way, before the user program starts controlling the game, an initial value is set in the first Q register and an initial value is also set in advance in the second Q register. As a result, the main control unit 161 can set initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register before starting control of the game, simplifying the processing. In addition, with this configuration, it is not necessary to set values in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. In other words, the processing performed in the user program can be reduced. In this embodiment, the initial values of the first Q register and the second Q register are different values, but the same value may be set as the initial value.

[Initial setting process of main control board 16]
63 is a diagram for explaining the initial setting process performed by the main control board 16. The initial setting process is included in the user program and is described in the game program area of the ROM 161b.

When power supply to S-unit 2 begins, the main control board 16 starts up with timer interrupts set to prohibited due to a reset, and performs various processes according to the programs stored in the ROM 161b of the main control board 16. After starting up, it first initializes all output ports 0 to 9 and performs the initial setting process included in the game program.

The initial setting process starts with timer interrupts prohibited, and as shown in FIG. 63, the initial setting process first refers to a specific area of the input port (Sa1) and determines whether the power interruption detection signal output from the power interruption detection circuit is ON (Sa2). If the power interruption detection signal is ON, the process waits until the power interruption detection signal is OFF. After that, the power supply voltage of S-unit 2 becomes normal and the power interruption detection signal is OFF, and then the main control unit 161 sets values in the first Q register and the second Q register (Sa2Q). In step Sa2Q, "F0" is set in the first Q register and "F3" is set in the second Q register. That is, in step Sa2Q, the same process as step Sj1 in FIG. 62 is performed. In other words, the same value is reset in the first Q register and the second Q register.

In this way, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register and sets a value in the second Q register not only in the startup process but also in the user program. This allows the main control unit 161 to set any value in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. Even if an abnormality occurs in the startup process of the main control unit 161 and initial values are not set in the first Q register and the second Q register in step Sj2, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program, so that it is possible to prevent an abnormality from occurring in the user program due to values not being set in the first Q register and the second Q register. In the S unit 2 of this embodiment, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in both the process of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the process of step Sa2Q in FIG. 63, but the S unit 2 may be configured to perform only one of the processes of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 63.

Then, the main control unit 161 calculates the parity of a specified area of the RAM 161c (Sa3) and sets a predetermined initial address to the stack pointer (Sa4). Then, it is determined whether the parity calculated in step Sa3 is normal (Sa5). If the parity is normal, it acquires fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis that was set in a specified area of the RAM 161c at the time of power outage (Sa6) and diagnoses whether the memory contents of the RAM 161c have been destroyed based on the fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis (Sa7).

If it is determined in step Sa5 that the parity is normal, and if the contents stored in RAM 161c are diagnosed in step Sa7, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 161c based on the RAM parity calculated in step Sa3 and the result of the diagnosis in Sa7 (Sa8). Note that there is an abnormality in RAM 161c when the parity is not normal, or when the parity is normal but the stored contents are diagnosed as abnormal.

If there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, the value of the flag register in which the calculation result is stored among the registers provided in the main control board 16 is saved by storing it in a predetermined order in the game stack area of the game RAM area, and then the non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program is called and performed (Sa10). That is, the process of step Sa10 is a process of calling a non-game program from a game program. Therefore, the process name of step Sa10 is preceded by the word "(non-game)". In the initial setting process shown in FIG. 63 and the main process shown in FIG. 66, the process name of the process of calling a non-game program from a game program is preceded by the word "(non-game)". Specifically, steps Sa10, SaF1, and Sa30 in FIG. 63 and steps Sb2, Sb13, Sb36, and Sb50 in FIG. 66 correspond to the process of calling a non-game program from a game program. Hereinafter, such a process of calling a non-game program from a game program will be referred to simply as a "non-game program call process." The above-described CALLEX command can be used for the non-game program call process.

When a non-game program call process such as the non-game RAM area initialization process shown in step Sa10 is executed, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2 and a process of setting the value of the second Q register at the beginning of the process corresponding to the non-game program call process. At this time, "F3" is set in the second Q register. In other words, in the non-game program call process, the value of the second Q register is reset, similar to step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 63.

In this way, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register in step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 63 before the control of the game is started, and sets a value in the second Q register each time a non-game program call process for calling a non-game program from a game program is executed. As a result, in the S unit 2 in this embodiment, even if an unintended value is set in the second Q register of the second register bank R2, the value of the second Q register of the second register bank R2 can be reset each time a non-game program is called, so that malfunctions can be prevented. Note that the main control unit 161 does not need to set the value of the second Q register each time a non-game program is called. That is, as described above, in the S unit 2 in this embodiment, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in advance in the process of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the process of step Sa2Q in FIG. 63 before the control of the progress of the game is performed, so that the value is already set in the second Q register even if the value of the second Q register is not set each time a non-game program is called.

In addition, in the process of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the process of step Sa2Q in FIG. 63, the main control unit 161 may set a value only in the first Q register without setting a value in the second Q register, and set the value of the second Q register when a non-game program is called. In this case, the main control unit 161 may set the value of the second Q register only when a non-game program is called for the first time after power-on. In other words, as described above, in order to ensure prevention of malfunctions, the value of the second Q register is not reset every time a non-game program is called, but the value of the second Q register is set only when a non-game program is called for the first time after power-on, thereby simplifying the process.

Then, the non-game RAM area is initialized, which is the purpose of the non-game RAM area initialization process. More specifically, the main control unit 161 specifies the start address (the first address of the unused area) and end address (the last address of the non-game RAM area) of the RAM to be initialized, and repeatedly executes a process of clearing the data of the specified address with the start address as the initial value of the specified address, and then updating the specified address to the next address until the specified address becomes the specified address, thereby initializing the area from the start address to the end address of the RAM to be initialized (in this embodiment, the area from the beginning of the unused area to the end of the non-game RAM area). Then, a process is executed to switch the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. After initializing the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c, the process returns to the initial setting process.

In addition, in the non-game RAM area initialization process, the capacity of the RAM to be initialized may be calculated by specifying the start address and end address of the RAM to be initialized, and the RAM area of that capacity may be sequentially cleared from the start address of the RAM to be initialized, thereby initializing the area from the start address to the end address of the RAM to be initialized.

If it is determined in step Sa8 that there is no abnormality in RAM 161c, the fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis set in RAM 161c is cleared (Sa12), and a RAM destruction initialization start address is set to specify the address of the game RAM area that is to be subjected to initialization processing if there is an abnormality in RAM 161c (Sa13).

Next, in this embodiment, in S-machine 2, an area F initialization process, which is a non-game program calling process, is executed (SaF1). The area F initialization process is a process for initializing area F included in the non-game RAM area shown in FIG. 60. Details of the area F initialization process will be explained later. After that, the input port 2 is referenced to determine whether the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state (Sa14).

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa14a) and setting change processing is performed. In the setting change processing, the reset/setting switch 38 and the start switch 7 are operated in a predetermined procedure to confirm the setting value, and when it is detected that the setting key switch 37 has been turned OFF, the setting change processing is terminated and the game is moved to a state in which it can proceed. In addition, in the setting change processing, when the setting change processing is started, a setting command (start) indicating that the setting change processing is to be started is sent to the performance control unit 151, and when the setting change processing is ended, a setting command (end) indicating that the setting change processing is to be ended is sent. In addition, in the setting change processing, when the setting change processing is ended, the top address of the RAM area to be initialized at the time of the setting change is specified, and the process returns to step Sb47 of the main processing described later. Then, the RAM initialization process is performed in step Sb47, so that the area from the first address of the RAM area to be initialized when the settings are changed to the last address of the game RAM area, i.e., all game RAM areas, are initialized. Note that it is also possible to configure the system to initialize all game RAM areas except for the stack area in use in RAM 161c.

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is not ON, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c based on the RAM parity calculated in step Sa3 and the diagnosis result in Sa7 (Sa15). If it is determined that there is no abnormality in the RAM 161c, the output buffer for outputting the external output signal is cleared (Sa16). In addition, a reel error counter that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c and that counts the number of times a reel rotation error is detected in the main processing described below is cleared (Sa17). Then, the stack pointer SP is set to the address at the time of the power outage based on the memory contents of the RAM 161c, thereby restoring the stack pointer to the state at the time of the power outage (Sa18). Then, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa15a), and the port input processing is performed twice in succession (Sa19, Sa20).

The port input process is a process that updates input state data (input data indicating the current input state of the various switches, confirmed data indicating that the previous and current input data are the same state, and edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed since the previous time) relating to the input state of the detection signals of the various switches input to the parallel input port. Port input buffers 0 to 2 that store the input state data of the various switches are provided in a specified area of the game RAM area of RAM 161c, and the input state data of the various switches updated by the port input process is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffer that is predetermined for each type. In the port input process, it is set to input ports 0 to 2 of the parallel input port.

The detection state (ON state or OFF state) of various switches is stored as input data in a specified bit of the port input buffer. Also, the detection state (ON state or OFF state) in the previous and current port input processing is compared, and if the current and previous input data are the same, the confirmed data is updated to indicate the detection state of the current input data, while if the current and previous input data are different, the previous confirmed data is maintained. Also, the current and previous confirmed data are compared, and if the confirmed data changes from an OFF state to an ON state, ON edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from an OFF state to an ON state is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffers 0 to 2, and if the confirmed data changes from an ON state to an OFF state, OFF edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from an ON state to an OFF state is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffers 0 to 2. The input data, confirmed data, and edge data of various switches stored in the port input buffer can be referenced from game programs and non-game programs.

In addition, by performing the port input process twice in succession in the initial setting process, when the port input process is performed thereafter, input state data related to the input state of the detection signals of the various switches is created based on the input state of the various switches after the initial setting process, i.e., the input state of the various switches after the power supply to the S unit 2 is resumed, so that it is possible to prevent unintended input situations from being identified. In addition, the port input process may be configured to create finalized data based on input data acquired by three or more port input processes (for example, input data from the current, previous, and previous-to-previous times). In such a configuration, by performing the port input process in the initial setting process one consecutive time less than the number of port input processes required to create finalized data, when the port input process is performed after the initial setting process, input state data can be created based on the input state of the various switches after the initial setting process.

After the port input process is performed in steps Sa19 and Sa20, a specific input port is referenced (Sa21) to determine whether the reset/setting switch 38 is ON (Sa22), and if the reset/setting switch 38 is ON, status data indicating that the reset/setting switch 38 is ON is set in a specific area of RAM 161c (Sa23).

If it is determined in step Sa22 that the reset/setting switch 38 is not ON, and after the status data is set in step Sa23, a recovery command indicating that the control state before the power cut has been restored is sent to the performance control unit 151 (Sa24), and then in the command sending process of the timer interrupt process (main), a door command sending flag indicating that a door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is to be sent is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sa25). In the command sending process, a door command is normally sent when the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 has changed, but if the door command sending flag is set in the predetermined area of the RAM 161c, a door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is sent regardless of whether the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 has changed.

After setting the door command transmission flag in step Sa25, all registers are restored to the state before the power outage stored in RAM 161c (Sa26), the timer interrupt is set to enabled (Sa27), the initial setting process is terminated and a transition is made to timer interrupt process (main), and then the process returns to the main process that was being executed before the power supply to S stand 2 was stopped.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step Sa15 that the RAM 161c is abnormal, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa15b), a gaming RAM initialization process is performed (Sa28), and the area from the RAM destruction initialization start address set in step Sa13 to the end of the gaming RAM area of the RAM 161c is initialized. Thereafter, similar to the process of Sa10, the main control unit 161 executes a non-gaming RAM area initialization process, which is a non-gaming program call process (Sa30). That is, at the beginning of the process, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2, and a process of setting the value of the second Q register. Next, after initializing the non-gaming RAM area, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. Next, the main control unit 161 sets the door command transmission flag (Sa32), sets the timer interrupt to enabled (Sa33), prepares a RAM abnormality error number indicating that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c in a specified register (Sa34), ends the initial setting process, and transitions to error processing.

