JP7656980B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

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

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, can create jackpot games that are advantageous in terms of winning prize balls, and can execute effects that allow the degree of advantage regarding the jackpot game to be specified.

JP 2019-93230 A

This type of presentation is effective in increasing motivation to play, but there is still room for improvement.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can enhance the effect of increasing interest in gaming by implementing effects that can identify the degree of advantage related to jackpot play.

According to the present invention, a gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area and capable of setting a plurality of types of game states with different degrees of advantage is configured to be able to execute a first notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the jackpot game and a second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the game state, and when a first pattern variation that allows the start of a first jackpot game is ended and a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time is satisfied, the first notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the first jackpot game is executed, and when a second pattern variation is ended and the predetermined condition is satisfied without the game ball passing through the specific area, the second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed. a specific notification is executed so that when a power interruption occurs during the execution of the second notification and the power is turned on thereafter, the second notification does not return, and when a power interruption occurs during the execution of the first notification and the power is turned on thereafter, the first notification can return , and when a second pattern change that enables the start of a second jackpot game ends, the first notification is executed as time passes, and at least a portion after the end of the first pattern change, a specific notification can be executed to specify that the first jackpot game can start, and the length of the period from the end of the first pattern change to the start of the specific notification is equal to or less than the length of the period from the end of the second pattern change to the start of the first notification .
According to the present invention, a gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area and capable of setting a plurality of types of game states with different degrees of advantage is configured to execute a first notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the jackpot game and a second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the game state, and at the first time when the game ball passes through the specific area before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time is satisfied after the end of a first pattern variation that enables the start of a first jackpot game, the first notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the first jackpot game is executed, and at the end of the first pattern variation, In a second instance when the predetermined condition is satisfied without the game ball passing through, the second notification capable of identifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed, and when a power interruption occurs during execution of the second notification and the power is turned on thereafter, the second notification does not return, and when a power interruption occurs during execution of the first notification and the power is turned on thereafter, the first notification can return, and the length of the period from when the power is turned on to when the first notification returns is constant regardless of the degree of advantage of the jackpot game that can be identified by the first notification that was being executed when the power interruption occurred.

The present invention provides a gaming machine that can increase the interest of players by implementing effects that can identify the degree of advantage associated with winning a jackpot.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons arranged in the area III shown in FIG. 1 and their surroundings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board installed in the gaming machine. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 8(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 8(b) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 1, Figure 8(c) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2, and Figure 8(d) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a small hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2. Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA. FIG. 10(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. FIG. 11 shows a flow of the normal advantage level notification presentation control processing. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific example of the normal advantage level notification display that is executed upon the passage of the second time period, and shows a specific example of the normal advantage level notification display when pattern A1 is determined as the stopping pattern. Figure 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of the normal advantage level notification display that is executed upon the passage of the second time period, and shows a specific example of the normal advantage level notification display when pattern B1 or pattern C1 is determined as the stopping pattern. Figure 14 shows a specific example of a normal advantage level notification display that is executed when a game ball passes through gate 63, and shows a specific example of a normal advantage level notification display when pattern A1 or pattern B1 is determined as the stopping pattern. Figure 15 shows a specific example of a normal advantage level notification display that is executed when a gaming ball passes through gate 63, and shows a specific example of a normal advantage level notification display when pattern C1 is determined as the stopping pattern. Figure 16(a) is a timing chart showing the flow of the presentation when the normal advantage level announcement presentation is executed upon the passage of a second time, and Figure 16(b) is a timing chart showing the flow of the presentation when the normal advantage level announcement presentation is executed upon the passage of a game ball through gate 63. FIG. 17(a) is a timing chart showing the display of a caption image after the start of displaying a mode caption image, and FIG. 17(b) is a timing chart showing the display of a caption image after the start of displaying a number of rounds caption image. Figure 18 shows a flow of the special advantage notification presentation control processing. Figure 19 is a diagram showing a specific example of a special advantage notification display that is executed upon the passage of a third time period, and shows a specific example of a special advantage notification display when pattern A2 or pattern B2 is determined as the stopping pattern. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a specific example of a special advantage notification effect that is executed upon the passage of the third time period, and shows a specific example of a special advantage notification effect when pattern C2 is determined as the stopping pattern.

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

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

The present invention relates to
A gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area (gate 63) and capable of setting a plurality of game states with different degrees of advantage,
The first notification (round number telop image tg3) capable of specifying the advantage of the jackpot game and the second notification (mode telop image tg2) capable of specifying the advantage of the game state are configured to be executable.
After the end of the first pattern variation that allows the start of a first jackpot game (a jackpot game related to the pattern A1, the pattern B1, or the pattern C1), at the first time when the game ball passes through the specific area before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time (the passage of a second time) is satisfied, the first notification that allows the advantage of the first jackpot game to be specified is executed,
After the first symbol variation ends, in the second case where the game ball does not pass through the specific area and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed,
If a power outage occurs during the execution of the second notification and the power is then turned on, the second notification will not be restored,
When a power outage occurs during the execution of the first notification and the power is then turned on, the first notification may be restored.
This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, the player can select whether to execute the first notification or the second notification (whether to confirm the first notification or the second notification), thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.
In addition, according to the present invention, by making it relatively easy to recognize the first notification when a momentary power outage occurs, it becomes easier for the player to recognize that an ongoing jackpot game has not been lost, thereby preventing confusion for the player.