Error processing is a process that controls the game to an error state in which game progress is disabled. An error command that can identify an error number prepared in a specified register is sent to the performance control unit 151, and the error number is set in a specified area of the RAM 161c as an error flag that can be referenced in other processes (for example, the sensor monitoring process described later). The error number is also controlled to be displayed on the game auxiliary display 12. After that, the error state is controlled until it is identified that the condition for releasing the error state corresponding to the error number prepared in the specified register has been established. When the RAM abnormality error number is prepared in the specified register and the game is moved to an error state, the setting key switch 37 is turned ON and the power switch is turned on to move to a setting change state and initialize all game RAM areas, thereby reliably eliminating the abnormality in the data of the RAM 161c and releasing the error state. On the other hand, if the power switch is turned ON without turning the setting key switch 37 ON, the abnormality in the RAM 161c is detected again and the game is again in an error state.

In this way, after the power supply to S-stand 2 is started, the main control board 16 executes the startup process of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 62, and then executes a user program including the initial setting process. In the initial setting process, depending on the state of the main control board 16 when the power supply to S-stand 2 is started, the main control board 16 transitions to either timer interrupt processing (main), setting change processing, or error processing. When transitioning to these processes, a command capable of identifying the type of processing to transition to is sent to the performance control unit 151. When transitioning to timer interrupt processing (main), that is, when returning to the control state before the power supply to S-stand 2 was stopped, a return command is sent to the performance control unit 151, when starting the setting change processing and transitioning to the setting change state, a setting command (start) is sent to the performance control unit 151, and when starting error processing and transitioning to the error state due to an abnormality in RAM 161c, an error command is sent to the performance control unit 151.

After the main control board 16 transitions from the initial setting process to the setting change process, it passes through the setting change state and returns to a state in which the game can be played. When returning to the state in which the game can be played, it sends a setting command (end) to the performance control unit 151 that can specify that the setting change state has ended, but does not send a return command. Also, after transitioning to error processing due to an abnormality in RAM 161c, it transitions to the setting change process as described above, the error state is cleared, and the game is returned to a state in which the game can be played. Even when the error processing is terminated and the game is returned to a state in which the game can be played, a return command is not sent to the performance control unit 151.

In this way, the main control board 16 in this embodiment is started when power supply to the S-stand 2 is started, and initializes all output ports 0 to 9. After initializing output ports 0 to 9, the main control board 16 performs an initial setting process included in the game program. If the initial setting process determines that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, it calls a non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program to initialize a specified area of the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c. The initial setting process also calls a RAM initialization process included in the game program to initialize a specified area of the game RAM area of the RAM 161c, and is configured so that the game RAM area is initialized by the game program, and the non-game RAM area is initialized by the non-game program.

[Safety device processing]
In the S machine 2 in this embodiment, an upper limit is set on the number of medals a player can acquire over the course of a day, and a safety device process is executed to restrict the player from acquiring too many medals. The number of medals acquired is the number of medals awarded to the player over the course of a day minus the number of medals used by the player. When the sign of the number of medals acquired is a positive value, it means that a large number of medals have been awarded to the player. On the other hand, when the sign of the number of medals acquired is a negative value, it means that a large number of medals have been used by the player.

The safety device process executed by the main control unit 161 is a process that disables the progress of the game when the number of medals won reaches the limit. By executing the safety device process, it is possible to prevent the number of medals won from increasing excessively. As a result, the S machine 2 in this embodiment can prevent excessive medals from being paid out from the slot machine through fraud. Furthermore, if the number of medals won by a particular player increases throughout the day, this can lead to a state that is likely to stimulate gambling. Therefore, by setting an upper limit and limiting the number of medals won throughout the day, it is possible to prevent the S machine 2 from becoming a state that stimulates gambling excessively. The safety device process is explained in detail below using figures.

Figure 64 is a diagram showing variables related to safety device processing. Figure 64 shows the number of winning medals, number of medals inserted, calculation replay flag, cumulative awarded number, cumulative used number, difference number, remaining number until safety device is activated, and play stop flag as variables related to safety device processing. These variables are stored in a specified area in the non-play RAM area. A variable is a memory area for reading and writing data with a specific meaning.

The "number of winning medals" is a variable with a size (area) of 1 byte, and indicates the number of medals awarded to a player in one game. For example, if a plum role is won when the push order role is won and nine medals are paid out, data indicating nine medals is stored in the number of winning medals. Alternatively, if a 1-coin role 1 to 33 is won when the push order role is won and one medal is paid out, data indicating one medal is stored in the number of winning medals. The number of winning medals is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

The "number of inserted medals" is a variable with a size of 1 byte, and indicates the number of medals used by a player in one game. For example, if the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed to bet the maximum number of medals, 3 medals, and then the start switch 7 is pressed, data indicating 3 medals is stored in the number of inserted medals. Also, for example, if the 1BET switch 20 is pressed once to bet 1 medal, and then the start switch 7 is pressed, data indicating 1 medal is stored in the number of inserted medals. The number of inserted medals is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

In this embodiment, the variables "number of winning medals" and "number of inserted medals" are newly provided in the non-game RAM area for the safety device processing, but the main control unit 161 may refer to variables used to progress the game. Variables used to progress the game are, for example, variables stored in the game RAM area, and like "number of winning medals" and "number of inserted medals", variables that store the number of medals when a prize is won and variables that store the number of medals set as the bet amount. In other words, the main control unit 161 may refer to variables stored in the game RAM area when executing the safety device processing.

The "calculation replay flag" is a variable with a size of 1 byte, and is a flag related to the replay operation state. In other words, the calculation replay flag is a flag that indicates whether or not the replay operation state is in progress. The calculation replay flag is a variable stored in area F, which is included in the non-play RAM area.

"Cumulative Award Number" is a variable with a size of 3 bytes that indicates the number of medals awarded throughout the day. The number of medals awarded throughout the day is the total number of medals awarded to a player throughout the day. In other words, it is the cumulative number of medals awarded in one game. The cumulative award number is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

"Cumulative usage count" is a variable with a size of 3 bytes that indicates the number of usages throughout the day. The number of medals awarded throughout the day is the total number of medals used by the player throughout the day. In other words, it is the cumulative number of medals used in one game. The cumulative usage count is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

The "difference number" is a variable with a size of 3 bytes, and is a variable that represents the number of medals acquired as described above. As described above, the number of medals acquired is the number of medals awarded to a player over the course of a day minus the number of medals used by the player, so the difference number stores the number obtained by subtracting the "cumulative number used" from the "cumulative number awarded." However, if the sign of the difference number is negative, the main control unit 161 stores "0" in the difference number. The difference number is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

The "safety activation remaining number" is a variable with a size of 1 byte, and indicates the remaining number up to the limit number. The limit number is the upper limit of the number of medals that can be won throughout the day, and is a predetermined number. In this embodiment, the limit number is 19,000 medals, but it may be other numbers such as 20,000 medals or 15,000 medals. For example, when data indicating 100 medals is stored in the safety activation remaining number, this means that the difference is +18,900 medals. The safety activation remaining number is stored in area F, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

The "stop flag" is a variable with a size of 1 byte, and is a flag that indicates whether or not progress in the game has been disabled by safety device processing. When the difference number reaches the limit number and progress in the game is disabled by the main control unit 161, the stop flag stores information indicating ON, such as "1". On the other hand, when the difference number is less than the limit number and progress in the game is possible, the stop flag stores information indicating OFF, such as "0". Unlike other variables related to safety device processing, the stop flag is stored in area E, which is included in the non-game RAM area.

It has been explained that in step SaF1 of the initial setting process in Figure 63, the area F initialization process is executed. As explained in Figure 64, variables related to the safety device process other than the play stop flag are stored in area F of the non-game RAM area. The safety device process is a process that places a limit on the number of medals won throughout the day, in other words, it places a limit on the number of medals won from the opening of the gaming establishment to its closing. In other words, the data stored in the "difference number" that is stored as a variable corresponding to the number of medals won is initialized every business day.

Figure 65 is a diagram explaining the area F initialization process performed by the main control board 16. The area F initialization process is a process included in the initial setting process shown in Figure 63. The area F initialization process is executed regardless of whether the setting key switch is ON or OFF or whether there is an abnormality in the RAM. In other words, when the power is turned on to the S-machine 2, the main control unit 161 executes the area F initialization process. This allows the main control unit 161 to cumulatively count the number of gaming values awarded and used in games played throughout the day.

As described in FIG. 63, the area F initialization process corresponds to the non-game program call process. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 65, the main control unit 161 switches the register bank at the beginning of the area F initialization process (step SQ1). That is, the main control unit 161 switches the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2. Next, the main control unit 161 sets the value of the second Q register (step SQ2). That is, the main control unit 161 sets "F3" to the second Q register. As a result, even if an unintended value is set in the second Q register of the second register bank R2 in S-machine 2, the value of the second Q register is set every time the non-game RAM area is called, so that malfunction prevention can be ensured.

Next, the main control unit 161 determines whether the play stop flag is OFF (step Sh1). If the play stop flag is OFF (YES in step Sh1), the main control unit 161 initializes the difference number, the cumulative awarded number, the cumulative used number, the remaining number of safety device activations, and the calculation replay flag (step Sh2). In other words, the main control unit 161 initializes (clears) the variables related to the safety device processing stored in the area F. The bits of each variable can be initialized to "0" by being initialized. After the initialization, the main control unit 161 switches the register bank (step Sh3) and ends the processing. That is, the main control unit 161 returns the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. The register bank switching process can be performed based on the above-mentioned CALLEX command. If the hit stop flag is ON and not OFF (NO in step Sh1), the main control unit 161 does not perform the initialization process in Sh2, but returns the register bank (step Sh3) and ends the process.

In this way, in S machine 2 in this embodiment, the variables related to the safety device processing contained in area F are initialized when S machine 2 is powered on. The difference number, cumulative awarded number, cumulative used number, and remaining number of safety device activations are all variables for determining whether or not to disable game progress on S machine 2, and by initializing these variables when S machine 2 is powered on, it becomes possible to limit the number of medals acquired for each business day. In other words, the number of gaming values used throughout the day and the number of gaming values awarded throughout the day are initialized when S machine 2 is powered on again. This allows the difference number for the day to be stored in an appropriate manner.

The calculation replay flag is also initialized (cleared) when power is restored to S-machine 2 after a power outage. This prevents the number of medals used from being erroneously updated to 0 in the game after power is restored.

In addition, when the main control unit 161 controls the state of the S machine 2 to a state in which game progress is impossible, it does not initialize the difference number, the cumulative awarded number, the cumulative used number, the remaining number for safety device activation, and the calculation replay flag, and holds them. This allows it to control the state to be impossible again even if the state is controlled to a state in which game progress is possible due to a malfunction. In other words, even if the power of the S machine 2 is turned on when the play stop flag is unintentionally turned ON due to a malfunction even though the difference number has not reached the limit number, the difference number, the cumulative awarded number, the cumulative used number, the remaining number for safety device activation, and the calculation replay flag are not initialized, so the main control unit 161 can continue to count (count) the values of the difference number, the cumulative awarded number, the cumulative used number, and the remaining number for safety device activation. In addition, since the calculation replay flag is not initialized, it is possible to prevent the number of medals used from being erroneously set to 0 and updated in the game after the power is restored.

Next, the timing at which variables related to the safety device processing are counted will be described in detail using a flowchart. The safety device processing is included in the main processing that is repeatedly executed by the main control unit 161, and is executed once for each unit game.

Figure 66 is a diagram explaining the control content of the main processing performed by the main control board 16. The main processing is repeatedly executed for each unit of play (one game). One cycle of the main processing corresponds to one unit of play. The main processing is included in the game program and includes multiple processes. As explained above, even in the main processing shown in Figure 66, the process names that correspond to non-game program call processes are preceded by the word "(non-game)."

As shown in FIG. 66, the main control board 16 first performs RT information output processing included in the non-game program (Sb2). FIG. 67 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the RT information output processing performed by the main control board 16. As described above, in the non-game program call processing, the switching of the register bank (SQ4, SQ6) and the setting of the value of the second Q register (SQ2) are executed first. Steps SQ4, SQ5, and SQ6 in FIG. 67 are the same as the processing of steps SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 in FIG. 65, so the explanation will not be repeated.

The main control unit 161 sets the stack pointer in a non-game RAM area (step Si2) and acquires the RT status (step Si3). Specifically, it refers to information about the game status (RT status) of S-machine 2 set in a specified area of the game RAM area, and sets the information about the game status (for example, the RT status) to be output from the output port as an external output signal.