In addition, in this invention, the "game state" refers to a game state in which pattern variation can be performed, and does not include big win games or small win games.

In addition, with regard to the above-mentioned predetermined condition, "being satisfied by the passage of time" does not necessarily mean that the success or failure of the condition is determined by the measurement of time, as in the present embodiment described below. For example, it also includes a condition that can be satisfied by the passage of a predetermined amount of time without directly measuring time, such as being satisfied at the end of a performance that starts at a starting point determined by the progress of the game, such as the timing of the stop display of the pattern fluctuation, and continues for a predetermined amount of time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The ball entry determination means 110 determines whether a ball has been entered into each winning hole based on the detection results of the sensors installed in each winning hole.

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

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

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

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

8 and 9 are diagrams that diagrammatically show a lottery table used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description.
In addition, in a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one lottery value, the addition is performed once), and a result corresponding to the lottery value where a carry (overflow) occurs is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery table, the lottery table is given a name for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data such as the lottery value included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is identifiable and stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, items described for convenience of explanation or "-" or "0" may be described as the lottery value, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. And, there is no winning result for the lottery value "-" or "0". Furthermore, if the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range) is listed in the lottery table, the result is 100% derived, so there is no need to perform a lottery. Also, if the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used for the lottery, a carry will always occur in the addition of the last lottery value, so there is no need to perform the addition, and in that case, the lottery value itself used for the addition is also unnecessary.

The special pattern hit/miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special pattern hit/miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes a special pattern hit/miss judgment to determine by lottery whether a big hit, a small hit, or a miss will be won, using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special pattern hit/miss judgment.
8(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss, and the drawing table is different between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), and otherwise it is a miss, and a small hit is not derived. On the other hand, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), a small hit is derived with a probability of 1100/65536 (about 1/59.6), and otherwise it is a miss.
In this embodiment, as described later, a jackpot game can occur via a small jackpot, so the probability of a jackpot being derived in the special chart hit/miss determination is set to the one probability mentioned above.

When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stopping pattern selection means 132 determines the special chart stopping pattern by lottery using a random number for special chart stopping pattern selection (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) and a selection table for special chart stopping pattern selection.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8(b), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 1, when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 1, the stopping symbols are determined to be pattern A1 with a probability of 400/1000 (1/2.5), pattern A2 with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), pattern B1 with a probability of 400/1000 (1/2.5), pattern B2 with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), pattern C1 with a probability of 40/1000 (1/25), and pattern C2 with a probability of 10/1000 (1/100).
Here, regardless of whether pattern A1, pattern A2, pattern B1, pattern B2, pattern C1, or pattern C2 is determined, the normal pattern will have a high probability as described below after the end of the jackpot game corresponding to these stopped patterns, but the number of pattern changes during which the normal pattern high probability continues will be 10 times if the jackpot game ends when pattern A1 and pattern A2 are determined, and 80 times if the jackpot game ends when pattern B1, pattern B2, pattern C1, or pattern C2 are determined.
Furthermore, the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to the symbols A1, A2, B1, and B2 is 4. On the other hand, the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to the symbols C1 and C2 is 10. Therefore, it can be said that the symbols C1 and C2 are more advantageous than the symbols B1 and B2 in terms of the number of rounds, and the symbols B1 and B2 are more advantageous than the symbols A1 and A2 in terms of the prescribed number of times related to the normal high probability.

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

As shown in Figure 8 (d), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, pattern c is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 250/1000 (1/4), and pattern d is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 750/1000 (approximately 1/1.33).
Here, if a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern c, the number of rounds in the big win game will be 4, and the specified number of times after the big win game ends will be 80 times of normal high probability. On the other hand, if a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern d, the number of rounds in the big win game will be 10, and the specified number of times after the big win game ends will be 80 times of normal high probability. Therefore, it can be said that the pattern d is more advantageous than the pattern c in terms of the number of rounds when a big win game occurs.
Here, the number of rounds in a big win game when a big win game occurs in a small win game is the number calculated by counting the small win game as one round. In the following explanation, a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern c may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern c", and a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern d may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern d".

In this embodiment, as described above, the probability that pattern b, which generates a jackpot game with 10 rounds, is determined when a jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2 (approximately 1/1.11) is higher than the probability that pattern d, which generates a jackpot game with 10 rounds, is determined when a small hit is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2 (approximately 1/1.33), and the probability that a jackpot game with 4 rounds occurs is the opposite. Therefore, a jackpot game when a jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2, that is, a jackpot game related to a so-called one-type hit, can be said to be a jackpot game with a higher degree of advantage than a jackpot game when a jackpot game occurs via a small hit game derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2, that is, a jackpot game related to a so-called two-type hit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In addition, the jackpot game control means 140 starts a small jackpot game when the result of the special winning/unwinning judgment is a small jackpot, and when the game ball passes through the V winning area (not shown) provided in the large winning port 55 during the small jackpot game, the jackpot game corresponding to the small jackpot can be started after the small jackpot game ends. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small jackpot game functions as a game that generates a jackpot game. Note that if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during the small jackpot game, the jackpot game does not start after the small jackpot game ends.
In particular, the jackpot game control means 140 sets the jackpot game standby state to wait for the start of the jackpot game after the stop display of the pattern change related to the special win/loss judgment when the result of the special win/loss judgment is a jackpot, and after the end of the small win game when the game ball passes through the V winning area in the small win game. Then, the jackpot game control means 140 starts the waiting jackpot game when the game ball passes through the gate 63 during the start effective period in the jackpot game standby state, generates a jackpot start command, and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. The start effective period is a period set after a predetermined time (4000 ms in this embodiment) has elapsed since the start of the jackpot game, and after the start effective period is set, the period continues until the jackpot game starts.

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

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

In the above-mentioned big win game or small win game, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, and opens the special electric device 65 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the special chart.
In addition, when the result of the normal winning/losing judgment is a normal winning, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the normal electric device solenoid 62 to open the normal electric device 61. In this embodiment, the open state of the normal electric device 61 ends when either the time of the open state reaches a specified time (4000 ms in this embodiment) or the entry of a game ball into the second starting hole 59 occurs in the open state, and the normal electric device 61 is closed.

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

Such a general drawing state changes in link with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be described below with reference to Figures 10(a) and 10(b). Note that Figure 10(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Fig. 10(a), in the special pattern derivation state, there is a special pattern derivation state PA as a special pattern derivation state corresponding to a normal pattern low probability, and there are a special pattern derivation state PB and a special pattern derivation state PC as special pattern derivation states corresponding to a normal pattern high probability, and any of these special pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. And, there are transition conditions (i) to (v) for the transition conditions between the special pattern derivation state PA and the special pattern derivation state PC.

Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern A1 or pattern A2, transition condition (ii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern B1, pattern B2, pattern C1, or pattern C2, transition condition (iii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern a, pattern b, pattern c, or pattern d, transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 10 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PB), and transition condition (v) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 80 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PC).
In addition, when a big win game occurs in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC again after the big win game ends, and the number of pattern variations related to the special pattern 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times related to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC is reset. In addition, when a big win game does not occur in the small win game related to the transition condition (iii), the state when the small win game occurred (normal pattern high probability, and the number of pattern variations related to the special pattern 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times) is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 10(b), the average fluctuation time of each of the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is shorter in the order of special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. This is due to the length of the fluctuation time related to the basic special pattern fluctuation pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. Here, the average fluctuation time refers to the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that may occur in any pattern fluctuation, derived by multiplying the probability of the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment by the probability of the special pattern fluctuation pattern) for each of the fluctuation times related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in a certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, when there is only one special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in the certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state, the fluctuation time related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern is treated as the average fluctuation time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (determined stopped) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, middle pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern.
Specifically, in the pattern variation related to the special pattern 1, one of the pattern combinations related to the decorative patterns excluding the 7 pattern is determined for each of the patterns A1, A2, B1, and B2, and a pattern combination including the pattern combination related to the 7 pattern is determined for each of the patterns C1 and C2. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a pattern combination related to the decorative patterns excluding the 7 pattern is stopped and displayed, it is not possible to accurately determine the performance mode (special pattern variation pattern derivation state) after that (after the end of the jackpot game that occurs) or the number of rounds of the jackpot game that occurs from the pattern combination that is stopped and displayed.

When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot effect control means 227 determines the content of the effects during the jackpot game based on the information included in the command, etc. The effects during the jackpot game include a round effect that notifies the player that a round game is in progress and an end demo effect that notifies the player that the jackpot game has ended.
In addition, in this embodiment, the jackpot presentation control means 227 is configured to be able to determine the contents of the advantage notification presentation that notifies the player of the advantage after the jackpot game ends (type of presentation mode) and the advantage of the jackpot game itself (number of rounds), and details of the presentation, including the start conditions of the presentation, will be described later.

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

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

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

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

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

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

As explained above, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to execute an advantage notification effect that notifies the player of the advantage regarding the jackpot game, i.e., the advantage after the jackpot game ends (type of presentation mode) and the advantage of the jackpot game itself (number of rounds). This advantage notification effect is an effect that determines the advantage of the game thereafter, and attracts a lot of attention from players. Therefore, in the present invention, the effect of increasing interest in the game related to this effect is further enhanced by devising control over the execution of the advantage notification effect. The details of this function are explained below.

<Regarding normal advantage level notification presentation control processing>
In this embodiment, there are two types of advantage degree announcement effects: normal advantage degree announcement effects and special advantage degree announcement effects, and each has different start conditions and content.
First, using Figure 11, the details of the normal advantage degree notification presentation control process that controls the execution of the normal advantage degree notification presentation will be explained.
11 is a flow chart of the normal advantage degree notification effect control process, which is executed by the jackpot effect control means 227, and is executed upon receiving a change stop command transmitted at the end of the pattern change related to the special pattern 1 from which a jackpot has been derived by the special pattern hit/miss judgment. In particular, the normal advantage degree notification effect control process is executed when any of the patterns A1, B1, and C1 is determined as the stop pattern, whereas the process is not executed when any of the patterns A2, B2, and C2 is determined as the stop pattern.