In other words, in step Si3, the number of the external output signal to be output is read into a register, and external output signal processing is also performed to output an external output signal to external devices such as a call lamp or hall computer. The external output signal includes, for example, a signal indicating whether or not it is being controlled in an advantageous zone. This makes it possible to notify external devices such as hall computers of whether or not they are being controlled in an advantageous zone. Furthermore, in the main processing, the external output signal processing is executed prior to the safety device-related processing (Sb50) described below.

Then, the main control unit 161 initializes the betting stop flag (step Si4). After that, the register bank is switched to the first register bank R1, and the RT information output process ends. Then, the main control unit 161 executes a process of waiting for multiple interrupts (Sbw1). The process of waiting for multiple interrupts is executed to ensure the output time of the information output in the RT information output process. After that, the main control unit 161 executes a process of waiting for the start of a game (Sb5), which will be described later, and performs a process from the end of the control of the previous game to the start of the next game. In the process of waiting for the start of a game, a process of setting the number of bets is performed according to the bet number setting operation, and a process of starting the next game is performed when the operation of the start switch 7 is detected with the specified number of bets set.

Then, an internal lottery process is performed to determine whether or not a winning is allowed to occur (internal lottery) (Sb6). In the internal lottery process, an internal lottery is performed to determine whether or not a winning is allowed to occur (i.e., whether or not derivation of a display result is allowed) based on a preset setting value (1-6) in the S-unit 2 and a random number value for the internal lottery obtained simultaneously with the start of play by detecting the start switch 7.

After that, after the AT lottery and the like are executed, the presentation control process (Sb12), the test signal output process (Sb13), the control state command group transmission process (Sb14), and the freeze control execution process (Sb16) are executed in sequence. The test signal output process corresponds to the non-game program call process. In the presentation control process, the presentation flag that the main control board 16 refers to when performing presentation control is set. In the test signal output process, a test signal is transmitted so that the control state of the S-unit 2 can be confirmed by a test device installed outside the gaming machine. In the control state command group transmission process, a control state command group including a plurality of commands that can specify various control states at the start of one game is transmitted to the presentation control unit 151. In the freeze control execution process, the presence or absence of a request to perform freeze control, which delays the progress of the game until a specified end condition is met, is confirmed, and if a request is received, the type of freeze control and the timing of performing the freeze control are set in a specified area of the RAM 161c.

A freeze execution process is performed to execute freeze control based on the type of freeze control set in RAM 161c and the execution timing of freeze control (Sb16). In the freeze execution process, if it is set in step Sb13 that freeze control is to be performed at the start of a game, freeze control is executed to delay game control for a predetermined period. In addition, if a type of freeze control involving a performance using reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter referred to as reel performance) is set as the type of freeze control, a performance acceleration pattern (for example, an acceleration pattern that rotates the reels in a direction different from the rotation of the reels in a game, an acceleration pattern that starts rotation at a speed slower than the rotation of the reels in a game and in the same direction as the rotation of the reels in a game, an acceleration pattern that vibrates the reels, etc.) is set in a predetermined area of RAM 161c as an excitation pattern for exciting the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R, and the reel performance is controlled to be performed during the period in which the freeze control is performed. After that, the main control unit 161 executes a process of waiting for multiple interrupts (Sbw2). The multiple interrupt wait process is performed to ensure the output time of the information output during the test signal output process.

After the freeze control execution process is performed in step Sb16, a single game time management timer set in a specified area of RAM 161c for measuring the elapsed time from the start of reel rotation in the previous game is referenced (Sb18), and based on the single game time management timer, it is determined whether or not the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed from the start of reel rotation in the previous game (Sb19). If it is determined that the specified time for one game has not elapsed, the process waits until the specified time for one game has elapsed based on the timer for managing one game time, and after the specified time for one game has elapsed based on the timer for managing one game time, the timer for managing one game time is set to a predetermined value (a value corresponding to 4.1 seconds in this embodiment) to newly start measuring the elapsed time from the start of reel rotation (Sb20), the waiting LED 19 is controlled to the OFF state (light-out state) (Sb21), and a reel rotation start command transmission process is performed to transmit to the performance control unit 151 a reel rotation start command that can specify that rotation control of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is to be started (Sb22). On the other hand, if it is determined that the specified time for one game has elapsed in step Sb19, the process immediately proceeds to steps Sb20 to Sb22. After the predetermined value is set in step Sb20, the timer for managing one game's time is decremented every predetermined time, and becomes 0 when the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed from the start of reel rotation in a game. Whether or not the timer for managing one game's time is 0 can be used to determine whether or not the specified time for one game has elapsed.

After the reel rotation start command transmission process is performed in step Sb22, a normal acceleration pattern that controls the rotation of the reels at a predetermined gaming speed is set in a predetermined area of RAM 161c as the excitation pattern for controlling the excitation of reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R (Sb23), and reel start process is performed to start the rotation of the reels by controlling the excitation of reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R based on the excitation pattern set in RAM 161c (Sb24).

Then, the navigation notification process is performed (Sb25). In the navigation notification process, the AT is controlled, and if the notification target role is won in the internal lottery, the game support display 12 is controlled to display a navigation number that can identify a stop pattern that is advantageous to the player according to the notification target role, whereas if the AT is not controlled, the game support display 12 is controlled not to display the navigation number.

A reel stop initial setting process (Sb26) is performed to set various information required for reel stop control according to the RT state and the results of the internal lottery. Then, a freeze control process (Sb27) is performed, and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

After the freeze control process is performed in step Sb27, a reel stop control process is performed to control the stop of the reels (Sb28). In the reel stop control process, it is determined whether the reels under rotation control are rotating at a predetermined constant speed, and if there is a reel that is not rotating at a constant speed, a reel error is detected, and an excitation pattern is set to accelerate the corresponding reel to a constant speed, so that all reels under rotation control are rotated at a constant speed. On the other hand, if all reels under rotation control are rotating at a constant speed, the acceptance of a stop operation for the reels under rotation control is enabled, and the process waits until a stop operation is performed by a stop switch. Then, when a valid stop operation is detected for a reel for which a stop operation is enabled (ON edge data is detected for a stop switch for which a stop operation is enabled), a reel stop control is performed for the reel for which a valid stop operation has been performed, so that the reel stop control is performed at a predetermined stop position based on information set in the reel stop initial setting process. Such reel stop control is repeatedly performed for the reels under rotation control, and the reel stop process is terminated by stopping the rotation of all reels.

After the reel stop process is completed, the freeze control process is performed (Sb29), and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

Then, the RT state check process (Sb30) and the winning determination process (Sb31) are performed. In the RT state check process, it is determined whether or not a combination of RT transition symbols that transitions to the RT state is stopped on the reels, and if a combination of RT transition symbols is stopped, the current RT state set in a specified area of RAM 161c is updated to an RT state corresponding to the combination of RT transition symbols. In the winning determination process, it is determined whether or not an illegal winning has occurred based on the internal lottery result and the symbol combination stopped on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R.

After the winning determination process in step Sa31 is performed, a deposit/withdrawal error check process is performed (Sb32), and data processing for the role ratio monitor, which corresponds to the non-game program call process, is performed (Sb36).

In the data processing for the winning ratio monitor, first, in the same manner as the above-mentioned RT information output processing, the register bank used by the calling game program is switched and the value of the second Q register is set. Each state count process included in the non-game program is performed to update data regarding the number of medals paid out in a predetermined period (for example, the period from the current game to 6,000 games ago, the period from the current game to 175,000 games ago, an area controlled to be advantageous to the player (advantageous area), etc.).

Then, the replay LED is controlled to the OFF state (light off state) (Sb39), the replay in progress flag indicating that a replay is in progress is cleared (Sb40), the display of the navigation number on the game support display 12 is cleared (Sb41), an end command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sb42a), freeze control processing is performed (Sb43), and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

Then, a role information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sb43a), and a favorable zone command is sent (Sb43b). After that, a game end setting process is performed (Sb44), and it is determined whether or not the replay symbol combination is stopped on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. If the replay symbol combination is stopped, a process of setting the number of bets for replaying in the next game is performed (in this embodiment, 3 is set as the replay medal in the replay medal counter set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c), a process of setting a replay flag in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c, a process of controlling the replay LED to the ON state (lighting state), and the like are performed. In the game end setting process, a determination is made as to whether or not the number of favorable zone sheets (the net increase in the number of sheets during the favorable zone) has reached 2400 sheets (limiter condition). At this time, if the number of favorable zone sheets reaches 2400 sheets, the main control unit 161 ends the favorable zone and controls it to the normal zone.

Then, a payout pulse command (Sb44a) and a jackpot command (Sb44b) are sent to the medal count control board 17. After that, a ball payout control process is performed to control the number of balls paid out at the end of the game (Sb45), and then the top address of the area of RAM 161c to be initialized at the end of the game is set (Sb46), RAM initialization process is performed (Sb47), and the area from the top address to the end of RAM 161c is initialized.

Then, after clearing the winning flag, which is set in a specified area of RAM 161c and indicates the result of the internal lottery for the game (Sb48), a game end command transmission process is performed to transmit a game end command that can identify the end of one game to the performance control unit 151 (Sb49).

Then, the main control unit 161 executes the safety device related processing as the final processing of the main processing (Sb50). Figure 68 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the safety device related processing performed by the main control board 16. The safety device related processing corresponds to the non-game program calling processing. Therefore, the main control unit 161 executes the register bank switching processing in steps SQ7 and SQ9, and sets the value of the second Q register in step SQ8. Steps SQ7, SQ8, and SQ9 are the same processing as steps SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 described above, and therefore the explanation will not be repeated.

After executing the process of step SQ8, the main control unit 161 executes the safety device process (Sk1). FIG. 69 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the safety device process performed by the main control board 16. The main control unit 161 sets the "number of inserted medals" stored in the non-game RAM area described in FIG. 64 to 0 (Sg1). The main control unit 161 determines whether the "calculation replay flag" stored in the non-game RAM area described in FIG. 64 is ON (Sg2). If the "calculation replay flag" is not ON (NO in Sg2), the main control unit 161 obtains the number of inserted medals (Sg3). Specifically, the main control unit 161 refers to the number of medals set as the bet number stored in the game RAM area. The main control unit 161 updates the "number of inserted medals", which is a variable in the non-game RAM area, with the number of medals set as the bet number referenced from the game RAM area. For example, if the bet amount is set to three medals, the "number of medals inserted" will be set to three.

When the "calculation replay flag" is ON (YES in Sg2), the main control unit 161 does not update the value of the number of inserted medals. When the "calculation replay flag" is ON, the game was played due to the establishment of a replay, so the main control unit 161 regards the number of bets as 0 and keeps the number of inserted medals as "0". Next, the main control unit 161 adds the number of inserted medals to the cumulative number of uses (Sg4). When the number of inserted medals is set to 3, the main control unit 161 adds 3 to the cumulative number of uses contained in the non-play RAM area. When the "calculation replay flag" is ON, the number of inserted medals remains 0, so no value is added to the cumulative number of uses. Note that in the example of FIG. 69, a configuration has been described in which the process of step Sg4 is executed regardless of whether the "calculation replay flag" is ON or OFF, but the main control unit 161 may execute the process of step Sg4 only when the "calculation replay flag" is OFF. In this case, the main control unit 161 does not need to execute the process of setting the number of inserted medals to "0" in advance as shown in step Sg1.

In this way, the S machine 2 can store the cumulative number of medals used by the player by repeatedly adding the set bet number to the cumulative number of medals used, which is a variable, for each unit of play (one game). In other words, the main control unit 161 accumulates the number of medals used in play over the course of an entire day.

Next, the main control unit 161 obtains the number of winning medals (Sg5). Specifically, the main control unit 161 obtains the number of winning medals determined in the winning determination process (Sb31) of the main process by referencing the game RAM area (Sg6). The main control unit 161 updates the "number of winning medals", which is a variable in the non-game RAM area, with the number of winning medals referenced from the game RAM area. For example, if the winning determination process determines that a plum role has won when the push order role is selected, the number of winning medals is set to 9, data indicating 9 medals. In other words, the main control unit 161 cumulatively counts the number of medals awarded in games played throughout the day.