11, in step S202, which is the first step of the normal advantage degree notification display control process, the measurement of the first time period is started. Here, the first time period is a time period for matching the start timing of the above-mentioned start effective period with the start timing of the measurement of the second time period, which will be described later, and the first time period according to this embodiment is 4000 ms.
In step S204, it is determined whether or not a first time has elapsed. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S206, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S204.

In step S206, the measurement of the second time is started. Here, the second time is a time for measuring the start timing of the normal advantage level notification presentation, and in this embodiment, the second time is 7000 ms, which is longer than the first time. Furthermore, the second time is constant regardless of the type of the stopped symbol that is stopped and displayed this time, and this is also the same for the first time.

In step S208, it is determined whether the gaming ball has passed through gate 63, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S212, and if the condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S210. In this embodiment, the determination of whether the gaming ball has passed through gate 63 is made based on whether a jackpot start command has been received, but any method that can determine whether the gaming ball has passed through gate 63 may be used, not limited to a method via that command.

In step S210, it is determined whether or not the second time has elapsed. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S212, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S208.
In step S212, the effect data for the normal advantage degree notification effect is set, and the normal advantage degree notification effect control process is terminated. As a result, the normal advantage degree notification effect is started according to the execution conditions described later.

In this way, in this embodiment, during a part of the jackpot game waiting state following the end of the pattern change related to special chart 1, where a jackpot has been derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment, the normal advantage degree notification presentation starts at the earlier of the timing when the game ball passes through gate 63 or the timing when the second time has elapsed. The details will be described later, but the content of the normal advantage degree notification presentation in this embodiment differs depending on the type of execution condition (elapse of the second time, the game ball passing through gate 63).

<Details about the normal advantage announcement performance>
Next, the details of the normal advantage level notification presentation will be explained using Figures 12 to 16.
Figures 12 and 13 are figures showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display that is executed upon the passage of a second time period, where Figure 12 is a figure showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display when pattern A1 is determined as the stopping pattern, and Figure 13 is a figure showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display when pattern B1 or pattern C1 is determined as the stopping pattern.
Figures 14 and 15 are figures showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display executed by the passage of a gaming ball through gate 63, where Figure 14 is a figure showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display when pattern A1 or pattern B1 is determined as the stopping pattern, and Figure 15 is a figure showing a specific example of a normal advantage degree notification display when pattern C1 is determined as the stopping pattern.
Figure 16(a) is a timing chart showing the flow of the presentation when the normal advantage level announcement presentation is executed upon the passage of a second time, and Figure 16(b) is a timing chart showing the flow of the presentation when the normal advantage level announcement presentation is executed upon the passage of a game ball through gate 63.

12 to 16, after the symbol variation in which symbol A1, B1, or C1 is determined ends (the decorative symbol stops being displayed, see the top of each figure), an instruction telop image tg1 including the text "Aim for the gate with a right hit" is displayed at the top of the display area of the main display unit 81 (see the middle of each figure). This allows the player to recognize that a game ball is required to be launched toward the gate 63 in order to start (occur) a big win game.
As shown in these figures, the instruction telop image tg1 starts to be displayed with a slight delay from the stopped display of the decorative symbols (see Fig. 16(a) and Fig. 16(b)). This also applies to Figs. 19 and 20 described later.

If the second time elapses thereafter without the game ball passing through gate 63, as shown in the lower part of Figures 12 and 13, the display of mode caption image tg2 is started as a normal advantage degree announcement presentation, triggered by the elapse of the second time.
More specifically, in Fig. 12 after the stop display of the pattern A1, a mode telop image tg21 including the characters "next challenge mode" is displayed at the bottom of the display area related to the main display unit 81. This allows the player to recognize that the challenge mode (the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB as the game state) will be set as the presentation mode after that (after the end of the current big win game).
On the other hand, in Fig. 13 after the stop display of the pattern B1 and the pattern C1, a mode telop image tg22 including the characters "next RUSH mode" is displayed at the bottom of the display area related to the main display unit 81. This allows the player to recognize that the RUSH mode (the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC as the game state) will be set as the presentation mode thereafter.
In these examples, the second time has elapsed without the game ball passing through gate 63, and the jackpot game that is to be started this time has not yet begun, so the display of the instruction caption image tg1 continues, as shown in the lower figures of Figures 12 and 13.
Also, in this embodiment, the display of the mode caption image tg2 ends when a specified time (5000 ms in this embodiment) has elapsed. The condition for terminating the caption image may be any condition regardless of the elapsed time, but it is preferable that the condition be satisfied before the caption image ends when a gaming state is reached in which pattern variation can be executed thereafter.

Furthermore, if a game ball subsequently passes through gate 63 before the second time has elapsed, as shown in the lower diagrams of Figures 14 and 15, the passage of the game ball triggers the display of a round number caption image tg3 as a normal advantage degree announcement presentation.
14, after the symbols A1 and B1 are stopped, a round number caption image tg31 including the characters "4R jackpot" is displayed at the bottom of the display area of the main display unit 81. This allows the player to recognize that the number of rounds in the current jackpot game is 4.
On the other hand, in Fig. 15 after the symbol C1 is stopped, a round number caption image tg32 including the characters "10R jackpot" is displayed at the bottom of the display area of the main display unit 81. This allows the player to recognize that the number of rounds related to the current jackpot game is 10.
In these examples, since the game ball passes through the gate 63 at this point and the jackpot game starts, an image that can identify the current round number (in these examples, the word "Round 1", which corresponds to the above-mentioned round effect) is displayed on the upper left side of the display area of the main display unit 81, and an image that requests the player to continue hitting to the right is displayed on the upper right side of the display area, as shown in the lower diagrams of Figures 14 and 15. At this time, the display of the instruction caption image tg1 has ended.
Also, in this embodiment, the display of the round number caption image tg3 ends when a specified time has elapsed (7000 ms in this embodiment, which is longer than the specified time for the mode caption image tg2). The condition for terminating the caption image may be any condition regardless of the elapsed time, but it is preferable that, like the mode caption image tg2, the condition be satisfied before the caption image ends when a gaming state is reached in which pattern variation can be executed thereafter.

In this manner, in this embodiment, after the pattern change in which the pattern A1, the pattern B1, or the pattern C1 is displayed in a stopped state (all of which are pattern changes that allow a jackpot game to be started), if the game ball passes through gate 63 before the second time has elapsed, a normal advantage level notification display (number of rounds caption image tg3) that can identify the advantage level related to this jackpot game is executed, and if the game ball does not pass through gate 63 after the pattern change has ended and the second time has elapsed, a normal advantage level notification display (mode caption image tg2) that can identify the advantage level for the subsequent game state is executed.
This allows the player to select which normal advantage level notification display to check, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.
In this embodiment, the round number telop image tg3 and the mode telop image tg2 are executed on the same device (main display unit 81), but these effects may be executed on different devices.
In particular, from the viewpoint of widening the player's field of vision for various devices, when these effects are executed on different devices, it is preferable that the effect (number of rounds telop image tg3) that starts under a condition involving an active gaming operation (passage of the gaming ball through the gate 63) is executed on a device different from the device (main display unit 81) on which the instruction telop image tg1, i.e., the effect that prompts the gaming operation, is executed. Furthermore, in this case, it is preferable that the mode telop image tg2 is executed on the device on which the effect that prompts the gaming operation is executed.

In this embodiment, the mode telop image tg2 may specify the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, but may specify only one of these. This is also true in the case where there are three or more game states that can occur when the mode telop image tg2 is displayed.
Similarly, the round number telop image tg3 may specify either the number of rounds as 4 or the number of rounds as 10, but may specify only one of these. This also applies to the case where there are three or more types of round numbers that can occur when the round number telop image tg3 is displayed.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 is configured to be able to execute a first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) that can identify the advantage of the jackpot game (number of rounds) and a second notification (mode caption image tg2) that can identify the advantage of the game state, and in other words, when the first pattern change that allows the start of the first jackpot game (jackpot game related to pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1) ends, the first notification that can identify the advantage of the first jackpot game is executed when the game ball passes through a specific area (gate 63) before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time (passage of a second time) is satisfied, and when the first pattern change ends, the second notification that can identify the advantage of the subsequent game state is executed when the predetermined condition is satisfied without the game ball passing through the specific area.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 16(a) and 16(b), at the end of the pattern change in which pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 is determined (when the normal advantage degree announcement performance is executed), the movable decorative body 22 lights up red in response to the end of the pattern change.
On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, at the end of the pattern change in which pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2 is determined (when the special advantage announcement performance described below is executed), the movable decorative body 22 lights up in white upon the end of the pattern change.

Also, although not shown in the figure, if a power outage and power back on without the execution of a RAM clear process (a so-called momentary power outage, which may be expressed as a power outage and restoration without the execution of a RAM clear process) occurs during timing t1 (see Figure 16 (a)), i.e., the period during which the mode caption image tg2 is displayed, the display of the mode caption image tg2 will not return.
Similarly, although not shown in the figure, if a power outage and a power on without executing a RAM clear process occurs at timing t2 (see Figure 16 (b)), i.e., during the period when the round number caption image tg3 is displayed, the display of the round number caption image tg3 will return.
According to this, by making it relatively easier to recognize the number of rounds caption image tg3 (rather than the mode caption image tg2) when a momentary power outage occurs, it becomes easier for the player to recognize that the ongoing jackpot game has not been lost, and it is possible to prevent confusion for the player.
In order to achieve this effect, it is preferable that the display mode of the round number telop image tg3 before and after the return is consistent, but as long as the content shown by the round number telop image tg3 is the same, the display mode may be different. In particular, the display mode in this embodiment refers to a difference that can be recognized visually, such as the size of the image itself or the color of the characters contained in the image, if the target is an image, and refers to a difference that can be recognized by the organ that perceives the target, if the target is something other than an image. This also applies to each invention described below.