The main control unit 161 then turns OFF the calculation replay flag stored in the non-game RAM area (Sg7). In this way, the calculation replay flag is initialized (cleared) when the number of medals used in the new game based on the establishment of a replay is updated to 0. In other words, the initialization process (Sg7) of the calculation replay flag is executed within the safety device process, similar to the addition process (Sg4) of the cumulative medal usage number. This makes it possible to prevent inconsistencies between the number of medals used in the new game and the cumulative usage number for the day, even if a power outage occurs.

Also, as shown in FIG. 69, the main control unit 161 sets the number of medals awarded in a game in which a replay has been established to 0, and sets the number of medals used in the next game executed as a result of the replay being established to 0. This allows the main control unit 161 to manage data without carrying over information from the previous game.

Next, the main control unit 161 acquires the most significant bit of the cumulative given number (Sg10). As described above, the cumulative given number is a variable having an area of 3 bytes. The main control unit 161 acquires the most significant bit of the 3-byte area contained in the cumulative given number. The main control unit 161 acquires the most significant bit of the cumulative usage number (Sg11). As described above, the cumulative usage number is a variable having an area of 3 bytes. The main control unit 161 acquires the most significant bit of the area of the lowest byte of the 3 bytes contained in the cumulative usage number.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the most significant bits acquired in steps Sg10 and Sg11 are both "1" (step Sg12). If the most significant bits are both "1" (YES in step Sg12), the main control unit 161 performs subtraction processing on the most significant bits of the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number (step Sg13). If the most significant bit is "1", the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number store a medal number of 128 or more. That is, the main control unit 161 updates the most significant bit of each of the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number from "1" to "0". In other words, the same number (the number indicated by the most significant bit) is subtracted from both the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number. This allows subtraction processing to be performed on the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number without changing the difference between the cumulative awarded number and cumulative used number, simplifying the subtraction processing to be performed later.

The main control unit 161 subtracts the cumulative number of uses from the cumulative number of awarded coins to obtain the difference number (Sg14). That is, the difference number, which is a variable stored in the non-game RAM area, is updated to a number indicated by the result of subtracting the cumulative number of uses from the cumulative number of awarded coins. For example, if the cumulative number of awarded coins is 300 coins and the cumulative number of uses is 200 coins, the main control unit 161 stores data indicating +100 coins in the difference number variable. Alternatively, if the cumulative number of awarded coins is 200 coins and the cumulative number of uses is 300 coins, the main control unit 161 stores data indicating -100 coins in the difference number variable.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the sign of the difference number is negative (Sg15). That is, the main control unit 161 determines whether the number of medals indicated by the difference number is less than 0. If the sign of the difference number is negative (YES in Sg15), the main control unit 161 updates the difference number to "0" (Sg16). That is, the main control unit 161 initializes the difference number. As described above, the safety device processing is executed to set an upper limit on the number of medals a player can acquire over the course of a day, and to restrict the player from acquiring excessive medals. If the sign of the difference number is negative, the player has not acquired any medals, and therefore there is no need to store the data as the difference number. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the sign of the difference number is negative, the main control unit 161 updates the difference number to "0".

In this way, in S machine 2, which executes a safety device process that controls the state of S machine 2 to a state where game progress is impossible when the difference number, which is the difference between the cumulative number of medals used and the cumulative number of medals awarded, reaches the all-day limit.When the cumulative number of medals awarded is equal to or less than the cumulative number of medals used, the difference number is calculated and stored as 0, so that there is no need to store the difference number when the cumulative number of medals awarded is equal to or less than the cumulative number of medals used, and an increase in the amount of memory area used can be suppressed.

The main control unit 161 subtracts the difference from the limit number to obtain the remaining number for activating the safety device (Sg17). As described above, the limit number in this embodiment is +19,000 coins. For example, if the difference is +18,600 coins, in step Sg17 the main control unit 161 subtracts +18,600 coins from +19,000 coins to obtain +400 coins. Also, if the difference is +18,900 coins, in step Sg17 the main control unit 161 subtracts +18,900 coins from +19,000 coins to obtain +100 coins.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the remaining number of safety devices to be activated exceeds 127 (step Sg18). That is, the main control unit 161 determines whether data indicating a number of medals exceeding +127 is stored in the remaining number of safety devices to be activated. More specifically, the main control unit 161 determines whether the 8th bit of the area of the remaining number of safety devices to be activated in the non-play RAM area is "1". That is, the main control unit 161 uses the value of the 8th bit of the remaining number of safety devices to be activated as a judgment value to judge whether the remaining number of safety devices to be activated exceeds 127. This makes it possible to judge whether the difference number is close to the limit number using the value of the 8th bit of the remaining number of safety devices to be activated in the non-play RAM area, thereby simplifying the judgment process. Note that the main control unit 161 may use a numerical value other than the 8th bit of the remaining number of safety devices to be activated as a judgment value. For example, when the remaining number of safety devices to be activated is converted from a binary number to a hexadecimal number, it may be determined whether the remaining number of safety devices to be activated exceeds 127 from the converted hexadecimal number. At this time, a certain bit of the remaining number of safety devices to be activated in hexadecimal becomes the judgment value.

If the remaining number of medals to activate the safety device exceeds 127 (YES in step Sg18), the main control unit 161 updates the remaining number of medals to 127. In other words, the remaining number of medals to activate the safety device is updated to data indicating 127 medals. If the remaining number of medals to activate the safety device does not exceed 127 (NO in step Sg18), the main control unit 161 does not update the remaining number of medals to activate the safety device. This is because when the remaining number of medals to activate the safety device is sent from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151, the available area is 7 bits. Figure 70 shows the commands sent from the main control board 16 to the performance control board 15.

The two-byte command shown in FIG. 70 is sent from the main control board 16 to the performance control board 15. The main control unit 161 includes the remaining number of times to activate the safety device in the two-byte command shown in FIG. 70 and sends it to the performance control unit 151. Of the two-byte command shown in FIG. 70, the first byte of the command shown in the upper part of FIG. 70 is a command that indicates the type of information. For example, the first byte of the command shown in the upper part of FIG. 70 stores data that indicates the type of information of the command to be sent, such as whether it is a command related to an internal lottery or a command that indicates the remaining number of times to activate the safety device in the safety device processing.

On the other hand, of the two-byte command shown in FIG. 70, the second byte command shown at the bottom of FIG. 70 is a command that indicates information content. The first byte command shown at the bottom of FIG. 70 stores data indicating the result of the internal lottery and the number of remaining safety activations. In both the first byte command and the second byte command, the eighth bit (first bit) stores information for the command itself to distinguish between the first byte command and the second byte command. More specifically, the performance control unit 151 receives a two-byte command from the main control unit 161. The performance control unit 151 refers to the eighth bit (first bit) of one of the received two-byte commands, and if "0" is stored, it determines that the referenced command is the first byte command that indicates the information type. On the other hand, the performance control unit 151 refers to the eighth bit (first bit) of the other of the received two-byte command, and if "1" is stored, it determines that the referenced command is the first byte command that indicates the information content.

In other words, the upper limit of the data area for storing the contents of information such as the remaining number of safety device activations is a total of 7 bits from the 1st to the 7th bits of the second byte command. The maximum number that can be stored in a 7-bit area is 127. In this way, if the remaining number of safety device activations exceeds 127, it cannot be stored in the 7-bit area, so the main control unit 161 updates the remaining number of safety device activations to 127 in step Sg18 shown in FIG. 69.

In this way, when the remaining number for activating the safety device, which is the difference between the stored difference number and the limit number, is smaller than 127, the main control unit 161 transmits a command capable of identifying the difference between the difference number and the limit number to the performance control unit 151. As a result, when the difference between the difference number and the limit number becomes smaller than 127, a command capable of identifying the difference between the difference number and the limit number is transmitted from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151, thereby suppressing an increase in data volume caused by communication.

Furthermore, until the difference between the difference number and the limit number becomes smaller than 127, the main control unit 161 sends the command shown in FIG. 70 to the performance control unit 151 with the remaining number for activating the safety device set to 127. In this way, when the difference between the difference number and the limit number is 127 or more, it is possible to make the performance control unit 151 recognize that the difference number has not reached the limit by uniformly sending a command indicating that the remaining number for activating the safety device is 127. In other words, when the performance control unit 151 receives a command indicating that the remaining number for activating the safety device is 127, it can recognize that the difference number is a number greater than or equal to 127.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the difference number is equal to or greater than the limit number (19,000 coins) (Sg20). If the difference number is equal to or greater than the limit number (YES in Sg20), the main control unit 161 turns on the stop flag (Sg21) and ends the process. If the difference number is less than the limit number (NO in Sg20), the main control unit 161 ends the process without turning on the stop flag.

In this way, in the safety device processing, the main control unit 161 updates the values of each variable shown in FIG. 64 contained in the non-game RAM area each time a unit game is executed. This allows the main control unit 161 to properly store the latest difference number each time a unit game is played.

The process of step Sg20, which determines whether the difference is equal to or greater than the limit, is executed for each unit game. That is, in this embodiment, the main control unit 161 executes the process of step Sg20 regardless of the number of bets and the number of wins set in the unit game. This allows the main control unit 161 to reliably determine whether the difference is equal to or greater than the limit for each unit game.

When the difference number does not change before and after the unit game is played, the main control unit 161 may not execute the process of step Sg20. When the difference number does not change before and after the unit game is played, for example, when three medals are set as the bet number and three medals are paid out as a result of a win. In this case, three medals are added to both the awarded number and the used number, and the difference number does not change before and after the unit game. In other words, when the awarded number and the used number in the unit game are the same, the main control unit 161 may not execute the process of step Sg20. Also, when a replay role wins, the main control unit 161 may not execute the process of step Sg20 in the game in which the replay role wins. The main control unit 161 executes the process of step Sg20 again from the next game that is played as a result of a replay win.

Returning to FIG. 68, the main control unit 161 sends a command including the remaining number of times to activate the safety device to the performance control board 15 (Sk2). That is, as explained in FIG. 70, the main control unit 161 stores the remaining number of times to activate the safety device in the 1st to 7th bits of the command (second byte) indicating the information content of the 2-byte command, and sends it to the performance control board 15. This allows the performance control unit 151 in the performance control board 15 to obtain the remaining number of times to activate the safety device from the main control unit 161 each time a unit game is executed.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the hit stop flag is ON (Sk3). That is, the main control unit 161 determines whether the hit stop flag has been updated to ON in Sg21 of the safety device processing. If the hit stop flag is not ON (NO in Sk3), the main control unit 161 returns the register bank to the first register bank R1 (SQ9) and ends the safety device-related processing. If the hit stop flag is ON (YES in Sk3), the RWM abnormality release flag is turned OFF (Sk4). The RWM abnormality release flag is a flag for determining whether or not to allow RAM clearing when the RAM clearing process is executed. If the RWM abnormality release flag is OFF, the main control unit 161 cannot clear the RAM even if the RAM clearing process is executed. Therefore, when the hit stop flag is ON, the RWM abnormality release flag is turned OFF to restrict the RAM clearing process, thereby preventing the hit stop flag that was ON in Sg21 from being updated to OFF due to a malfunction or fraud.

Then, the main control unit 161 sets a play stop error number (Sk5) and then executes error processing (Sk6). By executing the error processing, the main control unit 161 controls the state of S-machine 2 to a state in which game progress is disabled. In other words, referring to the main processing in FIG. 66, the processing in which game progress is disabled when the difference number reaches the limit number is performed in the safety device-related processing (step Sb50).

As shown in FIG. 66, the safety device-related processing (step Sb50) is a process that is performed at the end of all other processes, such as the external output signal processing (step Sbw3) that notifies external devices such as hall computers whether or not they are in a favorable zone, and the game end setting processing (step Sb44) that determines whether or not the number of coins in the favorable zone (net increase in the number of coins during the favorable zone) has reached 2,400 coins (limiter condition).

In this way, the safety device-related processing (Sb50), which can disable game progress when the difference number reaches the limit number, is performed at the end of the main processing, and the game end setting processing is performed before controlling the game to a state where game progress is disabled. Therefore, if the limiter condition is met, the game can be controlled to a state where game progress is disabled after being controlled to the normal section.