In other words, if a power outage occurs during the execution of the second notification (mode caption image tg2) and the power is turned on afterwards, the second notification will not return, but if a power outage occurs during the execution of the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) and the power is turned on afterwards, the first notification may return.

In particular, in this embodiment, when a power outage occurs and a power on occurs without executing a RAM clear process, the length of the period from the power on until the display of the round number caption image tg3 is restored (the time until restoration) is constant regardless of the display mode of the round number caption image tg3 that was displayed before the power outage.
This makes it possible to make the round number telop image tg3 easily recognizable regardless of the display mode of the round number telop image tg3.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the length of the period from when the power is turned on until the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) returns is constant regardless of the notification mode of the first notification that was being executed when the power failure occurred.

Also, although the timing is not shown, if a power outage occurs during the period when the movable decorative body 22 is lit in red and a power on occurs without executing a RAM clear process, the lighting of the movable decorative body 22 will return. This makes it easier to make a selection according to the player's intention, for example, when a momentary power outage occurs before the second time has elapsed and before the game ball passes through the gate 63, that is, during the period when the player selects whether to display the mode caption image tg2 or the number of rounds caption image tg3.
It should be noted that if a power outage occurs and then a power on occurs without execution of a RAM clear process while the instructed caption image tg1 is being displayed, the display of the instructed caption image tg1 will not return.

<About the display of the caption image after the start of the normal advantage level announcement performance>
Next, using Figure 17, the display of the caption image after the start of the normal advantage level announcement performance will be explained in detail.
FIG. 17(a) is a timing chart showing the display of a caption image after the start of displaying a mode caption image tg2, and FIG. 17(b) is a timing chart showing the display of a caption image after the start of displaying a round number caption image tg3.

As shown in FIG. 17(a), in this embodiment, when the mode telop image tg2 is displayed first, the round number telop image tg3 is not displayed after the start of display of the telop image.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17(b), when the round number telop image tg3 is displayed first, the mode telop image tg2 is displayed after the start of display of the telop image.

According to this, by not displaying the caption images in a chronologically reversed order (the order of the round number caption image tg3 relating to the degree of advantage during a jackpot game, and the mode caption image tg2 relating to the degree of advantage after the end of the jackpot game), it is possible to avoid confusing the player.
In order to achieve this effect, the display period of the round number caption image tg3 and the display period of the mode caption image tg2 that is displayed after the display of the round number caption image tg3 begins may overlap, but it is preferable that the display periods of these caption images are spaced apart, as in this embodiment.
Furthermore, it is not necessary that the mode caption image tg2 is always displayed after the round number caption image tg3 is first displayed, and the mode caption image tg2 may be displayed partly after the start of displaying the round number caption image tg3.

Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, in the above-mentioned first time, the second notification (mode caption image tg2) can be executed after the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) ends, and in the above-mentioned second time, the first notification is not executed after the second notification ends.

In particular, in this embodiment, the display form of the mode caption image tg2 shown in FIG. 17(a) is the same as the display form of the mode caption image tg2 shown in FIG. 17(b), but it is also acceptable for these display forms to be different.

<About the special advantage announcement performance>
Next, using Figures 18 to 20, details of the special advantage degree notification effect that is executed when the normal advantage degree notification effect is not executed will be explained.
18 is a flow of the special advantage notification effect control process, which is executed by the big win effect control means 227, and is executed upon receiving a change stop command transmitted at the end of the pattern change related to the special pattern 1 from which a big win has been derived by the special pattern hit/miss judgment. In particular, the special advantage notification effect control process is executed when any of the patterns A2, B2, and C2 is determined as the stop pattern, while the process is not executed when any of the patterns A1, B1, and C1 is determined as the stop pattern.
Figures 19 and 20 are figures showing a specific example of a special advantage notification display executed upon the passage of a third time period, where Figure 19 is a figure showing a specific example of a special advantage notification display when pattern A2 or pattern B2 is determined as the stopping pattern, and Figure 20 is a figure showing a specific example of a special advantage notification display when pattern C2 is determined as the stopping pattern.

As shown in Fig. 18, in step S402, which is the first step of the special advantage notification effect control process, the measurement of the third time is started. Here, the third time is a time shorter than the sum of the first time (4000 ms) and the second time (7000 ms), and in this embodiment, it is 3000 ms (particularly, the third time is shorter than the first time).
In step S404, it is determined whether or not a third time has elapsed. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S406, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S404.
In step S406, the effect data related to the special advantage degree notification effect is set, and the special advantage degree notification effect control process is terminated. As a result, the special advantage degree notification effect is started according to the execution conditions described later.