In addition, because external output signal processing is performed in step Sb2 before controlling the game to a state in which game progress is disabled, the game can be controlled to a state in which game progress is disabled after informing the external device whether or not it is controlled to an advantageous zone. In this way, even when the main control unit 161 disables game progress because the difference number has reached the limit number, it can disable game progress after appropriately processing information related to the advantageous zone. This makes it possible to prevent inconsistencies from occurring regarding information related to the advantageous zone after the disablement of game progress is lifted.

As described above, the safety device process has been described as a process that disables game progress when the number of medals acquired by the player over the course of the day reaches a limit. In this embodiment, the process determines whether the number of medals in the advantageous zone (the net increase in the number of medals during the advantageous zone) has reached 2,400 (limiter condition) in the game end setting process. Note that the determination of the limiter condition in the advantageous zone may be performed within the flowcharts of Figures 68 and 69 described in the safety device process.

At this time, the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161 may further store the "favorable zone difference number" as a variable representing the value obtained by subtracting the number of uses from the number awarded during the favorable zone. The main control unit 161 starts the counting process of the "favorable zone difference number" when the favorable zone starts, and returns the "favorable zone difference number" to its initial value (0) when the favorable zone ends, and does not execute the counting process during the normal zone. This allows the main control unit 161 to count the difference number during the favorable zone. In other words, the safety device process and the limiter condition determination process can be executed as the same process.

Figure 71 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the error processing performed by the main control unit 161. As shown in Figure 71, in the error processing, first, the error number (error number) set before the error processing is executed is stored (Sf1). When the error processing is called in step Sk6 of the safety device related processing, the stop error number is set as the error number. The error number includes numbers indicating errors other than the stop error number. For example, when the error processing is called from the deposit/withdrawal error check processing, the error number E4 or E5 is set in a specified area of the RAM 161c.

The main control unit 161 executes an error start command sending process that sends an error command that can identify an error number (Sf2). The main control unit 161 acquires the error cause that corresponds to the error number (Sf3), and executes an error number display process that controls the game support display device 12 to display the error number (Sf3). Thereafter, the error state is controlled until it is determined that the condition for releasing the error state corresponding to the error number prepared in a specified register has been met (Sf5).

When the play stop error number is set because the difference number has reached the limit, and the machine transitions to an error state, the machine waits until the setting key switch is in the ON state and power is applied to S-machine 2, as a condition for releasing the error state. In other words, S-machine 2 is in a state where play cannot proceed until the setting change process is executed. As another example, when the error number (E5) is prepared in the register and the machine transitions to the error state, the machine waits until the detection state of the inserted medal sensors 31a to 31c is in the OFF state and the reset/setting switch 38 or reset switch 23 is in the ON state, as a condition for releasing the error state.

If the conditions for clearing the error state are met (YES in Sf5), proceed to Sf6 and perform processing to wait for one interrupt. Then, input buffers 1 and 2 are obtained (Sf7), and based on the obtained input buffers 1 and 2, it is determined whether the payout sensor, inserted medal sensor, and full tank sensor are normal (Sf8). If it is determined that they are normal in Sf8, proceed to Sf9. On the other hand, if it is determined that they are not normal in Sf8, return to Sf6 and repeat steps Sf6 to Sf8 until it is determined that they are normal in Sf8.

In step Sf9, the ON edge state of input buffer 0 is obtained, and the process waits until the reset/setting switch 38 or the reset switch 23 is in the ON edge state (until it is operated) (NO in Sf10), and when the reset/setting switch 38 or the reset switch 23 is in the ON edge state (YES in Sf9), the process proceeds to Sf11.

In step Sf11, the dispensed number display data is stored, the error number is cleared (Sf12), and the error clear command transmission process (Sf13) is executed. In the error clear command transmission process, an error clear command is sent to clear the error state. In step Sf14, one interrupt wait process is performed, and the error processing ends.

In this way, when the setting change process is performed, the main control unit 161 controls the state of S-machine 2 from a state in which game progress is not possible to a state in which game progress is possible. The setting change process is a process in which information related to control of advantageous zones, AT, and BB is initialized, and is a process that cannot be executed unless the setting key switch is changed to the ON state by a store clerk. This allows the main control unit 161 to prevent excessive awarding of medals.

In this way, when error processing is executed based on the difference number reaching the limit number, the setting change processing is performed, and the error processing shown in FIG. 71 ends, and the safety device related processing shown in FIG. 68 ends. Furthermore, the main control unit 161 ends step Sb50 of the main processing shown in FIG. 66 based on the end of the safety device related processing.

As a result, the main control unit 161 returns the process to step Sb2 and repeats steps Sb2 and onwards. When the main process is completed, the process related to the control of one unit of play is completed, and the main process is repeatedly executed for each unit of play.

In this way, the main processing performed by the main control board 16 in this embodiment is included in the game program, and calls the processing included in the non-game program, such as RT information output processing, winning information output processing, and role ratio monitor data processing. When calling the processing included in the non-game program, the calling game program stores and saves the value of the flag register among the registers provided in the main control board 16 in the game stack area, and the called non-game program stores and saves the value of the stack pointer SP used in the game program in the non-game RAM area, and stores and saves the values of all the registers provided in the main control board 16 in the non-game stack area. Then, processing according to the called non-game program (for example, a process to initialize the non-game RAM area in the non-game RAM area initialization process, a process to count each state in the role ratio monitor data process described below, a sensor monitoring process in the non-game related process described below, a test signal output process, a role ratio monitor display data selection process, etc.) is performed.

In addition, after processing a non-game program, the main control board 16 loads all register values saved in the non-game stack area at the start of the non-game program into the corresponding registers, restoring the registers to the state they were in at the start of the non-game program, and sets the value of the stack pointer SP stored in the non-game RAM area at the start of the non-game program to the stack pointer SP, restoring the stack pointer SP to the state it was in at the start of the non-game program. Furthermore, the main control board 16 loads the value of the flag register stored in the game stack area before the non-game program was called into the corresponding flag register on the calling game program side, restoring the registers to the state they were in before the non-game program was called.

When the main control board 16 performs various processes according to a non-game program, it calls the non-game program from the game program using the above-mentioned CALLEX command or the like, performs various processes according to the non-game program, and returns to the game program that called it when each process according to the non-game program is completed.

[Counting the Difference in the Production Control Unit 151]
In the above, it has been explained that the variables related to the safety device processing are updated for each unit game by the main control unit 161. The performance control unit 151 also holds variables similar to those related to the safety device processing held in the main control unit 161, and updates them for each unit game. That is, in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, the main control unit 161 and the performance control unit 151 each hold variables related to the safety device processing.

Figure 72 is a diagram for explaining command communication between the main control board 16 and the performance control board 15. As shown in Figure 72, when the start switch 7 is operated (start operation), the main control unit 161 transmits the game start command shown in Figure 11 to the performance control unit 151. Also, as shown in Figure 72, when the stop switch is stopped for the third time (when all reels are stopped), the main control unit 161 transmits the game end command shown in Figure 12 to the performance control unit 151.

As shown in FIG. 11, the command at the start of the game includes the command No. 12 "Insert medal", which stores information indicating that medals have been bet. The command at the end of the game includes the command "Winning number", which stores information about the winning.

Figure 73 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the addition process of the cumulative number of uses on the production control side performed by the production control unit 151. The production control unit 151 judges whether or not a game start command has been received (Sm1). If the game start command has not been received (NO in Sm1), the production control unit 151 ends the process without performing the addition process of the cumulative number of uses on the production control side. If the game start command has been received (YES in Sm1), the production control unit 151 refers to the command "insert medal" included in the game start command to obtain the number of medals used in the game in which the start switch 7 was pressed (Sm2). After that, the production control unit 151 adds it to the cumulative number of uses on the production control side (Sm3). The cumulative number of uses on the production control side is a variable included in the RAM 151c of the production control unit 151 and is a variable corresponding to the cumulative number of uses of the main control unit 161. In this way, the performance control unit 151 adds the number of uses each time it receives a game start command, so the cumulative number of uses on the performance control unit 151 side and the cumulative number of uses on the main control unit 161 side will be the same at the end of a unit game unless there is any fraud or malfunction.

Next, the cumulative awarded number on the performance control unit 151 side will be described. FIG. 74 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the addition process of the cumulative awarded number on the performance control side performed by the performance control unit 151. The performance control unit 151 judges whether or not a game end command has been received (Sn1). If the game end command has not been received (NO in Sn1), the performance control unit 151 ends the process without performing the addition process of the cumulative awarded number on the performance control side. If the game end command has been received (YES in Sn1), the performance control unit 151 refers to the command "insert medal" included in the game end command to obtain the number of medals used in the game in which the start switch 7 was pressed (Sn2). After that, the performance control unit 151 adds it to the cumulative awarded number on the performance control side (Sn3). The cumulative awarded number on the performance control side is a variable included in the RAM 151c of the performance control unit 151 and is a variable corresponding to the cumulative awarded number of the main control unit 161. In this way, the performance control unit 151 adds the number of points awarded each time it receives a game end command, so the cumulative number of points awarded on the performance control unit 151 side and the cumulative number of points awarded on the main control unit 161 side will be the same at the end of a unit game unless there is any fraud or malfunction.

In this way, the performance control unit 151, like the main control unit 161, counts the cumulative number of uses and the cumulative number of medals awarded for each unit game. That is, the main control unit 161 sends to the performance control unit 151, for each unit game, a game start command that can specify the number of medals used in that unit game, and a game end command that can specify the number of medals awarded in that unit game. The performance control unit cumulatively counts the number of medals used in games played over the course of an entire day, and cumulatively counts the number of medals awarded in games played over the course of an entire day. This allows the performance control unit 151 to calculate the cumulative number of medals awarded and the cumulative number of uses for the entire day.

Figure 75 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the notification process performed by the performance control unit 151 before the safety device is activated. As explained above, the main control unit 161 controls the state of S machine 2 to a state in which game progress is impossible when the difference number reaches the limit number. In the S machine 2 in this embodiment, the player is notified in advance that game progress may become impossible before the difference number reaches the limit number.

The notification process before the safety device is activated shown in FIG. 75 is performed by the presentation control unit 151. In this embodiment, the presentation control unit 151 executes the notification process before the safety device is activated when it receives a game end command, but it may be executed at other times during the unit game period. In other words, the notification process before the safety device is activated shown in FIG. 75 is executed once per unit game.

The performance control unit 151 subtracts the cumulative number of uses on the performance control side from the cumulative number of awards on the performance control side to obtain the difference number on the performance control side (Sp1). The difference number on the performance control side may be stored by the RAM 151c of the performance control unit 151, or may be temporarily stored in a register while the notification process is being performed before the safety device is activated. The performance control unit 151 determines whether the difference number on the performance control side obtained in step Sp1 is less than a specific number (Sp2). The specific number is, for example, 300 coins, but may be another number.

If the difference number on the presentation control side is not less than the specific number (NO in Sp2), the presentation control unit 151 ends the process. If the difference number on the presentation control side is less than the specific number (YES in Sp2), the presentation control unit 151 judges whether or not a specific state is in place (Sp3). A specific state is a state advantageous to the player in which the increase rate of the number of medals exceeds 1, such as an AT state. A specific state may also include an ending state. The presentation control unit 151 judges whether or not a specific state is in place using information contained in the game start command or the game end command.

If the specific state is not reached (NO in Sp3), the performance control unit 151 ends the process. If the specific state is reached (YES in Sp3), the performance control unit 151 notifies the player that the game will be disabled by newly awarding medals equal to the difference in number. For example, if the difference is "100", the performance control unit 151 displays the words "The remaining 100 medals will be awarded, making the game disabled" on the liquid crystal display 51. Alternatively, the performance control unit 151 issues a warning sound indicating that the game will be disabled by the speakers 53 and 54. This prevents the S-machine 2 from suddenly becoming disabled without any prior notice to the player, which reduces the player's interest in the game. Furthermore, if the specific state is controlled to a state in which the increase rate of medals exceeds 1, the performance control unit 151 notifies the player before the safety device is activated. This allows the performance control unit 151 to notify the difference in the number of medals when the increase rate exceeds 1, i.e., when the difference in the number of medals is decreasing.

Then, the performance control unit 151 determines whether the remaining number of times to activate the safety device is less than 127 (Sp5). That is, the performance control unit 151 determines whether the remaining number of times to activate the safety device included in the command sent from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151 in step Sk2 of FIG. 68 is less than 127. If the remaining number of times to activate the safety device is not less than 127 (NO in Sp5), the performance control unit 151 ends the process.

If the remaining number of balls for activating the safety device is less than 127 (YES in Sp5), the performance control unit 151 judges whether or not there is an inconsistency between the difference number on the performance control side and the remaining number for activating the safety device (Sp6). That is, the performance control unit 151 judges whether or not there is an inconsistency between the difference number counted on the performance control unit 151 side and the difference number calculated on the main control unit 161 side. More specifically, the performance control unit 151 subtracts the difference number on the performance control unit side from the limit number (19,000 balls), and judges whether or not the result of the subtraction is the same as the remaining number for activating the safety device sent from the main control unit 161. If they are the same, the performance control unit 151 judges that there is no inconsistency, and if they are not the same, the performance control unit 151 judges that there is an inconsistency.

If it is determined that there is no inconsistency (NO in Sp6), the performance control unit 151 ends the process. If it is determined that there is an inconsistency (YES in Sp6), the performance control unit 151 notifies the fact that an abnormality has occurred (Sp7). Specifically, the performance control unit 151 sends a command to the main control unit 161 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in which the difference numbers are inconsistent. The performance control unit 151 also displays information on the LCD display 51 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in which the difference numbers are inconsistent.

[Regarding game start waiting process]
76 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the game start waiting process performed by the main control board 16. The game start waiting process is included in the game program, and is a subroutine called in the main process included in the game program.

As shown in FIG. 76, in the waiting process for starting a game, first, a bet number display process is performed (Sc1), and the 1-3 BET LEDs 14-16 corresponding to the number of medals set as the bet number are controlled to be in the ON state (lighted state). Then, the process proceeds to step Sc5. The value of the replay medal counter set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c is read into a predetermined register (Sc5). Note that the replay medal counter is set to a value according to the result of the previous game by the game end setting process in the previous main process. If a replay role was won in the previous game and a replay was awarded, a numerical value corresponding to the prescribed number of bets required to play a game (for example, 3) is set, whereas if a replay was not awarded in the previous game, 0 is set.

Then, the replay medal counter in the RAM 161c is cleared (Sc6), and it is determined whether the value of the replay medal counter read in step Sc5 is greater than 0, i.e., whether a replay has been granted (Sc7), and if a replay has been granted, a bet number setting process is performed (Sc8). In the bet number setting process, the value of the replay medal counter is set to the bet number, and the 1-3 BET LEDs 14-16 are set to the ON state (lit state) to notify that a specified number of bets (3 in this embodiment) has been set. In addition, a coin insertion number command that can specify the number of medals used to set the bet number is sent to the performance control unit 151.

If it is determined in step Sc7 that the value of the replay medal counter is 0, i.e., a replay has not been granted, and after the bet number setting process has been performed in step Sc8 due to a replay being granted, a one-time interrupt wait process is performed (Sc10). By performing a one-time interrupt wait process, a timer interrupt process (main) is performed and the detection states of the various switches, the illumination state of the LEDs, the various timers, etc. are updated, and subsequent processing can be performed with the detection states of these various switches updated.

After waiting for one interrupt in step Sc10 and a timer interrupt has occurred, various switches are enabled to accept operation, and when an enabled switch is operated, an operation input acceptance process is performed to accept operation by that switch (Sc14).

In the operation input acceptance process, if the credit set in a predetermined area of the RAM 171c is 1 or more, acceptance of operations by the 1 BET switch 20 and the MAX BET switch 6 is enabled. Also, if the bet amount set in a predetermined area of the RAM 171c is a specified amount, acceptance of operations by the start switch 7 is enabled. Also, acceptance of operations by the bet amount clear switch 21 and the setting key switch 37 is enabled.

In the operation input reception process, if the operation of the start switch 7 is detected while the operation of the start switch 7 is enabled, a start flag indicating that the start switch 7 has been operated is set in a specified register. If the operation of the setting key switch 37 is enabled and an operation of the setting key switch 37 is detected, a setting value display process is performed to display a setting value on the setting value display 24. If the operation of the 1BET switch 20 and the MAXBET switch 6 is enabled and an operation of the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is detected, a process is performed to set the number of medals up to a specified number possible based on the credit as the bet number, and subtract the number of medals set as the bet number from the credit. After performing a process according to the switch whose operation was detected, the operation input reception process is terminated.

After performing the operation input reception process in step Sc14, it is determined whether or not a valid operation of the start switch 7 has been detected based on the start flag (Sc15). If the start flag is not set in a specific register and it is determined that a valid operation of the start switch 7 has not been detected, the process proceeds to step Sc16, where LED display process is performed to control the lighting state of the start enable LED.

In the LED display process, when operation of the start switch 7 is set to enabled by the operation input reception process in step Sc14, if operation of switches other than the reset switch is not detected, the start enable LED is controlled to the ON state (lighted state), and when operation of switches other than the reset switch is detected when operation of the start switch 7 is set to enabled, or when operation of the start switch 7 is not set to enabled, the start enable LED is controlled to the OFF state (unlit state), and whether operation of the start switch 7 is enabled or disabled is indicated by the lighted state of the start enable LED.

In step Sc15, if it is determined that a start flag is set in a predetermined register and a valid operation of the start switch 7 is detected, a random number value for internal lottery is obtained from the random number circuit and set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sc17). Then, bet number setting state data capable of identifying the set bet number is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sc18), the start valid LED is set to the OFF state (light-off state) (Sc19), the medal maintenance permission flag is cleared from the predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sc20), and the display of the payout number on the game support display 12 is controlled to be cleared (Sc21), the game start waiting process is terminated, and the process returns to the main process. Then, in the main process, an internal lottery is performed using the random number value obtained in step Sc17, and the rotation of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is started in response to the detection of the operation of the start switch 7, thereby starting one game.

Figure 77 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the bet setting operation acceptance process performed by the main control board 16. The main control board 16 executes the bet setting operation acceptance process shown in Figure 77 when an operation by the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is detected after the operation by the 1BET switch 20 and the MAXBET switch 6 becomes valid in the operation input acceptance process of Figure 77.

The main control board 16 acquires a bet number between 0 and 3 that is set in the BET counter of the RAM 161c (Sd1). The main control board 16 calculates the number of medals inserted based on the acquired bet number and whether the switch whose operation was detected is the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 (Sd2). For example, if operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is detected when the bet number is 0, the number of medals inserted will be 3, and if operation of the 1BET switch 20 is detected when the bet number is 0 to 2, the number of medals inserted will be 1.

The main control board 16 sends an insertion command including the calculated number of inserted medals to the medal count control board 17 (Sd3). The medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the insertion command. In response to receiving the response command, the main control board 16 executes a bet number setting process (Sd4). That is, the main control board 16 adds the bet number stored in the BET counter of RAM 161c.

Figure 78 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the settlement operation reception process performed by the main control board 16. The main control board 16 executes the settlement operation reception process when an operation of the bet number clear switch 21 is detected after the operation of the bet number clear switch 21 becomes valid in the operation input reception process of Figure 78.

The main control board 16 determines whether or not a replay is in progress (Se1). If a replay is in progress, the main control board 16 ends processing. If a replay is not in progress, the main control board 16 determines whether or not the bet number is set to 1 or more (Se2). If the bet number is not set to 1 or more, the main control board 16 ends processing. If the bet number is set to 1 or more, the main control board 16 obtains the bet number of 1 to 3 set in the BET counter of RAM 161c (Se3).

The main control board 16 sends a settlement command including the acquired bet number as the settled medal number to the medal count control board 17 (Se4). The medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the insertion command. In response to receiving the response command, the main control board 16 executes the settlement operation process (Se5). In other words, the main control board 16 subtracts the bet number.

Embodiment 2.
The following describes communications between the performance control unit 151, main control unit 161, medal count control unit 171, and CU control unit 323 using embodiment 2. In embodiment 1, the main control unit 161 is included in the main control board 16, and the medal count control unit 171 is included in the medal count control board 17. For S-stand 2 in embodiment 2, the configuration in which the medal count control unit 171 is included in the main control board 16 together with the main control unit 161 will be described.

Figure 79 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and slot machine in embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 79, the main control unit 161 includes both the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161. In other words, the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 are mounted on the same board. This eliminates the need to connect the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 with a connector or the like, thereby improving security. Furthermore, by reducing the number of parts, the probability of malfunctions occurring can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 79, the main control unit 161 is connected to the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, and the game support display 12. The main control unit 161 may be configured to be connected to the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, and the game support display 12 via the medal count control unit 171. In other words, the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, and the game support display 12 may be connected to the medal count control unit 171.

The medal count control unit 171 is also connected to the count button 10, the credit display 11, the RAM clear switch 293, and the role ratio monitor 89. The medal count control unit 171 may be configured to be connected to the count button 10, the credit display 11, the RAM clear switch 293, and the role ratio monitor 89 via the main control unit 161. The count button 10, the credit display 11, the RAM clear switch 293, and the role ratio monitor 89 may be connected to the main control unit 161.

Figure 80 is a diagram for explaining communication between the performance control unit 151, the main control unit 161, the medal count control unit 171, and the CU control unit 323. As shown in Figure 80, the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161 are mounted on the main control board 16 in the second embodiment. The main control unit 161 includes a first serial communication circuit SR1, a second serial communication circuit SR2, and a third serial communication circuit SR3. The first serial communication circuit SR1 to the third serial communication circuit SR3 are serial communication circuits mounted on the main control unit 161, which is realized as a control computer such as a microcomputer. The medal count control unit 171 includes a fourth serial communication circuit SR4, a fifth serial communication circuit SR5, and a sixth serial communication circuit SR6. The fourth serial communication circuit SR4 to the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 are also serial communication circuits mounted on the medal count control unit 171, which is realized as a control computer such as a microcomputer.

The first serial communication circuit SR1 and the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control unit 161 have a transmission function and a reception function. As shown in FIG. 80, the first serial communication circuit SR1 has a transmission terminal Tx1 and a reception terminal Rx1 as terminals for connecting to other devices. The first serial communication circuit SR1 also has a transmission buffer Tb1, which is a buffer for transmission, and a reception buffer Rb1, which is a buffer for reception. The third serial communication circuit SR3 also has a transmission terminal Tx3, a reception terminal Rx3, a transmission buffer Tb3, and a reception buffer Rb3.

On the other hand, the second serial communication circuit SR2 of the main control unit 161 has only the transmission function out of the transmission and reception functions. In other words, the second serial communication circuit SR2 is a serial communication circuit dedicated to transmission. As shown in FIG. 80, the second serial communication circuit SR2 has only a transmission terminal Tx2 and a transmission buffer Tb2, which is a buffer for transmission, as terminals for connecting to other devices. For this reason, the second serial communication circuit SR2 is configured not to be able to receive signals (commands) from other devices. This allows signals to be transmitted in one direction in an ideal manner. In other words, the second serial communication circuit SR2 can be used preferably for communication between the main control unit 161 and the performance control unit 151, where one-way signal transmission is required.

The fifth serial communication circuit SR5 and the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 of the medal count control unit 171 have a transmission function and a reception function, similar to the first serial communication circuit SR1 and the third serial communication circuit SR3. That is, the fifth serial communication circuit SR5 has a transmission terminal Tx5, a reception terminal Rx5, a transmission buffer Tb5, and a reception buffer Rb5. Also, the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 has a transmission terminal Tx6, a reception terminal Rx6, a transmission buffer Tb6, and a reception buffer Rb6. Also, the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 of the medal count control unit 171 has only a transmission function, similar to the second serial communication circuit of the main control unit 161. That is, the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 has a transmission terminal Tx4 and a transmission buffer Tb4.

As shown in FIG. 80, the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 communicate signals using the first serial communication circuit SR1 and the fifth serial communication circuit SR5. As described above, bidirectional commands such as insertion commands and settlement commands are transmitted between the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161. In other words, the communication between the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161 includes bidirectional communication. In this way, bidirectional communication is achieved by using the first serial communication circuit SR1, which has a transmission function, and the fifth serial communication circuit SR5, which have a reception function.