As shown in Figures 19 and 20, after the pattern change has ended and pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2 has been determined (the decorative pattern has stopped being displayed, see the top row in both figures), an instruction caption image tg1 containing the words "Aim for the gate with a right hit" is displayed at the top of the display area related to the main display unit 81 (see the middle row in both figures).
After that, as shown in the lower part of Figures 19 and 20, when the third hour has elapsed, the display of a round number caption image tg3 begins as a special advantage notification effect.
More specifically, in Fig. 19, which shows the stop display of the patterns A2 and B2, a round number caption image tg31 including the characters "4R jackpot" is displayed at the bottom of the display area related to the main display unit 81. On the other hand, in Fig. 20, which shows the stop display of the pattern C2, a round number caption image tg32 including the characters "10R jackpot" is displayed at the bottom of the display area related to the main display unit 81.
In these examples, the special advantage announcement performance begins before the game ball passes through gate 63, so the display of the instruction caption image tg1 continues, as shown in the lower figures of Figures 19 and 20.

In this manner, in this embodiment, after the pattern change in which the pattern A2, the pattern B2, or the pattern C2 is displayed in a stopped state (all of which are pattern changes that allow the start of a jackpot game), a special advantage degree notification effect (number of rounds caption image tg3) that can identify the advantage degree related to this jackpot game is executed when a third time that is shorter than the sum of the first time and the second time has elapsed, and in this special advantage degree notification effect, a caption image (mode caption image tg2) is not displayed due to the passing of the game ball through gate 63.
According to this, due to the presence of the pattern change in which the above-mentioned pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2 is displayed in a stopped state, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being shot toward the gate 63 immediately after the end of the pattern change in which the pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 is displayed in a stopped state. This contributes to enhancing the effect of increasing interest in the game by the normal advantage degree announcement performance.

Therefore, in other words, when the second pattern change that allows the start of a second jackpot game (a jackpot game related to pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2) ends in the gaming machine 10, the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) is executed as time passes, and the length of the period from the end of the second pattern change to the start of the first notification is shorter than the length of the period from the end of the first pattern change to the satisfaction of the specified condition (the passage of the second time).

In particular, in this embodiment, the third time is shorter than the first time, which makes it possible to prevent the jackpot game from starting before the special advantage announcement performance begins.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a jackpot game occurs in the pattern variation related to the special pattern 1, the rate at which the pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 is determined as the stopping pattern is higher than the rate at which the pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2 is determined as the stopping pattern. This has the effect of preventing the launch of a game ball toward the gate 63 immediately after the end of the pattern variation in which the above-mentioned pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 is stopped and displayed, while preventing the effect of improving the game interest by the normal advantage degree announcement performance from being lost.

Also, as described above, in this embodiment, at the end of the pattern change in which the pattern A1, the pattern B1, or the pattern C1 is determined (when the normal advantage degree notification performance is executed), the movable decorative body 22 lights up in red upon the end of the pattern change (see Figures 16(a) and 16(b)). On the other hand, at the end of the pattern change in which the pattern A2, the pattern B2, or the pattern C2 is determined (when the special advantage degree notification performance is executed), the movable decorative body 22 lights up in white upon the end of the pattern change.
That is, the red lighting of the movable decorative body 22 allows the end of the pattern change in which the pattern A1, the pattern B1, or the pattern C1 has been determined to be identified. The lighting of the movable decorative body 22 then begins before the third time has elapsed.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize that the pattern change has ended when the pattern A1, B1, or C1 has been determined, that is, that the normal advantage degree notification performance is being executed. This contributes to increasing the effect of increasing interest in the game through the normal advantage degree notification performance.
In order to achieve this effect, the red lighting of the movable decorative body 22 may be started after the pattern change in which the pattern A1, the pattern B1, or the pattern C1 is determined has ended. Furthermore, the start timing of the red lighting of the movable decorative body 22 may coincide with the third time.
In addition, the movable decorative body 22 does not have to be lit up red when the pattern change in which pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 has been determined has ended, but the movable decorative body 22 may be lit up red only when the pattern change has ended.
Furthermore, the effect corresponding to the red lighting of the movable decorative body 22 may be executed by a device other than a lamp, but it is preferable that, as in this embodiment, it is a device different from the device on which the advantage level announcement effect is executed.

Therefore, at least part of the time after the end of the first pattern change, a specific notification (red lighting of the movable decorative body 22) is executable to identify that the first jackpot game can be started, and in other words, the length of the period from the end of the first pattern change to the start of the specific notification is less than or equal to the length of the period (third time) from the end of the second pattern change to the start of the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3).

In particular, in this embodiment, when the movable decorative body 22 is not lit up in red, i.e., when a pattern change is executed in which pattern A2, pattern B2, or pattern C2 is determined, rather than a pattern change in which pattern A1, pattern B1, or pattern C1 is determined, the movable decorative body 22 is lit up in white upon the end of the pattern change.
This makes it easier for the player to recognize that the movable decorative body 22 has not lit up red.

In addition, the lighting colors of the movable decorative body 22 corresponding to the red lighting of the movable decorative body 22 may be three or more types, i.e., more than the number of types of display forms of the mode caption image tg2 and the round number caption image tg3 (two types).
This increases attention to the lighting of the movable decorative body 22, making it easier for the user to recognize that the normal advantage announcement performance is being executed.

Therefore, in other words, in the gaming machine 10, the number of notification modes related to the above-mentioned specific notification is greater than both the number of notification modes related to the first notification (number of rounds caption image tg3) and the number of notification modes related to the second notification (mode caption image tg2).