In addition, since the communication between the medal count control unit 171 and the CU control unit 323 is bidirectional, the medal count control unit 171 uses a sixth serial communication circuit SR6 having both a transmission function and a reception function for communication with the connection terminal board 1000. The medal count control unit 171 is connected to the CU control unit 323 via the connection terminal board 1000. In addition, the frame side information command is a command that is continuously transmitted in one direction from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16, which does not have bidirectionality. The medal count control unit 171 transmits the frame side information command to the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control unit 161 using the fourth serial communication circuit SR4, which has only a transmission function. The third serial communication circuit SR3 transmits a test signal to the test board 300. In this way, in S-unit 2 in embodiment 2, one-way communication is performed using a serial communication circuit that has only a transmission function, and two-way communication is performed using a serial communication circuit that has both a transmission function and a reception function. This allows the serial communication circuit to be used separately for one-way command transmission and two-way command transmission, allowing suitable data communication.

The main control unit 161 also receives bidirectional commands, such as an input command, from the medal count control unit 171 using the receiving terminal Rx1 of the first serial communication circuit SR1, and transmits response commands using the transmitting terminal Tx1 of the first serial communication circuit SR1. This allows the sending and receiving of bidirectional commands between the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 to be completed by just the first serial communication circuit SR1, improving security.

As described in FIG. 41, when the main control unit 161 receives a bidirectional command that is sent irregularly, such as an insertion command, it transmits a response command to the medal count control unit 171 indicating that the command has been received. This allows the medal count control unit 171 to determine that the insertion command, etc., has been successfully received by the main control unit 161.

Furthermore, the main control unit 161 receives the frame side information command from the medal count control unit 171 using the receiving terminal Rx3 of the third serial communication circuit SR3, which is different from the first serial communication circuit SR1. This allows the main control unit 161 to receive commands from the medal count control unit 171 using the third serial communication circuit SR3 even if an abnormality occurs in the first serial communication circuit SR1.

Furthermore, communication of the frame side information commands that are sent periodically is performed using the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 of the medal count control unit 171 and the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control unit 161. On the other hand, communication of input commands and the like that is not performed periodically uses the fifth serial communication circuit SR5 rather than the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 in the medal count control unit 171, and the first serial communication circuit SR1 rather than the third serial communication circuit SR3 in the main control unit 161. This prevents the frame side information commands that are sent periodically from overlapping with input commands and the like that are sent based on the player's operation, causing an overflow.

Next, the capacity of the transmission buffer will be described. The transmission buffer Tb2 of the second serial communication circuit SR2 and the transmission buffer Tb4 of the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 used for one-way communication are 128 bytes. On the other hand, the transmission buffer Tb1 of the first serial communication circuit SR1, the transmission buffer Tb3 of the third serial communication circuit SR3, the transmission buffer Tb5 of the fifth serial communication circuit SR5, and the transmission buffer Tb6 of the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 used for two-way communication are 64 bytes. This makes it difficult for the serial communication circuits for one-way communication to overflow even when many commands are transmitted.

Next, the memory area for setting the functions of each serial communication circuit contained in the internal function register area will be described. The internal function register area of RAM 161c described in FIG. 60 includes an area for setting the functions of the first serial communication circuit SR1 to the third serial communication circuit SR3 mounted as functions of the main control unit 161, which is a control computer such as a microcomputer. Similarly, the internal function register area (not shown) of RAM 171c includes an area for setting the functions of the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 to the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 mounted as functions of the medal count control unit 171, which is a control computer such as a microcomputer.

The capacity of the function setting area of the serial communication circuit used for one-way communication is smaller than the capacity of the function setting area of the serial communication circuit used for two-way communication. This eliminates the need for complex settings in the serial communication circuit for one-way communication, and allows for simplified settings. In other words, the capacity of the function setting area of the second serial communication circuit SR2 in RAM 161c is smaller than the capacity of the function setting area of the first serial communication circuit SR1 in RAM 161c.

As shown in FIG. 80, the main control unit 161, medal count control unit 171, performance control unit 151, and connection terminal board 1000 are connected by a serial communication circuit. This makes it easier to handle the wiring pattern. In other words, the number of wires can be reduced compared to parallel communication, making it easier to arrange the wiring pattern.

[Main components]
The above describes the S stand 2 according to the present embodiment. The main configuration of the S stand 2 according to the present embodiment will now be described.

(1) A gaming machine capable of playing a game (for example, S machine 2),
A game control means (for example, a main control unit 161) for controlling the progress of a game;
A performance control means (for example, a performance control unit 151) for controlling the performance,
The game control means includes:
The number of uses of the gaming value in the games played after a predetermined counting start condition (for example, powering on the S unit 2) is met is cumulatively counted (for example, the usage counting process by the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 69: Sg4),
The number of awarded game values in the games played after the predetermined counting start condition is satisfied is cumulatively counted (for example, the awarded number counting process by the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 69: Sg6),
When the cumulative number of granted points obtained by cumulatively counting the number of granted points is greater than the cumulative number of usages obtained by cumulatively counting the number of usages (for example, NO in Sg15 of FIG. 69), a number obtained by subtracting the cumulative number of usages from the cumulative number of granted points is stored as a difference between the cumulative number of granted points and the cumulative number of usages;
When the cumulative given number is smaller than the cumulative used number (for example, YES in Sg15 of FIG. 69), 0 is stored as the difference number (for example, the difference number is updated to 0 in Sg14 of FIG. 69),
When the stored difference number reaches a limit number (for example, 19,000 coins), the progress of the game is disabled (for example, the play stop flag is turned ON in Sg21 of FIG. 69).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 69, when the difference between the cumulative number of medals used and the cumulative number of medals awarded reaches the all-day limit, the state of the gaming machine is controlled to a state in which game progress is disabled. If the cumulative number of medals awarded is equal to or less than the cumulative number of medals used, the difference is calculated and stored as 0, eliminating the need to calculate the difference when the cumulative number of medals awarded is equal to or less than the cumulative number of medals used, and thus preventing an increase in memory area usage.

(1-1) A gaming machine in which the gaming control means transmits a command capable of identifying the difference between the stored difference number and the limit number (e.g., the remaining number for activating a safety device) to the presentation control means when the difference between the stored difference number and the limit number (e.g., the remaining number for activating a safety device) is smaller than a predetermined number (e.g., 127) (for example, as shown in Sk2 of FIG. 68, when the remaining number becomes smaller than 127 at Sg18 of FIG. 69, a remaining number command for activating a safety device is transmitted, capable of identifying a numerical value corresponding to the remaining number for activating a safety device).

Specifically, when the difference between the difference number and the limit number becomes smaller than 127, a command indicating the remaining number of times to activate the safety device, which is capable of identifying the difference between the difference number and the limit number, is sent from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151, thereby suppressing the increase in data volume caused by communication.

(1-2) The game control means
When the difference between the difference number and the limit number becomes smaller than the predetermined number, a command capable of specifying the difference between the difference number and the limit number is transmitted;
If the difference between the difference number and the limit number is equal to or greater than the specified number, a command capable of identifying a specific value equal to or greater than the specified number (for example, 127) is transmitted until the difference becomes smaller than the specified number (for example, if the difference exceeds 127 at Sg18 in FIG. 69, a safety device activation remaining number command including 127 as a fixed value is transmitted).

Specifically, if the difference between the difference number and the limit number is 127 or more, a command indicating that the remaining number for activating the safety device is 127 or more can be sent to make the performance control unit 151 recognize that the difference number has not reached the limit.

(1-3) the difference number is stored in an n-bit storage area (for example, RAM 161c),
Whether or not the difference between the difference number and the limit number has become smaller than the specified number is determined by using the value of a specified bit (for example, the 8th bit) in an n-bit memory area as a judgment value (for example, in Sg18 of FIG. 69, it is determined whether or not the difference number has become smaller than the specified number based on whether the 8th bit of the difference number or the remaining number for activating the safety device stored in RAM 161c is "1" or "0").

Specifically, the value of a specified bit is used to determine whether the difference number is approaching the limit number, which simplifies the determination process.

(1-4) The number of game values awarded in a game for which a replay display result is derived is set to 0 (for example, in the case of a replay win in Sg5 of FIG. 69, the number of winning medals is set to 0), and the number of game values used in a game executed as a replay due to a derived replay display result is set to 0 (for example, if Sg2 of FIG. 69 is NO, the number of inserted medals is not obtained).

Specifically, you can manage data without carrying over information from the previous game.

(1-5) When a replay is won, a first replay flag (for example, the replay in progress flag in Sb40 of FIG. 66) and a second replay flag (for example, the replay calculation flag shown in FIG. 64) are set (for example, when a replay role is won as shown in FIG. 69, the replay calculation flag is turned ON in Sg9).
The replay first flag is cleared when the bet amount for a new game based on the replay is set (for example, Sb40 in FIG. 66 ),
The second re-play flag is cleared when the number of gaming values to be used in a new game based on the re-play is updated to 0 (for example, the calculation re-play flag is turned OFF at Sg7 in FIG. 69).

Specifically, even if a power outage occurs, it is possible to prevent inconsistencies between the number of medals used in a new game and the number used throughout the day.

(1-6) The second replay flag (for example, the calculation replay flag in FIG. 64) is cleared when the power to the gaming machine is restored from a power outage (for example, the calculation replay flag is initialized at Sh2 shown in FIG. 65).

Specifically, even when settings are changed, it is possible to prevent the number of gaming values to be used in the game after power is restored from being erroneously updated to 0.

(1-7) the game control means transmits a command capable of specifying the number of game values used in the unit game and the number of game values awarded in the unit game for each unit game (for example, a game start command shown in FIG. 11 or a game end command shown in FIG. 12) to the presentation control means (for example, as shown in FIG. 72, the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command and a game end command);
The presentation control means is capable of cumulatively counting the number of uses of gaming value in games played after the specified counting start condition is met (for example, the number of uses on the presentation control side), and cumulatively counting the number of awards of gaming value in games played after the specified counting start condition is met (for example, as explained in Figures 73 and 74, in S machine 2, the cumulative award number and cumulative use number are counted not only on the main control unit 161 but also on the presentation control unit 151 side).

Specifically, the performance control unit 151 can also calculate the cumulative number of points awarded and the cumulative number of points used throughout the day.

(1-8) the game control means is capable of controlling a normal state in which the increase rate of the gaming value does not exceed 1 (for example, a normal section or an advantageous section normal state) and a specific state in which the increase rate of the gaming value exceeds 1 (for example, an AT state or an ending state);
When the presentation control means is controlled to the specific state (for example, YES in Sp3 of FIG. 75), it notifies the player (for example, as shown in FIG. 75, the presentation control unit 151 notifies the player that play will be disabled in step Sp4).

Specifically, when the increase rate of the gaming value exceeds 1, i.e., when the difference number is decreasing, the difference number can be notified.

(1-9) When the game control means controls the state of the gaming machine to a state in which game progress is impossible (for example, NO at Sh1 in FIG. 65), it retains the difference number (for example, as shown in FIG. 65, if the play stop flag is ON when power is restored from a power outage, it is not initialized).

Specifically, even if a malfunction causes the game to be controlled to a state where it is possible to proceed, it can be controlled again to a state where it is impossible to proceed while the variables are properly maintained.

(1-10) When the gaming control means controls the state of the gaming machine from a state in which game progress is not possible to a state in which game progress is possible, it initializes information related to control to a specific state (for example, information related to an advantageous zone) (for example, as shown in Sf5 of FIG. 71, if a setting change process is not performed, the error will not be cleared).

Specifically, it can prevent excessive gaming value from being awarded.

(1-11) The number of gaming values used throughout the day and the number of gaming values awarded throughout the day are initialized when the power to the gaming machine is turned on again (for example, as shown in FIG. 65, the cumulative number of uses and the cumulative number of awards are initialized in Sh2, which is executed after a power outage).

Specifically, the difference number for the entire day can be conveniently stored.

(1-12) The game control means
The number of game values granted in the advantageous zone that can be controlled to an advantageous state advantageous to the player can be controlled to the advantageous zone until the number of game values granted in the advantageous zone reaches an upper limit value (e.g., 2,400 coins) (e.g., transition to an ending state as shown in FIG. 4 );
In a given unit game, when the number of gaming values awarded in the advantageous zone reaches the upper limit value and the difference number becomes the limited number (for example, 19,000), the advantageous zone is ended and the game progress is disabled (for example, as shown in Figure 66, the safety device processing of Sb50 is executed at the end of the main processing).