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

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

In addition, the caption image described in this embodiment does not need to be executed by the device used in the above description, and may be realized by a device different from that of this embodiment as long as the relationship between the execution period and execution mode described above is maintained.

In addition, the present invention described above is directed to a jackpot game that occurs due to a pattern change related to special chart 1, but some or all of the targeted jackpot games may be jackpot games that occur due to a pattern change related to special chart 2.

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

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

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

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

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

<Additional Notes>
The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea.
(1)
A gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area and capable of setting a plurality of game states with different degrees of advantage,
A first notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the jackpot game and a second notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the game state are configured to be executable;
After the end of the first pattern variation that allows the start of a first jackpot game, at the first time when the game ball passes through the specific area before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time is satisfied, the first notification that allows the advantage of the first jackpot game to be specified is executed;
After the first symbol variation ends, in the second case where the game ball does not pass through the specific area and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed;
If a power outage occurs during the execution of the second notification and the power is then turned on, the second notification will not be restored,
When a power outage occurs during the execution of the first notification and the power is then turned on, the first notification may be restored.
A gaming machine characterized by:
(2)
The gaming machine according to (1) above,
The length of the period from when the power is turned on to when the first notification is restored is constant regardless of the notification mode of the first notification that was being executed when the power outage occurred.
A gaming machine characterized by:

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable decorative body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame portions 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) Frame lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Performance button 38 Cursor button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Center cursor button 39 Main operation portion 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 46 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 54, protective member 55, large prize opening 57, first start opening 59, second start opening 61, normal electric role 62, normal electric role solenoid 63, gate 65, special electric role 66, special electric role solenoid 67, general prize opening 69, outlet opening 70, first start opening sensor 71, second start opening sensor 72, large prize opening sensor 73, general prize opening sensor 74, gate sensor 75, outlet ball sensor 76, middle frame door opening sensor 77, front frame door opening sensor 80, performance display device 81, main display section 82, sub-display section 82a, upper sub-display section 82b, left sub-display section 82c, right sub-display section 90, pattern display device 91, first special pattern display device 92, second special pattern display device 93, normal pattern display device 94, first special pattern reserved lamp 95, second special pattern reserved lamp 96, normal pattern reserved lamp 100, main control board 101, CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 I/O port 105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main hold control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special chart lottery means 131 Special chart win/loss determination means 132 Special chart stop pattern lottery means 133 Special chart change pattern derivation means 135 Regular chart lottery means 140 Big win game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electric role control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power restoration process execution means 176 Recovery state setting means 179 Playable state transition means 180 Power cut process execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 I/O port 209 First sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generation means 220 Normal presentation control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Presentation route determination means 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Pre-reading presentation control means 225 Presentation content determination means 226 Decorative pattern control means 227 Big win presentation control means 230 Sub-error control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable role control means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Sound control board 311 CPU
312 ROM
313 RAM
314 I/O port 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case X First flow path Y Second flow path tg1 Instruction telop image tg2 Mode telop image tg21 Mode telop image tg22 Mode telop image tg3 Round number telop image tg31 Round number telop image tg32 Round number telop image

Claims (2)

A gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area and capable of setting a plurality of game states with different degrees of advantage,
A first notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the jackpot game and a second notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the game state are configured to be executable;
After the end of the first pattern variation that allows the start of a first jackpot game, at the first time when the game ball passes through the specific area before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time is satisfied, the first notification that allows the advantage of the first jackpot game to be specified is executed;
After the first symbol variation ends, in the second case where the game ball does not pass through the specific area and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed;
If a power outage occurs during the execution of the second notification and the power is then turned on, the second notification will not be restored,
When a power outage occurs during the execution of the first notification and the power is then turned on, the first notification can be restored ,
When the second symbol variation that allows the second big win game to start is completed, the first notification is executed as time passes,
At least a part of the time after the end of the first symbol variation, a specific notification that can specify that the first jackpot game can be started is executable;
The length of the period from the end of the first pattern variation to the start of the specific notification is equal to or less than the length of the period from the end of the second pattern variation to the start of the first notification.
A gaming machine characterized by: A gaming machine capable of starting a jackpot game based on a game ball passing through a specific area and capable of setting a plurality of game states with different degrees of advantage,
A first notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the jackpot game and a second notification capable of identifying the advantageous degree of the game state are configured to be executable;
After the end of the first pattern variation that allows the start of a first jackpot game, at the first time when the game ball passes through the specific area before a predetermined condition that is satisfied by the passage of time is satisfied, the first notification that allows the advantage of the first jackpot game to be specified is executed;
After the first symbol variation ends, in the second case where the game ball does not pass through the specific area and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second notification capable of specifying the degree of advantage of the subsequent game state is executed;
If a power outage occurs during the execution of the second notification and the power is then turned on, the second notification will not be restored,
When a power outage occurs during the execution of the first notification and the power is then turned on, the first notification can be restored ,
The length of the period from when the power is turned on to when the first notification is restored is constant regardless of the degree of advantage of the jackpot game that can be identified by the first notification that was being executed when the power outage occurred.
A gaming machine characterized by:

Images