Specifically, the advantageous period can be ended appropriately before the game is controlled to a state in which progress is impossible.

(1-13) The game control means
The game can be controlled in the advantageous zone until the number of game values granted in the advantageous zone reaches the upper limit value (e.g., 2,400 coins) (e.g., transition to an ending state as shown in FIG. 4 ),
An external signal output is possible in the advantageous section,
In a specified unit game, when the number of gaming values awarded in the advantageous zone reaches the upper limit value and the difference number becomes the limited number (for example, 19,000 coins), the external signal output is stopped and the game progress is disabled (as shown in FIG. 66, the external output signal processing of Sbw2 is executed before the safety device processing of Sb50).

Specifically, external signal output can be terminated appropriately.

(2) The game control means
When executing instructions according to a first program (for example, a game RAM area (capacity program)), a first bank of registers (for example, the first register bank R1 shown in FIG. 61) is used,
When executing instructions according to a second program (e.g., a program in a non-play RAM area (outside the capacity)) called from the first program, a second bank of registers (e.g., the second register bank R2 shown in FIG. 61) is used,
A special read instruction (e.g., an LDQ instruction) can be executed, which can specify an address from which data is read, with the value of a specific register (e.g., a first Q register or a second Q register) as the upper address and a value specified for each instruction as the lower address;
When executing the special read command in the first program, the value of a first specific register (e.g., a first Q register) included in the first bank is set as the upper address (e.g., when executing a program in the game RAM area, the first register bank R1 is used),
When executing the special read command in the second program, the value of a second specific register (e.g., a second Q register) contained in the second bank is used as the upper address (e.g., when executing a program in the non-game RAM area, the second register bank R2 is used).

Specifically, the program capacity required when executing instructions can be reduced for both game and non-game programs.

(2-1) The game control means sets a value in the first specific register and sets a value in the second specific register before starting game control (for example, as shown in Sj1 of FIG. 62, the values of the first Q register and the second Q register are set by a function of a microcomputer. Alternatively, in Sa2Q of the initial setting process of FIG. 63, the values of the first Q register and the second Q register are set before game control is started).

Specifically, the process is simplified by setting the values in advance before starting game control.

(2-2) The value of the first specific register and the value of the second specific register are set after the game control means is started and before a user program (for example, a program executed in step Sj2 of FIG. 62, which includes an initial setting process) is executed. (For example, as shown in FIG. 62, the values of the first Q register and the second Q register are set by a function of a microcomputer.)

Specifically, there is no need to set the value of the Q register through a user program.

(2-3) The game control means executes an initial setting process in the user program to progress the game, and sets a value in the first specific register and a value in the second specific register in the initial setting process (for example, as shown in FIG. 63, in the initial setting process, the values of the first Q register and the second Q register are set in Sa2Q before the control of the game is started).

Specifically, the user program can set any value in the Q register.

(2-4) Before starting game control, a value is set in the first specific register, and the value of the second specific register is set each time the second program is called from the first program (for example, as shown in SQ2 of FIG. 65 and SQ5 of FIG. 67, the value of the second Q register is reset each time a program in the non-game RAM area is executed).

Specifically, even if an unintended value is set in the second Q register, the value of the second Q register is set every time the non-game RAM area is called, ensuring prevention of malfunctions.

(2-5) The first specific register and the second specific register store the same value (e.g., an internal lottery area of the first bank).

Specifically, there will be no need to distinguish between game and non-game programs in how LDQ commands are handled.

(3) the game control means (e.g., the main control unit 161);
A specific control means (e.g., a medal count control unit 171) capable of receiving commands from the game control means and transmitting commands to the game control means;
The presentation control means (e.g., a presentation control unit 151) can receive commands from the game control means but cannot transmit commands to the game control means;
The game control means includes:
A first communication means (for example, a first serial communication circuit SR1 (capable of transmitting and receiving));
A second communication means (for example, a second serial communication circuit SR2 (only capable of transmission)),
Transmit data to the specific control means using the first communication means (for example, as shown in FIG. 80, the main control unit 161 transmits data to the medal count control unit 171 using the first serial communication circuit SR1),
Data is transmitted to the performance control means using the second communication means (for example, as shown in FIG. 80, the main control unit 161 transmits data to the performance control unit 151 using the second serial communication circuit SR2).

Specifically, it can be used separately for one-way command transmission and two-way command transmission, allowing for suitable data communication.

(3-1) The first communication means (for example, the first serial communication circuit SR1) has a transmission function (for example, a transmission terminal Tx1) and a reception function (for example, a reception terminal Rx1),
The second communication means (e.g., the second serial communication circuit SR2) has only a transmitting function (e.g., a transmitting terminal Tx2) out of a transmitting function and a receiving function (e.g., as shown in FIG. 80, the second serial communication circuit SR2 has only a transmitting terminal Tx2).

Specifically, it is ideal for transmitting signals in one direction.

(3-2) the first communication means (for example, the first serial communication circuit SR1) has the first transmission buffer (for example, the transmission buffer Tb1) of a first amount (for example, 64 bytes) capable of storing data to be transmitted,
the second communication means (e.g., second serial communication circuit SR2) has the second transmission buffer (e.g., transmission buffer Tb2) of a second amount (e.g., 128 bytes) capable of storing data to be transmitted,
The second amount is greater than the first amount.

Specifically, in a communication circuit for one-way communication, overflow is less likely to occur even when many commands are sent.

(3-3) the capacity of a memory area for function setting in the first communication means (for example, an internal function register area in FIG. 60) is a third amount,
The capacity of a memory area for function setting in the second communication means (for example, the internal function register area in FIG. 60) is a fourth amount smaller than the third amount.

Specifically, in communication circuits for one-way communication, complex settings are not required, and settings can be simplified.

(3-4) The game control means (e.g., the main control unit 161) transmits a command to the specific control means (e.g., the medal count control unit 171) using the transmission function (e.g., the transmission terminal Tx1) of the first communication means (e.g., the first serial communication circuit SR1), and receives a command from the specific control means using the reception function (e.g., the reception terminal Rx1) of the first communication means.

Specifically, transmission and reception can be completed in the first serial communication circuit SR1, improving security.

(3-5) The game control means (e.g., the main control unit 161) receives a command from the specific control means (e.g., the medal count control unit 171) using a receiving function (e.g., the receiving terminal Rx3) of a third communication means (e.g., the third serial communication circuit SR3) that is different from the first communication means.

Specifically, even if an abnormality occurs in the first serial communication circuit SR1, commands can be received via the third serial communication circuit SR3.

(4) The game control means (for example, the main control unit 161) and the specific control means (for example, the medal count control unit 171),
The specific control means is
A periodic command transmission process (for example, a frame side information command transmission process shown in FIG. 40) for periodically transmitting a command to the game control means;
Executing an irregular command transmission process (for example, a transmission process for a deposit command, a settlement command, etc., as shown in FIG. 39 ) for irregularly transmitting commands to the game control means;
The specific control means (for example, the medal count control unit 171)
a fourth communication means (for example, a fourth serial communication circuit SR4) for transmitting a command stored in a fourth transmission buffer (for example, a transmission buffer Tb4) capable of storing data to be transmitted;
a fifth communication means (for example, a fifth serial communication circuit SR5) for transmitting a command stored in a fifth transmission buffer (for example, a transmission buffer Tb5) capable of storing data to be transmitted;
The command (e.g., a frame side information command) transmitted by the periodic command transmission process is transmitted to the game control means using the fourth communication means (e.g., a fourth serial communication circuit SR4);
Commands transmitted by the irregular command transmission process (for example, a deposit command, a settlement command, etc.) are transmitted to the game control means using the fifth communication means (for example, the fifth serial communication circuit SR5).

Specifically, this prevents periodic and non-periodic commands from overlapping and causing an overflow.

(4) The game control means (for example, the main control unit 161) and the specific control means (for example, the medal count control unit 171),
The specific control means is
A periodic command transmission process (for example, a frame side information command transmission process shown in FIG. 34) for periodically transmitting a command to the game control means;
Executing an irregular command transmission process (for example, a transmission process of an input command, a settlement command, etc.) for irregularly transmitting commands to the game control means;
The game control means (for example, the main control unit 161)
the third communication means (e.g., a third serial communication circuit) for transmitting commands stored in the third receive buffer (e.g., receive buffer Rb3) capable of storing data to be received;
The first communication means (for example, a first serial communication circuit) transmits a command stored in the first reception buffer (for example, a transmission buffer Tb1) capable of storing data to be received,
The command (e.g., a frame side information command) transmitted by the periodic command transmission process is received by the game control means using the third communication means (e.g., the third serial communication circuit SR3);
Commands transmitted by the irregular command transmission process (eg, input commands, settlement commands, etc.) are received by the game control means using the first communication means (eg, first serial communication circuit SR1).

Specifically, this prevents periodic and non-periodic commands from overlapping and causing an overflow.

(4-1) When the game control means receives a command transmitted by the irregular command transmission process, it transmits a command to the specific control means indicating that the command has been received (for example, as shown in FIG. 41, it transmits a response command in step S13).

Specifically, the medal count control unit 171 can determine that the command was received successfully.

(4-2) The game control means and the specific control means are mounted on the same board (e.g., the main control board 16).

Specifically, there is no need to connect the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 using a connector or the like, thereby improving security.

(4-3) Each of the first communication means to the fifth communication means is a circuit that performs serial communication.

Specifically, it makes it easier to handle the wiring pattern.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. Modifications of the above-described embodiment that can be applied to the present invention will be described below.

[Regarding the value set in the second Q register]
In the first embodiment, it has been described that, as the registers used for the LDQ instruction, the first Q register and the second Q register are set to "F0" and "F3", respectively. That is, as shown in the address map of the memory area used by the main control unit 161, the first Q register used for executing the game program is set to "F0", which is the upper address of the game RAM area, and the second Q register used for executing the non-game program is set to "F3", which is the upper address of the non-game RAM area. This is because it is considered that the game RAM area is frequently referenced when the game program is executed, and the non-game RAM area is frequently referenced when the non-game program is executed.

However, in a modified example, for example, "F0", which is the upper address of the game RAM area, may be set in both the first Q register and the second Q register. When "F0" is set in the second Q register, the LDQ command can be used when referencing the game RAM area from a non-game program. Also, since the same upper address is set in both the first Q register and the second Q register, program design becomes easier. In other words, programs can be designed without distinguishing between the handling of the LDQ command between game programs and non-game programs.

[Serial communication circuit]
In the second embodiment, the main control unit 161, the medal count control unit 171, the performance control unit 151, and the connection terminal board 1000 are connected by a serial communication circuit. However, at least a part of the communication between the main control unit 161, the medal count control unit 171, the performance control unit 151, and the connection terminal board 1000 may be parallel communication. This can increase the communication speed.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and it goes without saying that modifications and additions that do not deviate from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

2 S machine, 2L, 2C, 2R reels, 6 MAXBET switch, 7 start switch, 8L, 8C, 8R stop switches, 51 LCD display, 16 main control board, 17 medal count control board.

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of playing a game,
A game control means for controlling the progress of a game,
The game control means includes:
Executing a startup process based on the supply of power to the game control means;
After the start-up process is executed, a user program for controlling the game progress is executed;
using a first bank of registers when executing instructions according to a first program of the user programs ;
a second bank of registers is used when executing instructions according to a second program called from a first program among the user programs ;
A special read instruction can be executed that can specify an address from which data is read, with the value of a specific register as the upper address and a value specified for each instruction as the lower address;
When the special read instruction is executed in the first program, the value of a first specific register included in the first bank is set as a high-order address;
When the special read instruction is executed in the second program, the value of the second specific register included in the second bank is set as the upper address;
The first specified register and the second specified register store the same value,
The user program includes an initial setting process and a game control process that is executed after the initial setting process and controls a game,
In the startup process, a value is set in the first specific register;
In the initial setting process, a value is set in the first specific register;
A gaming machine in which the value set in the first specific register during the startup process is the same as the value set in the first specific register during the initial setting process .